What Lipo Alarm are you using?

[Drew816]

I have been using HR Poly's on my T-Rex 450s but they're limited to 4 cells total; arrghhh. So what do you guys use? I know some of you don't and yes I run a timer as well but I LOVE having one of these, cheap insurance IMHO.

Thanks and Happy Flying!

[mysticmead]

timer only... and even with the timer I tend to be conservative... 5 minutes... then bring it in

[Drew816]

Well I set my Lipo Alarms up on the high side in conservative mode but I found when I was running timer only I was bringing the helo's in VERY early loosing out on potential flight time. Since it's hard for me to actually GET out there to fly loosing out on a few minutes each pack but still bringing them in early was hurting. The nice thing about the alarm is it will 'sense' your setup and voltage remaining and start to warn you, so on my T-Rex 450's the alarm starts it's initial warning at 3.7 volts per cell or 11.1 overall and it will really start to alert at 3.6, get mad at 3.5 by which time I've already landed anyway.

The only downside is that as packs get older they start to send less reliable info or the HR Poly just can't figure out what's going on, one of the two; but regardless the warnings start much earlier then they should just because the pack is tired overall. So I have a little 'game' I play letting them cool off and settle a bit, flying again, on and off but primarily using the timer. Not ideal but if you just fly the clock with old batteries you're fine too.

Happy Flying!

[mysticmead]

yeah... know all about the having a hard time getting out there and flying bit...gonna try and squeeze in 2 packs today... that I should have gotten in yesterday.. didn't happen.. probably won't happen today either..the way my luck has gone lately it starts to rain as soon as I get off work.

[skigolfmike]

I use a timer and the soft cutoff. If I get to the soft cutoff I know I screwed up.:roll:

[Mikej]

I use lipo alarms from efliernz - look here http://efliernz.googlepages.com/home it's the one on the top-right and you can see it from a long way away. If you ask Pete he will supply it with a back-to-back male and female Deans so that you can just plus it in between the triangluar "Y-cable" and the ESC - cost $46 including postage to UK

[xodarap1]

I use the HR-Poly's on everything. With the hurris i just run them to one Li-Po and it works fine since they burn at nearly the same rate anyway.

[Drew816]

I use the HR-Poly's on everything. With the hurris i just run them to one Li-Po and it works fine since they burn at nearly the same rate anyway.

How do you have your wiring setup?? I actually tried to set mine up on the Gaui as well, but the alarm has never gone off. Mine is hooked up off of the same Y connector I use to power the BEC.

I'd love to just continue using the HOUR Poly since 1) I have one available and 2) it's familiar...

Thanks!

[xodarap1]

It's just wired to the back of one of the male "y" deans connector plugs .. the front of that plug then plugs into one of the li-po's. If you never run it down to where the warning level is set, you won't ever hear it go off. Just set it to go off like you do for the ones on your 450's so if for some reason you ever run long and are over 100' up, it will tell you the sky is about to fall lol so you can practice your autos. I never run mine down low enough to trigger it.. i just have it there for some insurance. Each of my packs are at 11.3 - 11.4 range when my timer goes off so that's when i land and switch helis.

[kgfly]

I have been very happy with the low voltage alarms from Efliernz. Simple to install and adjust, extremely visible even in bright sunshine, great value IMO. He has several models and will happily customise as needed.

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=42913
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/member.php?u=135456
http://efliernz.googlepages.com/

[Cralis]

I think I need an alarm. I use my timer, set to 6 minutes... and I end up putting back between 1800 and 1700 into my 2200s. However, the last two flights, I've landed, looked at my timer, and seen it at 0:04! I didn't hear the beeping... It's not loud enough on the DX7, and it's nearly the same pitch as the engine noise.

[Drew816]

Yeah, if you're using a timer you really need 1) really good hearing to hear your Tx's timers or 2) use an attached timer of some kind. Years ago when flying RC Gliders I used to use a Radio Shack timer that I mounted to an antenna 'number holder' and this was loud enough. Some folks use watches, etc.

You really need the combination to be totally safe because even as loud as the HR Poly is and nice and bright it really can NOT compete with a nice Sunny day let alone the noise most RC Helo's put out. If you have the helo close in you're likely to hear and see it but in all honesty it's only a backup. A NICE backup to have, you just fly by your position as the timer is winding down and take a look and listen and if all is well, swing it around for a few more laps, but...

Thanks for the other leads folks, I think I'm going to reprogram my HR Poly to really super conservative numbers and try to get it to go off on purpose to insure it's REALLY working, then adjust back. I've never flown with these high 3000 and 3300 mah type packs before so these LOOONNNGGG flight times are freaking me out! Hell I flew for 8.5 minutes on my Pro-Teks and I'd only used up 40% of the on board fuel, how is that even possible?!? Just hovering and poking around admittedly but come on!!! :cheers

Happy Flying!

[Pinecone]

Efliernz. Adjustable to run whatever packs you want.

He even has a version taht runs 4 - 6S (which took some work).

[kgfly]

the HR Poly is and nice and bright it really can NOT compete with a nice Sunny dayI guarantee you will see an Efliernz alarm LED cluster no matter how sunny it is and at almost any distance you would fly a heli.

[JaggedEdge]

This is the one that I have:
http://www.readyheli.com/Western_Robotics_Spektrum_Lipo_Battery_Monitor_HV_ p/wrl-speclhv.htm

6 color level spectrum (Buzzer is separate).
5-55v (2-16cell)
3 led schemes.
Learns max voltage of your pack.
7grams.

Have really tested it yet though, lol.

[psindrup]

I use one from Pete http://efliernz.googlepages.com/home

6 LED's and 2 acoustic alarms on my T-rex 500 - couldn't be happier.

Has saved me from flying with a discharged battery more than once, and a Dean connector that did not connect probably too.

I have crimped the wires from the ESC/BEC and the wires from the alarm together in the PowerPole connectors, so no separate connection of the alarm to worry about.

Just plug in the battery and fly. :thumbup:

Peter

[Wazzer]

I use these on all mine and JB's Helis
http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_100&products_id=2430

They have a Red and Blue LED and a Buzzer
Blue LED all is well Blue flash is normal running
Red flash land very soon and Beep
Red Continuos Land Now + Continuous Buzzer

The buzzers is not much use on the Hurry though as its not loud enough but it works a treet on the 450's

The LED's are very bright i have mine mounted on top of the boom mounts so its clearly visible from all angles but nose in.

I can recommend them and they are Cheap!

Ben

[Drew816]

Some really great options there, thanks for all the forwards guys!

Happy Flying!

[Shef]

How does Pete's LiPo alarms work? LEDs out when everything is fine and then all LEDs shine when the pack reaches the set threshold? Thanks.

[Mikej]

How does Pete's LiPo alarms work? LEDs out when everything is fine and then all LEDs shine when the pack reaches the set threshold? Thanks.

Yep - spot on, and threshold adjustable

[Shef]

Got it...I'm trying this one right now: http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?products_id=6352 but if I don't like it or can't see it, I'll pick up one of Pete's. It just looks a little bulky with the extra knob and gear. But I guess that's the price of safety.