Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[terry1956]

Hi chaps. I am finding that recharging various types of batteries to be a total pain. I have 6v, 12v and rechargeable batteries in many types of NiMH and other formats. Keeping track of their charge status is becoming a nightmare.
So how do other modellers deal with keeping track of their batteries.

[Andyn]

I exclusively use Lipos (between 7.4 and 44.4v)now, but for my helis I use coloured connector covers to remind me what is charged and what isn’t. They come off eBay real cheap - though they’re only readily available for good quality connectors such as the Amass XT series.


For the receiver batteries in boats (no drive batteries here) I just charge the night before going to the lake. Again all are Lipo, so with little memory effect they don’t care what I discharge them to

[captain_reg]

Can't say it is correct but my approach has been to standardise on NiMh rather than any form of Lipo or Li-ion to avoid needing to manage storage charges, cell balancing, or risks during charging. I tend to store them either as they came off the pond and charge up the night before or the morning of a sail or sometimes charge up after sailing. I trust the charger to detect a full charge so don't hesitate to 'top them off' before evey sail, eliminating the need to keep track of charge states in any way.

The only real issues I have was charging one pack at a time but forum members recently solved that by recommending a 4 way charger which I'm due to purchase.

[Akira]

Because I am building larger (1/48th) scale boats, I am able to use SLA (sealed lead acid) batteries for all power requirements on my boats. Not only do they provide the power, but they also provide ballast. As for supplying the different voltages requited in each model, I use variable Buck converters, step down voltage converters that I can adjust to my voltage needs. I also use dedicated BEC's, battery elimination circuits, that supply the correct voltage and amperage needs for my radios in the boats.
Taking the above approach leaves me with just 12 volt batteries to deal with, except for the transmitters needs.

[terry1956]

Thanks chaps, looks like I need to spend more time on this.

[Colin Bishop]

Have you looked at the range on the Component Shop website?

https://www.componentshop.co.uk/chargers.html

There are a number of categories and if you click on the individual items a lot of helpful information describing their use comes up.

Colin

[Geoff]

Other than my transmitter which uses a lipo (the only lipo I have) I only use lead acid batteries 6v or 12v in my models - they are usually quite big though so as above the weight also acts as ballast. A couple, a yacht and destroyer use AA cells for the receiver but otherwise I always use a separate battery for the receiver as I have seen too many problems with BEC as we all tend to sail until our models slow down and with a BEC you can then loose control as it shuts down as the voltage difference is insufficient.


I firmly believe in KISS!


Cheers


Geoff

[frogman3]

HI ALL i have two 12 amp hr batts in my ship but im thinkin how do i jion them up so that ive still got 12 v an not 24 v can any one give me a diogram ?
chrisb

[frogman3]

Re: The pain of battery’s
« Reply #8 on: Today at 03:07:02 pm »
[size=0.85em]Quote
[/size][/size]

• [size=0.85em]Modify[/size]

[size=0.85em][/size]

• [size=0.85em]
  
  HI ALL i have two 12 amp hr batts in my ship but im thinkin how do i jion them up so that ive still got 12 v an not 24 v can any one give me a diogram ?
  chrisb

[DocMartin]

Wire them in parallel.  See attached link.

https://www.power-sonic.com/blog/how-to-connect-batteries-in-series-and-parallel/

[frogman3]

Wire them in parallel.  See attached link.

https://www.power-sonic.com/blog/how-to-connect-batteries-in-series-and-parallel/

CHEERS Doc  many thanks
chrisb