How do you guys that are using Lipo batteries in your transmitters charge them ? Do you remove them from the transmitter or not ? Do you just use the charging system that came with the transmitter ? I have a JR XG11 that came with Life batteries but am considering switching to LIPO primarily because they cost a lot less. I am concerned about safety of charging as I always remove and charge my receiver LIPO,s in a safe charging environment using balance charge. Is this necessary with the transmitter ? It seems to that the same fire dangers that exist with flight pack LIPOs would occur with the transmitter.

Safest of course is to remove and charge in a lipo safe bag whilst standing over it the whole time with a fire extinguisher in one hand and your cell phone in the other with the fire department on speed dial.
That being said, I never remove any lithium chemistry for charging. Most batteries I charge at a low rate 1/2C typically. If the pack shows any type of puffing, that's another story.
I trust my charger, not all do a great job of balancing and staying below peak voltage. I actually set mine to charge to 4.17. The big heli packs I will charge at around 3C rate, they are quality brand packs.
Just what I do since you are asking.
I do not remove transmitter pack from transmitter, but since I have to hook up the balance leads I take off the battery cover.

The XG11 wont handle LiPo. Best bet is to find a little larger capacity LiFe or an A123 pack.

Now, if you said you had a JR 11X, I would say, go LiPo, all day long.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with stock OEM batteries,,, keep it simple


BV

Stick wit the LiFe pack. If you go LiPo, not only do you have to worry about charging safety, but you also need to storage charge them for good lifespan, worry about cold weather performance, etc.


The cost of a LiFe is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of a high end transmitter... and LiFe last so much longer than LiPo you might upgrade to a new TX before you wear that battery out. Really making an issue out of nothing IMHO.

Originally Posted by jharkin

Stick wit the LiFe pack. If you go LiPo, not only do you have to worry about charging safety, but you also need to storage charge them for good lifespan, worry about cold weather performance, etc.


The cost of a LiFe is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of a high end transmitter... and LiFe last so much longer than LiPo you might upgrade to a new TX before you wear that battery out. Really making an issue out of nothing IMHO.

How exactly does LiFe last longer than LiPo? If you have the same capacity of each type, then its a non issue. I have LiPos that are over 6 years old, and I couldnt get 1 season out of LiFe or A123 packs.

ToI have 2 life packs that are 8 years old...and several 6 years old... They usually last me so long I write the date on them in permanent marker so I can remember. They always last longer than the plane I bought them for....lol

Originally Posted by Bunky F. Knuckle

How exactly does LiFe last longer than LiPo? If you have the same capacity of each type, then its a non issue. I have LiPos that are over 6 years old, and I couldnt get 1 season out of LiFe or A123 packs.

I have nothing but LiFe and A123 battery’s and all of them are at least 4 years old some are older

Originally Posted by Airiley

Safest of course is to remove and charge in a lipo safe bag whilst standing over it the whole time with a fire extinguisher in one hand and your cell phone in the other with the fire department on speed dial.
That being said, I never remove any lithium chemistry for charging. Most batteries I charge at a low rate 1/2C typically. If the pack shows any type of puffing, that's another story.
I trust my charger, not all do a great job of balancing and staying below peak voltage. I actually set mine to charge to 4.17. The big heli packs I will charge at around 3C rate, they are quality brand packs.
Just what I do since you are asking.
I do not remove transmitter pack from transmitter, but since I have to hook up the balance leads I take off the battery cover.

good points , Advanced Radio has a new micro charger that can be mounted in the plane for Rx batt charging of 2batts or more at same time with different chemistry , LiPo,LiFe, LiIo.
use good batts and good chargers ! stay away from the crap at discount store

Originally Posted by Bunky F. Knuckle

How exactly does LiFe last longer than LiPo? If you have the same capacity of each type, then its a non issue. I have LiPos that are over 6 years old, and I couldnt get 1 season out of LiFe or A123 packs.

Lots of published test data on A123 from evaluations NASA did for space applications is freely available online:

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/f...pl_dcarmen.pdf
See slide 9 for testing of A123 M1 cells out to 5000 cycle lifespans. The reference LiIon (probably a laptop cell) didn't even make 1000. A lot of hobby LiPos Ive used puff before 250.


If your batteries didn't last a year they must be generic cells, old stock or counterfeit A123. All the genuine A123 cells I've ever used last pretty much forever. I switch them out after 5 years just to be cautious, but I still have old DeWalt power tool pulls that have to be close to a decade old that test OK, I keep them around the shop for bench testing.

I even accidentally left a pack turned on all winter once, discharged to zero, and was able to recover it using the restore mode on a FMA Powerlab. It still shows 80% of factory new capacity, though I would not trust it in the air.