DX6i Power Consumption!

[heliphil]

I have had my DX6i ( from Eddie) about 3 months and only charged he GP2600 Nimh cells twice - the power consumption is tiny......... no need for Lipo's

[Brian Gifford]

Personally, I think this mod is a good replacement for Ni-Cad or NiMH batteries in transmitters like the DX7, as li-po replacements run within the manufactures specification.

However, since the DX6i has a very long run time on AA batteries, I personally would recommend running rechargeable 2500Mah NiHM batteries.

Considering you can buy a fast in car charger and 4x 2500Mah rechargeable batteries for £10, I think li-po's in this case would be more costlier and risk damaging your transmitter.

Good luck!!

I agree about the cycle time for NiMH rechargeables, Rob, but a lot of clubs won't let you fly with AA cells in your Tx, it has to be some sort of single plug/socket power supply.

[Sqwidge]

I agree about the cycle time for NiMH rechargeables, Rob, but a lot of clubs won't let you fly with AA cells in your Tx, it has to be some sort of single plug/socket power supply.

What if you solder together 4 AA batts then wrap them to make a pack???

[Brian Gifford]

Would it fit with the springs in the battery compartment?

[rceccleston]

I agree about the cycle time for NiMH rechargeables, Rob, but a lot of clubs won't let you fly with AA cells in your Tx, it has to be some sort of single plug/socket power supply.

So your saying, many BMFA registered clubs won't allow pilots to use a mass produced transmitter like the Spektrum DX6i transmitter at their flying sites.

Do you, or they, have BMFA literature to support this?

[Holst]

There have been discutions about this previously.

I think that the bmfa recomend that you use a battery pack as the battery contacts can corrode and make the transmitter fail.

However ive never heard of this happening with a DX6i.

Personally im happy to use AA batterys and will argue that my transmitter is safe if anybody questions it. Should a club be so inflexible that they wont let me fly with a Dx6i then I will just fly elsewhere

As AA batterys last for so long I dont see any great advantage running a lipo, if anything your increasing your risk as you can overdischarge the pack by accident.

[Brian Gifford]

So your saying, many BMFA registered clubs won't allow pilots to use a mass produced transmitter like the Spektrum DX6i transmitter at their flying sites.

Do you, or they, have BMFA literature to support this?

http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/transm...e-battery.html

Just reporting what I'd read, Rob. No personal axe to grind here.

[rceccleston]

http://www.rcheliaddict.co.uk/transm...e-battery.html

Just reporting what I'd read, Rob. No personal axe to grind here.

No prob mate.

Without any official BMFA literature stating no such use, a BMFA registered club should not have any ground to refuse pilots, with the long range DX6i transmitter.

As electric heli's only require 6 channels, I fly my 12s T-Rex 600 ESP without any connectivity issues.

Good luck!!

[Brian Gifford]

So your saying, many BMFA registered clubs won't allow pilots to use a mass produced transmitter like the Spektrum DX6i transmitter at their flying sites.

Do you, or they, have BMFA literature to support this?

(f) When fitting Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) or Nickel
Metal Hydride (Ni-Mh) rechargeable batteries to
equipment designed and sold to take dry batteries,
always ensure that the cells are soldered or welded
into packs and that the packs are either hard wired
or wired through a plug and socket into your
transmitter and receiver systems. NEVER rely on
the spring type battery contacts in battery boxes.

BMFA handbook 2007, page 20.

[Holst]

(f) When fitting Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) or Nickel
Metal Hydride (Ni-Mh) rechargeable batteries to
equipment designed and sold to take dry batteries,
always ensure that the cells are soldered or welded
into packs and that the packs are either hard wired
or wired through a plug and socket into your
transmitter and receiver systems. NEVER rely on
the spring type battery contacts in battery boxes.

BMFA handbook 2007, page 20.

Why does it matter if we are using dry cells or ni-mh ?

Im using duracell batterys in my transmitter as I liberated 100 of them from my old employer
So I guess im complying with the rules but I dont really understand the reasoning behind them.

From reading it it sounds like they are refering to transmitters that have a seperate plastic battery box that holds the cells which then plugs into the transmitter (like my walkera transmitter)
The Dx6i has a different design as there is no box.

[Brian Gifford]

I may be wrong, Holst, but my interpretation is that they are dead set against any system that uses springs to secure the batteries and make the electrical connection. I think the reasoning is that a weak spring can cause a Tx failure. To my mind, this includes all unmodified DX6i Txs.

Again, Holst, don't shoot the messenger, this is my understanding of the BMFA policy.

If anyone knows different, please let us know.