Model Electronics Corporation

Correct charging voltage

Fboss38 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:58:14 GMT

I charge using a Mastech HY5020E power supply, not a dedicated charger. It has adjustable voltage and current. My question is this, what should I use as the "chrarge to voltage" per cell. If the answer was/is 3.3, then Id set my voltage to 6.6 for a 2s pack. What I have been doing is seting voltage at 3.7v or 7.4 for a 2s. Id like to know what it should be per cell. Also since Im here what can I expect my voltage drop to be under load. I will be using a 10s set up on a Tango 10-08 (800KV) ...

Power Tubes

wnewbury — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:05:25 GMT

I have been using the power tubes for several years with NiMH cells. They work very well. I like the ability to replace a bad cell and especially I like that the cells do not need to be damaged by heating them to soldering temperature.

plastic end caps

dirtybird — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:07:57 GMT

I just wonder why you have to go all the way to China for end caps. Its nothing but a simple piece of plastic.

I made my own with a heat gun and a piece of plastic I got from a cookie package from the grocery store.

MX-80 speed controler

Modelbuilder97355 — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:17:59 GMT

Can some one please tell me what the number of ni-cad cells the old MX-80 will handle?

charger question?

flipzflyers — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:58:31 GMT

Can I use a triton green dot version to charge a123 4cell 2300mah? If so what would be the setup?

Brushed Turbo 10 Plus question...

MountainJohn — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 19:56:42 GMT

I have a lightly used MEC Turbo 10 Plus brushed motor and 6:1 gearbox that I picked up a while back. I'd like to use this in a project but need to find out the max amps and voltage for this motor. Can anyone help?

Thanks,

John

Powerpole Connectors

DENI — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:25:45 GMT

Hi Pete,

Re the Powerpole connectors that you supply fitted to your A123 Power-tubes

I had used these previously, but tended to shy away from them as I read that they they were not recommended to carry more than 30 amps, what is your opinion/experience ??

Thanks - - - Deni

International order

wismer — Fri, 23 May 2008 14:10:15 GMT

Hi ,

I will soon buy A123 cell or pack, then i would like to know if MEC accept international order ?

bye

A123 1100 Charging

sevenm99 — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:47:10 GMT

Hello,

Just getting started with electric flying and I've decided to try using the A123 technology. I've purchased a couple of the 4S A123 1100 packs from MEC as well as the A123 Li-Ion Charger. I'm still learning about charging rates but one of the things that interested me with the A123 packs was the fast recharge.

So my question is, which power supply should I get (specs) to be able to charge the batteries in around 10 minutes?

Thanks,

Mark Sobel

A balancing tap necessary for charging A123 Cells in SPT using AstroFlight charger?

kitty20155 — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:45:53 GMT

Since there's no tap on SPT and you're selling AstroFlight Chargers.

I'm guessing a balancing tap is NOT necessary for charging A123 Cells in SPT using AstroFlight charger?

I read the charger's manual and it's kind of vague about how to charge A123 cells in SPT.

Thank you in advance!

Custom Battery Packs

Gimpster — Thu, 29 May 2008 01:44:15 GMT

I am planing to build a new plane this winter and am thinking of using A123 packs for this plane, the New PA Extra 260. I also plan to use my FMA Direct Cellpro 4s charger. This charger only has a 4s ballance tap for charging packs. Is it posible to get your 4S1P A123 packs with their ballance connector installed. And what would be the extra cost involved for custom work like that?

Thank you,

Gimpster

Controllers

Bob Stewart — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:49:06 GMT

I want to go to A123 cells, but have some nice 100 amp (Aveox) controllers that do not have an adjustable cutoff. The site 'fly electric' states that A123s can be taken down to 1.0 volts, although not recommended.

My controller measures the initial battery voltage and cutoff is 50% of that. Assuming a fully charged 4 cell pack is at 3.6 v. per cell or total of 14.4 volts. (I realize they drop to about 3.00 under load, but this doesn't affect the controller cutoff). The controller will then ...

Current setting for optimal 2300mah A123 charging?

Merf — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:07:06 GMT

On the Astro Flight A123 charger it states:"Charge A123 cells at 5 A". It was my understanding that these cells can be safely charged at a 4C rate, which is equivalent to a charge rate of 9.2 A - why the 5 A instruction?

DeWalt Cells

SVincent — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:17:01 GMT

I have an new intact DeWalt 36V pack, and I'm considering using SPTs to make the DeWalt cells into two 5S1P packs.

1) To use the SPTs, can I leave the cardboard sleeves on the cells or should I remove them and use heatshrink to insulate them again?

2) And what to do with the tabs? Leave them on and trim them to fit the sleeves? Reading from the notes on the MEC site, peeling off the tabs is discouraged in order to not "leave holes in the battery case."

Nimh 6 cell pack

redcard — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:40:00 GMT

Hello,

Are your nimh packs ($42.50) constructed using the solderless power tubes?

Balance A123 ?

Bob Stewart — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:22:41 GMT

The A123 Power Tube packs cannot be balanced during charging, as there are no tap wires. Can these packs be kept balanced by occasional trickle charging, as with NiMh? This is my guess, since the A123 can tolerate some charge input after full charge.

Hyperion EOS 0610inet charger

watersteps — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:38:41 GMT

Hello, I could use some help with a wire location problem. I just started building my own A123 packs, they are 4S1P packs. I decided to install the balance wires while I build each pack. OK the pack is done and I have a female connector for a 4S1P which has 5 wire connections in it. Each wire is labeled on my pack 1 thru 4 and one black wire for ground. My problem is I don't know where to place the ground wire!!

I thought I could determine this by looking at the balance plug in bar that connects ...

A123 packs

Tyler — Mon, 19 May 2008 07:26:00 GMT

I recently ordered a few receiver packs from Pete that are 2300mah A123 2s1p. I installed the first one into my 50 sized Compass Models Knight 50 3D helicopter after having Duralite and Fromeco li-ion packs fail to last even a few months. I must say, I am pleasantly surprised by the fast charging these cells can take. I hit them with 9 amps via an Astroflight A123 charger. I get three flights in then charge in 12 minutes!

Next, I used the same 2 cell configuration to power my 5 year ...