Author Topic: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests? (Read 5133 times)

Shug Emery · « **on:** May 28, 2016, 06:31:31 AM »

How and what methods do most use to charge Lipos for out of town contests when you will be in hotel rooms?
Do you charge in the hotel?
Charge at field?
Thanks for any intel.
I am thinking I would bring an ammo box and use the bathroon tub or shower (dry of course) as a fail-safe.

Shug

John Cralley · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2016, 06:45:58 AM »

I would say ammo in the tub is overkill but then you can never be too safe!!

I use a quality charger and a LiPo bag on the bathroom counter!

Bob Hudak · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2016, 06:55:44 AM »

Shug I go with the odds of anything happening. I charge on the table thats usually by the entry door. The batteries are charged right before bedtime while relaxing in the room. You should know about how long it will take to charge what you need so you don't fall asleep while charging and watching CSI. This method is not the safest but the batteries behaved prior to the contest and I don't change the charge method at the motel to speed things up.

p.s. tub idea is good. Bob

William DeMauro · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2016, 07:06:01 AM »

I charge at the hotel, the night before. This is the only time I charge my batteries in advance.

Motorman · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2016, 07:30:06 AM »

I wouldn't put my charging rig near any water feature.

MM

Frank Imbriaco · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2016, 07:46:35 AM »

For contests requiring an overnite at a hotel ,I used to bring my converter along with my charger .The morning of the contest, I used to get up early to charge. No more.
Now I get to the field an hour or so before the contest, connect the charger to my vehicle battery and hangout. Unless you are planning to squeeze in practice flights before the meet, the vehicle battery will do them (depending upon size and # of charger ports) in roughly 30 min for 4S 2700 and 40 min for 4S 3900 @ 1C. Put in more juice; time reduced. I personally do not like charging batteries more than 5 hours prior to use. Of course, no danger to even 8 hours before BUT the longer the battery has to keep the full charge, the worse it is for it in terms of longevity ( # of cycles realized). As a practice, I also put them into storage as quickly as possible after a flight. Don't wait until the next day.
One more thing- I don't go overboard with using my vehicle battery. If required ,I start the vehicle and run it for 15 min.

RknRusty · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2016, 03:45:56 PM »

We built a charging system at Huntersville, up next to the pavilion. It has solar cells on top of a conex box that feed storage cells inside, and a table built against the side of it with an 8'(or so) pair of hot rails built into a protective enclosure that you can clamp on to. I should have taken a picture of it, I'll see if I can find one.
Rusty

Shug Emery · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2016, 06:37:32 PM »

Thanks for the responses feller.....helps a lot.
I of course would be using a wiped down dry tub or shower. Just a thought. May just use the car and parking lot.
I did not know the part about a charged battery having a shorter life. Good intel.
Shug

Fred Underwood · « **Reply #8 on:** May 29, 2016, 03:11:07 PM »

Batteries don't like to set for long at full charge. You could help yourself, and your car battery, to charge the batteries to some % between storage and full, then there is less field charging. I just did that for travel, charged to about 80 - 85% and then a quick top after I arrived. Of course the slow part of charging is the finishing of the charge as the charger slows, many times to a rate of C/20. It still takes field time, but not so much car battery.

SDF · « **Reply #9 on:** May 29, 2016, 03:26:17 PM »

If the hotel tub is GRP it may burn better than the table.

Shug Emery · « **Reply #10 on:** May 29, 2016, 03:52:31 PM »

Quote from: Fred Underwood on May 29, 2016, 03:11:07 PM

Batteries don't like to set for long at full charge. You could help yourself, and your car battery, to charge the batteries to some % between storage and full, then there is less field charging. I just did that for travel, charged to about 80 - 85% and then a quick top after I arrived. Of course the slow part of charging is the finishing of the charge as the charger slows, many times to a rate of C/20. It still takes field time, but not so much car battery.

Thankee....

Quote from: SDF on May 29, 2016, 03:26:17 PM

If the hotel tub is GRP it may burn better than the table.

...but still in an ammo box and in a protective charger bag.

Will Davis · « **Reply #11 on:** May 29, 2016, 07:07:55 PM »

Quote from: RknRusty on May 28, 2016, 03:45:56 PM

We built a charging system at Huntersville, up next to the pavilion. It has solar cells on top of a conex box that feed storage cells inside, and a table built against the side of it with an 8'(or so) pair of hot rails built into a protective enclosure that you can clamp on to. I should have taken a picture of it, I'll see if I can find one.
Rusty

Shug,

Most of the time I charge my batteries in the hotel room the night before the contest . As others have mentioned, the lipo. Battery does not like being stored at anything other than storage charge. The more time they stay close to storage voltage the longer life you will get out of the battery.

At huntersville I arrive with all of my batteries at storage charge, then charge as I fly , usually charging three batteries at a time.

As Rusty mentioned, we have a well built and very user friendly charging station at huntersville now. I used it at the May contest for the first time .

Shug Emery · « **Reply #12 on:** May 29, 2016, 09:30:04 PM »

Quote from: Will Davis on May 29, 2016, 07:07:55 PM

Shug,

Most of the time I charge my batteries in the hotel room the night before the contest . As others have mentioned, the lipo. Battery does not like being stored at anything other than storage charge. The more time they stay close to storage voltage the longer life you will get out of the battery.

At huntersville I arrive with all of my batteries at storage charge, then charge as I fly , usually charging three batteries at a time.

As Rusty mentioned, we have a well built and very user friendly charging station at huntersville now. I used it at the May contest for the first time .

That is a right goodie having a charging station right at the field Will. I am liking electric. My P-40 with .46 from RSM is doing well.
Hoping to get down again. Need a Carolina hot dog!

NED-088 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 01, 2016, 11:57:38 AM »

Quote from: Shug Emery on May 28, 2016, 06:31:31 AM

How and what methods do most use to charge Lipos for out of town contests when you will be in hotel rooms?
Do you charge in the hotel?
Charge at field?
Thanks for any intel.
I am thinking I would bring an ammo box and use the bathroon tub or shower (dry of course) as a fail-safe.

Shug

On the contest I happened to attend last month there was no way I could bring my standard fire proof case, so I brought my batteries in LiPo bags.
Had to take them in my cabin luggage. Was also easier with airport security.
Then there was the problem of my mains plugs not being compatible. I had an adaptor block for all continents to connect to my European (Dutch) style plugs.
Charging we did outside, in the open air, but sheltered pit area.

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #14 on:** June 02, 2016, 07:38:16 PM »

I charge the batteries in a fire proof safe, The fire proof safe doubles as the storage container for my chargers then I put the batteries inside the fire proof safe to charge the batteries. There are small slots in the safe for the wires to exit the safe with it locked shut. The charger is on the table while the battery is locked in the safe while charging.

There are some photos on our club website

https://lafayetteesquadrillecl.wordpress.com/lafayette-esquadrille-cl/cl-models/lipo-batteries-and-safety/

Fred

Author Topic: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests? (Read 5133 times)

Shug Emery

Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

John Cralley

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Bob Hudak

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

William DeMauro

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Motorman

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Frank Imbriaco

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

RknRusty

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Shug Emery

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Fred Underwood

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

SDF

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Shug Emery

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Will Davis

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Shug Emery

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NED-088

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?

Fred Cronenwett

Re: Charging batteries for Out of Town contests?