I've been reading up, and read that multiple charges without fully discharging can cause a "false" charge on my tx and rx batts. I usually stick mine on the charger when I get home from the field and I know they still have a good charge on them. What’s the best way to fully discharge these batteries in order to prevent this from happening? Should I invest in a charger with a discharge capability? I looked at a couple today over at Hobbytown, but they were a little pricy for just empting my battery packs every so often. Any tips or suggestions? Should I just turn them on in the garage and let them die before recharging them?? Will this cause my Radio (6exa) to loose its settings?

Thanks

Charles

Do not let them run down on their own. It will damage your packs. NiCads are the main type that can get a "memory". NiMh can, but it takes longer. The best way is to get a good quality charger/discharger. There are several manufacturers such as Novak, Great Planes, ect..If you are going to be in this hobby a good charger/discharger is a very good investment. Expect to pay over $100.00, but they last a good long time.

I have a Hobbico, Accu-Cycle (Charger-Conditioner-Analyzer) It works great :thumbup: From Hobby Town $79.99

Chazon,

Everyone gives good advice about the devices made to correctly and properly empty your radio nicad batt pacs as well as empty your pocket book. :lol:

Will not do any harm to nicad batt pacs if you run them down manually, as long as you don't let them go completely flat.
Do not go below 1.1 v per cell. Like 4.4 v on four cell flight pac and 8.8 v on eight cell transmitter pac.

Safe enough way:
On transmitter, let it remain on (with antenna extended so as not to damage rf board, this is recommended any time you have transmitter on for more than a few minutes) till the low batt voltage alarm goes off, the output meter goes in the red or power lights go to the red one. Turn off transmitter for a few minutes and then charge overnight with the supplied regular slow rate charger. At least twelve hours.

On flight pac, hangar fly your aircraft on the bench till the servos start to noticeably slow down or stop working. Or let the system idle and check battery voltage on occasion with a voltmeter while system is on so the reading will be accurate with batt pac under load. When it gets down to like 4.4 v, turm off for few minutes and charge back overnight with systems supplied slow rate over night charger. At least twelve hours.


Of course an official batt discharge device is a fine way to do it.
Pretty failsafe on not completely discharging batterys.
Some of them will discharge, record the amount of charge batt pac had left in it, and auto charge back to ready to use condition.
Pretty much "Plug & Play" with walk off and forget it convenience.


Oops...Almost forgot.
About the radio model memory loss thing.
No, your model memory settings in transmitter should not get lost if battery goes flat or even if you completely remove it from system. Some radios use type of memory chip not requireing voltage to remember things and others use a small long life battery in circuit to keep the memory chip hot.

Thanks Alvin - that's what I was hoping for - I really didn't want to go shell out $100 for one of those gadgets. I'll follow your instructions here. Gotta save up for my new plane :)

Charles

Alvin, Now you tell us :o Look at all the hotdogs and icecream I could have bought with that money I spent ;)

Alvin,

Could I get you to keep all of my batteries conditioned for me and have them out at the field on the weekends. I bought that new ICE charger. Been pretty happy with it so far. This thing will cycle your nicads and NMH batteries as well as charge the lithum batteries without damaging them. But it would be really nice if I could just get you to do them for me.

Thanks in advance.

Buzz :banana:

Hey Buzz,

With all that "Finery" you electric folks are useing now, I would not expect yawl to reuse and condition batt pacs.
Go with a new one every flight. :P

I can't even spell liepolly. :unsure:

A step forward into ancient times:
I am working on a special rubber band treatment so that you can get a million turns on a strand for powering props and rotors. :D

Arg!!! :pirate:

Alvin, I have a inertube fron a 18 wheeler I can let you have, if you cut me in on the royalty :dance: