Discussion List (Batteries)

[Richard Strickland]

In fairness to the manufacturers, I don't think they really understood that
guys potentially would go out and fly 50+ flights per week.  When I finally
got all my infrastructure charging act together and made time to
practice--which wasn't all that much, I still was clicking along at a 35
flight/week pace right up to our first contest in mid June.   As you may
recall, I was using 20C 3200s on a shared cost beta program.  At 11 lbs.,
the airplanes were gobbling up 63-68 amps at times and significantly heated
the batteries and shortened their lives.  The manufacturer came out with
some 15C 4000s--but there was still the problem of amp draw and heat.  The
consensus at that point is the batteries aren't very happy at much over 10C.
The problem I had/have is anything over the smaller batteries was going to
blow the weight limit--plus, as more information was coming out from some of
the top guys that they were getting around 50-60 flights on the larger
packs.  Since I'm not a top dog, I would pretty much have to foot the entire
bill to switch to the larger units.  As it appeared to me--the batteries
just aren't quite up to the task for the average guy--so I made an interim
decision to go back to IC for the rest of the season--hoping the battery
guys would come up with something more acceptable for '06.

That didn't pan out very well either, so I was effectively out for the
season.  (Lots of other contributing factors also)  What I told the battery
manufacturer was what a guy really needs is five sets of batteries(with the
then current stuff) and immediate service for turnaround.  Have three sets
for flying and one or two sets traveling to/from.

I'm sold on electric--particularly for a guy with limited practice time.  I
could go on and on....

Richard
----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith (primary)" <khoard at midsouth.rr.com>
To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 6:19 PM
Subject: RE: Discussion List (Batteries)


> You mean the supplier didn't give you free replacement batteries??  Tell
me
> again why I want to switch to electric. . . .
>
>
> Keith L. Hoard
> khoard at midsouth.rr.com
> Cordova,  TN
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]
On
> Behalf Of Richard Strickland
> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 3:40 PM
> To: discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: Re: Discussion List (Batteries)
>
> OK, how's this:  I got seriously involved in electric power until my three
> sets of batteries shot craps after about 25 cycles each, was going to go
> back to IC for a while until it looked liked the batteries were going to
> hold up better, but my source for the interim airplane and power unit got
> later and later so I was effectively out of the loop for the season.  I've
> kept myself busy with other stuff(good and bad)--and don't know what the
> latest skinny is on batteries.  Anyone?
>
> Richard
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael Laggis" <fishgod at pobox.mtaonline.net>
> To: "'NSRCA List'" <discussion at nsrca.org>
> Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 5:28 PM
> Subject: Discussion List
>
>
> > List is a bit quiet.
> >
> > Michael Laggis
> >
> >
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