sarter battery

[Bootlegger]

  Guy's I am looking for a 12volt battery to use with a model engine starter.  I have used the batteries that come with emergency lighting systems, but they don't seem to last very long, so I am seeking advice from y'all.

      Thanks a lot..

 Oh, what kind of charger goes with it also..

[john e. holliday]

Go to Tower Hobbies.

[Steve_Pollock]

Try your local shop which carries motorcycle batteries.  They are small but have lots of capacity, and can be recharged from your car's cigarette lighter socket with the right charger, or with a car battery charger.

[frank williams]

Some have been using 3 or 4 cell Lipos.  It really gives them a spin.

[Mike Lauerman]

I'm going to use the new 'pocket power system' that Glen Beck advertises. "It will start cars, trucks, even buses!"
Box is about the size of a VHS tape, will charge phones, cameras, etc. Has outlets for everything DC electrical.
The 50% discount is really attractive, puts it in the $80 range, IIRC. Google it.

[Robert Dible]

I've been using two 6 cell NiCad car battery packs wired in series for the past 40 years.  This also give you a bit of mass which helps dampen the rotation of the starter due to the acceleration of the motor when you turn it on. 

I don't think  the LiPo chemistry is well adapted for starter use.  For one thing, they don't like sitting for long periods fully charged.

[Mark Scarborough]

I have been using LiPo 4S packs on my starter for a few years, you are right they dont like it, but since these are packs that are no longer functional for stunt flying, who cares,, they are basically junk otherwise,

[Phillip Kenney]

As said above, I have been using the 6 cell car packs for a couple of years. Batteries provide enough juice to start a Fox 74 when fresh. I found a place that makes a small rubber adapter to fit on a non Sullivan starter that mounts the batteries under the starter. Makes for a nice portable starter.
I also bought a 12v gel cell from Atbat to fit in a car starter box. More capacity than the Tower battery and ceaper.
If you want to go with the NiCad car batteries PM me and I will dig out the info on the specific starters that work with the adapters and I can send you a set. They were closing them out when I bought mine and I bought a few extra sets.

[Fred Cronenwett]

I have been using motorcycle batteries for long time, easy to get and I just use my 12 charger every two weeks to keep it topped off

Fred

[Steve Helmick]

My motorcycle doesn't have a battery. The deal with the gelcells commonly used for power panels & starters is that they do NOT like being left even partially discharged for a long time. What they like is to be fully recharged ASAP. Not a bad deal, actually, as the charger is cheap.

I looked into buying a LiPo and suitable charger, and it just doesn't make any sense unless you also fly with electrons and already have the charger, at minimum.    Steve   

[Paul Smith]

Go to your local "Battery Warehouse" and buy a 12 volt sealed lead acid battery of a size that fits your toolbox.  No big whoop.

[Bootlegger]

Phillip Kenny, I sent ya' a P/M

[Dan Berry]

If you have a local hobby shop, go there and buy a 12v gel cel from him.

[Willie Johnson]

If you want a nice setup, get a Makita drill set (for the charger and battery, drill is also handy) and convert your starter using a kit from this site:http://www.afineredgemfg.com/

The battery charges in 30 minutes or less.  Charge also lasts a long time.  It's cordless with lots of torque.  You can also find batteries on Ebay.

[Fredvon4]

Most of the 12Vdc gel cells are 7 Amp hour but many of the on line and battery warehouse places have the same size in 9 Amp hour.

If shopped for on line they are usually cheaper in the off brands or generics many times with free shipping.

 I have bought from Abatt and Portable power when I need to replace the Uninterrupted Power Supplies (UPS) batteries. Then I use the old battery from the UPS in my flight box. After it quits holding a charge reliably, I remove the +/- lugs and use in on my building bench as a weight

from Abatt right now a 9Ahr is $12.99 with $6.50 shipping.... about $7 cheaper than I can get same battery from my 25 mile away Batteries Plus store and $16 cheaper than the 7Ahr one at my local Tractor Supply

My el cheapo Tower Hobbies starter can be wired to the flight box AND has two Nimh 8.4Vdc 3000mAH in series using these holders bolted to the bottom of the starter

http://nexgenhobby.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7983&zenid=h3gc0c1hiqc6ondg90g68qdnr3

This lash up starts all my .35 up to .90 engines and does not mind being driven by 16+/- Vdc  for the last 4 years

[beercamel]

Maybe this is of little help..

