Check you batteries!

February 8, 2009 on 7:21 pm | In Uncategorized | No Comments

It’s that time of year again! With springtime and flying season just around the corner, this is a good time to check your batteries. I’m speaking mainly to those of you who fly glow and gas; you electric flyers are always on top of your batteries.

If your packs use NiMH or high-capacity NiCd cells then their lifetime is typically only about 3 years. If your packs use lower capacity NiCd cells (for example the 500 and 600 mAh packs that come with transmitters and receivers) then your packs may stay good for longer. Storing at a high temperature, charging at a high rate, leaving your pack constantly on charge, using an unreliable peak-detect charger, and other abuse will shorten your pack’s lifetime.

Cycle your pack and get a capacity reading. If the capacity is less than 80% of the rated capacity then you should replace the pack. After a full charge, let the pack just sit for about 5 days. Then cycle it and see how much capacity was lost through self discharge. If the pack loses more than 15% in 5 days then replace it.

Of course, before each flight everyone should check their receiver’s voltage using a loaded voltmeter and their transmitter’s voltage using the transmitter’s built in voltage indicator or readout.