There is such a slow discharge of the battery when used like this that it should not need to be balanced. Like the others have said, just charge through the switch jack or main power lead.

How much weight do you need? Any battery you put in will need to be charged at some point during a full day of competition.

I purchased 3-4 Rhino 360mah lipo packs from Hobby-King for less than $5 each. They are EXACTLY the same size as those RCBUILDER.com lipos I've seen some guys using. I bet the source is the same.

I love the lipo stuff. But I bought a charger long ago for the other crap I'm flying.

I like to see how much charge goes back in after a day of flying. Helps me know health condition of a battery.

Looks like it might be time to do another group buy on switchjacks. How many of you would be interested in something like this?

Originally Posted by thecirque

I purchased 3-4 Rhino 360mah lipo packs from Hobby-King for less than $5 each...

I'm using those same exact Rhino 360's as well.
The ZIPPY Flightmax 350mAh 2S 20C is also similar, for only $2.87 from HK.

Originally Posted by Fishjunky

Looks like it might be time to do another group buy on switchjacks. How many of you would be interested in something like this?

Dang, I just ordered some a couple weeks ago...

Originally Posted by Fishjunky

Any battery you put in will need to be charged at some point during a full day of competition.

Hmm... I dunno. We're using 4 AAA 100 mhA Nicd batteries in the longshots, and they last FOREVER.. Bet they'd be good for a full day! Also, was I correct? You CAN NOT charge thru the switchjack with anything other than a Lipo charger (normal cheapy JR TX/RX charger won't work)?

Originally Posted by Extremeace

Hmm... I dunno. We're using 4 AAA 100 mhA Nicd batteries in the longshots, and they last FOREVER.. Bet they'd be good for a full day!

are they really 100mAh or 1000mAH or 1100mAH? Those are not typical DLG batteries, are they? If you need the weight up front then sure, that's all good.

Originally Posted by Extremeace

Also, was I correct? You CAN NOT charge thru the switchjack with anything other than a Lipo charger (normal cheapy JR TX/RX charger won't work)?

Correct, you need to supply the correct voltage. Do you have a lipo charger that doesn't have to have the balance leads to charge with?

Alex, I said you cannot use a normal NiCd charger through the switch jack or otherwise. You must only use a LiPo type charger to avoid over charging the pack. I also said that periodically you may need to check the balance of the cells but it seems like that will be a small problem or not needed...

We will need to find you a battery that has maximum capacity for the size and weight available including the lead weight...

Originally Posted by Fishjunky

are they really 100mAh or 1000mAH or 1100mAH? Those are not typical DLG batteries, are they? If you need the weight up front then sure, that's all good.
Correct, you need to supply the correct voltage. Do you have a lipo charger that doesn't have to have the balance leads to charge with?

They're 1000mAH (boy I've been mixing up all sorts of letters), We bought them from Walgreens, just normal AAA rechargables, then we solder them into a 4 pack. I think a 3 pack would fit into the nose of the Vandal. Seriously, we don't even top them off before flying. We just fly on them for a few days, then charge them when they're dead, and they take a WHILE to kill.

Is there a HUGE advantage, other than the need of topping off a charge, for LiPo? Seems LiPo's advantage is they give more endurance for weight. I just don't see a reason not to use Nimh, other than it's not as new of tech.

I'm sure AD has a charger that'll work, I'm just thinking of convenience.

Originally Posted by Fishjunky

Looks like it might be time to do another group buy on switchjacks. How many of you would be interested in something like this?

I could use 2 of them.

Originally Posted by Extremeace

...Is there a HUGE advantage, other than the need of topping off a charge, for LiPo?...

LiPo's are just lighter. But if you need the nose weight then it makes sense to go to something heavier with more capacity. NiMH or LiPo, it doesn't matter. I would actually prefer the NiMH chemistry if everything else was equal. But I do like the way LiPo holds a charge over time.

Originally Posted by Fishjunky

Looks like it might be time to do another group buy on switchjacks. How many of you would be interested in something like this?

I will take 3 if we decide to do it.

I might be in on a switchjack order as well... Maybe?

I moved to Logan from the Seattle area a few years ago. Maybe it's time to dust off my SGII?

BTW.... where can I guy get some 60psi foam around here?

-Michael

Originally Posted by rollinsrus

I moved to Logan from the Seattle area a few years ago. Maybe it's time to dust off my SGII?

BTW.... where can I guy get some 60psi foam around here?

-Michael

Welcome to the group Michael! Yes, we fly DLG but it's a recent undertaking for most of us. Dust off the SGII and join us for the Red Rock F3K Challenge next month in St. George (March 19th-20th).

Not sure where you'd pick up 60psi foam.

-Jim

Wanna sell your SG II? ;0).