[NSRCA-discussion] Scary night of flying

[Ron Van Putte]

Nicads can be fast charged.  The best charger for nicads that I've  
used is the FMA Super Nova.  It has an algorithm which looks at the  
rate of change of voltage in the "automatic" mode.  If the rate of  
change of battery voltage is positive, the charger ramps up the  
charge rate; if the rate of change of voltage is negative, it reduces  
the charge current.  It was kind of scary at first to watch it do its  
thing, because the charge current can get pretty high.  However,  
that's the sign of a healthy battery.  When the charge rate doesn't  
go up much, or not at all, it's time to put the battery in the  
trash.  Too bad Fred Marks' sons, who took over the business from  
Fred, are such bozos, or I'd still be doing business with them and  
selling the Super Nova charger.

Ron

On Aug 22, 2010, at 10:37 AM, Paul LaChance wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> Thanks for all the advice.  I have to admit I did not cycle the  
> batteries before flying this time.  They were cycled when purchased  
> and were new for the 2008 NATS.  I already bought a new battery but  
> wanted to know if NiCad can be quick charged on a first charging or  
> do they have to be slow charged like NiMh?  Thanks in advance.
>
> Paul
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lightfoot" <lightfoot at sc.rr.com>
> To: "'General pattern discussion'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 11:13 AM
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Scary night of flying
>
>
>> Might well have been a case of NiCad "memory". I wouldn't have  
>> thrown them
>> away unless after cycling them twice they showed to be weak. Periodic
>> cycling is a must!
>>
>> Jay Marshall
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
>> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of  
>> Paul LaChance
>> Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 10:57 PM
>> To: General pattern discussion
>> Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Scary night of flying
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I finally flew my Prestige tonight after not flying it since the  
>> NATS 2008.
>> I have not flown it or ANY planes for 2 full years.  I charged  
>> everything up
>>
>> and all seemed well.  Flew my first flight and landed without  
>> incident.  I
>> checked the plane over and checked all my batteries and all looked  
>> well.
>>
>> Flew flight 2,  all was going well.  Flew the Advanced pattern  
>> twice and
>> landed.  Checked my batteries again and they still read over 6 volts.
>> Engine was running great and all was well.
>>
>> Flew flight 3 and that is where things got scary.  I flew the  
>> sequence once
>> and everything was going well.  When I started my second sequence  
>> the plane
>> got sluggish and was not feeling right.  I landed ASAP and as soon  
>> as the
>> wheels tounched down, I went to add rudder to stear towards the  
>> pits and had
>>
>> no rudder, no elevator, and only one aileron was working but it  
>> barely moved
>>
>> and was very sluggish.  I shut the plane off and checked the  
>> batteries and
>> they were barely reading 4.5 volts.  This was a 5 cell nicad  
>> pack.  I guess
>> I had a cell short and kill the pack.  I was just amazed and am  
>> very lucky
>> to have been able to get the plane back on the ground before the  
>> battery
>> completely failed.
>>
>> Has anyone had this happen before?  What would cause this?  I am  
>> going to
>> get a new pack in the morning and try to fly again tomorrow evening.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for the help,
>>
>> Paul
>>
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