Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

[retiredflyer]

  Just a question for anyone. Ever since I've been flying I've never been sure if between battery changes on the same plane do I need to power down, and then turn the radio back on before I put in the next battery.
  It sort of seems like a lot of extra wear and tear on the radio power switch. I wasn't sure if after I removed that first battery, the radio needs to start up from scratch before I put in the next battery. I sort of remember trying it once and the receiver didn't initialize correctly.
  Thanks for any input from all you pros out there.

  Keith

[yorkiepap]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Hey Keith,
There is nothing wrong with leaving your radio on when changing plane batteries. I've never had an issue. When the newly charged battery is plugged in, the ESC will go thru its' normal beeping & the Rx will activate. It would be wise to check the ESC after each flight to determine if a cooldown period is needed prior to a new flight. Personally, I give the ESC on all my planes a 15min "breather" between battery changes.

Denny

[retiredflyer]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Thanks, good to hear from someone that this isn't an issue. Kind of figured it might not be, but you never know. My power switch thanks you!

Keith

[rc-eflyer]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Thanks, good to hear from someone that this isn't an issue.  Kind of figured it might not be, but you never know.  My power switch thanks you!

Keith

Some good info in this thread http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=981780

Steve

[WintrSol]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Thanks, good to hear from someone that this isn't an issue.  Kind of figured it might not be, but you never know.  My power switch thanks you!

Keith

Some good info in this thread http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=981780

Steve

My radio (Futaba 7C) has a flight timer for each model. The only way to re-start the timer is to switch the Tx off and back on, or select another model then return. There is no other reason I can think of to switch the Tx off. That said, just be sure the flight battery is unplugged before turning the Tx off, if you choose to do so.

[Lon]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Thanks, good to hear from someone that this isn't an issue.  Kind of figured it might not be, but you never know.  My power switch thanks you!

Keith

Some good info in this thread http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=981780

Steve

My radio (Futaba 7C) has a flight timer for each model. The only way to re-start the timer is to switch the Tx off and back on, or select another model then return. There is no other reason I can think of to switch the Tx off. That said, just be sure the flight battery is unplugged before turning the Tx off, if you choose to do so.

On my radio (DX6) I leave it powered on.  I just have to push the clear button to reset the timer if flying the same model. If I'm switching models, I select which model on the DX6, install the battery. And off I go!!

[retiredflyer]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

You know I never thought about the timer reset. I have a DX9 and there must be a timer reset button. I never looked for that because I was cycling the transmitter on and off. Thanks for the replies.

[Lon]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

You know I never thought about the timer reset. I have a DX9 and there must be a timer reset button. I never looked for that because I was cycling the transmitter on and off. Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure with your DX9. But...... try pushing the "clear" button, right above your "back" button, I believe that will do it for you.

[Grossman56]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Hey Guys' the same with the DX8, I just leave mine on if all I'm doing is reloading a battery, hit the clear button and you're good to go.  I do shut it off if someone else is taking a flight and I'm going to be on the ground for awhile.  I like my radio to show an 8.0 to 8.3 charged, when it gets into the 7.9 to 7.8 range, I get nervous, probably no need to, but I'm not sure where the line is so I keep it charged up.

Grossman56

[Loneflier]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

There should be a low voltage alarm that you can't miss if the radio drops below a certain voltage. However, like you, I recharge my Tx once I start getting into the 7.8V range or less.

[Grossman56]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Yeah, its the 'one less thing' to have to worry about syndrome for me.

Grossman56

[WintrSol]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

On my radio (DX6) I leave it powered on.  I just have to push the clear button to reset the timer if flying the same model. If I'm switching models, I select which model on the DX6, install the battery. And off I go!!

Reading this, I began to suspect I could reset my timer without cycling the transmitter, so I re-read the manual. Sure enough, I just have to select the timer and press the dial. I replaced the NiMH battery with a LiFe that lasts six times a long, so leaving the Tx on isn't a problem; I get about six hours of Tx time, which is a long day in the air.

