wolfdad
07-19-2008, 03:04 PM
After a rather lengthy hiatus, we have returned from the "near-dead" to the heli world.
Obviously, after being away from flying, a lot of things had to be checked and double-checked and most all of the batteries replaced. Most of you who know/remember me are aware that I was pretty much a NiMh fan for both nitro's and turbines. However, during my absence, I went back and re-read an article in Fly RC magazine (several times) and was impressed with what I had read about both the A123 batteries and the A123 technology (technology has some very wide-spread use and may be one more step toward a "greener" planet). The A123 batteries are an off-shoot of the LiIon technology and batteries. Still being a bit skeptical about LiPo batteries, but a bit more at ease with the LiIon batteries, I bought several, both in the two cell and three cell configurations (for turbine starting and running the FADEC). The nominal voltage on these batteries is 3.3vdc per cell, so two cells run at 6.6vdc and the three cell at about 9.9 vdc.
Of course, as always, the proof is in the pudding, so I ran each of the packs accross my West Mountain CBA, starting at 4 amps and pushing them all the way up to 12 amps. Amazingly, the curves were extremely flat and yielded within 10% of the 2300mah advertised capability. I ran them down to 3.8 volts and recharged using my Schultz Chameleon charger with no problems.....normally charging at about 1 C.
The one drawback I most definitely did see and had read about was, when these batteries quit, the quit all at once. At about the 4 volt point (2 cell), the curve drops off like a rock, so not something you want to push out to the limit.
I have now gone back and installed A123 batteries in all of my turbines and nitro heli's and I have very high praise for both the performance and "green" contribution. BTW, the two cell (without a balancing lead) will set you back about $40 (not bad) and the 3 cell (also sans balancing lead) will set you back about $70 with a $10 higher price tag with the balancing lead. Several online retailers sell them along with chargers including Fromco, Sin City jets and Dreamworks RC.
Doc
Obviously, after being away from flying, a lot of things had to be checked and double-checked and most all of the batteries replaced. Most of you who know/remember me are aware that I was pretty much a NiMh fan for both nitro's and turbines. However, during my absence, I went back and re-read an article in Fly RC magazine (several times) and was impressed with what I had read about both the A123 batteries and the A123 technology (technology has some very wide-spread use and may be one more step toward a "greener" planet). The A123 batteries are an off-shoot of the LiIon technology and batteries. Still being a bit skeptical about LiPo batteries, but a bit more at ease with the LiIon batteries, I bought several, both in the two cell and three cell configurations (for turbine starting and running the FADEC). The nominal voltage on these batteries is 3.3vdc per cell, so two cells run at 6.6vdc and the three cell at about 9.9 vdc.
Of course, as always, the proof is in the pudding, so I ran each of the packs accross my West Mountain CBA, starting at 4 amps and pushing them all the way up to 12 amps. Amazingly, the curves were extremely flat and yielded within 10% of the 2300mah advertised capability. I ran them down to 3.8 volts and recharged using my Schultz Chameleon charger with no problems.....normally charging at about 1 C.
The one drawback I most definitely did see and had read about was, when these batteries quit, the quit all at once. At about the 4 volt point (2 cell), the curve drops off like a rock, so not something you want to push out to the limit.
I have now gone back and installed A123 batteries in all of my turbines and nitro heli's and I have very high praise for both the performance and "green" contribution. BTW, the two cell (without a balancing lead) will set you back about $40 (not bad) and the 3 cell (also sans balancing lead) will set you back about $70 with a $10 higher price tag with the balancing lead. Several online retailers sell them along with chargers including Fromco, Sin City jets and Dreamworks RC.
Doc