voltage loss through switch

[Charlie Cave]

Heya

When we put the load tester on the battery it comes to 5.1v but when we put the switch on in drops to 4.6 - 4.7v is this common?

Thanks

Charlie and Paul

[David Drew]

Yes, I believe so

Switches can lose voltage due to poor connections, so fit a quality switch with high current switching abilities.

What can happen is that the charger does not get to the batt due to the poor connections. So you charge overnight & have wasted your time.

I always use my Futaba batt checker EVERY flight. Just in case

[Charlie Cave]

Ok thanks very much mate, we do have a heavy duty switch on there but there might be a bad connection somewhere!

cheers Charlie

[David Drew]

Heya

When we put the load tester on the battery it comes to 5.1v but when we put the switch on in drops to 4.6 - 4.7v is this common?

Thanks

Charlie and Paul

Sorry, just re-read this post.

Do you mean that an unloaded battery measures a higher voltage than when you load it with Rx & servos? If so, then surely it will do.

David

[Ade_Law]

have you tried pluging the battery directly into the reciever so your taking thw switch out of the loop?

Ade

[choppertastic]

I went through a big test of switches about 1year ago when I was having battery duration problems.

After a full charge I did an test using a HiTec powermate on a battery directly and got a reading of over 100%. I then tried a normal switch and the reading showed around 75%, a JR heavy duty switch showed around 85%.

As the readings proved that the switch was causing a drop on the bench, i'm assuming working as a resistor, that this would cause unnecessary load during a flight.

I have since stopped using a switch and plug in directly and have seen much better battery duration on the same pack.

Trying to resolve the problem I replaced all servos and a battery checker. Swapping these made no difference.

[Charlie Cave]

Have tried 3 differant switches and i am testing with a load tester, I am losing .2 v onthe switches and another ,1v onthe extension lead to get to the RX. this is on a brand new battery. I think I will use Ades suggestion and forget the switch but thats not easy because I like to velcro over RX to keep plugs in and the canopy.
cheers

[choppertastic]

What I do is put a very small extension into the RX and the make the connection to the extension lead. To stop the cables coming apart I use a bit of large silicon tube which you have to squeeze to get the plugs into. Works a treat.