Rechargeable TX Batteries

[NorCalAirman]

I want to put rechargeable batteries or a battery pack in my TX. It takes 8x AA, so is that 8S1P? That would be 12V right? I'd like to get something like a NiMH that i can charge quickly and easily, or is that not an option? Anyone know how much juice I should really be giving the TX?

[flydiver]

An 8xAA NiMh pack it dead common-flat or square.
I take it you have loose cells?
Either way take a good look at Sony Eneloops. They are LSD=long slow discharge so don't lose all their charge just sitting around. It's hardly worth bothering with any other NiMh technology anymore.
www.eneloop.info/

There are competitors now:
e-group.uk.net/forum/showthread.php?t=12087

Most TX sip juice. Since you have trouble seeing the low battery LED it would be practical to have a reliable battery that can be charged frequently and kept topped off without harm.

Does you charger have a charge port?
Did you get a charger with it?
Will you need an external charger?

[NorCalAirman]

Not being able to see what the battery condition is exactly why I want rechargeables. Yeah, they're just loose AA's. My TX has a charging port, but didn't come with a charger. So yes, I suppose I'll need an external charger.

[Dillzio]

mine runs off the same power supply (8AAs, about 12v)

I've adapted mine to run off an old 3S lipo and it works great

[flydiver]

A number of folks have gone lipo. You would have to cobble something together to make it work with your setup.
Potential problems:
1. No warranty - probably not an issue in this case. It is for $$$$$ TX. At full charge a 3S is over volt.
2. Forgetting to turn off the TX and killing the lipo. Quite common. I do it several times a year, but don't use lipo so I can recover my batteries.
3. Charging hassles - recommended the lipo be removed to charge.

Advantages:
Can be pretty cheap (or expensive). Depends on what/where you buy.
Holds a charge a long time. You can charge it in a pretty short time.
Lighter.


If you get decent AA all you need is a charger. I suggest you get something like a 200mA/12v one and put the proper adapter on it. This is called 1/10C charging (1/10 the capacity for 2000mA cells). You can plug it in anytime and leave it overnight without worrying about it killing your pack.
It's likely to be a pretty standard plug as there seems to be only a couple main sizes for those. You might be able to pick up a stock charger from someone.

NOTE -IMPORTANT: If you get someone's STOCK TX charger MAKE DOUBLE SURE OF THE POLARITY.
JR and Spektrum in all their proprietary wisdom make the center pin NEGATIVE, which is backwards of MOST chargers. (ARRGH-I hate that proprietary crap).
Check your specs.

You can also just get a NiMh peak charger and use it at ~ 0.5-1.0A. With the positive stampede to lipo you can pick them up cheap. If you have one of the AC-6 clones you can use that.

[Dillzio]

3s lipos aren't over voltage for something made to take 8AAs. max voltage of a 3S is 12.6, 12.6/8AA batteries would be 1.575 per AA, so running a 12.6v lipo is exactly the same voltage as 8AAs at 1.575v each.

High powered AAs made for digital cameras and the like are 1.7v, I just measured a brand new crappy AAA and even that read 1.6v, so running a 3S lipo at the equivilent of 1.575v per AA battery is A OK.

[ginginho]

NorC, take Fly's advice and get some LSDs (eneloops or similar), you can't go wrong. I have these in my Dx6i and turned it on for the first time in 6 months. The 4 AA's that this takes still read 5.1V after that extended time of being left untouched. You cannot get that sort of performance/reassurance from any other pack/cell type.

[NorCalAirman]

Thanks for all the input, guys. i'm going to look around and see what I can find at what prices. I saw a pack of 8x AA 2000Mah eneloops with a four position wall charger for $20, might be the ticket.