Nitro flyer new to lipos

[tracerbob]

I've upgraded my Blade CP to use a lipo battery and since I'm a nitro flyer (Raptor 50V2), I know nothing about them other than to take care when charging them. This what I have;

Thunder power 1320 mAh/11.1V 3-cell
E-flight Celectra 1-3 cell charger

My questions are

1. How long does it usally take to charge the battery?
2. Do I really need a balancer?
3. What are my options for a 12V power source?
4. I have read that I should not let the battery drop below a certain voltage or it will never recharge. How do I prevent this?

I know this is a lot of questions but this little bugger came alive with the new battery and I want to take as best care as possible of it.

[carlo_the_wonder_frog]

1. 1 hour at least, the most you should charge your battery at is 1.3 amps. If you charge at .5 amps expect the battery to take 3 hours to fully charge.

2. You don't need one if you just have 1 battery pack, they are very useful only when you have a bunch of money into multiple packs and want them to last as long as possible.

3. Best 12v power source is a dedicated power supply that connects to A/C house power. Computer power supplies can also work, as can vehicle batteries.

5. As soon as you notice a drop in power you should land the heli and recharge the battery. If your battery gets below 9 volts, it will be ruined. Better to play it safe than sorry. A TP 1320 battery should get you around 13-15 minutes of flight no problems.