Cheap Battery report

[bbagle1]

I bought this as my first heli about a month ago and being a college student decided to keep my costs down by going with inexpensive batteries. I bought two sets of Zippy-H 3300mah 3 cell 20c packs from unitedhobbies.com. At 40$ a piece they were much cheaper than going with FP's. Well I now have about 10 cycles on all four and I am very impressed. I am also impressed I have 20 flights on this heli and have not crashed yet being my first experience with heli's and all.

Back to the batteries. I am running a CF pro version with Gaui 1100kv motor, 75 amp esc, stock gearing, and 13 tooth pinion. My throttle curve is set to 85% in normal mode with the governor on, I am charging the batteries with a Polycharge 4 and some blinky balancers. I am getting six and a half minute flights easily with hovering and some forward flight. I have not tried to go longer but there is no noticeable drop in rpm or power by the end of my flights. The batteries are coming down just barely warm flying in 75-80 degree weather. If they need any balancing at all it usually takes just a couple of minutes with the blinky's. For the price I am very happy with the batteries. United also just got some 25c 3500mah lipo's in that weigh 315 grams and are around 60$. For sport flying I think these batteries are perfect for the hurricane. Hope this helps.

[pjones]

Brian,

Nice post, I have been using the hextronik 15c 3200mah, not a bad pack, but I like the C rating on these Zippy packs. The only thing that put me off these was the pack size - I don't have the CF Frame - just the plastic one, and I have trouble getting the canopy on with the current batts.
I am keen to hear how you go with the 3500's

Regards

Paul.

[pjones]

Just checked battery sizes - on the web it says that my 3200's are 136mm long, they are actually 150mm long - so looks like the Zippy-H 3300s are the right size, the 3500 for my canopy would be too wide - I am seriously looking at the heliworkz/rotorworkz (can never remember) G10 frame.

Regards

Paul.

[WuTangcl]

Hi bbagle1,

Nice review, ty, just wanted to ask, if you have a 6 to 6,5 minute flight
how much milliamps do you get back into the packs ?

Roel

[bstock]

Thanks for the feedback on these batteries... very cool!!!

I have been looking at them, and am considering getting some (or maybe the "R" version)

Most inexpensive batteries are good in the beginning... but puff or deteriorate as the charge cycles go up. Would you mind letting us know how they are working for you... as you get 25 or more cycles on them?

Congratulations on not crashing yet!!!! Good for you!!

You have me beat - I bet I crashed the T450se at least 2 times (probably 3) in the first 20 flights when learning to fly. :(

Haven't crashed the Hurricane yet.

[bbagle1]

I am not sure how much i am putting back in the packs as the only charger I have is the Polycharge 4. It is nice for charging multiple packs but doesn't have any readout or digital display. As for getting more cycles on them I will report as soon as I can. From the looks of it so far as long as i don't push them too hard I should be able to get a fair number of cycles out of them but only time will tell.

[Wazzer]

what are the volatges of the packs (over all and individual cells) after flight but before charging this will give as an indication of thier performance and how well the cells are matched.

Thanks for this

Ben

[bbagle1]

I will try to get a voltmeter from someone at the field so I can tell you. I do know when I balance with my blinky after a flight or charge it usually either doesn't need to balace or only takes a minute or two. I am not sure what the blinky's discharge rate is though so i am not sure how much help that is to you. I'll try and get some real data for you this weekend.

[Wazzer]

Great thanks

Most appreciated

Ben

[mknope019]

This the new Align T-rex 500 battery will work/fit in the Hurricane 550? If so, how well?

http://www.readyheli.com/KX870006_Align_TREX_500_Lipo_6S1P_22_2V_2100Mah_2_ p/kx870006.htm

[istandalone]

it'd probly fit. it's only 2100mah so it wouldn't be huge. but that small a cap and your looking at maybe 4 min flights, that's about what i get with my 2100's.

[mknope019]

what about the 2500mah?

[bbagle1]

I finally have some data for all of you. I borrowed a volt meter at the field and used it to check my batts. I checked the voltage after a 5:30 flight in normal mode with my throttle curve set to 85%. I have a CF pro version, short tail, stock gearing, Gaui 1100 kV motor, Gaui 75 amp esc, and 13 tooth pinion. I am using Gaui 500mm blades. I also have a 1500mah nimh flight pack so my hurri is heavier than most. After five and a half minutes of about half hovering and half forward flight these are my numbers. They were taken about 20 minutes after I landed. I balanced prior to the flight but not before I took the reading. Temp was about 60 degrees.

Cell 1 was 3.77 volts
Cell 2 was 3.78 volts
Cell 3 was 3.78 volts
Total pack voltage 11.33 volts.
Batteries were approx 85-90 degrees

Based on these numbers I think I can get 7 minute flights out of the packs safely. I will do that next weekend and check voltage after. Does anyone have a ballpark figure of how many volts a pack has at 80% discharge? I know all packs will be slightly different but I figure anything over 10 volts, or 3.3 volts per cell and I should be safe. If I am wrong please let me know,

[Wazzer]

HI bbagle1

from your readings it looks like your cells are well matched, meaning they all have the same internal resisitance and hence the same discharge rates.

