[NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries

Fri Mar 31 09:18:03 AKST 2006

Excellent advice Chad!

Chad Northeast wrote:

> Stuart
>
> For pattern I think here and RCU e-pattern forum has the best
> answers.....regardless of what anyone says I truely believe that the
> experiences posted by those flying e-power are truthful.  The
> manufacturers (thats a really bad use of the
> term)....assemblers/resellers IMO dont have any real idea of our market
> and what is required.  Personally I have kept a lot of data to back up
> my experiences...and gather more all the time.
>
> Lab testing is fine (and useful to establish limits), but its still
> significantly more friendly than the conditions the average battery pack
> will see in the field....the temp swings, varying discharges, storage
> conditions/time, etc etc etc etc.  A lab test wont quantify those
> variables.  What it may tell you is that under xxx conditions you can
> expect 120 cycles from a pack...however break one of those xxx
> conditions and you may get one cycle...I think that is the part that
> many forget!
>
> If the Falcon cells are Enerland (Flight Power Evo20's/Tanic/Polyquest
> and others use Enerland as well) then I think they will probably be good
> cells (heavier than TP for = capacity).....although they are quite new
> (in our sizes) and dont have the field use that the TP's do at this
> point so time still needs to tell the tale.  However our application
> only demands 6C average and maybe 13C extended burst so as the packs
> improve their discharge capability we stress them less so "budget" cells
> should be able to cut the mustard (I hope), therefore...more
> choices....lower prices.
>
> If you want to avoid testing....exactly copy a setup that you know works
> (maybe someone you know is running electric)....at least that way you
> will have the absolute minimum number of stepping (tripping) stones to
> worry about.  The moment you try something new that no one else has
> tried....IMO you should accept the fact that your new e-power widget
> could let out the magic smoke at any time :)  If you are not willing to
> light a match to that money you should not be experimenting with new
> untried by others equipment.
>
> Chad
>
> Stuart Chale wrote:
>
> >George has been quick with email responses and very courteous, but it
> >doesn't seem like he has the answers either.  I can't find his original
> >email but he was unable to say that there are people with over 100 cycles on
> >a pack.  He is convinced that their technology is better than TP but will
> >that translate into a longer life span?  It seems like we are being asked to
> >test batteries for the manufacturers instead of them testing their products
> >under our conditions.
> >
> >Stuart
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
> >[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Earl Haury
> >Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 10:58 AM
> >To: chad at f3acanada.org; NSRCA Mailing List
> >Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
> >
> >Chad
> >
> >Your questions are probably best answered by Falcon
> >George at FalconBatteries.com . I think that you'll find George quite open with
> >
> >info, and I'd like to see your assessment of his answers.
> >
> >Earl
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Chad Northeast" <chadnortheast at shaw.ca>
> >To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> >Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 9:42 AM
> >Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>Earl
> >>
> >>Does the Falcon warranty cover simply manufacturers defects...or will they
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >>replace any abuse/over charged/overdischarge/cycled out pack?
> >>
> >>I can't honestly believe that a manufacturer will replace every pack that
> >>fails, or they will be out of business in a short period of time :)  If
> >>that is the case I can buy 4 sets of packs and never again purchase
> >>another battery for as long as they will supply them regardless of usage.
> >>
> >>Just looking for some clarification on their warranty statement.
> >>
> >>Do you know who is making the cells?  Their other packs are APL I
> >>believe...wondering if they went to Enerland (like Apogee/Tanic/Flight
> >>Power) did for the higher C cells.
> >>
> >>Chad
> >>
> >>----- Original Message -----
> >>From: Grow Pattern <pattern4u at comcast.net>
> >>Date: Thursday, March 30, 2006 8:26 am
> >>Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>Earl,
> >>>        You raise a very interesting point, What is sponsored?
> >>>
> >>>I used to think it was either that you got paid to fly by a
> >>>manufacturer/supplier/business, or that you got your equipment
> >>>free. But
> >>>what if, for example, you got a discount on your OS 1.40 EFI ,or
> >>>free fuel
> >>>etc. Or another would be that you bought and built a plane but
> >>>your
> >>>batteries were post gratis.
> >>>
> >>>This could be harder to define than a pattern snap-roll. Hmmmm?
> >>>
> >>>To be clear to the potentially-paranoid-pattern-people",  I am
> >>>interested
> >>>for my own edification. (No hidden agenda). I do get asked my
> >>>opinion on
> >>>certain subjects and when I am not sure, I ask for my opinion :-)
> >>>
> >>>I would also add that many of the responses to the electric issues
> >>>that I
> >>>have raised have given me a much better and more balanced view
> >>>than the one
> >>>I had a few months ago.
> >>>
> >>>So, thanks in advance,
> >>>
> >>>Eric.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>----- Original Message -----
> >>>From: "Earl Haury" <ehaury at houston.rr.com>
> >>>To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> >>>Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 8:04 AM
> >>>Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Stuart
> >>>>
> >>>>I'm using the first 4 packs sold. I've 48 cycles on one set 18
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>on the
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>other.
> >>>>So far they've been fine, very little (if any) balancing
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>activity. Don't
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>have any idea what the cycle life will be - only time will tell.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>As the
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>weather improves, opportunity for more flying will accelerate cycle
> >>>>accumulation a bunch. I hope that there's no need to exercise their
> >>>>warranty, but it's a nice feature.
> >>>>
> >>>>Just so there's no misunderstanding - I gathered flight data to
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>help
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Falcon
> >>>>define the pack parameters and received a bit of a discount
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>(that local
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>sales tax mitigated) for that work. Don't know if that's considered
> >>>>"sponsored", but I'm using them because they work and Falcon
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>provides> excellent service. (I understand that they had some
> >>>website problems
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>recently, if anyone has problems with it - a phone call will work.)
> >>>>
> >>>>Earl
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>----- Original Message -----
> >>>>From: "Stuart Chale" <schale at optonline.net>
> >>>>To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> >>>>Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 6:32 AM
> >>>>Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>>Is anyone using the Falcon F3A cells advertised in the K-
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>Factor?  Is
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>>there
> >>>>>any track record behind them?
> >>>>>Thanks,
> >>>>>Stuart
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>_______________________________________________
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> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
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> >>>>
> >>>>
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> >>>
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> >>
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> >
> >
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