[sticky]

I’m looking at buying the batteries to go in my Jet Legend F15.  I’m using 5 digital servos and 2 jetronic valves.  They will be connected to an AR9200 Powersafe Evolution.  Now, I’ve never used LiPos in a plane before, just NiMh packs but it seems that I am better to use this choice for this set up. So I’m thinking that 2 of these would be OK for the receiver

http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/li-po_tx___rx_packs.html

Is there any reason why not to go for these, they are hard cased and a bit heavier (at the bottom)

http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/li-po_car_packs.html

The Kingtech 140G recommends using a 3 cell LiFe battery between 2000 and 5000 mAh, so I am looking at this.

http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/vpfe3s30c3800hc.html

Are there other suppliers of batteries that any of you use that are worth looking at?

Unfortunately, neither of my chargers have a LiFe program.  Can I use a LiPo one instead or do I need another charger?

My other worry is charging LiPos in situ.  It’s likely that the batteries will be inaccessible so I will have no choice.  Or should I make sure they are accessible and remove them for charging. 

Cheers Pete

[Yoyo]

Unfortunately, neither of my chargers have a LiFe program.  Can I use a LiPo one instead or do I need another charger?

My other worry is charging LiPos in situ.  It’s likely that the batteries will be inaccessible so I will have no choice.  Or should I make sure they are accessible and remove them for charging. 

LiFe is much safer than LiPo, and with that much investment wrapped round it I'd want to do it the safer way. I'd happily put a LiFe somewhere inaccessible (although they still wear out eventually, so don't build it in forever!) but I charge my LiPos out on the patio.

Yes, you definitely need a new charger for them, but a new LiFe compatible charger isn't necessarily that expensive - I just bought a HobbyKing ECO6 which works just fine, powered by any old 12-18V 50VA+ laptop type adaptor, or a car battery.

They also sell my other charger, the Turnigy Accucell 6 which is basically the same but has a fan which is a bit noisier but presumably less stressful on the components... they are both around the $20 mark.

[warbird_fanatic]

Pete,

Always make the LiPo's accessible, I've seen many threads over on RCUniverse about lipo fires in jets due to them popping under charge etc, You can't charge a life under a lipo program I believe, and I wouldn't attempt it for safety etc. Check out www.hobbyking.com for batteries, I saved hundreds (i'm not kidding) by using HK and shipping over the Lipo's, in my jet I use a Turnigy 2S 5000mah lipo which cost £19 all in compared to retailers in the UK who charge something like £60 for the same thing, I then used another 5000mah for the receiver using a high Amp UBEC for the receiver due to the current draw on the 18kg servos I'm using. I've kept my jets simple by using a single supply instead of the powerbox systems but I have heard that the dual systems from HK are quite good for large scale birds. Again this is just advice if you don't want to be ripped off, the quality is second to none also, and I would recommend Rhino cells for jets with a higher C rating, NIMH just don't last in this day and age and I would never trust them in a jet where a constant power source is necessary (also for safety).

Those car packs are good but you'll find the added weight is a pain, the cases are the kind that you find in Maplins (PCB boxes), keep shopping around but give HK a try 

[sticky]

Thanks
I'll go for Lipo for the receiver, I think, as I understand that LiFe can drop off quickly.  I'll make sure they are accessible and will remove for charging.
I've never bought from HK but I'll have a look.  What I like about component shop is they will lengthen leads and fit alternative plugs.
Cheers 

[sticky]

Just been browsing the HK site...very cheap.  If it comes from the UK warehouse, why is it priced in $.  Do you still pay import duty.  Would I have to pay import duty if I bought from an overseas warehouse?  Some of the products are not available in the UK  eg Rhino.

[Sizzling]

Yes LiFe do drop off quickly but so do LiPo. Just my opinion but the benefits of LiFe out weigh the fast drop off. If you take the time to learn how your battery behaves in the model there should be no reason to let it get anywhere near flat.

