Blade CX2 BATTERY RECOMMENDATIONS

[tn]

Being a newbie and trying to search thru the previous threads, I am having a hard time trying to find out what are the recommended batteries for the blade cx2.I see possible recommendations for Thunder Power, etc but i can not tell if I would have to get another charger (dont want to) or not. I have 2 stock ones but one will not charge. I am using the stock charger that came with the blade kit.
Any recommendations on batteries that will be a direct fit for the blade and charger that will be an improvement over the stock batteries? I have tried the advertiser web sites and sorry, I am having trouble decipering what works.
Thanks for your help as my kids and grandkids do not have a clue as to what I am doing and are of little help.

[heyjack8]

stock e-flite batteries are junk in my opinion...I have bought the mega power lipo 850 mah.15 c battery and also the DN 850mah.15 c both seem to work pretty well and you can use your stock charger...and will fit your battery tray...I would say they are both about equal in quality but thats just my opinion.....:thumbup:

[electricdurango]

I wanted to get some extras also. Im not paying 26.99 for eflite 2s 800's. What about commonsense rc 2s 800's. they are 12.99 but only 8c? How many amps does a stock cx2 pull?

[heyjack8]

I dont know what the c rating is on a stock e-flite battery (you may be able to find that out online) I think it would be about 8c however you want a battery with a higher c-rating example:
C in "C rate" is Capacity. Charge/Discharge rate is measured by how many multiple of Capacity a battery can be charged/discharged.

At 2C, for example, the 1000mAh battery would deliver 2000mA for 30 minutes. 1C is often referred to as a one-hour discharge; a 0.5C would be a two-hour, and a 0.1C a 10-hour discharge.
The capacity of a battery is commonly measured with a battery analyzer. If the analyzer's capacity readout is displayed in percentage of the nominal rating, 100% is shown if a 1000mAh battery can provide this current for one hour. If the battery only lasts for 30 minutes before cut-off, 50% is indicated. A new battery sometimes provides more than 100% capacity.
When discharging a battery with a battery analyzer that allows the setting of different discharge C-rates, a higher capacity reading is observed if the battery is discharged at a lower C-rate and vice versa. By discharging the 1000mAh battery at 2C, or 2000mA, the analyzer is scaled to derive the full capacity in 30 minutes. Theoretically, the capacity reading should be the same as with a slower discharge, since the identical amount of energy is dispensed, only over a shorter time.
Due to internal energy losses and a voltage drop that causes the battery to reach the low-end voltage cut-off sooner, the capacity reading may be lowered to 95%. Discharging the same battery at 0.5C, or 500mA over two hours may increase the capacity reading to about 105%. The discrepancy in capacity readings with different C-rates is related to the internal resistance of the battery.

[tn]

Thanks for the replys, I will look into the suggested packs! One battery now is not enough.

How many batteries do you normally have on hand for a particular heli. I would think 3 is good. I now this may sound stupid, but I was wondering can the motor/esc become over taxed if not allowed to cool down between battery packs or is that not a problem? Seems like running three packs right after another would possibly create a heat issue with them.

Again thanks to all. Tom

[LockMD]

yes, heat is your enemy. I usually fly 3 diff birds bounding from on to another that by time I get back to the same one its plenty cool :)

[ZipZap]

The motors on the cx2 definitely get hot quick. I always let mine cool down for awhile after a flight.

[electricdurango]

I was looking for amp draw on cx2 electronics.

[kgfly]

www.cx2parts.com used to have has some decent packs that were designed to fit the CX2 battery tray.

For best lifetime, never fly for more than 5 min without at least a 30s break to let the motors cool down and leave 10min between packs.

[electricdurango]

Ok. Has anyone put a watt meter on a cx2? total amps?

[Mr.Maim]

I wanted to get some extras also. Im not paying 26.99 for eflite 2s 800's. What about commonsense rc 2s 800's. they are 12.99 but only 8c? How many amps does a stock cx2 pull?

FYI - I have two of the Commonsense RC batteries that are a "direct replacement" for the E-Flite batteries and I just want to warn you that they do not have the same dimensions as the E-Flite batteries. They're a teeny bit thicker, which makes them impossible to slide into the battery tray without modification. You'll have to replace the four screws (are they considered button-head screws?) with countersunk screws, which means you'll need to countersink the holes where the screws go in so they set down. The slightest bit of screw protruding into the battery tray area will snag the battery.

