<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1589" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY id=MailContainerBody
style="PADDING-LEFT: 10px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #000000; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; PADDING-TOP: 15px; FONT-STYLE: normal; FONT-FAMILY: Lucida Sans; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none; TEXT-DECORATION: none; BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none"
bottomMargin=7 bgColor=#ffffff leftMargin=0 topMargin=0 rightMargin=7
acc_role="text" CanvasTabStop="true" name="Compose message area">
<DIV><SPAN class=578171217-18042007><FONT face="Lucida Sans">I put a little
piece of trim monocote on each of the batteries per pair--different colors--and
since I am somewhat paranoid about the service life, I've made a simple graph
that I mark when each one (set) is used. I can keep track of ambient
temp. B/4 and after temps, voltage after, conditions, etc. and of course--usage
per set of packs. I generally have them set up in a row for use when I get
out to the field in the back of the truck--and if field charging, I just
replenish the back of the line. Also, if you do the color (or number)
scheme--and mark them down, you'll have a record of where to start using them
the next time out--in my case it's always red, yellow, blue, and gold--so if
blue was the last flight, gold is first up next. Seems to work OK.
Due to work and other projects, I won't be doing much this year, but my last few
times out last fall I noticed I was getting some fairly large variations from
one flight to another in ending voltage flying P-07. Will investigate
that further once I get a chance to get back out there.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=578171217-18042007></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=578171217-18042007><FONT
face="Lucida Sans">RS</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces@lists.nsrca.org]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Dave
Reaville<BR><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, April 18, 2007 12:41 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
NSRCA Mailing List<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion]
E-power<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Hi Rex et al</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Yep sadly this has happen to me as well. Hard
lesson when you have a World Class, multi- FAI Canadian Champion on the sticks
trying out your plane and you inadvertently load up a set of used packs.
ARGHHH! (Lets just say it wasn't one of my best weeks of RC memories and leave
it at that.) Totally preventable.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>You need a system that provides checks & balances to
ensure that you don't find yourself in this situation as it's hard on
batteries, planes and nerves :-). For a time I was using a method (from Chad
Northeast) that had the leads wrapped together to indicate a charged set. Once
unwrapped for use in the plane they are left that way until they are
recharged. This method works well for 10S setups and those running
separate 5S packs that had both leads at the same end. It did work well for me
but I have since gone to the new FP F3A pack's that, through weight
reduction design, has the leads at opposite ends of the pack.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I agree with Don A. that the voltage check is the only
real assured way to confirm pack state. You have to come up with
a routine that confirms the voltage prior to flight. I wrote a
K-Factor article years ago on the CATT process I use before takeoff.
<STRONG>C</STRONG>ontrols, <STRONG>A</STRONG>ntenna, <STRONG>T</STRONG>rims,
<STRONG>T</STRONG>imer helps me negate any "issues" with these items once
airborne. So I now need to come up with something that includes the battery
state.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>As my canopy is the last thing to go on (switch is
inside for that ultra clean look :-) maybe something simple like ABC
for <STRONG>A</STRONG>ircraft - (wing attachment bolts?),
<STRONG>B</STRONG>atteries (both the RX and main pack voltage
check) before <STRONG>C</STRONG>anopy... I don't know for sure but
something like that as we humans need all the help we can get. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Food for thought,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Dave</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial> </FONT>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=trexlesh@msn.com href="mailto:trexlesh@msn.com">Rex LESHER</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">NSRCA Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, April 17, 2007 8:02
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion]
E-power</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV><!--[gte IE 5]><?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: #000000; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<DIV>Been there, done that... Most of us have, and won't admit it..
lol</DIV>
<DIV>I finally got two colors of bands to place around the packs...
Green and Red. When I get done charging, I place a Green</DIV>
<DIV>band on the battery. After I fly, I place a Red band around the
pack... I was thinking about how clever I was... Right up</DIV>
<DIV>until I flew a pack the other day that didn't seem to have much
power. It had a Green band on it!!! Green means go, right?</DIV>
<DIV>Some dumby got lazy and didn't follow procedure.... New
Rule!!! "ALWAYS CHECK VOLTAGE BEFORE FLIGHT, NO MATTER
WHAT."</DIV>
<DIV>I still use the color bands, but now the voltage gets checked
anyway! With multiple packs, it's easy to get confused which
pack is</DIV>
<DIV>which. Especially when you are preheating the packs in cold
weather! I got out of the habit of checking the pack voltage because
I'm using</DIV>
<DIV>the TP1010 charger, which displays voltage... Bad habit, if
you're not taking it off the charger and putting it in the plane.</DIV>
<DIV>Just for you Don, MINE DEFINITELY TOOK MORE THAN 5200+. All I
will say is that the 5300's have more than 5300!</DIV>
<DIV>I'm just wondering which pack you did that to? lmao</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Rex</DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>