I would be careful jumping from 5.3mins flight time to 7mins in one go, i would suggest you go from 5.30 to 6mins and if all is well go to 6.30 then to 7mins

it only takes one overdischarge to ruin a pack!

Does your charger show how many mAH added after a charge cycle? this is a good indicator of how much more use you can get from the packs. Remember its not good to go above 80% usage of your packs Capacity and dont take the voltage down below 10Volts.

so if your flying 3300mAH packs you dont want to be adding more than 2640mah during a charge cycle.

How many flights have your packs had on them so far?

Hope this helps and thanks for sharing the info

Ben

[ke6d]

Cell 1 was 3.77 volts
Cell 2 was 3.78 volts
Cell 3 was 3.78 volts
Total pack voltage 11.33 volts.


Based on your voltage taken 20 mins after the flight, you have discharged between 2000-2200 mA. It is probably safe to go for another 1 - 1:30 min.

Dan

[vicrc]

I am also waiting on my ordered for 4 sets of 3300 to use on my H550, I have been using 4 set 2200 for my 400 size and have about 15 cycles each and no signs of puffing, I am pretty careful with them. I had DN that puffed fairly quickly at 12 cyles and had to kill it before it kills me :shock:

[Lastinch1]

I bought 2 Zippy's they look very good and the price and quality are amazing.

http://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?catname=ZIPPY+Lip oly&idCategory=235&ParentCat=85

[ke6d]

I am also waiting on my ordered for 4 sets of 3300 to use on my H550, I have been using 4 set 2200 for my 400 size and have about 15 cycles each and no signs of puffing, I am pretty careful with them. I had DN that puffed fairly quickly at 12 cyles and had to kill it before it kills me :shock:

I have 3 2200 TP packs here that have almost 200 charges/ea they are still going strong. I paid $69 for each of them last year. I normally have 20-30 flights/week. The cheap battery packs are very attractive, but if you can only get about 40-50 cycles before they puff, they are hardly worth while. The most important thing about Lipo packs is that you must not over discharge them or drawing too much current out of them. I log all battery packs (flight time, voltage after flight, current put back) on an excel spreadsheet so I have a very good idea when the packs are about to go out.

The worst pack that I have was an Align 22C pack that came with a T-Rex 450 V2. I broke it in by the book, but it puffed after 20 charges. I told myself that I would never buy another battery pack that has Align name on it.

I now have over $1200 worth of lipo packs in various capacities almost all of them are TP (except of 1 set of 3200 mA FP EVO30) they are all going strong. Some of them are showing age (getting weaker - TP Extreme 2070 mA) but never puff.

Dan

[vicrc]

I agree the TP packs are great. I am such a flying-noob that I will most likely puff it on the cement. If I can just stop doing that I will go the TP route.

[ke6d]

I agree the TP packs are great. I am such a flying-noob that I will most likely puff it on the cement. If I can just stop doing that I will go the TP route.

When I was learning to fly, an friend at the local club told me one thing that I still remember. He told me that if I have to crash, crash over something soft. The concrete will tear your heli into pieces if you crash onto it.

Dan

[bbagle1]

I just bought another set of the Zippy 3300's. The way I fly I don't think I will need the 30c 3500 mah packs and I am happy with my two sets of 3300's. Plus my heli balances perfectly with the 3300's, I don't want to have to trim every time I use a different pack.

[mjdee14]

Zippy 3300's

I now have about 25 flights on the Zippy 3300's....these are the cheaper set and I have to say they are holding up great. I am very happy with them and so far they perform and charge better than Polyquest costing twice as much.

Each cell balances perfectly from the deans conn...I have not had to balance them afterward. They hold right at 12.6v after charge. I have to say I am impressed and my Eagletree shows them to he holding good voltage thrughout the flight and bouncing back to a good voltage after flight.

For the money....they are a great deal.....

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6354&Product_Name=ZIPPY-H_3300mAh_3S1P_20-30C_Lipoly_Pack

[vicrc]

My zippy-h 3300 has been treating with great flights! I have over 45 cycles on two sets even though I have been rough on them with 2C charges and a few times of using over 95 of the capacity.

[Cralis]

I would stay clear of APlus. I have 10 to 15 flights on my 2200mah 25c 3S packs. Last 2 flights - severe voltage drop. :(

Might try this Zippy thing. Any bad stories yet?

[Mikej]

I have the opposite experience with my Aplu's thankfully - I have 2 setx of 2 x 2200 3S1P 25C - one pair has 42 flights on my Hurris (generally about 7 minute flights) the other set has 12 flights