Back after 15 years or so away from hobby - any advice welcome

[trillian]

I'm not sure what else that Turnigy battery checker does but it's a bit more expensive than most of the ones I see at the field. The kind that lots of folks use, and I have one I got from here as well but mine is an older version: GT POWER BATTERY CHECKER VERSION 2 WITH BALANCER **SPECIAL PRICE, Robotbirds

The 500L combo comes with a GPro flybarless unit which works with Spektrum sats, so you wouldn't need a separate receiver just a couple DSMX sat units.

[Steve_T]

OrangeRx R110X DSMX/DSM2 Satellite Receiver. (UK Warehouse)

I'm not sure what else that Turnigy battery checker does but it's a bit more expensive than most of the ones I see at the field. The kind that lots of folks use, and I have one I got from here as well but mine is an older version: GT POWER BATTERY CHECKER VERSION 2 WITH BALANCER **SPECIAL PRICE, Robotbirds

I though the optical tacho and servo tester would be useful, but whether I would actualy need them or not I don't know.

The 500L combo comes with a GPro flybarless unit which works with Spektrum sats, so you wouldn't need a separate receiver just a couple DSMX sat units.

Something like this ?
http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking...arehouse_.html

[Mike Sanders]

Anything else I need immediately ?

A swashplate levelling tool is useful unless your eye is so good that you can tell if the swash is perfectly level. (I know that some people can, I can't.)

[Andy Mc]

NOW, things I am not too sure of, can anyone help me to whether I need them, OR if I need something else I haven't thought of.

Battery checker - is this okay or can anyone suggest a better one.
Turnigy™ 7in1 Mega Meter Battery Checker/Watt Meter/Servo Tester (UK Warehouse

Battery charger - no idea what to get. I will need to charge the 6S packs above and 1S cells as I will also be getting a Nano QX

Receiver for the Heli, again not sure what to get here so help please.

Do I need a flame retardant bag to charge the lipos in ? If so any suggestions?

All the items you have mentioned above can get from HK, you are getting turnigy batteries, i have x12 2200mah and x8 4000Mah Turnigy batteries from them, never had any issues and great value if you starting off.

I have always been told, if you have turnigy batteries try stick to a turnigy charger for best results, so i bought from HK the Turnigy power system charger (x4 charge ports) powered by a HK 540w power supply
dont forget whatever batteries you get you will need to match the connectors up to your esc, if you getting a 500 size heli, then i think the EC5 connectors will do or whatever you prefer, order some from HK as they dont come standard on their batteries, also a soldering iron and solder etc... links below for charger & psu...now there are obviously other options out there as some may oblige, but these were my options starting off, and i have absolutely no problems with any of my current charging platform, x4 6s batteries same time no problem..good enough for me.

Turnigy 4x6S Lithium Polymer Battery Pack Charger (UK Warehouse)
HobbyKing 540w 220~240v Power Supply with UK plug (13.8v~18v - 30amp) (UK Warehouse)

As for a flame retardant bag, its opinion really, i would recommend it highly, i always carry one with me, so when i have a crash i chuck the battery in there after about 15mins, then if i'm driving home feeling all pitifull then at least my car wont burn
Now i have heard some rumours that these bags are pretty useless, but i have not seen any concrete evidence... anyway they make me feel better and safer.

You have a good choice on heli and tx, so good luck going forward.

[Steve_T]

Many thanks, Mike and Andy.

[Mark_T]

I have always been told, if you have turnigy batteries try stick to a turnigy charger for best results...

I'd just love to know what the justification for that piece of advice was?

Especially given that they stick the 'Turnigy' label on products from many different suppliers.

There is no reason to pick a particular brand of charger just because it matches the name on the packs.

[Andy Mc]

I'd just love to know what the justification for that piece of advice was?

Especially given that they stick the 'Turnigy' label on products from many different suppliers.

There is no reason to pick a particular brand of charger just because it matches the name on the packs.

yea for sure, some fellow heli pilots i know just mentioned it, they said that they have had longer life and less hassles by using same name brands, Turnigy in this case, as they mentioned with my charger that has charged other name brands and have had lesser success with their batteries of a different brand... i cannot quantify their comments as im pretty new in the electric heli scene yself, but i always take advice from experienced people in the hobby and touch wood so far its working ok for me, batteries anyway.. flying skills different story lol

there are definately better chargers out there, and batteries, i suppose i just found something that works for me

[Peteski]

Spent most of my week off work trolling the internet reading up and deciding what to get.

I am shortening my list and am down to the list below:

Spektrum DX9
Already ordered from RC Hero - good price I think thanks to tomatwalden
https://rc-hero.co.uk/index.php?rout...nly%20Mode%202

Trex 500L Dominator Super Combo [RH50E07XT]
- I think I will be okay with this after a bit of practice and also practice on a sim - any thoughts ?
Trex 500L Dominator Super Combo [RH50E07XT]

Batteries for heli
Turnigy 3000mAh 6S 20C Lipo Pack (Great for T-Rex 500) (UK Warehouse)

Digital Pitch gauge
RotorStar Digital Pitch Gauge for Helicopters (250~700 size) (UK Warehouse)


NOW, things I am not too sure of, can anyone help me to whether I need them, OR if I need something else I haven't thought of.

