I have a 7.2v 900 mAh battery for a Skyfly and would like to upgrade it to something newer. It's a 6pack battery 30/50/50 mm. Looking forward to ideas
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Basically, you need to consider the following:
1. The plane needs ~7.2V.
2. It needs ~900mah
3. The kind of connector the battery requires to hook up to the plane.
4. A suitable charger to deal with LiPo batteries.
The current state of RC plane battery tech is the LiPo (Lithium Polymer), so look at some of the offerings there. You can use a 2 cell, 7.4V LiPo. So as to not change the balance of the plane, you should pick a LiPo that is approximately the same weight as your old battery. Since LiPo tend to be more efficient, they weigh a little less and are physically smaller than a NiMH of the same output. This is good for you because a higher mah LiPo will give you a bit more flight time. Check here to see what might be suitable for your plane:
https://www.motionrc.com/collections/lipo-batteries?_=pf&pf_t_number_of_cells=2%20Cell%20(2S)%207.4VLithium Polymer (LiPo) Batteries for RC Models The batteries below are sorted by capacity in milliampere hour (mAh), smallest to largest.
If you can solder, you can easily change the connector on the plane or the battery to match each other. Weigh your old battery to see how best to approximate the weight.
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Since lipo batteries have a higher density, you could even get one with a greater mAh capacity, and still be lighter than a 6 or 7 cell NiMH battery of 900mAh capacity. Flight time would be longer, without sacrificing handling.
Of course, going to a lithium-based battery would require a charger to match.
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Originally posted by thehorse View PostA question for you. I see 2 sets of wire plugs from the lipo battery. Why 2?
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To expand on this, the cells can slowly drift apart in state of charge, so one can go flat before the other (not a good thing). Balancing is bring both back to the same state of charge; this can be done by the charger in balance mode (assuming it has one), or with a separate balancing tool. Also, some cheap chargers charge only through the balance connector.
Speaking of going flat - if you discharge a lipo too much, you can greatly shorten its life, even kill it. Unless you use a lipo-rated speed controller (ESC), you will need the external monitor, to sound the alarm when the battery is too low.
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After much research I have purchased a B6 new multi charger that does all batteries. I've also located a 7.4v 1000mah Lipo battery that should be a snug but good fit.
My new concern is the wiring. The Lipo battery wires in this range of power are just a tiny bit different. The Skyfly motor wires are 2mm + or maybe 18 guage. Lipo is 2mm minus
Is it a problem having a very slight difference in the matching of new battery to the old motor?
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Originally posted by thehorse View PostAfter much research I have purchased a B6 new multi charger that does all batteries. I've also located a 7.4v 1000mah Lipo battery that should be a snug but good fit.
My new concern is the wiring. The Lipo battery wires in this range of power are just a tiny bit different. The Skyfly motor wires are 2mm + or maybe 18 guage. Lipo is 2mm minus
Is it a problem having a very slight difference in the matching of new battery to the old motor?
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If space is a limitation, I'd say that JST is the handiest to tuck into small spaces. XT30 are also small, but because of their shape, not as easy to tuck into narrow crevices. XT60 is just a bigger XT30. XT60 is more akin to EC3, which is quite common for 3 cell LiPos over 2200 mah. HobbyKing seem to love XT60's. Planes from Horizon Hobby tend to like the EC3, EC5 and Deans.
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Once you progress to brushless motors and ESCs, the connection at the ESC are usually "male" (same as the charge lead from your charger). Therefore, the leads on the battery is "female". The exception to this are some of the HXT connectors where on each side, there is one male and one female. Some HXT's are also the same as more popular connectors (male on the ESC and female on the battery). HXT's are not that popular anymore. Take a look at the different types of batteries that MotionRC sells and you'll see what I mean. Each type of connector is designed to handle a certain range of voltages and amps.
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I understand however my old Skyfly came with mini Tamiya male on the NiMH battery and female to the esc and motor. Instead of driving myself crazy would it be OK to just install a new Tamiya male connector on the new Lipo battery? I realize Tamiya are old school. Do you think this will work?
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Originally posted by thehorse View PostI understand however my old Skyfly came with mini Tamiya male on the NiMH battery and female to the esc and motor. Instead of driving myself crazy would it be OK to just install a new Tamiya male connector on the new Lipo battery? I realize Tamiya are old school. Do you think this will work?
Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Tamiya Kyosho Connector to Deans T Style Plug Cable for RC ESC Battery Charger at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
Even better would be to make an adapter now or find one to buy that will connect from your plane to the battery. That way, you can use the battery as is for future planes that have more conventional ESC connectors.
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Thank you so much for all your help and valuable information. I bought this old plane in 2006 and it's still basically new in the box. I've modified the adjusters on the rudder and horizontal stablizer. It's illegal to fly unmanned rc aircraft here in Japan. Very strict laws we're passed in 2014. Basically I'm fine tuning the plane getting it ready to take to California later this year and fly it there. Your advice is a real pleasure to study. Thanks again.
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Originally posted by thehorse View PostThank you so much for all your help and valuable information. I bought this old plane in 2006 and it's still basically new in the box. I've modified the adjusters on the rudder and horizontal stablizer. It's illegal to fly unmanned rc aircraft here in Japan. Very strict laws we're passed in 2014. Basically I'm fine tuning the plane getting it ready to take to California later this year and fly it there. Your advice is a real pleasure to study. Thanks again.
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