[JohnMac]

Thanks
I'll go for Lipo for the receiver, I think, as I understand that LiFe can drop off quickly.  I'll make sure they are accessible and will remove for charging.
I've never bought from HK but I'll have a look.  What I like about component shop is they will lengthen leads and fit alternative plugs.
Cheers 

I wouldn't. I really would adivise you to use LiFe's. In fact  not just Life's but A123's. Charge then regularly and you will never get close to the point were you reach voltage drop. WAAAAAAY better than lipos and now inhabit every one of my models. I have used them for nearly 5 years now for Rx's. Zero failure rate. Zero issues. Zero b***ering about getting them out to charge them.
My two penneth.
John

[trebor]

Thanks
I'll go for Lipo for the receiver, I think, as I understand that LiFe can drop off quickly.  I'll make sure they are accessible and will remove for charging.
I've never bought from HK but I'll have a look.  What I like about component shop is they will lengthen leads and fit alternative plugs.
Cheers 

I wouldn't discount A123 (Life) batteries even Lipo's drop off pretty fast when they get to the last of their charge. My JL F16 after 2 flights needed 276mah in 1 pack & 239 mah in the other ,not bad when each battery pack is 2300. I just make sure that I never allow the batteries to get near the end of their charge.

Rob

[GlowFly]

Just been browsing the HK site...very cheap.  If it comes from the UK warehouse, why is it priced in $.

Select currency at bottom left. Enter preference in your HK profile.

Steve

[GlowFly]

Like Rob say LiPo drop off quickly too. It's just easier to check current state of charge on a LiPo by measuring voltage. I'd happily hide & charge a A123 LiFe pack inside a model. I wouldn't with a LiPo though.

Steve

[warbird_fanatic]

LiFe does have its perks I must admit, it's quite strange how they aren't marketed enough! I would say LiPo on a budget but LiFe for longevity etc! I'm a bit of a tight git when it comes to models but I've not had any trouble (as yet!) I would listen to the guys who recommend LiFe, or message Big A and see what he would recommend 

[Yoyo]

LiFe does have its perks I must admit, it's quite strange how they aren't marketed enough! I would say LiPo on a budget but LiFe for longevity etc! I'm a bit of a tight git when it comes to models but I've not had any trouble (as yet!) I would listen to the guys who recommend LiFe, or message Big A and see what he would recommend 

Life and lipo have very similar discharge curves. But a lower fully charged voltage, which is good because there's a lot of kit that works with the '5 cell' voltage range a life gets you but not so much that works with unregulated lipos.

Neither of them drop off until they only have say 10% left and if you're running them that low on a jet you're braver than me!

[sticky]

  You're right Yoyo, I wouldn't and tbh my batteries usually go home half full anyway.
Just looking at the chargers and batteries at HK, blimey, they are less than half price.  They're not copies are they.  This seems to good to be true.  I've always thought if that's the case it probobly is

[Yoyo]

You're right Yoyo, I wouldn't and tbh my batteries usually go home half full anyway.
Just looking at the chargers and batteries at HK, blimey, they are less than half price.  They're not copies are they.  This seems to good to be true.  I've always thought if that's the case it probobly is

While some things are definitely copies, such as the typhoon and minivec clones that have recent appeared, in many cases the more expensive UK versions are the same thing with a price hike.

For the chargers there are many very similar chargers around that seem to have the same capabilities and firmware. The best thing is to watch for recommendations from people who've bought them already.

[Sizzling]

You're right Yoyo, I wouldn't and tbh my batteries usually go home half full anyway.
Just looking at the chargers and batteries at HK, blimey, they are less than half price.  They're not copies are they.  This seems to good to be true.  I've always thought if that's the case it probobly is

I think it was last year in one of the mags but there was a comprehensive comparison of many brands of lipo. The ones that came out top were actually amount the cheapest.

[Darkstar56]

I really would adivise you to use LiFe's. In fact  not just Life's but A123's. Charge then regularly and you will never get close to the point were you reach voltage drop. WAAAAAAY better than lipos and now inhabit every one of my models. I have used them for nearly 5 years now for Rx's. Zero failure rate. Zero issues. Zero b***ering about getting them out to charge them.

I have always liked the A123s from a safety viewpoint.

Why do you differentiate between LiFes and A123s in the above quote?

I have seen some of the LiPo lookalike LiFes at the top of this thread. Are they less safe or reliable than the A123 metal cased round cell?

Do they handle high currents as well as the A123s?

