Who using A123 batteries?

[HuckinChikn]

Well I'm finally in the A123 club! Yesterday I picked up 2 of the 2300 packs.
I cant install them in my katana until i get a charger though.
What chargers are you guys using?

[Scott Gerber]

Cell Pro 4 from FMA Direct, plug and play, charged in less than 40 minutes at the field if you want....


Scott

[KrisW]

	Quote: Originally Posted by macanaw
	There seems to be a lot of different assumptions regarding the weight difference on the a123's vs Li-ion. I have the cells from the dewalt packs and here are the weights on a calibrated scale. a123 4600 mha 2s2p - 10.6 Fromeco 5200 mha 2s2p - 7.2 Difference being 3.4 oz Add the weight of regulators and your about 1.5 oz difference in weight (depending on what regulators you choose). Be careful when looking at weights published by manufacturers as they often don't include wires and deans connectors in their published weights. David

Okay, CURRENT CAPACITY of the packs:

A123 2300 2s2p (4600) 92 amps (20C )
Fromeco 2600 2s2p (5200) 15 amps (3C), 2 packs is 30 amps. . double the weight

Which means that even running TWO of the 5200ma 2s2p packs you still have less current capacity at full draw than a single A123 pack.

So, for a plane that has a max load of 30 amps, you wind up using TWO Fromeco 5200 packs, plus regulators, to supply the power, versus one 2s2p A123 pack.

Let's redo the weights, considering a 30 amp max load:

Single A123 2s2p (4600 ma, 92 Amps max capacity draw). . 10.6 ounces
DUAL Fromeco 2s2p (5200ma, 30 amps max capacity). . 14.4 ounces.

Now addin the dual 1.5 ounce Fromeco regulators for another 3 ounces. . total for Fromeco is about 17.5 ounces versus 10.6 for the A123's, a 7 ounce savings.

Add in the ability of the A123's to be "reborn" after being totally discharged, cost of about $25/pack if you build them yourselves versus $55 or more for the 5200 Fromeco pack (plus $50 reguilator per pack), and you just cut your cost of powering your plane to 25% of what it used to be, at substantial weight savings, while giving it a lot more power to use on demand.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Fromeco stuff. . I have many packs. But as soon as I get another Dewalt battery pack, all my 5200 2s2p's and regulators are going on the shelf. Can';t see a reason to carry the extra weight and complexity, as well as $$$$ in the plane.

[mikel7099]

	Quote: Originally Posted by HuckinChikn
	Well I'm finally in the A123 club! Yesterday I picked up 2 of the 2300 packs. I cant install them in my katana until i get a charger though. What chargers are you guys using?

Cell Pro 4

[HuckinChikn]

I picked up the A123 racing brand charger. It is too cool seeing my flight batteries
charge in 15 minutes! I do have one concern though...
Like i said, i'm using 2 of the 2300 packs, going through 2 JR heavy duty switches,
and into my two recievers...The leads coming off of the batteries are big thick
like, 12gauge wire i believe, but the JR switches have much smaller wires.
Will i have any problems with current overload or anything? I'm pretty dumb
with that stuff, so I figured I should ask you guys that would know

[Scott Gerber]

The limiting item is the connectors on the switch leads and servos, the wire is heavy enough especially since you have split the load between two receivers.


Scott

[HuckinChikn]

I'm using ultra deans for the connectors So i suppose i will be okay. The JR switches
are temporary, as I have a spektrum 9100 powersafe reciever on order

[Scott Gerber]

I assume you will be using two batteries and the one 9100 receiver (soft switch) when it you get it? If, so you should be good to go with no worries about wires and connectors. Just make sure you check and repair the soft switch as per their online service update....


Scott

[HuckinChikn]

yep, that is my plan. it seemed to be a pretty fool-proof setup, so thats what i'm going to go with I ordered the rx early this week, so it should be here soon.

[Scott Gerber]

Good luck Jared, I went with JR's counterpart to the 9100, the R921 and will be doing mostly the same as you however just one A123 for my 50cc Yak....

Scott

[Dan_nO]

From what I have understood you cant load check the 123's like lions,in talking to Kurt from Fromeco the Kodiak switch they designed, what it does it shows how many ma has been take/used out of the battery, that is how you know how much battery is left.

[dubd]

I ordered some from Fromeco 3 weeks ago... still waiting for them.

[Dan_nO]

Yup, just be patient with them, Kurt and them are working pretty much 7 days a week, you outa get them soon.

[66stang]

Fromco's are sweet batteries. Just flew 5 ten minute flights today. Probably could do it for another day too. Played it safe and recharged for tomorrow. Took a whole 15 minutes to charge.!!!

[Dan_nO]

Thats one thing with the 123 batts, doesnt take long to charge em.