Please Help Me

SHAUN · Post by **SHAUN** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 1:32 am

Hello, I'm wondering if you guys will help me set up my new plane. Its a Flatout cap 580. Nice little kit after you learn a few tricks to build it right. I have the plane built, now I just have to get my elecs set up.

First my question is lipos, what will I need to charge them properly? Why do I need to balance and what does balancing a battery do? A Google search didn't help me at all.

This is the battery I plan on using.
http://www.unitedhobbies.com/unitedhobb ... oduct=2054

I need to do this on the cheap

I'm also ordering 3 of these servos.
http://www.unitedhobbies.com/unitedhobb ... oduct=5456

So my radio gear will consist of

GWS ICS480Li
Hitec Laser 4
3 9G servos
Hextronic 620mAH 3S lipo

I plan on going brushless soon, but right now I'm broke, and building this on a budget.

Just to let you guys know these are a pain in the ass to build, the hobbylobby yak-55 is a much better choice and even cheaper. I was not happy with this kit at all.

To list a few problems
Hinges break when trying to snap together(Yes, I was being gentle)
many of the carbon fiber rods are the wrong length and will have to be cut down to operate properly
figment on parts is poor
instruction are useless they state that many things are where they aren't
I had to come up with my own control horn system because the crack heads at great planes don't know how to right a instruction manual.

Thank you,
Shaun

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:58 am

balancing cells means making all the individual cells in a pack charged/discharged at the same level.

eg: say you have a 3s lipo (that's 3 x 3.7v lipo cells wired in series giving you a 11.1v pack).
you may have 2 of those cells that are 3/4 charged and 1 cell fully charged. if you throw that pack on a charger you will fully charge 2 of the cells and overcharge one of them. with lipo this can be disastrous resulting in a fire you can't put out or at the very least an expensive pack will be ruined.

balancing chargers (in the above example) will be like 3 single cell chargers in one, charging each cell in the pack individually.

the same thing goes for nimh packs too but it's more a performance thing that serious racers do.

SHAUN · Post by **SHAUN** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:31 am

Thank you very much, betty.

I'm looking at this charger do you think it will be halfway decent?
http://www.unitedhobbies.com/unitedhobb ... oduct=3823

Should I use deans plugs on the motor?

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 3:18 pm

that charger looks pretty good but you won't be able to charge anything below 1300mah as it has a charge current of 1.3a.

i use deans plugs because jst plugs shit me!

SHAUN · Post by **SHAUN** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 4:19 pm

I was going to run 650mah batts.

EDIT, this would work fine wouldn't it?
http://www.unitedhobbies.com/unitedhobb ... oduct=2055

betty.k · Post by **betty.k** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 2:18 am

that should be fine

SHAUN · Post by **SHAUN** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:04 am

Man thats DC. I wonder if it has a plug for AC. So, now my question is, can I even find a charger.

I want:
ac/dc capabilities
Capability to charge 650mah battery's as well as 1500mah
price range $20-40
balancer.

BilboBaggins · Post by **BilboBaggins** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:02 pm

I Haven't found one in you price range but maybe this one will work.

3e Smart Plus 7.4-18.5V Lipo Battery Balance Charger

It's a DC charger but for an additional $25.00 you can get the AC Adapter (or attempt to get a universal ac adapter from Rat Shack or Wally World.)

SHAUN · Post by **SHAUN** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 5:53 pm

I have plenty of ac-dc adapters laying around.

BilboBaggins · Post by **BilboBaggins** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 7:55 pm

SHAUN wrote:I have plenty of ac-dc adapters laying around.

JUst make sure the polarity is correct or it'll be Puff the Magic Circuitry of the charger.

sidewinder · Post by **sidewinder** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:25 pm

I don't get it, but then I never asked either. Why do lipos take a different charger? Is it charging rate? Do they automaticly balance the cells? Is there some sort of cut off that other chargers don't have. I never really thought about it until this thread. Any ideas?

payaso · Post by **payaso** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:40 pm

newer technology. Same way a old school nicad charger wouldn't charge a NIMH cell.

lithium polymer cells are the new kids on the block. When they're out, you'll need a new charger for the newest cells on the market.

silla