toto Posted May 31, 2024 Author Share Posted May 31, 2024 (edited) If the above is possible, considering that the charger is a dual port with the purpose of charging just two batteries at any one time ....... the screen on the charger splits into two .... half for port A and half for port B. When you flick between the ports, it tells you the state of each battery cell for voltage. If each port now has the capacity to charge 4 batteries each ..... using the balancing board ...... can you somehow flick through each port and go between batteries to see the state of every battery ? don't know if I'm being clear enough here . apologies if not toto Edited May 31, 2024 by toto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted May 31, 2024 Share Posted May 31, 2024 In a word, no. If you charge, say, 4 identical 3s packs on a parallel balance board, the charger thinks it's charging a single 3s pack. And you'll see three numbers only. I don't know if it shows the max value, the min value, the average value or something else. I use parallel charging for some of my 3s 2200s. But only for those discharged to a pretty consistent state, and only the same brands. Useful time saver. Note that the current into the parallel balance board can be the total current (in the above example, charging at 1c would mean a current of 8.8 amps. There will be a limit on how much your charger can output. Do a search on parallel charging for much more info 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 Toto A balancing board is "dumb". It does not know which battery on the board is taking what. As GrumpyGnome points out it is wise to only use a board on identical batteries that are roughly at the same level of charge. This will mean the total input charge will be spread more or less equally between the batteries. Note the batteries MUST be of the same capacity, cell count and ideally C rating If for example on the board you had one battery virtually full and another virtually empty it is quite possible that the act of simply by connecting the batteries to the board for the full one to charge the empty one at a high rate until the voltage of the two batteries equalise. It will happen quite quickly but even a short duration massive charge will not do the receiving LiPo any good. Obviously a dual charger treats each LiPo completely independently so effectively there is no electrical connection between the batteries. A battery board really only makes sense if you have a number of identical batteries that are all discharged in a similar way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 1, 2024 Author Share Posted June 1, 2024 Well ............ drum roll please ......... As of this day .... the 1st day in June 2024 ....... I'm flying solo. Four flights today ... the first of which was buddied and the next 3 unaided. My mentor announced that there would not be any more need for the buddy system. ...... never saw that one coming for today although I knew ( and hoped ) that I was close to it. We had a discussion along the lines of me being ableto request buddying if I was maidening or setting up another model for testing but otherwise there is no need to have it. Delighted ..... to say the least ...... Real progress at last. My next goal ..... the A test for which I have been told that I am close enough to start thinking off booking for it. We are starting to trot now but not quite into a full blown canter. Time for a well deserved beer I think .... in fact .... a few.... maybe even chased down with a brandy. Cheers for now Toto 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 Well done that man! Practice practice practice for your A now.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 1, 2024 Author Share Posted June 1, 2024 (edited) Thank you kind Sir. My mentor also mentioned today that I should be thinking of booking for my A test but I'm still of the opinion that I have a bit of work to do before considering myself ready. I just need to get things a little sweeter andI think a few more weeks of constant flying is required to get things .... maybe not 100% perfect, but just a bit tidier. No flying next week as there is motor cycle racing on so it will be another 2 weeks now. Then I go on holiday up north at the very end of June for a week which will screw 2 weekends up a bit. After that however, I have a clear 3 months or so before flying out to Zante for the best part of couple of weeks at the end of September. I will target my A test for between the middle of July to the end of September. The final stretch is in sight. Toto Edited June 1, 2024 by toto 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 Well done Toto, feels good dunnit. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 1, 2024 Author Share Posted June 1, 2024 (edited) Absolutely ..... It feels like crawling over the line at the end of a marathon. I knew this time was coming near but was a bit taken aback when after my first flight my mentor said ..... " I think we need to get rid of this buddy system " ... I thought he meant that the time was coming soon ..... but no ..... he meant .... like ..... now !!!. I grasped the opportunity right away and went for it ... I might add .... with no nerves at all. As I explained to him ...... I am not being over confident but just know I was capable of it ..... and the time and conditions were just right. The weather was beautiful and wind was non existent to minimal. Great day flying ....... ahem ...... solo. Toto Edited June 1, 2024 by toto 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 Congratulations Toto - made up that you've had your first solo flights - onwards and upwards! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 Well done! A significant milestone that you will never forget. Don’t rush into the A test, just make sure you practice the flying part and the ground procedures regularly. But have at least one flight in each session where you just enjoy flying ‘freestyle’ . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 1, 2024 Author Share Posted June 1, 2024 Yes ...... a great moment. You feel like you have achieved something. The only thing is ..... I still need my mentor standing next to me. Nothing wrong with that as such but still relies on somebody whilst trying to practice. There is often time when the pitch is not being used by anyone where you could squeeze in another flight if you didn't need to be accompanied ( but not aided ). Four flights isn't bad but I have the batteries for more. Sometimes ..... like today ..... four flights is enough. I think in todays case because of the excitement of flying solo but on other days, I may feel that I am not that tired and another one ..... maybe two could be achieved. .... the more practice the better .... but .... being able to know when enough is enough. We 'll see ..... one step at a time and today marked one huge stride. ...... buzzing now. Toto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 1, 2024 Author Share Posted June 1, 2024 Hi Trevor .... missed your post coming in there. A great feeling of accomplishment. I am now keener than ever ...... I'm thinking ..... floodlights ..... night flying ... Cheers Toto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 1, 2024 Author Share Posted June 1, 2024 Remember my previous post citing beer and a brandy chaser ....... well ...... I've had a few now. Still celebrating ....albeit ... on my own ...but will go to sleep tonight a happy man. Now I know how the red barron felt Now .... back to my brandy. Toto 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 Well done Toto. Keep up the practice. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aidan mcatamney Posted June 1, 2024 Share Posted June 1, 2024 Congratulations Toto. I knew it was only a matter of time . As Ed Stewart, Michael Aspel and Leslie Crothers once said, "It's Friday, It's five to five and it's CackerJack" You have certainly earned yourself a CrackerJack pencil and now that you have broken the ice, your confidence will soar and you will feel as if you can conquer the world , well conquer Edinburgh anyway for a start. I know how you are feeling tonight like you are walking on air and that's a great place to be. You were up for the challenge from the word go to fly solo and if Amy Johnston were alive today she would be saying "Toto your a gem and now the A Certificate Fixed Wing Test awaits you so grab it by the horns and never say die". Well done man. Enjoy a few beers you deserve it and as they say keep the wings level and fly below the clouds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Bullit Posted June 2, 2024 Share Posted June 2, 2024 Very pleased for you. Your approach to this has been spot on all the way and a great example for others to follow. Enjoy your time with John Smith and Mr Hennessey. 😉👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 2, 2024 Author Share Posted June 2, 2024 Hi jake. Many thanks. I am amazed at myself because I am usually full on just wanting to reach the end goal. Strangely enough I knew when embarking on this course that there was no rushing it. It would only end in frustration, damage and huge costs. I believe that my buy and build whilst learning approach has been correct as due to my initial patchy air time, having some models to play around with has kept my mojo up. I realise that not everyone can afford to do this .... but no disrespect meant there ...... I have been fortunate. I am now starting to see progress and can start to see the bigger picture ...... its great. I've been in a heavy conversation withe Mr Red Wine today and dare not mix with Mr John Smith nor Mr Hennessy .... that whilst inviting ...... would prove fatal for my work prospects tomorrow...... Many thanks to you and all my forum buddies that have shown me such tremendous support over the last year and more ..... so much appreciated and keep me going. I'm sure I will get there with all your help and encouragement. Toto 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Lewis 3 Posted June 2, 2024 Share Posted June 2, 2024 58 minutes ago, toto said: Many thanks. I am amazed at myself because I am usually full on just wanting to reach the end goal. Oh Toto, gaining flying solo status or even passing your A Test isn't the end goal, it's just the true beggining of a trully wonderful journey that never ends. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 2, 2024 Author Share Posted June 2, 2024 I agree but you need to get past that reliance on others to truly free you up and put the time in. If anyone watched me fly at the moment, I wouldn't even be average. Part 2 of the journey is probably the longest part ..... becoming even slightly proficient ..... before becoming convincing. I'll keep climbing steady and sure. Toto 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted June 2, 2024 Share Posted June 2, 2024 56 minutes ago, Philip Lewis 3 said: Oh Toto, gaining flying solo status or even passing your A Test isn't the end goal, it's just the true beggining of a trully wonderful journey that never ends. Don't worry Phil, Toto has bought my book! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 2, 2024 Author Share Posted June 2, 2024 Hi Peter, Rightly pointed out as I believe that you would also allude to the A cert being only a license to start practicing for proficiency. Maybe a manual rather than a book. Cheers Toto 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trevor Posted June 3, 2024 Share Posted June 3, 2024 And just be aware that you are now entering the most accident-prone stage of the journey! A moment’s disorientation perhaps when you’ve flown a bit too far away, an inadvertent fly through the sun, looking away to check on other models or just someone talking to you on the flight line. Any of these and plenty more situations will result in a pulse-quickening moment. You’ll probably recover most of the time, and ratchet up the learning a bit more as a result, but odds are you won’t get through the next few months without getting caught out by something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toto Posted June 3, 2024 Author Share Posted June 3, 2024 Hi Trevor, It has to happen at some point. I will be no different from anyone else ...... a huge ..... gut wrenching ...... confidence destroying moment. Hopefully not to often but something I think every modeller / flyer experiences. The walk of shame ...... Cheers Toto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuban8 Posted June 3, 2024 Share Posted June 3, 2024 1 hour ago, Trevor said: And just be aware that you are now entering the most accident-prone stage of the journey! A moment’s disorientation perhaps when you’ve flown a bit too far away, an inadvertent fly through the sun, looking away to check on other models or just someone talking to you on the flight line. Any of these and plenty more situations will result in a pulse-quickening moment. You’ll probably recover most of the time, and ratchet up the learning a bit more as a result, but odds are you won’t get through the next few months without getting caught out by something. Absolutely right. Stick to a flight plan, keep positioning as accurate as you can and at this stage avoid 'freestyling' as much as possible. Well done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted June 3, 2024 Share Posted June 3, 2024 Toto Don't treat a crash as a 'walk of shame' but more a 'badge of honour'. You have joined the club. We have all crashed. The important aspect is to work out truthfully why it happened so you can take action to avoid it happening again. The old saying is "If you haven't crashed then you are not trying hard enough" and that applies to building planes as well as flying them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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