But I use a standard 18 volt hand drill, with a prop bit that I made from the barrel of an old hole saw blade..  I have several hand drills so I did not have to buy anything..  it works well, was cheap.. and the battery last a long time..

[Paul Smith]

If you have a local hobby shop, go there and buy a 12v gel cel from him.

My local hobby dealer directed me to Battery Warehouse.  He gave up trying to compete.

[Fredvon4]

Off topic slightly and don't intend to start a debate in this "good question" thread

I am (I think) typical but feel a little responsible these days about the demise of local brick and mortar stores. I have always been a bit frugal and that comes from decades of too little pay and too many bills living paycheck to pay check as an Enlisted man

I learned a long time ago; buying close to the source was mostly cheaper than retail local stores (cutting out all the middle man markups)

Example: We had a RV travel trailer with Dometic refrigerator that crapped out due to corrosion and loss of the ammonia coolant... new unit $955 at local RV sales and repair center, Replacement cooling Unit (locally) $789,

 Supplier of replacement cooling unit on their web site was $174 + $46 shipping BUT they only sell to RV repair businesses.

I went on my laptop and created Fred and Son's RV repair letter head and sent them an inquiry and asked to be invoiced for any repair parts against a CC number XXXX and my business address (same as my house address)

I got a mail with an account number from them. The next day ordered the part I needed saving my family over $500.....

To keep this sort of on subject;

In a post above I implied that the cost AND shipping is usually cheaper than the typical local retail price of,these 12Vdc Gel Cell lead acid batteries and you can increase the capacity in the same form factor by comparing costs of 5, 7, and 9 Amp Hour packaging

If Battery Plus, Battery Warehouse, and Tractor Supply can not figure out how to leverage their bulk buying power and save me money, I will always cut them out no matter how convenient they may be....

I would love to support my LHS but THEY abandoned many modelers years ago chasing the latest RC ARF car, boat, and airplane fads....

In my area there are many more airplane flyers than RC electric and gas/glow car users...BUT now fule except car racing blends

Well if I have to go on line for some things I will just buy most on line so all their punk balsa, DuBro parts and wrong sized APC props just gather dust

What really sux is I personally know the current Owner and he has heard my crap for several years but apparently is lazy and not too willing to claw back business he looses ....even after I did the research with our local Hobby Lobby and schooled him on their annual sales of Midwest balsa (at the local store) (( I know their purchasing lady)) and how a small investment could restock his 80% empty bins, get foot traffic and sales in his hobby shop once folks noticed he had a selection worth looking through.... His bins of K$S metal are down to the items that no one needs....

So is it really all of us who shopped Tower (et al) that screwed the LHS, or is it Their fault for being too lazy to try and build/keep our business or a bit of both...food for a different thread?

[john e. holliday]

When I asked the local hobby shop about some props and other items, was told they could order for me, but might take a week or more.  I replied if I wanted to wait I would have ordered already on line.   They still have not restocked on some items like props and glow plugs that are popular.

[REX1945]

Some have been using 3 or 4 cell Lipos.  It really gives them a spin.

I've been using a (3s) 3300mah Lipo and it goes quite a long time on a single charge and has enough torque to start
all my 4s engines up to an OS .90

The charger is the big investment. I usually pick one of the older LiPo's from my RC's that needs to be replaced.
A 2200 mah would be adequate and they are reasonably priced.

LiFe4 would better suited, but 4s FiFe 4's are quite expensive, probably because of a limited market.

Rex

[Robert Zambelli]

Home Depot has a variety of batteries.
Bob Z.