Decided to start flying again and need new RX batteries. The last ones I bought were TBM Li Ion. What are you using? The plane is 46%.

Li ION vs Li Po need advice, thanks

Pick one, not sure it matters.

Some prefer Li-ion packs because they can be more robust when it comes to handling and charging, and especially in a crash.

But lipos are performing well for lots of people, plus there is a large choice of vendors, etc. and prices are reasonable.

Just make sure to use the right type of charger and that your servos can handle the cell voltage.

Li-Ions also do not have the discharge ratings of Li-Po so make sure your energy needs don't exceed the Li-Ions output capability.

Originally Posted by acerc

Li-Ions also do not have the discharge ratings of Li-Po so make sure your energy needs don't exceed the Li-Ions output capability.

I wonder what Kurt at Fromeco would have to say about that

Originally Posted by Judge

I wonder what Kurt at Fromeco would have to say about that

I don't know what the batteries are rated at but when I spoke with him about a starter battery he said they would not have the amp capacity for that, where as a LiPo does.
I ordered the pack anyway and sure enough it would not put out enough to operate the starter under a load.

Went looking and found this on the spec sheet at Graves RC, see green arrow.

Originally Posted by Judge

I wonder what Kurt at Fromeco would have to say about that

Kurt can’t argue about the mfgr ratings on the cells he is using. Damn good quality batteries but LiPo wins in the current delivery race. Now lower current over a longer time period, give me the Li-ion. All good but Li-ion and LiFe safer and more trouble free with their hard cans.

So if you use 2 packs that's a CONSTANT draw of 66 amps. If your plane is pulling even 33 amps continuous then you have a serious issue. Don't confuse continuous with spikes. A 33 amp continuous rating means you can easily handle spikes mush higher.

And we're not talking about a starter battery. Just sayin' Apples and donuts.

I started using lipos in around 2008, never looked back. I just develop battery trays that allow me to remove the batteries for charging.

Bob

Originally Posted by Judge

So if you use 2 packs that's a CONSTANT draw of 66 amps. If your plane is pulling even 33 amps continuous then you have a serious issue. Don't confuse continuous with spikes. A 33 amp continuous rating means you can easily handle spikes mush higher.

And we're not talking about a starter battery. Just sayin' Apples and donuts.

You know, I never thought of it like that. Maybe I can cut back from the two four cell packs and only use two two cell packs. I don't do extreme and my average flight only uses about 300-400 combined mah so I know there is no high amp draw going on.

Call me old school but in other than small electric airplanes I much prefer LiFe and Li-ion batteries. If they produced LiPo batteries in cans I might adopt them for larger airplanes. Frankly I hate having any LiPo batteries around the house. Just personal preference.

Originally Posted by Truckracer

Call me old school but in other than small electric airplanes I much prefer LiFe and Li-ion batteries. If they produced LiPo batteries in cans I might adopt them for larger airplanes. Frankly I hate having any LiPo batteries around the house. Just personal preference.

I don't mind LiPo's in an ARF where they are readily accessible through the canopy hatch. But definitely not in an airframe where I can not get to them easily like I do with the Fromecos.

These Lipos are as easy to access as can be. My telemetry shows peaks of 26 amps in a full throttle snap.

Originally Posted by ghoffman

These Lipos are as easy to access as can be. My telemetry shows peaks of 26 amps in a full throttle snap.

And for what duration? But even with that, 2 Relion packs that can handle 33 amps continuous would easily handle that.

I personally use (and we distribute) Fromeco Relions LiIon batteries: they are safer and more convenient to use than Lipos:
- I slow charge them at the end of the day, and they do not need to be taken out of the plane, or vigilantly attended during charge.
- They do not discharge even after several months of not flying, so I can keep all our planes ready to fly at all time.


While it is true that the discharge rate is not as high as Lipos, if the mechanical set up of the plane is done with the proper mechanical advantage, only few pilots who fly hard 3D will notice the difference. I personally never felt any blow back with LiIons. Our top pilots like Gabriel Altuz, Spencer Nordquist have felt occasional blow back during rifle rolls, knife edge loops, or multiple high stress tumbles.


So when they fly our demo planes, we use Lipos rated at 25C or higher. The rest of us are very happy flying with Fromeco LiIon, and most of the time the Lipos remain stored away.