Who using A123 batteries?

[sherman89]

	Quote: Originally Posted by leepord geko
	Based on the Triton Jr., the Triton EQ offers the capability to handle the latest battery technologies, including LiPo, Li-Ion and even LiFe (A123) cells It does and I don't know where your getting that information, its simply just a LiFe setting on the charger to charge at 3.6v per cell. http://www.electrifly.com/chargers/gpmm3155.html

123's require 3.3 not 3.6 vts. The new Triton charger does include a life select which will charge at 3.3vts.
geko, I think you did a mistype.

[leepord geko]

	Quote: Originally Posted by sherman89
	123's require 3.3 not 3.6 vts. The new Triton charger does include a life select which will charge at 3.3vts. geko, I think you did a mistype.

The max voltage a a123 2 cell produces is 7.2 volts but pretty much under any load I belive its 3.3v per cell or 6.6volts in total. I'm pretty sure they charge at 3.6v but maybe I'm wrong. LOL

[Goodwine]

Definately use A123s. I'm putting them in everything now, they charge fast and there is no need for regs. i run the 2600 packs in my 40%s on radio and ignition. the amount of flights on a charge is cut down, i only get 4, but if you use the hypersonic charger they charge in 10 minutes max and you back flying again. also, the weight is alot less with the smaller packs.

[Zeeb]

Okay we've established that your Triton supports A123's, I wasn't sure which is why I put in the question marks....

I've not played with your switch setup so I won't comment on it or anything about it, what I will do is repeat some information already on various threads;

Max sustained current on the servo connectors is 3 to 4 amps depending on who's test results you believe but I think it has a lot more to do with the quality of the connectors than a 1 amp variance. I use 20g. wires into gold plated pin connectors and those will take the 3.7 amp load from the "Dick Hanson" discharge device and only get slightly warm.

I use a CellPro 10S which puts out up to 4 amps on the balance leads only and does two batteries at a time. Since it's a balancing charger, it doesn't spend much time at 4 amps so that's not really any kind of issue.

I use Spektrum/JR 2.4GHz radios so I don't want a balance lead from the battery going into the rx's or you can get a dead short from a single cell to ground when binding. So my A123's only have a pos/neg lead coming out of them for the power supply and they have separate three wire balancing charge leads made out of the aforemention 20g servo leads. Even the A123's which have the 16g outputs for my PowerSafe rx's have these same charge leads. I don't fly enough in an outing to worry about charging between flights, so there's no outside access to the charge leads. If you wanna charge 'em, you just pull the hatch.

The other issue that comes up is with dual rx packs and trying to charge both rx packs simultaneously. I've yet to see a power switch which does anything but cut the positive lead from the battery, so you still have a common ground between the two batteries through the rx's. buss. This is a no-no for most chargers and can cause grief, some chargers like the Fromeco Cube can handle the common ground but they have a lower charge rate and require a separate device to balance charge.

While folks do charge A123's without balancing them, a lot of us only balance charge and recent research published by Fromeco has indicated that the A123's really benefit from balance charging for the first 20 cycles or so and then repeated at some intervals.

You'll have to dig into your specific hardware setup to see if any of this information is useful or applicable to what you want to do.

[leepord geko]

Is balancing a123's like just balancing a lipo or li-ion, also does the fromeco extreme a123's come with a balancing tab?

[TEKE]

	Quote: Originally Posted by leepord geko
	Okay going a123 in my new plane but wondering about fast charging even if I can do 5amps on my Triton Eq I don't think my smartfly super switch charge jack can pull 5amps but on only 3amps being a standard wire thats probably 22awg. I suppose I could always charge the pack directly what do you guys think.

I tried to charge using the Smartfly SS charge jack and 1amp was all it would support through a 22ga. JR lead. I just charge direct to battery.

[crazyjoe]

Get your A123s from Tanic packs. They will make them with deans and balance taps and what I like is you can get them any length you need. If you charge 4 amps or under you can charge through the balance tap. I use the 106B charger and use the deans and balance taps to balance charge at 10 amps.
https://www.tanicpacks.com/product_i...roducts_id=718

[STLAV8R]

	Quote: Originally Posted by leepord geko
	Is balancing a123's like just balancing a lipo or li-ion, also does the fromeco extreme a123's come with a balancing tab?

