Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Batteries & Chargers => Topic started by: Edward Pinniger on November 17, 2010, 06:40:22 pm

Title: R/C battery indicators/meters - Where to get them?
Post by: Edward Pinniger on November 17, 2010, 06:40:22 pm
Recently I bought a lot of second-hand servos on eBay - along with the servos were a few spare extension cables and a battery meter/indicator. The latter is a small rectangular circuit board (about the size and shape of a computer memory stick/flash drive) with a row of 10 small rectangular LEDs on it, and a standard servo lead that plugs into one of the RX servo sockets. When plugged in to an active RX, one of the 10 LEDs lights up, corresponding to the approximate % battery charge (the first few LEDs are red, the others green).

This is an incredibly useful bit of equipment, as you can immediately see the state of a battery in a model without any need to unplug it and use a battery tester. Does anyone know where I could buy more? I've tried searching online retailers like Howes and Westbourne Models, the R/C section on eBay, and a Google search, but have only turned up Li-Po battery meters, which appear to be completely different.
Title: Re: R/C battery indicators/meters - Where to get them?
Post by: barriew on November 17, 2010, 07:02:45 pm
Model Power do them, I think Component Shop do, and Giant Cod do, though you have to look under LiPo Batteries to find them - here http://www.giantcod.co.uk/voltage-display-p-404337.html

Barrie
Title: Re: R/C battery indicators/meters - Where to get them?
Post by: Edward Pinniger on November 17, 2010, 07:27:50 pm
Thanks for the help! Also found some on eBay (tried searching for battery "indicator" rather than "meter"). Most seem to be designed for either 6v or 4.8, haven't seen any for higher voltages.
Title: Re: R/C battery indicators/meters - Where to get them?
Post by: Colin Bishop on November 17, 2010, 07:56:48 pm
For 12v you can buy those intended for car batteries, available in car accessory shops.

They are intended for lead acid cells though.

Colin