You could probably just remove the screws entirely and use some sort of removable glue (not CA, maybe Shoe-Goo) to glue the battery tray to the main fuse, and this would still allow you to disassemble it for repairs. I just went the route with the countersunk screws.

Ultimately, the Commonsense RC batteries are much better, IMO, than the E-Flite batteries. They seem to have a more consistent power output so my CX2 doesn't "bob" up and down like it seems to do with the E-Flite batteries.

[Dumb Thumbs]

I've been using these, http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=31_377&products_id=2108
They work well & have longer wires that make hookup easier

[Mr.Maim]

Do those actually fit? The size listed is 14mm thick. The E-Flite packs are 11.7mm and the CommonSense RC packs are 12.7mm and are a hard fit. It would seem that 14mm simply would not fit.

Do they?

[Dumb Thumbs]

They fit the stock battery holder but I hear they won't fit in the "MicroHeli" alum battery holders. Long enough wires so that the pack can be installed with the wires out the back, makes things much easier I think.

[Mr.Maim]

Interesting... I wonder if the dimensinons listed are incorrect then.

It's good to see that there are several alternatives! The E-Flite packs are just too expensive and have a pretty crappy output amperage.

[Dumb Thumbs]

The Mega Power pack is a little thicker, but they fit OK so long as the battery holder screws are screwed in tight & the heads are flush. I have four of these packs and am very happy with them.

[BigAl07]

Ok which of these is "more desirable" for my CX & CX2's.

DN Tenergy Power 900mah 10C


http://cgi.ebay.com/2-DN-Tenergy-Power-900mah-10C-Eflite-Blade-CX-CX2_W0QQitemZ250239885933QQihZ015QQcategoryZ34056Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or

Mega Power 15C 850mah

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=380018087421&_trksid=p3984.cWAT.m240.lVI

I'm wondering which is more "important"

10C at 900mah
or
15C at 850mah?

or what benefit would a 22C but 800mah be?
http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/globalAssets/ltCurve.gif

SMC 800LB 7.4 Volt 22C LiPo BATTERY


http://cgi.ebay.com/SMC-800LB-7-4-Volt-22C-LiPo-BATTERY-BLADE-CX-CX2-NIB_W0QQitemZ280221391605QQihZ018QQcategoryZ34056Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



What are your thoughts/ideas?

I'm ready to order some batteries but don't have a CLUE Which ones? Also I guess it's important to note that I am still using the STOCK E-flite charger but hope to get a better one soon.

[kgfly]

A higher C rating will mean holding higher voltage under load (more available power or longer runtime at the same power usage) and less heating (longer lifetime). Of the three listed, based solely on the stated capacity and C-rating, I would choose the 850mAh 15C.

Other factors to consider include size (the CX2 battery tray is an odd shape), weight (although a few grams doesn't matter too much IMO) and brand reputation. Not all packs are created equal and not all claimed capacities or C-ratings are genuine.

[Dumb Thumbs]

Not all packs are created equal and not all claimed capacities or C-ratings are genuine.
I'll second THAT. I have two Align 2100 mAh 22C packs for my Rex450, about 25 to 40 cycles each and they are puffing & heating up bad. Never over discharged, abused... Just hovering & slow FF.

[BigAl07]

ok in addition to the battery suggestions.. which charger would be a good choice? I'm going to be charging the CX & CX2 batteries as well as something larger soon..

:)

[kgfly]

Lots of good choices around at the minute. If you think you are going to get a 450-class heli any time soon then there are two sensational deals running at the moment, both for essentially the same good 6S, 100W/5A charger and a pair of 3s 2200 25C lipos for $200! One deal is from ReadyHeli for the KP100W6 + 2 x KongPower packs and the other from RC-Tek for the MaxproX6 + 2 x AirThunder packs. These are the same chargers AND the same cells under the covers. You could pop the packs in the fridge and they will be fine for a year (maybe loose 4% capacity), sell them (you're paying about $30 each in these deals) or buy a heli to go with them ;)

If that is not appealling, well it depends on what "bigger" and "soon" are likely to mean as this has a significant influence on what your charging needs are likely to be.

