LiPo batteries

It is almost 9 months since I charged the new LiPo batteries for storage. Unfortunately I still have not used the 4s 4500 batteries since then but I do check them every 4 months to see how they are. They have been good so I have not had to do anything with them. I decided on this visit to replenish the storage charge on all of the batteries. I was shocked to find out that all of the batteries were almost perfect with only a few minutes of charging required, but the two 4s batteries, the oldest, did not take a charge at all. They are still very good. I will use them when I return here in August.

10 hours ago by 🇬🇧 MouldBuilder ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)

RC & Electrics

Tug towing

Hi George, Yes. I ran mine on 12V without problems but not all day long at full bore!💥 Remember, even if the batt attached to the ESC is 12V you are not always applying the full 12 to the motor. (Or are you?😉 A 'pedal to metal' kinda guy?) Even at full bore the supply voltage to the motor is pulsed by the ESC so the average V applied is less than 12V. Just in case start with a 7.2 / 7.4V accu (NiMh 6 cell / LiPo 2S). You should be able to go to 9.6V (8 cell NiMh) without problems. Check the motor temp with your finger tips on testing. If you can keep your digits on the motor without screaming you're OK😊 As said by others as well; I'd take a long hard look at the prop and shaft alignment as well. Dodgy's tip with the spring balance pull testing is good too. I've been doing that using a redundant fish scale. Gives a good (if relative) indication of push and pull. I also use a little Wattmeter as well. Useful for initial shaft alignment. Twiddle things around until the motor runs sweetly and the Wattmeter shows the minimum current. Before each test use a little accu capacity meter to make sure the accus are up to scratch and the playing field even for each test. Pics show the ones I use. Available all over the shop, e.g. FleaBay😉, for peanuts. Black one is checking an NiMh, white one a LiPo. Happy tugging. Doug 😎

11 hours ago by 🇩🇪 RNinMunich ( Fleet Admiral)

RC & Electrics

Motor, speed controller

Hi Dodgy, "P.P.S. You might want to consider a clover-leaf aerial. That enables what they call 'circular polarity' transmission, which is really useful for drones when the transmitting aerial is performing contortions in the air. For boats, a vertical aerial pumping out vertically-polarised waves may suffer from 'bounce' off the water surface, which turns the reflected waves horizontal. But these are very cheap anyway, and can be experimented with" Yes I'd noticed the clover leaf. Not the most efficient antenna but agree it's a nice compact design. Agreed the reflections can cause some polarisation distortion. A vertical antenna (properly earthed) also produces a ground wave propagation which travels especially well over water, but admittedly not so long range at 5.8Gigs. Works best at lower frequencies where the absorbtion rate in water is lower. Those operating in salt water lakes on the coast are better off in this respect than us fresh water sailors! So I was thinking of using antenna diversity, one vertical and one horizontal. Just like most 2.4Gig TX/RX sets already do. A vertical stub antenna at the top of the TX case and a horizontal antenna in the handle usually. Of course if you hold the TX flat on it's back then you are relying on the horizontal antenna component!! At the RX end two 12,5cm wires, one vertical, one horizontal is the counter part. Works well in my Sea Scout. For 5.8 Gigs the wavelength is a little less than half that at 5.1688cm so the clover leaf is a reasonable compromise. Didn't spend my professional life working on all types of radio systems, from VLF/HF through personal mobile and cellular systems up to full COMMS suites with datalinks on naval vessels for nuffink. Some of it stuck! 😉 Having successfully hijacked Ken's thread (Sorry Ken😭) I guess we should continue this discussion (if required) in a new thread! Cheers, Doug 😎

12 hours ago by 🇩🇪 RNinMunich ( Fleet Admiral)

RC & Electrics

Upload problem

Thanks. I have taken your advice and success! Thanks again for the solution.😊

14 hours ago by 🇬🇧 MouldBuilder ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)

Website Related

CNC boat kits...?

Sounds like you might not have been waiting long enough for the Arduino to boot and load GRBL, so the port refused to connect, and then just stayed 'busy'.... If it happens again, try opening and closing another port, and then going back to 8. That seems to reset the flag...

15 hours ago by 🇬🇧 DodgyGeezer ( Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)

Hobby Chit Chat