Two batteries in a plane?

[Lee Smalley]

can i also throw a british manufacturer in the frame please SM services i have been using their battery backer for some years now and its always been good, it does not look as good as the powerbox but for 20 quid what do you want !! it takes 2 6 volt packs regulates to 5 volts and if one pack voltage falls it switches to the other

 

http://www.smservices.net/

 

 

[Craig Spence]

Hi Lee,

 

thanks very much, had a look on the website but will be sticking with the powerbox 12. That site is very good though and ill be going back there later.

 

Cheers Lee.

 

Craig.

[David Ashby - Moderator]

Did you speak to Dave W Craig?

[Augusto]

Hi all,

 

very good stuff in here, I for myself use Sir Mick Reeves system :

http://www.mickreevesmodels.co.uk/~mickreev/mickscha.htm ( see at Bateries)

 

it's easy, simple and works ... and Mick is a champion!

 

Cheers,

 

Augusto

Edited By Augusto on 11/10/2010 11:38:22

[Lee Smalley]

powerbox stuff is very good and the extra bling factor is very nice they look very professional and if you can afford it why not its a shame sm services do not advertise a bit more there stuff does work and work well, and in these tight times the prices are very welcome 

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Posted by Augusto on 11/10/2010 11:36:48:

Hi all,

 

very good stuff in here, I for myself use Sir Mick Reeves system :

http://www.mickreevesmodels.co.uk/~mickreev/mickscha.htm ( see at Bateries)

 

it's easy, simple and works ... and Mick is a champion!

 

 I'm with you and Mick Reeves on this one (see post 7/10) but with one reservation - I'm not comfortable with Mick's assertion that it's OK to use different cell counts. This could lead to charging from one pack to the other with a possibility of cell damage if overcharging results. Despite various opinions on the thread I still prefer to introduce redundancy instead of increasing potential failure points with "blingy" electronics.

[Augusto]

Hi Martin,

 

I totally agree with your argumentation, namelly about the use of different cell counts; In this matter I think in the same way as you, with reservation 

 

Regards,

 

Augusto

[Lee Smalley]

not much use the mick reeves way if you wish to use lipos the powerbox and the sm services regulate to 5 volts and the sm services only uses 1 battery at a time if that fails it switches to the other and so the failure rate is the same as micks system i use 6 volt packs and the fact the unit regs this to 5 volts stops the jr servos from throwing their toys outta the pram 

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

...unless the regulator fails or the switching system goes awry.  I haven't left NiCds yet but will probably go down the A123 route when I do, allowing charging in situ  -  possibly with a diode in series to knock the edge off the voltage.

 

If you must use Li Pos then i's probably a very reasonable choice.

[Lee Smalley]

i have been using sm services for 2 years now and never had a problem i don't use lipos myself i use Nimh and i do not have a problem they don't self discharge horribly and are more than able to deliver the current for any of my models, i always charge in situ

[Lee Smalley]

i personally don't understand why people use lipos as a rx supply nimh provide more than enough current as long as you use good uns and the weight is about the same, i think scaremongering has beaten the poor old nimh

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

I can't say that I've any confidence in NiMHs having seen several fail including a couple of my own which have not lasted despite being "branded" names and not abused. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that any of these power boxes or regulators are particularly likely to fail but my philosophy is to reduce single points of failure wherever possible and keep things as simple as possible.

[Lee Smalley]

weird never had a single one fail!!  i have about 20 vapex 6v 2000mah packs now and all are top stuff