Anybody stocking a Lipo that would fit my 10C??  Fed up of having to charge the Tx every week.

- Chan

Chanced upon this very old topic today.. This is long over.. Please lock this thread!! Thanks..

Hi Chan,
What did you use finally for your 10C ? I have one, and want to replace my NiCad with a good/safe LiPo.

Thanks !

Chan, Anwar,
What battery are you using for your Tx ? I am getting tired of charging my Tx NiCad. It just adds to one more list of things to check on a Saturday night. If Lipos on Tx can be safely used, and no harm done to Tx, then I would like to go on and use them.

My main concern is that the 3S Lipo would have a higher voltage. Do you use a regulator ?
Also any other precautions/things to keep in mind ?

I plan on getting this one : http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6955&Product_Name=ZIPPY_Flightmax_2500mAh_Transmitter_Pack_(Futaba/JR)

I don't understand why people hesitate to migrate to 2200/2600 mAh Low Self Discharge NiMh instead ? Is that love for Lipo ? apart from longer charge time, NiMh wins over Lipo every where :

1. No need to fear over discharge - your Tx alarm setting for NiCd work well with NiMh
2. No fear of extra voltage from Lipo, though there has been no report of damage from these Lipo yet, apart from few incident of Tx module getting little more heated.
3. Same charger /plug works 'in the Tx box' charging - no dangling charging leads
4. Similar capacity, and much better shelf life than Lipos

One disadvantage is self assembly and possible issues related to that. It is a non-issue to many, and a big issue for others.

And the other is charge time (which you mentioned, and is really a non issue).

The shelf life is a non-issue, lipos will stay at storage charge for just as long it seems.

To answer Gaurav, I am using the supplied 1700 NiMH with my 12FG, which works on the 2s lipo range (7.2volts). I have an Outrage RX pack that can double as a TX lipo, and I see no issues there as the fully charged NiMH pack shows over 8.6v at no load, and a fully charged 2s lipo is only 8.4v.

On my spare Futaba radios (have a synthsized 9C super and a 7C, both 72Mhz), I use Zippy TX lipos directly.  I considered adding diodes (1 or 2) to them initially to drop the voltage, but dropped the idea considering how sparingly I use them.

If one can deal with soldering well, looks like LSD NiMH is the preferred route these days.  A123 pre-packaged ones is another possibility, assuming your charger can handle them.

Quote from: anwar on April 06, 2010, 04:20:18 PM
One disadvantage is self assembly and possible issues related to that. It is a non-issue to many, and a big issue for others.

I do agree and I have discussed this in forum before, as much I discussed to my dearest R/C friend. But there are professionally assembled battery available, which are as reliable and fine finished as the OEM packs:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-9-6V-2000mAh-NiMH-FutabaNT8H-Transmitter-Battery-Pack_W0QQitemZ330380449483QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cec3596cb

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-RC-9-6V-NiMH-2500mAh-BATTERY-FOR-9-6-V-RC-AIRPLANE-TX_W0QQitemZ380124849062QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item588134e3a6#ht_646wt_681

http://cgi.ebay.com/9-6V-2600mAh-transmitter-Sq-NiMH-battery-pack-Futaba_W0QQitemZ120553009277QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN?hash=item1c1184f07d


<Check with LHS as well. AFAIK RCDHamaka also has 1600mAh one for Sanwa, so does India Hobby>
I am using one of the and I am totally satisfied.

Quote from: anwar on April 06, 2010, 04:26:40 PM
If can deal with soldering well, looks like LSD NiMH is the preferred route these days.  A123 pre-packaged ones is another possibility, assuming your charger can handle them.

Dont get the normal batteries and try to solder. Neither depend on on a battery holder - Vinay had bad time with them. Disconnection for even fraction of a second can reset your Tx and crash your plane.

If you are really ardent for DIY, go for AA Nimh which have soldering tabs :

http://cgi.ebay.com/12-NiMH-AA-2300mAh-Batteries-Flat-Top-w-Tabs_W0QQitemZ330420167544QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cee93a378#ht_1470wt_681

http://cgi.ebay.com/AA-1800mAh-NiMH-Rechargeable-Battery-Flat-Top-w-Tabs_W0QQitemZ370271989584QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5635ee2f50#ht_2383wt_681

I think you completely lost the point with the above links   None of them are LSD (at least it is not specified). I would prefer a lipo over non-LSD NiMH.

The whole idea is to reduce the number/frequency of charging, and with normal NiMH, you are pretty much assured of having to do that every week (assuming fair use combined with self discharge).

Quote from: anwar on April 06, 2010, 04:44:09 PM
I think you completely lost the point with the above links   None of them are LSD (at least it is not specified). I would prefer a lipo over non-LSD NiMH.

Sorry Anwar/folks for overlooking this aspect totally. Here the exact pack I got :

http://cgi.ebay.com/TX-Battery-9-6v-2100mAh-Eneloop-typeFutaba-Square_W0QQitemZ250602189720QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN?hash=item3a590df398

Its LSD indeed. I would try to find AA LSD cells with Tab.

Quote from: gauravag on April 06, 2010, 03:39:11 PM
I plan on getting this one : http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6955&Product_Name=ZIPPY_Flightmax_2500mAh_Transmitter_Pack_(Futaba/JR)

Hey Gaurav,

Thats exactly the pack which I am using too!!

