Chazon

I'm hopeing someone will have a good plan or idea for creating an outside "charging connector" for my field box. I am a beginner, and have little electronic knowledge. I am using Hobbico's Ultra-tote with their TorqMaster LC 12V 7A battery in the compartment connected to Hobbico's Deluxe Power Panel II. The front of the battery compartment is held on with 4 screws. The problem is that everytime I need to charge the battery, I have to unscrew the 4 screws and remove the power panel connectors and clip the aligator clips on to the battery to charge it. First off, can I change the aligator clips on the charging plug to Banana clips and charge it directly through the 12v Starter port on the panel? Will it damage the circuit on the panel? IF I can't, what's the best way to wire a charging port to the side of the box?

Thanks

Charles

dmanson

My Feedback: (1)

Yes, charging through the starter port is stanard practice.

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Charge it through the 12v plugs provided for the starter. If you don't want to use the clips you can solder on a couple of banana plugs and plug it into the 12v ports. Just make sure you get your polarity correct when charging

Geistware

My Feedback: (16)

Like above, charge through the starter plugs.
If you want something fancy, INstall a female deans connector to the box, wired to the battery.
Then use a deans charger lead to charge the box.

exeter_acres

My Feedback: (2)

I don't use a power panel....

I installed female banana plug thingies (tech term!) I think they are called binding posts.... on to the compartment with the battery....

I thin plug my starter into that...and can charge through it too....

ballgunner

My Feedback: (1)

RCKen noted the one of the things that is quite important. I always charge through the starter plugs. IMPORTANT !! be sure the polarity is correct. You can tell by the odor of the burning charger when it's wrong and then it's too late. I just had to buy a new charger for that very reason. Wrong polarity will ruin a charger in about 30 seconds.

the-plumber

As above, with one other caveat . . .

If you use banana plugs to charge the battery through the starter connectors, plug the charger into the flight box _before_ plugging the charger into the wall outlet.

Most chargers don't much care for the red and black banana plugs finding each other if they are live.

Chazon

Thanks for the conformation. I took a spare pair of banana plugs and just clipped the alligator clips to them - being sure to insert them into the box before plugging in the charger. Hopefully it will charge it!

Thanks!

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

As a side note....I was looking for a new power panel that has the 6v fuel pump
jack....almost all the newer ones use a 12v pump jack. Cermark has a panel
that offers both the 6 and 12v fuel pump jacks....and only fifteen bucks. [sm=thumbup.gif]

FBD.