Duralite 5.3V regulator - battery drain +odds???

[hookmaker]

Hi Guys, I am a Newbie to regulators but bought one (5.3V heavy switch) for a new Bergen gasser gyro servo combo (the Logictech 6100T). Installed it on my Raptor 50 T to check out the gyro. Got a few questions/problems that I hope you can help me with - I am as FAR from being a battery and regulator expert as you can be ! :

1)Flew first time last night, battery (should be) newly recharged, but opposite to what I am used to, the battery drained off in less than three tanks of fuel :shock: . Can this be right???

2) I use a small 9 LED lights battery meter to be able to see the power on the battery when flying. I coupled this into the circuit with a Y connector - seems to work fine. Can I do this? I doesn't say anything about this in the instructions for the regulator.

3) How do I charge the battery now? I use a Triton charger and used to charge through the free line coming into the "normal" on/off switch. Can I charge through the free line that comes off the heavy switch on the regulator which is supposed to be used for a digital load tester (according to the instructions)? If so, does the switch have to be ON when charging?

I'd much appreciate some detailed instruction here.

Regards

Hookmaker

[DavidH]

#1 I would suggest charging the battery about 4-5 hours before using it to operate the electronics in the model. Yes it has a charge when it arrives in the package. But it has been charged to match the cells in the pack.

#2. Only thing I would use to check the battery condition is a voltmeter that applies at least a 1 amp load to the battery. The LED or any other kind of onboard voltmeter is really useless with lithium batteries. You need to check the battery conditon thru the extra lead coming from the regulator/switch.

#3 The battery needs to be charged with a Duralite charger. I know a few people that have used the Triton charger, but I would suggest to use the Duralite charger. The Duralite charger is designed to work with the Safe Charge circuitry that is in the Duralite battery packs. The battery should only be charged thru the lead with the Yellow plug on it.

These pages should help you.
http://www.duralitebatteries.com/tech-ion.html#Instructions

http://www.duralitebatteries.com/tech-acc.html

2. Always use the DURALITE PLUS™ Charger with the Product. Failure to do so may result in damage to the battery, diminished capacity or shortened cycle life. The above warranty shall be void if the DURALITE PLUS charger™ is not used.



David

[hookmaker]

David,

OK, I missed some clarification: The battery is a 4 cell 2400mAh NiMH pack - quite ordinary. The Battery has already been well functioning and charged in a non-regulated system for 4 months now. The Duralite regulator/switch system that I have does not have yellow plug on any lead.

Hookmaker

[DavidH]

Why would you even use a regulator with a 4 cell nimh battery that is putting out 5.3 volts plus when fully charged.
The regulator is useless with a 4 cell nicad or nimh battery.

David

[BarracudaHockey]

Really. You are doing nothing but passing through the regulator or even decreasing your useful capacity.

[WillJames]

You are very lucky you have not crashed. The regulator is made to decrease the voltge of a pack, not increase it. WOW, very lucky I think.
:shock:

[hookmaker]

Thanks guys - see, I told you I didn´t know about this stuff :arggg: One thing is learning to fly the heli - a whole different sport is that of batteries (apparantly!).

Now I bought this stuff for another helicopter, primarily to ensure that the 6100T servo doesn't get done with more than 5.5V. So You mean if I install a reg. NIMH pack on that too - no need for the regulator?

Hookmaker

[BarracudaHockey]

4 cell pack you dont have to worry about a regulator.

The problem lies with 5 cell packs that can approach 7v fully charged.

[NitroPolymer]

Since you have made the investment in the regulator you may want to consider going to a Li-Po or Li-Io battery, as it will give you more capacity, and a steady voltage throughout the flight. Just make sure as a battery newbi that you are very carefull and follow all of the instructions, as Lithium batterues require much more dilligence that Nickle batteries do.

[Bobs]

Henrik, the Duralite 5.3v regulator is made to be used with Li-Po or LiIon batteries. You DO NOT use a regulator with a 2400 mah NiMH battery. I was also using a 2400 NiCad and only got two flights per charge (to be safe). I'm now using a Duralite 4300 LiIon battery (it has two leads coming off it: a yellow one for charging and a black one for checking the voltage). I'm also using a Duralite 5.3v regulator. The reason for the regulator is this: the LiIon battery is 7.4 volts as opposed to 4.8 like your 2400 NiMH. The regulator drops the voltage down to a safe and consistent range so it doesn't burn up the gyro and servos. This is just a very crude explanation. All you need now is a Duralite LiIon battery and voltage checker and you're in business. You'll get a lot more flights per charge with peace of mind. I think you'll find very satisfied customers using Duralite systems. BTW, how was your trip?

[DavidH]

Henrik, the Duralite 5.3v regulator is made to be used with Li-Po or LiIon batteries. You DO NOT use a regulator with a 2400 mah NiMH battery.

You use a regulator with a Nimh or Nicad battery if it is 5 cells or more. I used a regulator for years with 5 cell nicad packs. The milliamp rating of the pack is just that. It has nothing to do with the voltage output.

The Duralite regulator will work with Nimh, Nicad, Li-Ion, LiPo.

David

[Bobs]

Thanks, David. I stand corrected. Didn't even think of that. My mind was on 4 cell Li-Pos and Li-Ions only.

[DavidH]

IT is really just 2 cell Li-Ion and Li-Po in most cases for RX power applications,
2 cells of 3.7 volts make 7.4 volts when wired together.
The other 2 cells are just wired in for a redundant power source in case one of the cells fail.

A 2 cell L-ion or Li-Po pack will power a rx and electronics just fine with the proper regulator.

David