[stegl]

Yup, there's cheap junk and then there is your middle of the road that may last 500 cycles but has to be left on charge over the night and then there is your $4.50 cell that
can be charged and left pretty much indefinitely until used and produces as advertised.
So if you don't value your aircraft much; go with the cheap stuff. Been that route before and it don't pay. At least not for my stuff.

[OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK]

Originally Posted by aspeed

OK, since I am regarded as cheap, I use the Dollarama AA batteries and make my own receiver packs. They had AAA at one time for the smaller stuff, but don't seem to carry them any more. I have some LiFe packs ro receivers, but am afraid to use them as my servos are pretty old school and may not take the higher voltage. I used Enelope in my computer radio, and will replace the next computer radio with them too, but have been using the Dollarama ones on my other old Airtronics radios, as I only use them for one plane per day. I have had better luck with NiCad than NiMh because of shelf life, as I sometimes do not fly some planes that often and the NiMh don't seem to like that. The computer ones I may bring a few models at a time and need more juice so the Enelopes may be better according to the rumors. I only have one pack so far, and two years on it so it is a bit early for a review. I don't fly monster planes but would use A123 with those if I went down that path. (on the dark side.)

That's where I'm at too Alan with the exception of one 1/4 scale plane that I put better batteries in. None of my planes have a mortgage on them.

[floyd]

The problem with cheap NIMH batteries is they'll never hold a charge or get to the stated MAH rate. I've found over the years that camera shops and computers shops sell quality batteries for they're customers. I've bought cheap NIMH batteries that only held a third of the recommended amps. But every battery I've bought at the above stores has exceeded the charge rate.
Cheers Floyd

[4*60]

But that does not mean that all cheap packs perform like the ones you bought. One thing is real and that is that camera shops etc do have high markup and they need to.You could get cheap packs from Hobhy King(NIMH) and they perform as advertised. Unfortunately the shipping is now out of sight unless one does large orders. Just one example of cheap/decent packs.

[OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK]

I try to have fully charged batteries every time I go flying. A good day of flying for me would consist of perhaps 3 hours of actual air time, usually less especially if there are others to visit with or watch. Battery energy consumption would be maybe 300 to 400mAhs at the most on the planes I fly, then I recharge for the next time. I don't care if my battery pack only delivers 80% of advertised capacity as I never use it to full capacity anyway!

We have 2 vehicles that have large enough fuel tanks to go 1000 kms and 2 that will only make 450 km. If we need to go into town (20 minutes) the tank capacity does not influence which vehicle we take, we just make sure to fill them up while we are in town!

Make sense?

[tommy]

Thanks for the advice, it all helps. Each to his own I guess. So at this time in life I will join the crowd on the cheap side of the street until I crash. But I know a person who has pulled packs from the dead pail and replaced a cell in a receiver pack and is still flying that pack in the same plane. and I think it is going on two years. So I guess he will fly till the finger of fate strikes.

[OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK]

Originally Posted by tommy

But I know a person who has pulled packs from the dead pail and replaced a cell in a receiver pack and is still flying that pack in the same plane. and I think it is going on two years. So I guess he will fly till the finger of fate strikes.

I have done that too tommy, and fate won't strike as long as you are aware that you have a questionable pack, monitor it religiously and don't put it in something you mortgaged the farm to buy.

[floyd]

If your not experienced enough to feel a receiver pack that looses a cell then you should keep track of the mah you put back in the pack between flying. I fly 2 hours on my 3D plane and I know I have to put at least 800ma back into it when I charge it. If I can't, that's when I'll check the pack. My 2300 - 2850 mah packs are over kill but they cost the same as the lower mah cells do.
Cheers Floyd