- Chan

chan,
You are using the zippy 3s battery on your futaba 10c without any village regulator ? And it works well ? Do you charge using the standard charge port or do you take the lipo out when charging .
Any other precautions apart from the low village alert on tx ?

hi guys,
a lot are changing to lipo in UK because flying clubs will NOT have 'loose' AA battery in tx ...
you must use a 'battery pack' .
so gone to lipo and have better flight times. :-).
my futaba came with a 'battery pack' but I understand the spectrums come for 'loose ' battery in some models.
regards
don

Why are clubs forcing people to move away from loose AA batteries ?  Is there much history of issues caused by that setup ?

hi mate,
yes 'loose AA' are a 'definate no no' at flying clubs here in UK.
it must be a past history of............. bad connections/back come off tx?/accidents atributed to tx power sorce.
as all clubs seem to have the same rule.
looking at a price perspective of battery packs/lipos lipo seem to win over here............plus better charge times and longer flight times between charges.
most tx take 12v and lipo being 11.1 are well within the limits plus you only need the lowest 'C' rating as slow discharge.
look at tx like walkera 4ch and esky 4ch etc they are all 'loose' battery sets.
and the backs for these ....and my futaba for that matter are not physicly locked, they all rely on 'tabs'  and the battery are facing down when in use so will just 'fall out' if the back dissloges................. down to insurace I expect.at the end of the day
regards
don

Quote from: gauravag on April 07, 2010, 01:17:23 PM
chan,
You are using the zippy 3s battery on your futaba 10c without any village regulator ? And it works well ? Do you charge using the standard charge port or do you take the lipo out when charging .
Any other precautions apart from the low village alert on tx ?

Hi Gaurav,

I am using the 3s direct without a regulator.. I generally take out the Lipo for charging.. And I know its time for charging again when the voltage hits 10.2V...

- Chan

Exactly the same procedure I use on my (72Mhz) radios.

Quote from: sunk? on April 07, 2010, 02:44:23 PM
hi mate,
and the backs for these ....and my futaba for that matter are not physicly locked, they all rely on 'tabs'  and the battery are facing down when in use so will just 'fall out' if the back dissloges................. down to insurace I expect.at the end of the day
regards
don

The Batteries with 'Tab' are indeed to be soldered. Only the regular batteries which need Holders suffer this momentary disconnections. Almost all the battery packs have the soldered cells instead of holders. May be the Cheapos like  Walkera use holder and adding to the problem.

Yes, LSD packs are little costlier than Lipos, but at 2200/2600mAh, they last as long as the Lipos.

Quote from: anwar on April 06, 2010, 04:26:40 PM
I have an Outrage RX pack that can double as a TX lipo, and I see no issues there as the fully charged NiMH pack shows over 8.6v at no load, and a fully charged 2s lipo is only 8.4v.

One question: I understand that most Tx have battery compartment meant for 1.5V x 8 nos of Batteries = 12V. but you use 8.4v,8.6v! in some other thread i also read someone using 9.6V!! doesnt that make the Tx to 'under-perform'? or is it that some Tx actually have 8-9 V battery compartment??

And second question (continuation of #1):
I got the HK 6chTx which has 12V battery comp. Now i have a earlier 9.6V, NiCd 700mah battery. can i use this for my Tx??

Also i have a charger for the same: 9.6v, 250mah output. can this be used to charge 2S, 2200mah LiPo
it is this http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6540&Product_Name=ZIPPY_Flightmax_2200mAh_2S1P_20C

Sorry, please excuse me for the silly questions, but after reading different threads i am stil bit(or more) confused! kindly excuse..

Quote from: mpp on April 24, 2010, 02:07:04 PM
One question: I understand that most Tx have battery compartment meant for 1.5V x 8 nos of Batteries = 12V. but you use 8.4v,8.6v! in some other thread i also read someone using 9.6V!! doesnt that make the Tx to 'under-perform'? or is it that some Tx actually have 8-9 V battery compartment??

It all depends on the model of the TX (not the brand).  The newer Futaba radios like 8FG and 12FG use a 7.2 NiMH as the default battery, so a 2s lipo of the right physical size is the appropriate choice.

But the vast majority of radios use 9.6v batteries (8x1.2v), and substitution of 3s lipos are viable options.  Even then, there are couple of major sizes, and corresponding shapes of battery compartments.  So you have to pick the right sized substitution lipo, so as to fit nicely into available space in the battery compartment.

Some other radios (especially entry level ones) use 8x1.5v = 12v.

Quote from: mpp on April 24, 2010, 02:17:25 PM
I got the HK 6chTx which has 12V battery comp. Now i have a earlier 9.6V, NiCd 700mah battery. can i use this for my Tx??

I would think it would.  Have you noticed what is the low voltage cut off on your TX is (at what voltage does it beep indicating low power) ?  I saw people use NiMH batteries with this TX, and the internal cells for these are usually 1.2v instead of 1.5v.

Quote from: mpp on April 24, 2010, 02:17:25 PM
Also i have a charger for the same: 9.6v, 250mah output. can this be used to charge 2S, 2200mah LiPo
it is this http://hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6540&Product_Name=ZIPPY_Flightmax_2200mAh_2S1P_20C

Absolutely NOT ! A 2s lipo should not be charged over 8.4volts.

Thanks very much Anwar for ALL your replies.. as usual very useful! :-)
I dont know what is the 'Low battery" cut-off voltage, as i have o yet use it (i just got it n other things from Anam_funny.

hi guys.
for those of you who have gone to lipo there is room in most xt for a cheapy 'lipo alarm' as is used when flying.............  most  tx warn when volts gone down by 1/4 power I think..... so some where near lipo stop time anyway.
regards
don