Ian Laing

Can anyone help me with the exact dimensions of the jack plaug used to plug a charger into a Spektrum DX6i ? (any Spektrum Tx should use the same size plug) I want to use my Graupner ULTRAMAT to charge the Tx battery (4.8 volt, Eneloop cells). I went into Maplin to buy a jack plug to be confronted by different sizes! You get a 5mm or a 5.5 mm plug and the negative pin in the plug also varies in diameter! HELP!! Ian Laing

I've had no luck with the U.K. Lottery - winning this WOT 4 will more than make up for my bad luck so far!

As an electronic engineer, I think I might just manage! Ian

Hi, Where can I get a replacement LiPo cell for the PicoZ? I'm on to my third PicoZ, the first lost all battery power the first two flights, the second has lasted a week and now is dead - I've just bought my third Pico but am worried about the LiPo life. Regards, Ian

Thanks for the replies. I was concerned about the charging and balancing at the same time.  The charging leads go across the whole battery of cells. When one cell reaches full charge the balancing circuit for that cell has to remove that cell from the circuit , it can't because that would open the circuit and  the other cells would never reach full charge. The only way I can see it happening is that the balancing circuit would have to shunt the charge which would generate a large amount of heat! Balancing after charging would mean that the cells are all at the correct voltage, but do they still all have the same capacity?  If one cell has a lower capacity it can unbalance the whole battery again! I feel I am nit picking - but having dealt with electronics all my life these are the questions I need answers to! Regards, Ian

Hi, I'm new to this whole business of "forums". I've been involved in aeromodelling all my life, worked in computer research and design as an electronics and systems engineer from '65 to 2000 when I retired. I built my first radio control sets in the late '50s and apart from some interference from raising a family have been building and flying all the time. After what I have just written it might sound strange as to why I have posted this mail. I need help in understanding the in's and out's of the LiPo world. NiCads and NiMHi i used and abused along with the best of them - but living in Sedgefield, South Africa I'm miles away from anyone who has had any experience with LiPos. My only contact with users is through modelling magazines, and it amazes me how often the most insignificant (but to me, the most necessary) details are overlooked as being so "obvious" as not needed to be explained. I understand the charging of LiPos, I understand the need to balance the cells in a battery - but how and WHEN this is done is a mystery! Do LiPo chargers manage to charge AND balance the battery at the same time? - Do I charge the LiPo battery first then balance it? Can someone just explain the course of action needed and what equipment I need to safely use LiPos!!!! Regards, Ian Laing