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Just getting interested in RC again
Hi,
I am new to RC Groups and am just getting interested in RC flying again. It has been 30 years since flying a RC airplane. Anyway I have just registered here and have some really basic questions. There has been so many advances in the 30 years, I am at a loss. 1. If you are using a battery pack to power a small beginner electric motor plane and you want to recharge it from your car battery, how long does it take to recharge? Probably varies, but as a general rule ? 2. About how long do the batteries, if using nicads, last in the transmitter on one recharge? I guess I will ask other questions....I have LOTS.. in the respective forums. There is a wealth of information here! Ray |
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Last edited by FlaArtGlass; Jun 30, 2004 at 09:04 PM.
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FlaArtGlass, welcome to the E Zone. Click HERE to checkout the FAQ's if you haven't already. It's a good place to start with the basics of electric flight, then check out the "stickies" at the top of the different forums.
CHARGE TIME(hours) = PACK CAPACITY(mah) multiplied by 1.5(efficiency factor) divided by CHARGER OUTPUT(ma) Example: a 500 milli-amp hour capacity pack charged at 1500 milli-amps(or 1.5 amps) will take .5 hours. Of course you wouldn't run your pack down all the way so your 500mah pack may actually only take 15 or 20 minutes to reach full charge, some battery chemistries can charge faster than others, several variables here. TRANSMITTER BATTERIES: I use the stock packs that come with the transmitter, usually 600-800mah capacity NiCd's. I've never completly discharged them in a single flying session because I seldom fly more than an hour or two at a time and I put them on the wall charger when I get home. If you're one of these guys that spend "the day" at the field, you'll need some extra transmitter packs or switch to a high capacity NiMH pack in the 1600mah range. The bad news is I haven't even scratched the surface--the good news, it's all here on these forums!! ENJOY |
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Nicads can be charged up to 3C, so they generally can be charged in 20-30 minutes.
Nimihs take a little longer. They can be charged up to 2C. Lithium Polymers (lipoly or lipo) can only be charged at up to 1C, so they take longer, generally about an hour and a half. For the above types of flight batteries a peak detector charger is usually used. The charge stops charging when the batteries are fully charged. Most of the smaller parkflyer type planes use a speed control (esc) which is the throttle control and have Battery Eliminator Circuitry (BEC) so that you don't need a receiver pack. The servos get their power from the flight pack. This saves weight and you don't have another battery pack to charge. The transmitter battery pack uses a wall charger, generally 50 ma, so you would charge the typical 500 or 600 ma pack for about 15 hours. Trickle chargers exist that you plug your wall charger into so you can just leave them on the charger indefinitely and not overcharge them, then they are ready whenever you are ready to go fly. |
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Ray,
Welcome back to R/C and to the forum!! I too am a relative newcomer to the R/C world. Started less than a year ago, but had some building and flying freeflight, rubber power, etc, experience about 50 years ago. My how things have changed! I am retired now, and the new electric technology enticed me to get into R/C, I've always been interested, and decided to jump back into this amazing hobby. There are so many variables in this hobby, that it's difficult to answer your questions precisely. Transmitter batteries are generally either nickel metal hydride, or nickel cadmium, and depending on the model of transmitter, and the size of the battery pack, should last from 1 hour to maybe 3 or 4 hours flying time. Most transmitters have a battery level indicator and/or an audible warning when the battery gets low. I think you already have good answers about charging times. I think the best advice I can give you, which others already have, is to spend a lot of time in this forum, reading everything you find of interest. There is also a lot of good information available from the various supplier catalogs, such as Tower Hobbies, and Hobby Lobby, to name just two. There are many websites put up by vendors and manufacturers of R/C supplies that contain a wealth of information. Also, there are several good magazines that will provide useful information, and maybe better yet, links to many useful websites. There is so much information to be learned, that it takes considerable time to become an expert. I've been diligently trying to learn everything I can about the hobby for nearly a year, and feel like I'm just scratching the surface. I think learning is part of the fun. Good Luck, and enjoy this wonderful hobby! A word of warning though, it gets addictive. Just ask my wife! AmpAce |
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Although higher charge rates are being used by some modelers, the manufacturers recommendation is 1C which means a one hour charge. If you liked gas flying you'll LOVE electric flying. Up, up and away in less than a minute...... |
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Thank you all for the above information. I guess if I get a couple of battery packs for the airplane, I can be charging one while flying the other if I use a charger that hooks up to my car battery.
Hoppy, yes I really loved the gas airplanes, but did not like the mess and clean up. I ended up with lots of stains in the back of my MG GT. But the planes and the car were great fun. Now 30 years later and 30 years older...the electric and my van seem more attractive. Funny how you start sounding like your father as you grow older! Maybe I can get a good deal on a beginner electric in the for sale area here. If I get one with a few scratches and dents, maybe I will be more willing to fly it. Thanks again, Ray |
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