Max

[sticky]

What's the difference between A123 and LiFe.  If they are both safer than Lipo I think I will go with 3 x Life batteries from HK together with a couple of Accucel chargers.

[sticky]

What do you think about these then?

One of these for the turbine….K140G
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__14069__ZIPPY_Flightmax_4200mAh_3S1P_30C_LiFePo4_Pack.html

Two of these for the receiver
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__14077__ZIPPY_Flightmax_2500mAh_6_6V_5C_LiFePo4_Receiver_Pack.html

 

[Yoyo]

I haven't used those specifically, but I've not had problems with any hk life packs.

A123 is a company, but what people mean here by A123 cells is their most popular cell, a lifepo4 26650 size cylindrical cell in a metal case, as used by the thousand in electric cars.

Normally lipo or life cells are in soft pouches which are much more easily damaged.

[West London]

I would advise using Thunder Power LiPo 2 or 3 cell packs as appropriate with a TP charger/balancer and a PowerBox voltage regulator (if required). They are slightly more expensive than the HK packs, but, like most things in life, you get what you pay for! Why risk several thousand pounds of model by saving £10 on a battery pack? I would also advise you to use a dual battery set-up such as the Powerbox systems. Hope that helps!

[sticky]

Thanks.  I have a powerbox/spectrum combination AR9200.  This has a regulator and dual battery input.  I am just concerned of the LiPo risk in a plane worth several grand.  LiFe seem a safer option at the moment.  The regulator is 5.9V so it doesn't matter if I use 7.4V or 6.6V.  The jury is still out at the moment.

[JohnMac]

I have always liked the A123s from a safety viewpoint.

Why do you differentiate between LiFes and A123s in the above quote?

I have seen some of the LiPo lookalike LiFes at the top of this thread. Are they less safe or reliable than the A123 metal cased round cell?

Do they handle high currents as well as the A123s?

Max

A123 Racing are an American company that make LiFe04 Cells. I have used A123 Batteries made from these cells extensively, They have given me totally trouble free operation. I also have purchased some other brands of LiFe04 cells, made up into batteries. I have had mixed results with these, some good, some bad. They were cheaper, but price is not a consideration for me when it comes to Rx batteries. I do not exclude the possibilties that there are other brands as good as A123, it's just that I do not know of any.
John

[Sizzling]

I believe the company that made A123 went bust a few months ago  so getting them might be a problem soon.

[Yoyo]

I believe the company that made A123 went bust a few months ago  so getting them might be a problem soon.

They did, but there are various bids on the table to buy it as a going concern. The problem is that it's a US company which has had a lot of Federal grant money and privileged access to DoD research, but most of the bidders are Chinese...

 

[STORM]

I changed out all my flight batteries this year, all from HK, all Life's either 123 type or the 2500 6.6v you mentioned, all are twinned up and use nowhere near the current the old nimh's used.

Interesting case in my Viper recently, using a Powerbox Gemini one of the batteries suddenly started using 2.5 times the current of the other, I immediately suspected a duff battery (wasn't going to be a Powerbox fault was it!)

Swapped the battery outputs over and the problem went to the other battery proving they were ok.

Shot an email off to Powerbox, had a reply from Emmerich (Mr Powerbox himself) within an hour saying I had done exactly the correct thing and I should send the Gemini back to the factory for regulator realignment but it would still be safe to use until I returned it.

I am happy to use the HK batteries, they are cheap but good and if one packs up in flight it doesn't matter.

[sticky]

These purple lipos from 4-max seem good value

[STORM]

Real good value when your jet goes up in smoke.

[sticky]

Too cheap or because they are Lipo...........

[STORM]

Nothing to do with price but why risk a possibly volatile battery chemistry when I and other experienced guys on here have already answered your question.
LI-FE!
There, I've said it again.

[Darkstar56]

Sticky

You have asked for some advice here and received it, LiFe.

You still seem to want to use LiPo because you seem to always slant your questions towards a "yes" answer for LiPos even though you do not get it.

In the end the choice is yours to fit in your jet. If you are comfortable with burying LiPos and charging them insitu then that is up to you.

But if it was me I would go LiFe.

Max

[sticky]

Advice appreciated, thanks