Battery checker - is this okay or can anyone suggest a better one.
Turnigy™ 7in1 Mega Meter Battery Checker/Watt Meter/Servo Tester (UK Warehouse)

Battery charger - no idea what to get. I will need to charge the 6S packs above and 1S cells as I will also be getting a Nano QX

Receiver for the Heli, again not sure what to get here so help please.

Do I need a flame retardant bag to charge the lipos in ? If so any suggestions?

Anything else I need immediately ?

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to help me with all these questions.

That sounds like a great starting setup, well done!

For a charger I would recommend looking at the iCharger brand. Great value for money throughout their range. Not the cheapest by any means, but the quality and reliability is very good. I only have the smallest 106B+ but you will really need one of the more powerful versions for your larger 6S packs e.g. 206B or 306B. This is a good guide worth a read Understanding RC Battery Chargers You also need a suitable power supply to go with it. Search for Coolice on this forum - he can custom build a power supply to suit for a reasonable price.

For charging the little nQX you just need one of these little boards to plug into your charger:- Micro Parallel Charging Board Micro JST & JST-PH Connectors Suitable for NCPX etc. [MICROPARA]
Or alternatively a harness like this:- Micro JST Parallel Charge Lead (6 plugs) [MICROJSTPARALEAD]

I don't know anything about the Orange sats, I've heard there are Lemon ones too! But I just use the standard Spektrum DSMX sats so my Tx/Rx setup is all under one brand. Seems to work anyway.

As for other things you might need, have you thought about carry cases/bags etc?

[Peteski]

I have always been told, if you have turnigy batteries try stick to a turnigy charger for best results

Most, if not all, Turnigy chargers are just re-branded or cloned versions of various other branded chargers. Some good, some rubbish. For "best results" what you really want is a well proven quality charger from the likes of iCharger or CellPro. Some of the better Turnigy chargers are actually made by iCharger or at least designed by them.

[Steve_T]

Firstly many thanks for your help and comments

I don't know anything about the Orange sats, I've heard there are Lemon ones too! But I just use the standard Spektrum DSMX sats so my Tx/Rx setup is all under one brand. Seems to work anyway.

Secondly, and sorry to keep asking same question, but regarding sats is are these what I am after ?
Spektrum DSMX 2.4Ghz Remote Receiver [SPM9645]
The link in your last reply went to a Tx hence asking the same question again - sorry.

Thanks
Steve

[Steve_T]

Another question, but I am learning so hopefully will not go on forever.

Is this pitch gauge okay for my proposed heli T Rex 500 flybarless ?
Digital Pitch Guage [HET80001]


Steve

[tomatwalden]

Another question, but I am learning so hopefully will not go on forever.

Is this pitch gauge okay for my proposed heli T Rex 500 flybarless ?
Digital Pitch Guage [HET80001]


Steve

that should be fine!

[Steve_T]

It does seem that the power supplies can be more expensive than the chargers !

Is it okay to but a good charger, say the iCharger 306B which is 1000W, but save a bit for now and get a 350W power supply to go with it. Then at a later date when funds are up again I could sell the P.S. ad get a bigger one.
Or should you really get a P.S. at least as big as the charger?

Other thought is can you parallel the power supplies and so add to it later ?

I have been told not to go for chargers with inbuilt P.S. but although not particularly powerful what about this ?
http://www.helipal.com/product_info....FUvItAod_40F5g

[Peteski]

Firstly many thanks for your help and comments


Secondly, and sorry to keep asking same question, but regarding sats is are these what I am after ?
Spektrum DSMX 2.4Ghz Remote Receiver [SPM9645]
The link in your last reply went to a Tx hence asking the same question again - sorry.

Thanks
Steve

You're most welcome and yes that's the Spektrum sat I have. The link in my previous post must have been an automatic link that Amazon picked up from the key words. i.e. I didn't actually make a link in my original post!

[trillian]

With chargers and PSUs it depends on two things really: 1. How fast you want to be able to charge a number of packs. 2. If you might want to charge bigger packs at some point for a bigger heli.

When I got my 500 the only electric helis I was flying were 450s, so I had only been charging small 3s packs. The first charger I got for the 500 was an Imax B6, which did the job but not very fast, one pack at a time at just under 1C. Then I got a B6 Quattro which has four separate chargers in one unit, but each one limited to 50 watts. I got a Fusion 200 watt PSU for it. This worked pretty well but was still a bit slow at times. Then the 200 watt PSU fried. I was able to get it fixed and I still have it but by that time I was thinking ahead so I got two 2nd hand server PSUs (super cheap on Ebay, they were less than a tenner each) and got some help soldering the connectors and jumpers on them, they're capable of about 500 watts each so I can use just one or both in series for 24 volts.

When I was shopping for a better charger to handle 5000mah packs the guys at my club were using the Hyperion chargers so I got a Hyperion 1420i that can charge two packs up to 7 cells each. So far it has worked great and as I charge at home and don't need to parallel charge etc. I usually just use one 12 volt PSU and charge one pack at a time at about 1.5 - 2C. (to use two 12 volt PSUs in series you must lift the earth wire to the mains on one of them - somewhere there used to be a good thread about this).

Last year I bought an iCharger 106b in order to have something more compact to take to the field and I also took it with me on a trip to the USA. It works really well and is good value for money.