DIY Network

New Advances in RC Electric Airplane Motors "Going brushless" with new and super-efficient motors From "Radio Control Hobbies" episode RCH-408

(Continued from page 2)

Lithium Polymer Batteries and Chargers

In the past, electrically powered planes could typically only fly for three or four minutes before the batteries had to be recharged. With today's lithium polymer batteries, flight durations of up to 20 minutes are not uncommon. Jason Cole of Hobby Lobby talks about some of the latest developments in RC airplane batteries and related chargers and accessories.

Jason Cole of Hobby Lobby discusses advances in lithium batteries.

Jason prepares to launch one of his large-scale electrically powered planes.

advertisement

Not only they able to power motors longer between charges, but these new batteries themselves have gotten smaller and lighter (figures L and M). A number of manufacturer's are making them, and there are ones designed for flying every sort of RC electric plane, from tiny indoor models up to giant-scale weighing 30 pounds or more.

Figure L

Figure M

Battery re-conditioners (figure N) are used to balance the individual cells within the new batteries, ensuring that they are charged equally. This enhances both efficiency and longevity of the batteries.

A battery peak-sensor (figure O) monitors each cell individually during the charging cycle, helping ensure that batteries don't overcharge or charge unevenly. Proper charging is, in fact, a safety issue since overcharged lithium batteries could possibly cause a fire.

Figure N

Figure O

	Figure P
	Figure Q
	Media Watch a video showing a radio-controlled glider in flight.

Chargers used in conjunction with lithium batteries (figure P) are specifically designed for this type of technology. Simply plug your battery into the charger and use the amp adjust knob (figure Q) to set the proper charge rate. On this charger, the charge rate selected is displayed on the LCD screen.

Safety Alert: You should never charge a lithium battery using a conventional nicad or nickel-metal hydride charger. Doing so could be dangerous. Use only chargers designed for lithium polymer.

Important: This demonstration shows provides some of the basic information for assembly and operation of these particular radio-control models and accessories. There are variations in assembly for each particular model. Read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with yours--whether it is this particular model or another. Additional information about assembly as well as running, troubleshooting and fine-tuning the model can typically be found in the manufacturer's instructions.

1 | 2 | 3

GUESTS :

Jim T. Graham, Mike Hines and Jason Cole
Hobby-Lobby International©
Website: www.hobby-lobby.com