The best value entry level LiXx-only charger is probably the Cellpro4s (4s, 45W/4A). Simple, safe, reliable and good performance for packs up to about 3s 3300 or 4s 2500.

For a fully featured, multi-chemistry charger with integrated ac/dc power supply nothing beats the Bantam BC6 (6s, 50W/5A) for quality, convenience and value in the 50W output class. With slightly fewer features and somewhat cheaper, the MegaPower 860DS is also a contender, but I prefer the BC6.

Next up would probably be the iC106B (6s, 180W/10A) for great bang for buck or else the MaxpowerX6/KP100W6 or else the TP 610C (with good local support for US folk).

At the high-power end you get candidates like the iC1010B (10S, 200W/10A), Hyperion0610iDUO (2 x 6S, 180W/10A) or Cellpro10S (10S, 200W/10A).

You might find this summary interesting:+-----------------------------------+
| KGLFY's Balance Charger Summary |
| 27 Apr 2008 |
+-----------------------------------+

Integrated Balance Chargers
===========================
These offer simplicity and convenience with the balancer and charger combined
in the same case. Simpler, more convenient, take up less bench space and
easier to transport.

--------- ------------ -------------- --------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
Brand Model Chemistry Balancer Input Output Price (USD) Notes
--------- ------------ -------------- --------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
FMA Cellpro4S LiXx only 2s-4s dc 50W/4A $75 Excellent, simple, hugely popular, great value
--------- ------------ -------------- --------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
Bantam eStation BC6 multi 2s-6s ac/dc 50W/5A $170 Proven high quality. Integrated ac/dc power supply is great
Hyperion EOS0606iAD multi 2s-6s ac/dc 50W/6A $150 Integrated ac/dc supply but not as good as the BC6
MegaPower 860DS multi 2s-6s ac/dc 50W/6A $110 Appears to be the same as the Hyperion 0606iAD
TP TP610 multi 2s-6s dc 80W/10A $130 New model from respected TP brand
KongPower 100W6 multi 2s-6s dc 100W/5A $150 New model based on the MaxproX6, likely to be just as good
Maxpro X6 multi 2s-6s dc 100W/5A $140 New brand, good user comments so far
iCharger 106B multi 2s-6s dc 180W/10A $100 New brand, good spec.s, good feedback so far
Bantam BC610 multi 2s-6s dc 200W/10A $180 Same great charger as the BC6 but 200W/10A (dc input only)
Hyperion EOS0610iNET multi 2s-6s dc 250W/10A $170 Most bang for buck in terms of features+output power
Hyperion EOS0610iDUO multi 2s-6s x 2 dc 180W/10A each $270 Very handy if you discharge packs in pairs
--------- ------------ -------------- --------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
Bantam eStation BC8 multi 2s-8s dc 150W/7A $270 Proven high quality
--------- ------------ -------------- --------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
Chargery 1010B multi 2s-10s dc 200W/10A $240 New brand, good spec.s, good feedback so far
iCharger 1010B multi 2s-10s dc 200W/10A $180 New brand, good spec.s, good feedback so far
--------- ------------ -------------- --------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
FMA Cellpro10S LiXx only 2s-5s x 2 dc 200W/10A $190 Not independent dual port. 1A balancer is a strength.
--------- ------------ -------------- --------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
Graupner Ultra DUO 50 multi 2x-7s x 2 ac/dc 360W/10A $530 Very impressive beast, but expensive. Integrated AC power supply
for up to 120W max output power, else run it off DC to get 180W/10A
per port or 250W/10A on a single port. Appears to be two independent
channels, each with its own display and controls.
--------- ------------ -------------- --------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------



Non-integrated charger+balancer combos
======================================
This is the older style where the balancer is an add-on accessory to the charger.
Less convenient since it means more boxes, more cables, more things to configure,
store and transport.

