laceycopter

I just got my new batteries today 11.1 V 2000Mah.....These things are Awesome!!!
My SAVS has much more power and can fly for 18mins.
I would definitely recommend them to everybody...They Rock!!
All the info is here: http://parts.rctoys.com/rc-toys-hobbies/Items/100354?
Lacey

Sky High

What kind and physical size are the packs, where did you get them and most importantly, how much?

laceycopter

Sky High,
The battery is about 2 x 2 1/4 x 3/4 I got it from RCTOYS they cost $99. it's a Thunder Power made for the Draganfly.
all the info is here: http://parts.rctoys.com/rc-toys-hobbies/Items/100354?
They are Awesome... lots more power.
Lacey

Sky High

I had seen that pack but thought it was larger than the 1320 packs. Have you actually timed it or is that an estimated 18 minutes of flight?

laceycopter

It is a little bigger but not much....and yes I timed it and got 18mins.
I don't use the DF charger I use a Vision Peak Ultra for Li-Po's and I think it charges much better then the stock charge all my packs charge to exactly 12.60. and that is peak charge for the 11.1V Li-Po.
Lacey

Sky High

My DFI charger has always peaked my 1320 Lipos at 12.65v. I'm definitely going to have to look into those 2000 packs for longer flights.

laceycopter

Sky High,
When I was using the stock DF charger I couldn't get my 1320 packs to charge above 12.35 V and I don't know how good of a job it does at balancing the cells. The stock charge has a max charge rate of 1.67 Amps, so if nothing else it will take much longer to charge the new batteries. My charger charges the new batteries at 2 amps and goes into a trickle balance mood at the end of the charge. I alway get more flight time out of my batteries using my Vision Peak Ultra.The charger is computerized and I can set charge rates and balance voltage and see the voltage and amp rates as it is charging.
Lacey

draganfly.com

My Feedback: (40)

http://parts.rctoys.com/rc-toys-hobbies/Items/100354

We no longer carry the 3s2000 battery with protection circuitry. We now offer the standard Thunder Power 3s2000 battery with velcro and Draganflyer connector at $74.95. This battery has a Thunder Power balance connector, so the TP 205V will be a useful accessory if you plan to log more than about 20 cycles on a 2000 pack.

Adam Glatt
Draganfly Innovations

laceycopter

Well that looks just like the battery my dad got for me from you guys...but we payed $99.95 for it.
Anyway I like the battery My SAVS has lots more power. I guess we just ordered it before the price was lowered.

draganfly.com

My Feedback: (40)

The picture hasn't been updated yet.
-Adam

intrim

Hi all

I have 5 batteries 2 1320ma and 3 2000ma all thunder power. I have been trading off between the little yellow thing that is so light and the thunder power tp-425. this charger has auto cell count so it dosent matter wher you have the cell # on bercause it will just find the right number of cells in your pack. Right now I dont seem to be having very good luck with either. My flight times are down and I called Thunder Power about it and they said I should get the cell baleccer you have been talking about. Now just for the record If your Hi all

I have 5 batteries 2 1320ma and 3 2000ma all thunder power. I have been trading off between the little yellow thing that is so light and the thunder power tp-425. this charger has auto cell count so it doesn't matter where you have the cell # on because it will just find the right number of cells in your pack. Right now I don't seem to be having very good luck with either. My flight times are down and I called Thunder Power about it and they said I should get the cell balancer you have been talking about. Now just for the record If your batteries are showing some short flight times and you know that you have not dropped the voltage below 9 volts. What you can do is select any of the lesser current settings. For all intensive purposes lets pick the smallest one. What T. P says is if you select the smaller one what will happen is the charger will (kind of) balance the pack its self switching between a voltage charge and a current charge. Its going to take longer to charge but in the end you should be happy with the results. They recommended their balancer and I was confused because I had asked DFI about this and was told a three cell doesn't need to be balanced.. They said whoever told you that was wrong. So I am starting to have to verify everything that I am being told and as you all know its driving me INSANE!!!!! I don't like having to askeverything twice, If someone really doesn't have the correct answer Just say I DON'T KNOW but now I have been charging about $450.00 worth of batteries incorrectly since i got them and I don't know what kind of damage or longevity they have left.

mike

mike

laceycopter

Any time you have more then one cell it is best to use a cell balancer. LiPo batteries should be 4.2 volts per cell so a 3 cell is fully charged at 12.60 volts. A Lipo charger is set to charge to that voltage if one cell is low say 3.6 volts then the other 2 cells will be overcharged to reach the 12.60 volt shut off piont.
A balance charger is set to charge each cell to 4.2 volts so they are all equal. So it will never overcharge your LiPo packs.
hope that helps explain it.
Lacey

Sky High

I checked into this a while back. I called Thunder Power and they recommended using their new balancer for the reasons that Lacey described. But, after speaking with DFI, they said that it really wasn't necessary for 3 cell packs but anything above that would be a good idea. I have drained a couple of mine below 9v before by accident and thought they were ruined but charged them up again and they all continue to recharge up to 12.65. So don't always assume that's the case just because the paperwork says it. The makers are just covering themselves for possible liability. You'll find that manufacturers tend to overstate safety and precautionary procedures because of this. Just recharge the pack(s) and see what happens. I think my packs recovered because I don't let them sit uncharged after a flight. I have also found that low batteries and sometimes even good batteries in a volt meter will give incorrect readings. I would occassionally see readings that just could not be correct. So now, I always touch the meter leads together before testing the batteries and seem to get consistently accurate voltage readings. I guess doing that resets it each time.

laceycopter

Hi Sky High,
I don't know why DFI would say that, 3 cells need to be balanced just the same as 4 or 5 cells do. We have been using LiPo's for years and talked to a lot of battery manufacturers at the fly in's we go to. All of them say to use a balance charger.
And yes batteries drained below 9 volts sometimes can be recharged, but be careful if a Lipo cell go lower then 3 volts it can short or overheat when being recharged. I don't know if you have ever seen a LiPo fire, it's not pretty. The battery can explode I've seen it happen and know of one person that lost their house and another had their car catch on fire at the field.
here is what it looks like. http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...60570423705609
Lacey

TheHindmost

All I can say to that video is: Woah.

Will

steph280

My Feedback: (5)

It's luck of the draw. I have some packs that have over 50 cycles without going out of balance, and one pack that went out of balance after only 20 cycle. I never balanced my batteries until my recent purchase of a 210v balancer, but this was mainly for the 10S packs I use for other applications.

With more cells the chance of one cell going out of balance gets higher. That's probably why the recommendation of balancer for 4S+ packs. Definitely invest in a balancer if you plan to keep the battery for a while.

Back to topic: I wonder if the 3s-2100 packs have the same effect as the 3s-2000? The 2100 cells are stronger than 2000 (amp discharge) as we found out in larger heli applications.