Receiver power for an inverter

[Bombay]

I asked the question over in the night flying forum, but no one answered. Maybe I asked it incorrectly...

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=996285


What I would like to do is to power a 4000hz glowire inverter by running it off of a receiver channel. In other words, use the main battery to power the inverter.

Here are some of the specs:

Plane - Slo-V
Receiver: AR6100e
ESC: HW 25amp (I believe it has a 2-3 amp linear bec)
Battery: 1250 mah 2s 7.4v lipo
2 9gram servos

Glowire
This is the driver that I've used before.
http://www.glowire.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=G&Product_Code=F2D&Category_Code=9V

I'll be powering 9-12 feet of glowire.


That's it. I believe my main question is...can the reciever and battery combo power this inverter? Would the inverter need all 9 volts, or does it step it down to a lower voltage anyway?

Thanks
Rob

[Tomapowa]

That inverter needs to be powered from a 9v source. It is probably specifically designed for a 9v source so powering it with anything different could and probably will cause problems. There are some inverters that can operate on a supply between 5v and 12v (http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/5v12v-el-light-neon-bar-inverter-p-206.html)but I'm almost certain this is not the case of your inverter (test if you'd want using an external power supply). R/C gear (i.e. receiver) is usually powered with a 5-6v source, therefore it looks like you will have to step-up the battery voltage to 9v using a stepup buck type inverter. I would avoid powering anything else off of your BEC purely for safety purposes. Your other option besides a 9v battery is to use an external DC-to-DC step-up inverter (6v to 9v) such as this: (maybe you can get a sample)
http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/pt5041.pdf

Unfortunately, TI discontinued this so I noticed... replacing it with the PTN04050C, but downside is they changed the spec for input voltage range The 5041 had an input range of 4.75v to 14v, while the 4050 only has an acceptable input range of 2.95 V to 5.5 V; so much for being able to use a 2-cell Lipo (7v+).).

[ebill3]

Perhaps you are already aware, but the same source does offer a 2 or 3 cell LiPo powered driver. (http://www.glowire.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=G&Product_Code=RC-2K)

Bill

[Bombay]

hi Bill. I saw that. It is listed as 12volts...so I think they mean powered directly by the battery, and not thru the receiver. Unfortunately, it runs at 2000hz...instead of the desired 4000hz...basically half as bright as desired. I did email them to see what kind of connector it uses. It looks like I may end up going with the 9v, 4000hz and just add the extra weight of the 9-v battery.