Hello everyone.
I have been trying to reduce the weight of my caddy which currently has a 7Ah 12V battery connected to a power panel, that i use for my electric starter. I think the battery is the heaviest component ( followed by the fuel, which is indispensable ) .
Was wondering what everyone else uses for their field battery. LiPo ? 11.1 volts, is that enough for the electric starter ? any other lighter options ?

-Gaurav

PS: new smilies are hilarious. 

I know of couple of heli flyers who are using 4s lipos in their  heli starters, as it is very convenient when the starter has to be often carried near the heli.

Hi Anwar,

What about a 12V 4.5 Ah battery for Starters?? Would it suffice?? It weighs almost half of a 7 Ah battery.

"Ah" determines the duration (how long before you have to recharge).  So I don't see why it would not suffice, from an electrical stand point (assuming the discharge rate etc are not much different between them).

But if you are trying to determine if this is enough for one day of flying etc, that would be based on a whole bunch of things; like how well tuned your engine is (does it start quickly and stay running, so that you don't have to run the starter a lot), what starter you are using (how much does it draw) etc.

During the last flying session, I noticed a new starter being used by a fellow flyer.  Apparently, Align Corporation has come out with their own brand of starters, powered by 3s lipos (which are fairly common among RC flyers).

There is a heli version

http://www.align.com.tw/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22_88&products_id=2962

and a plane version

http://www.align.com.tw/shop/product_info.php?cPath=22_88&products_id=2963

Some current draw details....

Battery : Lipo 3S1P 2100mah 16C (Referance Battery)
Engine Type, Loading Rotation Speed, Loading Amps, No.of Starts
90 Nitro Engine, 2000rpm, Approx 8A, Approx 500
50 Nitro Engine, 2200rpm, Approx 6A, Approx 850
50cc Gasoline, 1550rpm, Approx 16A, Approx 220
28cc Gasoline, 1950rpm, Approx 9.8A, Approx 300

Claims to start upto 50cc planes. Something to consider if you are in the market for a new starter. 

PS: I am big fan of Align products, too bad they are not properly represented in India.  They are single handedly responsible for making the hobby (especially heli flying) affordable in places like the US, and over a million pieces of the Align Trex 450 helis have been sold to date 

Chennai,
I have seen someone hook up lipos to his starter for all starting jobs

Tat must be Aravind !!

- Chan

Since, i am going to be flying the nitro heli soon, I really need to upgrade my starter. The Align one, that Anwar posted above is cool, but expensive. I am thinking of getting a 4Cell LiPo 20C and 3000 mAh
Then i can strap that to the starter and it will make it as one unit.

I am not sure if the 14V will damage the starter motor, and i should go for 3Cell one only.

Any ideas ?

I was using a 12V 7A battery but have switched to a 3S 2200mA  LiPo. Works great. Would not recommend a 4S pack.

Right. 

The Align one is designed for 4s, for most others 3S would be good.

A good chordless drill is the other common choice around here.

QuoteDuring the last flying session, I noticed a new starter being used by a fellow flyer.  Apparently, Align Corporation has come out with their own brand of starters, powered by 3s lipos

QuoteThe Align one is designed for 4s, for most others 3S would be good.

Anwar. The link also specifies 3S LiPos.

You are right.

I meant to say "3s" for Align. Many people on our fields use "4s"  lipos for most others (like Sullivan etc, which typically work off of 12V batteries or two 7.2 NiCD batteries), as they provide lots of torque to start even the biggest of helis and planes.

Hmm. I used my heli's 3S battery to test the started and it worked great !
So now i will solder an XT-60 connector to my starter and use that on the field, next time i take my glow planes.
Much lighter and portable now. and not too expensive with the $10 Turnigy battery

I use a 3S  LiPo which is more than adequate for a  120 4C engine. Don't have anything bigger !!

What brand + model starter are you using ?

An old Sullivan, heavy, but still works fine.

Ok, Recently I have been using a Turnigy 3S 2200mah 11.1 V battery with my Hobbico start and it works greaaaat !
I have attached the battery to the starter using Velcro, and I find is much much more convenient.
Power is more than Lead Acid battery also ! .
With LiPos getting cheaper by the day, having a setup like this does make great sense !

Just go through these mini power panels which could be fitted on a small plastic box and velcroed to a 3 cell lipo.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHCA1&P=8
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXWX80&P=8
The panels would fit in your palm and the whole outfit would weigh 3-400 grams.
Avijit

Use your finger Mark I or ac hicken stick Mark II, you could easily reduce the weight of the cell from the caddy