Can you balance a lithium ion battery?

[racefreak2002]

	Quote: Originally Posted by leepord geko
	Based on the Triton Jr., the Triton EQ offers the capability to handle the latest battery technologies, including LiPo, Li-Ion and even LiFe (A123) cells It does and I don't know where your getting that information, its simply just a LiFe setting on the charger to charge at 3.6v per cell. http://www.electrifly.com/chargers/gpmm3155.html

Ok guys, for what it's worth to you, Life IS NOT A123 technology. totally different batteries.

[leepord geko]

	Quote: Originally Posted by racefreak2002
	Ok guys, for what it's worth to you, Life IS NOT A123 technology. totally different batteries.

Hmmmm I think your mistaken http://www.a123systems.com/a123/technology/life

[leepord geko]

Also was going to use the A123 batteries I got but didn't and went back to Li-ion in my planes because here I list the reasons.
1. They are cheaper
2. Same amps because a JR style plug can pull maybe 4 amps and thats it but mostly just 3 at max
3. They are much lighter by a factor of 2:1
4. For a discharge rate they well lets say you have a 100cc plane unless your running a powersystem you won't get the max voltage to the servos but lets say you are using 2 5200mah li-ion packs connected to a power system thats 16 or 17 amps at max and your system shouldn't need anymore than that where when you add the a123's of the same capacity your just adding weight and the extra discharge is a waste.

[WrongWayRC]

I had the two 5200's on my 40% Carden Edge. When I changed to A123 the flight controls were noticably more crisp. I will have to respectfully disagree. Maybe it is the extra .6 v that the system sees, maybe it is the lack of voltage surpression, I dont have data except for what my eyes and fingers felt.

On another setup a 58 inch profile the 74 inch/lbs servos on the wings were marginal, getting blow back in some manuvers on 6.0 and liion. The switch to A123 is a big difference with no blowback....again a little extra servo power in this case.

My experience.

[Flatlandman]

	Quote: Originally Posted by racefreak2002
	Ok guys, for what it's worth to you, Life IS NOT A123 technology. totally different batteries.

	Quote: Originally Posted by leepord geko
	Hmmmm I think your mistaken http://www.a123systems.com/a123/technology/life

What he means is LiFe bats are not exactly the same as A123 brand LiFe batts The A123 bats have nano tube technology plus more ... The A123s have a much greater amp draw than any other brand LFe phosphates.

I also have gone back to Lithion ions and Li-po s more mahs per weight and can be load tested last long enough to not charge 2 or 3 times per day of good flying.

[Flatlandman]

	Quote: Originally Posted by WrongWayRC
	I had the two 5200's on my 40% Carden Edge. When I changed to A123 the flight controls were noticably more crisp. I will have to respectfully disagree. Maybe it is the extra .6 v that the system sees, maybe it is the lack of voltage surpression, I dont have data except for what my eyes and fingers felt. On another setup a 58 inch profile the 74 inch/lbs servos on the wings were marginal, getting blow back in some manuvers on 6.0 and liion. The switch to A123 is a big difference with no blowback....again a little extra servo power in this case. My experience.

This extra voltage stability is one of the reasons Im looking for a good 30c-45c Li-po batt to replace the li-on on my 40%er while not losing the load testing. I haven't felt this issue i just like progressing.

[TManiaci]

	Quote: Originally Posted by leepord geko
	...thats 16 or 17 amps at max and your system shouldn't need anymore than that where when you add the a123's of the same capacity your just adding weight and the extra discharge is a waste.

On my 40%er, I have a Powerbox Royal. It logs the max amp loads. I am no 3D pilot, just a wanna-be. I don't push them very hard at all. I have recorded 22 amps peak load a few times. I know a hardcore pilot doing lots of high-energy acrobatics would easily pull much more. There used to be a tech page on TBM that addressed current draw in a 40%er, and I recall them saying they had placed data logging equipment in a the airplane and recorded current loads near 40 amps.

I know... everyone has been doing it with LiIon's for a long time with no problems. But, it seems obvious that if you only have 17-18 amps of delivery capacity in your system, you are at risk of Rx brownout and reduced servo performance from voltage drop. Just my opinion, being new in the big-boys class here, but the big A123 current delivery capacity is a huge plus.