Futaba charging lights

[Tug Guy]

After sitting in boxes for 5 yrs I guess my transmitter/receiver batteries gave up hope of ever being used again. If I remember right those staring red lights should have turned green after 12 hours? Seeing that they are still red tells me that they are dead and beyond hope.
The question now is being as I was thinking of buying a new Spectrum DX 6 system at the end of the year, is now the time to do so? I haven't checked into the cost of batteries for both trans/rec units yet but I will assume they will run about $80. I had regular Futuba Conquest 7 channel and a Futaba 4 channel system for ground. As it is now I don't have any use for 2 different systems. From this point on I will only occasionally go to a pond and use a boat. The 2 Futuba systems I have are all redly light this morning.
So should I go for new batteries or a whole new system?

Don

[wingnut163]

batteries, since you only go< From this point on I will only occasionally go to a pond and use a boat.>
no sence putting $$$ in to a radio, to use occasionally.

my 2 cents

[Massey]

you should be able to get new batts for your old radio. check your LHS or a battery supply store like Batteries Plus. The DX6 comes with a rechargable battery for the transmitter the reciever you are on your own with. DX6 is a nice radio but lacking some of the programable features that a radio like the 7CAP has.

Massey

[Kmot]

I haven't checked into the cost of batteries for both trans/rec units yet but I will assume they will run about $80.

Tx packs:

http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=165

Rx packs:

http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=164

[CG Bob]

On Futaba chargers the RED LED's indicate that the battery is being charged, they DO NOT turn green when the bateries are charged. The LED indicates that current is flowing from the charger to the battery. Here's a link to the Futaba manuals (http://www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/index.html), they all state that the red light indicates the batteries are being charged.

Did you try turning on the radio and exercising the servos? How about checking the batery voltage and amperage with a meter? If the batteries fail these two tests, check for broken wiring, or "black wire disease". Sometimes the copper wire will turn black and not conduct electricty. Then consider replacing the batteries.

[Tug Guy]

Batteries it is I think. If I did it right on Tower hobbies the batteries for both transmitter and receiver should costs $53.98 + shp.
I did run into a problem though.

I have a FP-114H receiver that is for 75 MHZ. I use it for r/c boats. I am trying to figure out which transmitter it belongs to. I think it goes with a Attack 4 FP-T4NBL AM 75 Does anyone know if this is correct? They both have the same Chip (frequency) number of 82 so I think they go together. But it is possible the chips may have gotten switched. I say this because I found 2 other receivers with a chip number I can't find a transmitter for.
When I moved 5 years ago I just threw everything into one box now I am trying to sort out what goes with what.

I also have a FP-T6NFK transmitter and a FP-R127DF receiver do they belong together? If they do can they be changed to 75 MHZ? Who can do this and what does it cost?

Don

[Tug Guy]

The servos did move normally when I tried them. So I guess I am good to go then? Sorry Bob I don't own a meter, I wouldn't know what to do with it if I did own one. I am not one that understands elctrical things well enough to go probing into them with a meter.
I thought the leds were like a normal indication of red charging, green charged up and ready to go. 5 years is a long time to try and remember these things. So much has happened in that time. Thanks for the help.

Don



On Futaba chargers the RED LED's indicate that the battery is being charged, they DO NOT turn green when the bateries are charged. The LED indicates that current is flowing from the charger to the battery. Here's a link to the Futaba manuals (http://www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/index.html), they all state that the red light indicates the batteries are being charged.

Did you try turning on the radio and exercising the servos? How about checking the batery voltage and amperage with a meter? If the batteries fail these two tests, check for broken wiring, or "black wire disease". Sometimes the copper wire will turn black and not conduct electricty. Then consider replacing the batteries.

[CG Bob]

On Futaba receivers, the last number indicates the number of channels it has; FP-114 is a 4 channel receiver and usually goes with a 4 channel transmitter like the FP-T4NBL.

They both have the same Chip (frequency) number of 82 so I think they go together. If the crystals have the same number, they go together.

I also have a FP-T6NFK transmitter and a FP-R127DF receiver do they belong together? If they do can they be changed to 75 MHZ? Who can do this and what does it cost? Yes, they can be used together, if they have crystals on the same channel. Yes, they can be changed to 75 mHz. Futaba does the frequency change at their service center (http://www.futaba-rc.com/faq/faq-6xsuper-q54.html), the have a price list for the changes. Not all radios can be changed.

[Tug Guy]

I think I have sorted things out now. The 72 MHZ transmitter/receiver works ok. I get 100% full battery and servos work with its receiver. This is the one that needs to be changed to surface.

Now the 75 MHZ unit has a problem. The transmitter is back on charge as the batteries only charge to 80%. The receiver that should go with that transmitter as it is marked by MHZ and channel number does not respond to any movement by the transmitter. I know the battery is ok as I switched it to the other unit. I tried a 2 channel receiver and I get get movement from the transmitter. So for some reason the 72MHZ transmitter does not respond.

I guess I have to buy a new 4 channel 75 MHZ receiver and I should be ok?
Or is it cheaper to have the working 7 channel 72 MHZ unit switched to 75 MHZ?

Don

[Tug Guy]

That battery place has some good prices, much better than Tower. For what Tower charges for 1 Tx pack I could buy both Tx and Rx batteries. Good link Thanks,

Don



Tx packs:

http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=165

Rx packs:

http://www.all-battery.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=164

[Massey]

It depends on the Tx on how much it will cost to change the freq. Some Transmitters it is a simple module change, some modules are internal and require the factory to change them some are external and are user changable. Some radios it requires extensive resoldering on the main board and that will make it not worth the money. If you want a radio that does both small planes (like park foamies) and boats I would suggest trying a Spektrum DX6. the DX6 is 6 channel and can be used as a surface or an air radio. Price at my LHSs are $199.00 and the Tx has its own battery pack.

Massey

[Tug Guy]

Massey Horizon Hobby will make a dual throttle Tx if you buy one. I just hope that the change over can be done as economically as possible and I can keep what I have.

Don

[Ghost 2501]

if its the two-lead charger, the red one is for one set of batteries, the green one is for the other, as one set is 9.6v tx pack, the other is a 4.8 rx pack

[LtDoc]

Don,
I'm probably worse than you at sorting things out so won't comment on that part. I will comment on the DX6 though. If you already have adequate radios and only need to get new batteries then don't get the DX6. Batteries are much cheaper. If you want to consolidate radio usage, same one for everything, and you won't need a lot of range for planes, then I'd say the DX6 was a very good choice. It doesn't 'do' everything. BUt I don't know of any radio that does, that doesn't cost a fortune.
Don't misunderstand. I have a DX6, I like it, it does everuthing I ask of it. It isn't a radio that everyone 'needs', though. If you've got an extra $200 burning a hole in your pocket and want one, then get it. If not, then don't. Buy the batteries if you need to. (Then buy the DX6 later - LOL)
- 'Doc

[CG Bob]

I guess I have to buy a new 4 channel 75 MHZ receiver and I should be ok? Or is it cheaper to have the working 7 channel 72 MHZ unit switched to 75 MHZ? From the Futaba service center (http://www.futaba-rc.com/faq/faq-6xsuper-q54.html) page: Complete non-computer radio systems: $25*, plus 7.99 for shipping, total of $32.99.

*NOTE: If your receiver is an R127DF or an R138DP the cost to convert to 75MHz is the figure shown above PLUS $44.95 to cover the cost of parts changes required in these receivers to make it function on the other band.

Tower Hobbies is listing a Futaba 4 channel receiver (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJKR5&P=0) for $39.99, and the crystal for 7.99; total cost, with shipping $55.97.