[doctormike]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

I have the Lipo pack in my DX6. I was setting up a plane and  my Tx went dead while showing a full bar. I didn't notice the voltage, so now I don't know at what point it should be charged. It shows 7.5 V while charging, so I assume that 7.5V is a full charge. With the AA batteries, the bar shrinks as it's used. I'm glad this didn't happen while I was flying! Would it hurt for some instructions and warnings to be included with this pack? Doc

[Lon]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

I have the Lipo pack in my DX6. I was setting up a plane and  my Tx went dead while showing a full bar. I didn't notice the voltage, so now I don't know at what point it should be charged. It shows 7.5 V while charging, so I assume that 7.5V is a full charge. With the AA batteries, the bar shrinks as it's used. I'm glad this didn't happen while I was flying! Would it hurt for some instructions and warnings to be included with this pack? Doc

Doc,
On my DX6. I have it programed to give me a voice alarm after 1 minute of "system idle" I also have it give me a voice alarm for low voltage on tx. The voice alarm has reminded me more than once that I've left my Tx on.

[Lon]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

I have the Lipo pack in my DX6. I was setting up a plane and  my Tx went dead while showing a full bar. I didn't notice the voltage, so now I don't know at what point it should be charged. It shows 7.5 V while charging, so I assume that 7.5V is a full charge. With the AA batteries, the bar shrinks as it's used. I'm glad this didn't happen while I was flying! Would it hurt for some instructions and warnings to be included with this pack? Doc

I put the optional 2000 Lilo pack in mine. 8.4 when fully charged and the charge bar reflects all levels when in use. Is your settings correct on tx for type of battery? 

[retiredflyer]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Well, yesterday I tried the "don't shut off the transmitter" routine while flying my E-Flite Piper Cub. I used the first battery, came in and removed the old battery, hooked up a fresh one, left the radio on, and guess what....no receiver beeps the way it's suppose too....i.e. 3 beeps for the battery type and then the usual beep tone I hear for the motor. This time all I heard was one beep and that was it. I disconnected the battery, cycled the radio off and on, re-connected the battery and then all was correct...all the required beeps and tones. I can't physically see the receiver so I couldn't see any of the lights on the first try.
Now the only think I can think of is I'm NOT using a Spektrum receiver in this plane, it an orange clone. Do you think it makes a difference with the receiver type? At face value I wouldn't think so. Tomorrow I'm going out with another plane that HAS a genuine Spectrum receiver and try it....I'll let you know.

Keith

[Lon]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Well, yesterday I tried the "don't shut off the transmitter" routine while flying my E-Flite Piper Cub.  I used the first battery, came in and removed the old battery, hooked up a fresh one, left the radio on, and guess what....no receiver beeps the way it's suppose too....i.e. 3 beeps for the battery type and then the usual beep tone I hear for the motor.  This time all I heard was one beep and that was it.  I disconnected the battery, cycled the radio off and on, re-connected the battery and then all was correct...all the required beeps and tones.  I can't physically see the receiver so I couldn't see any of the lights on the first try.
 Now the only think I can think of is I'm NOT using a Spektrum receiver in this plane, it an orange clone.  Do you think it makes a difference with the receiver type?  At face value I wouldn't think so.  Tomorrow I'm going out with another plane that HAS a genuine Spectrum receiver and try it....I'll let you know.

 Keith

Hmmm..guess it's possible. I have only Spektrum .

[Grossman56]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

I've had occasions when it doesn't bind , so I unplug the battery and plug it in again and it works. Don't know why, it might be the closeness of the receiver or something.

Grossman56 

[doctormike]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

Thanks, Lon. I'll put in the low voltage alarm. Yes, I set it for LiPo. I still wonder why the bar doesn't get smaller as the voltage drops. Doc

[doctormike]

RE: Turning radio on and off changing batteries?

I have the Lipo pack in my DX6. I was setting up a plane and  my Tx went dead while showing a full bar. I didn't notice the voltage, so now I don't know at what point it should be charged. It shows 7.5 V while charging, so I assume that 7.5V is a full charge. With the AA batteries, the bar shrinks as it's used. I'm glad this didn't happen while I was flying! Would it hurt for some instructions and warnings to be included with this pack? Doc

I put the optional 2000 Lilo pack in mine. 8.4 when fully charged and the charge bar reflects all levels when in use. Is your settings correct on tx for type of battery? 

I found that I had my radio set for LiPo instead of LiOn. The bar works now. I set the low voltage warning for 7V. Should I set it lower? Thanks, Doc