Anyone use Ion packs?

[VengeanceCP]

I am thinking about getting a couple of these packs for my dx6 and dx7. Anyone using them for theirs? What is the advantage to lithium ion as opposed to Lithium Polymer packs? Also what kind of charger am I going to have to get to charge one of these babies? Will a "Infina ION TX Pack (3s2p) 2000Mah" be safe to use in these spektrum radios? They seem kind of powerful at 2000mAh.

Check them out-> http://www.readyheli.com/Infina_ION_TX_Packs_3s2p_2000Mah_p/infina_ion.htm

[WayneBrown]

they work just fine. The Li-Ion packs are designed to discharge over a longer period of time, and are less likely to vent and burn.
Rodney makes these packs in his workshop, so every one is handmade and is a perfect fit into your radio case, and has the proper connector for your radio.
2000mAh is the capacity of the battery, kind of like how much fuel is in the tank, so the 'power' you referred to is just a bigger tank, not a higher voltage.
You will need a Li-Po or Li- Ion compatible charger to charge with, if you have a trex 450 You already have one. :)

[Pinecone]

Do realize that JR recommends against using anything other than NiCD/NiMH packs in the Txes.

They sell a 2500 mAH Tx pack now, and Cheap Battery Packs has 2600 mAH ones.

I run a 2700 mAH pack that I got from an LHS and it lasts very well. It has low self discharge as I charge every couple of months.

[VengeanceCP]

Why is that? Will they burn out the radios, or do they just want you to buy their packs? Also, I have a TP-425 charger, and a TP-205 balancer. Will that work with Ion batteries?

[VengeanceCP]

Oh yes... What kind of an adapter am I going to need to charges those with? Do you guys at readyheli sell one?

[Pinecone]

One possible issue is that they use a linear regulator for the RF deck. The higher the voltage fed to a linear voltage, the more heat.

And I have heard of burned out voltage regulators.

[VengeanceCP]

Ah... I seen. So were can I get a safe larger NiCD/NiMH pack with the right connectors for the dx6 and dx7?

[Pinecone]

http://www.jrradios.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=JRPB5011

Also same pack from Horizon: http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=JRPB5011

http://www.cheapbatterypacks.com/main.asp?sid=559150&pgid=superlisting&type=TX&manufacturer=37&model=345

And others.

[Ciprian]

Vengeance,
Can you soldere a little bit? If yes, this is what I and a few of my friends use:

$1.89 battery holder: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062251&cp=&sr=1&origkw=battery+holder&kw=battery+holder&parentPage=search

$2.69 connector: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062218&cp=&sr=1&origkw=battery+connector&kw=battery+connector&parentPage=search

$17.94 Sanyo Eneloop batteries: http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/-sanyo-eneloop-aa-2000-mah-4-battery-pack-in-sanyo-casebrultra-low-discharge-nimhbr1-free-extra-4-cell-battery-case-p-287.html?SP_id=50

You can also use Ray-o-Vac Hybrid batteries. Both of them are very low self discharge batteries. Even though they are only 2000 mAh batteries, in my experience they last longer than 2500mAh since they do not self discharge by the time you use them.

[Sandy]

The JR10x has that goofy battery case that the whole case plugs into the radio well..The Radio Shack holder wont fit in either the case or the radio battery well.. The Infina pack will fit in the well but not the case.. I removed the circuit board connector from the case and soldered it to the Infina leads.. All fits nice.. I have not seen a burnout problem with either a lipo or ion pack in the 10X nor the DX7 with months of use..

[Ciprian]

Well, I don't know about the 10x, but I thought he was talking about the dx6 and dx7. I don't know about the dx6, but the RS holder works in the dx7.

[Raven_darkcloud]

I have ben useing lipo packs in dx tx's for a long time and now in my 9303. I spend hours at a time on sim and have never seen a heat problem. The regulator is rated for 1a and the tx never pulls that much. If you want to be safe set charger for 90% charge and go that way. you will end up with 11.8 to 12v. At full charge you get 12.4v and is still in range of the reg. The key thing to remember is recharge out of the tx and dont go below 10v. I get almost 18hrs of run time for sim or 12hrs (this is strait run no off time included) of transmitting flight on a 850mah 3s e-flite lipo.