--------- -------------- -------------- ------------------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
Brand Model Chemistry Balancer Input Output Price (USD) Notes
--------- -------------- -------------- ------------------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------
TME Xtrema LiXx BAL+BIM 2s-6s dc 150W/8A $265 Includes power meter functions. Complex and expensive
2 x BAL+BIM 2s-12s dc 150W/8A $360 Includes power meter functions. Complex and expensive
TP 1010C multi 210V 2s-10s dc 220W/10A $300 Top performer, hugely popular in US
Hyperion EOS1210i multi 2 x LBA10 2s-12s dc 180W/10A $240 Good value
Bantam eStation 902 multi 2 x PB6 2s-12s dc 200W/9.9A $400 Proven high quality
MEGA POWER Infinity 960SR multi 1 x LCB12 2s-12s dc 180W/10A $200 Good value, great LCD, 2nd NiXx-only port to
charge your Tx in parallel with your flight battery
--------- -------------- -------------- ------------------- ----- ------------- ----------- --------------------------------------------

Notes
=====
1) "multi" means at least: NiCd/NiMH/Pb/LiPo/LiFe
2) "LiXx only" means at least: LiPo/LiFe


And possibly this comparison too:Bantam BC6 vs MaxproX6/KP100W6 vs EOS0606iAD/MP860DS vs TP610 vs iCharger 106B
kgfly, 28 Apr 2008

Quality/reliability
The BC6 is the oldest of the group and has an excellent track record for simplicity, performance, reliability and quality. It has many features. The rest are too new to know yet although I have not seen any bad comments about quality or performance issues for any of the newer chargers.

Input power:
BC6 and 0606iAD/MP860DS have integrated ac/dc power supplies which is very convenient and saves the cost of a separate DC power supply.

X6/610C/106B require an external DC power supply of at least 125W/100W/230W respectively.

Output power:
BC6 = 50W/5A, 0606iAD/MP860DS = 50W/6A, TP610C = 80W/10A, X6 = 100W/5A, iC106B = 180W/10A

If you are looking for higher power, the 100W/5A rating of the X6 is better for 5s/6s whereas the 80W/10A of the 610c is better for 4s and below but the 180W/10A of the iC106 eclipses them both. The following table reveals the relative utility of these different output power ratings.
Charger Output Current Estimates v1.1
======================================

LiPo CC charge voltage 3.75
LiFe CC charge voltage 3.4

Charger output rating (max Watts and max Amps)
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
LiPo 50 100 150 80 180 200 220 250 300
no. of cells 5 5 7 10 10 10 10 10 10
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2 5.0 5.0 7.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
3 4.4 5.0 7.0 7.1 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
4 3.3 5.0 7.0 5.3 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
5 2.7 5.0 7.0 4.3 9.6 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
6 2.2 4.4 6.7 3.6 8.0 8.9 9.8 10.0 10.0
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
7 1.9 3.8 5.7 3.0 6.9 7.6 8.4 9.5 10.0
8 1.7 3.3 5.0 2.7 6.0 6.7 7.3 8.3 10.0
9 1.5 3.0 4.4 2.4 5.3 5.9 6.5 7.4 8.9
10 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.1 4.8 5.3 5.9 6.7 8.0
11 1.2 2.4 3.6 1.9 4.4 4.8 5.3 6.1 7.3
12 1.1 2.2 3.3 1.9 4.0 4.4 4.9 5.6 6.7
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----


Charger output rating (max Watts and max Amps)
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
LiFe 50 100 150 80 180 200 220 250 300
no. of cells 5 5 7 10 10 10 10 10 10
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
2 5.0 5.0 7.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
3 4.9 5.0 7.0 7.8 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
4 3.7 5.0 7.0 5.9 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
5 2.9 5.0 7.0 4.7 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0 10.0
6 2.5 4.9 7.0 3.9 8.8 9.8 10.0 10.0 10.0
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
7 2.1 4.2 6.3 3.4 7.6 8.4 9.2 10.0 10.0
8 1.8 3.7 5.5 2.9 6.6 7.4 8.1 9.2 10.0
9 1.6 3.3 4.9 2.6 5.9 6.5 7.2 8.2 9.8
10 1.5 2.9 4.4 2.4 5.3 5.9 6.5 7.4 8.8
11 1.3 2.7 4.0 2.1 4.8 5.3 5.9 6.7 8.0
12 1.2 2.5 3.7 2.0 4.4 4.9 5.4 6.1 7.4
------------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

LCD:
BC6, Maxpro, iC106B = very clear from all angles
0606i (assuming it is the same as 0610i) = poor contrast and hard to read from off-perpendicular

Ease of learning/use
Of the ones I have tried, the BC6 and MaxproX6 are both very easy to learn and to use. The Hyperion is slightly harder to learn/remember but if it is your only charger you will get used to it quickly. I don't yet have hands-on experience with the TP610C or iC106B.

