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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: linheart smith on March 31, 2010, 03:53:02 AM

Title: Battery Breakin???
Post by: linheart smith on March 31, 2010, 03:53:02 AM: My New Thunder Power battery came with instructions to Break the battery in at less than 3-5C on the first few flights.

What is the best method to accomplish this?

Short flights?
No maneuvers?
Some maneuvers, not others?

The airplane is a Rabe Bearcat Designed for ST46.
AXI 2826-10
Phoenix 40 ESC
TP Pro Lite 39004s

Linheart
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Dean Pappas on March 31, 2010, 06:24:28 AM: Hi Linheart,
3 to 5C, huh?
Well that is a particularly conservative number, but maybe TP are saying that so that people will actually limit themselves to 5~7C for breakin.
I know that the Pattern guys (the non-sponsored ones who do not abuse their equipment) figure 7C is a fine break-in for batteries that will be run at 17C at wide open throttle!
I think that the 7C average running we do in Stunt qualifies a fine break-in, so I wouldn't do anything to reduce the current, though I would limit the flights to shorter times (1/2?) so that no more than 50% of capacity is used.
This is especially true for those of you who will use more than the recommended 75% of capacity in order to use the next size smaller/lighter pack.

Hope that helps,
Dean
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: linheart smith on March 31, 2010, 06:41:45 AM: Thank you Dean.

That is the information I needed.

Linheart
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Kim Doherty on March 31, 2010, 10:37:47 AM: Ahem, Ahem, cough....

As one of those Thunder Power Sponsored "ones who do not abuse their equipment", I would suggest that you charge and discharge your battery on your charger at 1C for at least three complete cycles. Batteries are expensive, why abuse them. Cycling the batteries only takes a couple of days.

Kim Doherty
Thunder Power Sponsored Pilot
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Dean Pappas on March 31, 2010, 11:28:11 AM: Hi Kim,
That makes you the exception that proves the rule!
Most certainly what you prescribe can only be a good: has anyone at TP showed you life-cycle data to back up that regimen, or is it just belt and suspenders?
That would be belt and braces for our Commonwealth brethren ... LL~

Take Care,
Dean P.
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Howard Rush on March 31, 2010, 12:24:34 PM: My breakin scheme should minimize my battery expense. I plan to break into Walker's house and take some of his. I'm not afraid of his dog.
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Paul Walker on March 31, 2010, 12:59:27 PM: Quote from: Howard Rush on March 31, 2010, 12:24:34 PM
My breakin scheme should minimize my battery expense. I plan to break into Walker's house and take some of his. I'm not afraid of his dog.

I hope you can break into the fireprrof safe they are in now!
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Howard Rush on March 31, 2010, 02:52:20 PM: Rats. He's always a step ahead.
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Crist Rigotti on March 31, 2010, 05:09:23 PM: Quote from: Paul Walker on March 31, 2010, 12:59:27 PM

I hope you can break into the fireprrof safe they are in now!

LOL!
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on March 31, 2010, 06:02:27 PM: Quote from: Howard Rush on March 31, 2010, 02:52:20 PM
Rats. He's always a step ahead.

Steal the SAFE!

OK back to topic. My charger has a discharge cycle called "Lipo Storage" It discharges to nominal voltage of the pack. Like Kim sez, takes a few days to run a few cycles..
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Kim Doherty on March 31, 2010, 06:55:42 PM: Quote from: Dean Pappas on March 31, 2010, 11:28:11 AM
Hi Kim,
That makes you the exception that proves the rule!
Most certainly what you prescribe can only be a good: has anyone at TP showed you life-cycle data to back up that regimen, or is it just belt and suspenders?
That would be belt and braces for our Commonwealth brethren ... LL~

Take Care,
Dean P.

Dean,
As you know, most chargers can only discharge at 1C. Since flying a model is an "uncontrolled" discharge I suggest that using the charger is a safer more controlled method. If you have a CBA battery analyzer with/without the add on 500 watt ampifier or other controlled device then yes 5C discharge is fine. With respect to charging if time is not paramount charging at 1C can only be better than a higher amount.

Just my humble $0.02 worth

Kim.
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Dean Pappas on March 31, 2010, 09:06:23 PM: Sure it's better controlled ... and you're more patient than most!

Dean y1
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Paul Walker on April 02, 2010, 04:13:04 PM: Quote from: Dennis Adamisin on March 31, 2010, 06:02:27 PM
Steal the SAFE!

Hey man!!....I'm not giving you driving directions to my place!

PW
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: linheart smith on April 21, 2010, 11:39:00 AM: Got a couple flights in on the Electric Bearcat with the Thunder Power Pro Lite 3900 4S pack.

I am very satisfied with the battery.

Link to you tube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FHn2mdf7AM

linheart
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on April 21, 2010, 04:35:23 PM: T'rrific stuff!

Your Bearcat was one of the first ECL models I saw and helped convince me that ECL was for real. Nice flying site too. Looked like you were wearing a sport coat to fly - are you trying to RAISE the dress code around here??? LL~ LL~ LL~

So any chance we'll see you at the Fly-In this year???
Title: Re: Battery Breakin???
Post by: bob branch on April 21, 2010, 07:22:27 PM: Dennis

At least he had the good sense not to wear a tie....

.... but he could cause a trend back to bow ties!

:o

bob branch