options for Duralites?

[WayneBrown]

I want to go with duralites for myself and Mike, but all the packages I've seen just confused me.
I intend to go to gassers from my 30, and Mike is just starting, but I expect he'd progress to larger machines quickly.
4000 MaH packs would probably be overkill for a 30, but better than buying again I suppose. 5.1 v regulators is what I've seen everyone reccomend, what charger will support two or more TX and RX packs, and maybe foamie packs?
I know from here that the packs give a potload of power, long discharges, and that duralite is the preffered vendor. Other than that I know squat about LiPo batteries, and don't want to get an incompatable setup that will dissapoint me.
Anyone want to offer guidance?

[DavidH]

For helis I would go with either the 2800 mah pack or the 4000 mah pack.
Both of those packs with handle the current draw from an all digital servo setup.
The 2800 mah pack weighs 6 ozs, 4000 mah weighs 7.2 ozs

Regulators I would suggest the 5.1 or the 5.6 volt. I prefer the one that has the safety switch built into the regulator.

If you going with Duralite, I would suggest to get the 3 + 1 charger. This charger will charge 3 receiver packs( 7.4 volts) and 1 transmitter pack ( 11.1 volts).
You can also charge small 2 or 3 cell Li-ion and Li-Po packs that would be used in Small electric aircraft.

Here is the Duralite package I would recomend for one heli.

1 - #7404 - 4000 mah 4 cell 7.4 volt pack
1 - #21711 3 +1 Charger with DC cord
1 - #65051 5.1 volt regulator with safety switch
1 - #21915 - A/C Adapter 1500 mah
1 - #43051 - Digital Load Tester .5, 1 & 1.5 amp load

Now with the above setup, to outfit additional helis, all you would need is battery packs and regulators. Also if you got a transmitter battery the charger would also be set up for it.
You could also go with the 1950 or 2800 mah packs. You would just not have the capacity of the 4000 mah pack.
The Duralites are proven and safe. They have basically been plug and play for me for the last 2 years.

David

[WayneBrown]

David,
Thank You, that was more information than I expected!
I will be ordering in the next few days.
1.2 oz seems like a small sacrifice for the added capacity of the 4000MaH packs.

[WillJames]

I agree with David 100%. You will probably want to go with a separate fast charger like a Triton (or many others) for the small Li-Po packs you run in the foamies. The Duralite charger I have heard will charge them but takes a long time. You only get approx 10-15 minutes foamie runtime per charge, add the fact that Li-Po's are very succeptable to over discharge, IMHO warrants buying a fast charger.

At Clint's B-Day, we had 2 Tritons and a Schulze and we charged over 30 cycles in an 11 hour period and many of us were able to do a LOT of flying.

[Joel Mann]

I qiut counting after 10 flights on my 4000 mah pack..youre right, why buy twice.I love not having to charge at the flyins..You will also like dealing with Jack and Rochelle at duralite, they are very nice peolple..