The BC6 lets you turn off the various beeps and tones which is a feature I really like and is missing from the Maxpro. It is present on the iC106B but not sure about beep/tone control on the others.

Feature summaries
FMA CellPro4S (~$75)
- Requires DC power
- LiXx only: LiPo/LiFe(aka A123)
- 2S to 4S integrated balance charger
- 50W/4A output (3s @ 4A, 4s @ 3A)
- Normal, Fast and Storage LiPo cycles
- No discharge feature
- optional PC interface (logging only)
- optional balance plug adapters

Bantam eStation BC6 (~$150)
- ac/dc input
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- 2s-6s integrated balance charger
- 50W/5A output
- Balance current 300mA
- Normal, Fast, Balance and Storage LiXx cycles
- Discharge features (7W)
- 5 memories
- optional temperature probe
- optional PC interface (logging only)
- wide range of balance plug adapters

Hyperion 0606iAD (~$140)
Mega Power Poseidon-860DS (~$110)
- ac/dc input
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- 2s-6s integrated balance charger
- 50W/6A output
- Balance current 300mA
- Normal, Balance LiXx cycles (NO Storage feature)
- Discharge features (5W)
- NO memories
- NO PC interface
- NO temperature probe
- wide range of balance plug adapters

ThunderPower 610C (~$130)
- Requires DC power
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- Integrated 2S-6S balancer
- 80W/10A output
- Balance current ???mA
- Normal(with/without balancing) and Storage LiXx cycles
- Discharge features (7W)
- 25 memories
- ?? PC interface ??
- ?? temperature probe ??
- TP/FP and JST-XH balance port adapter

Maxpro X6 (~$140)
KongPower 100W6 (~$130)
- Requires DC power
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- 2s-6s integrated balance charger
- 100W/5A output
- Balance current 400mA
- Normal, Fast, Balance and Storage LiXx cycles
- Discharge features (12W)
- No memories
- included temperature probe
- included PC interface (logging and firmware upgrades)
- some balance plug adapters (JST-XH, TP/FP)

iCharger 106B (~$100)
- Requires DC power
- Full multichemsitry LiXx/NiXx/Pb
- 2s-6s integrated balance charger
- 180W/10A output
- Balance current 300mA
- Normal, Fast, Slow, Balance and Storage LiXx cycles
- Discharge features (20W)
- 10 memories
- optional temperature probe
- no PC interface
- some balance plug adapters


Conclusion
If you want the convenience of an integrated ac/dc power supply then the BC6 is the top offering. The extra features, simpler use model and better LCD (at a guess) more than make up for the small price difference from the 0606iAD. The emergence of the MP 860DS, which appears to be the same as the 0606iAD but at a bargain price makes it the value leader in this ac/dc group.


If you want more than 50W output but don't want to spend more than $150 then the iC106B is the clear value leader. On features and performance it competes against other high-power chargers like the BC6-10 and EOS0610i but on price it is down in this group. A new model from a new brand, it is a bit of an unknown quantity, but initial user feedback is positive.

Otherwise it is a toss up between the MaxproX6/KP100W6 and the TP610. Both offer good value in terms of features and power. The ability for the user to install firmware updates on the Maxpro is very appealing . In most cases in the US though, it is probably easier to get backup and support for the TP610C and it is bound to be popular.

[BigAl07]

One deal is from ReadyHeli for the KP100W6 + 2 x KongPower packs a
Stock Status: (Out of Stock)

[BigAl07]

BTw.... Awesome response! thank you so MUCH! Now I have some research to do :)

[Dumb Thumbs]

kgfly,
Wow, some serious research on your part, many thanks for all the info:noteworthy

[kgfly]

Stock Status: (Out of Stock)No doubt they will be back soon. Otherwise this is equivalent: http://www.rc-tek.com/us_store/maxpro-x6-+-air-thunder-dual-battery-combo-p1979.html (available: 12 items)

Glad you found the info useful folks :)