HITEC BATTERY BUZZER
Pilots who have flown electric aircraft for any length of time have likely experienced low-voltage cutoff when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined level. This can cause the aircraft to lose power to the motor—either temporarily or for the remainder of the flight.
Although using a timer can help with this problem, Hitec has come up with another solution: the Battery Buzzer. This precise tool is used to detect the voltage of 2- to 4-cell LiPo batteries and emits a beeping noise to notify the pilot if the voltage drops below a selected threshold. The Battery Buzzer also provides a visual queue with a red LED light situated between the buzzers.
Voltage selections include settings for 3.2-3.5 volts and are chosen with the four switches on the front of the device. The rear of the Hitec Battery Buzzer provides a diagram of the switch settings.
On the right side of the device is the balance port to connect your battery. The port accepts JST/XH style connectors. It is important to observe the polarity while making the connection with the black lead matching the first pin closest to the minus symbol.
It is recommended that you read the included manual and remove the protective stickers from the buzzer before using the device. The stickers advise “remove seal after washing” which is not recommended!
After you’ve plugged in the balance connector of your 2S-4S LiPo, the Battery Buzzer will omit a tone for each cell detected and the LED will blink. This confirms the cell count and that the buzzer is properly working. In addition to notification of low voltage, Hitec suggests that the device can also serve as a lost model finder.
The Hitec Battery Buzzer weighs 11 grams, measures 50 x 28 x 12.5mm, and sells for $9.99.
Hitec RCD: 12115 Paine Street Poway CA 92064; Tel. (858) 748-6948; website: www.hitecrcd.com
HITEC X1 TOUCH AC/DC CHARGER
Hitec RCD entered the charger market a few years ago and has successfully offered versatile units at reasonable prices. Continuing that trend, the new X1 Touch provides plenty of bang for the buck at a $99.99 price tag.
Here is a look at the specifications:
AC input: 100-240 volts AC
DC input: 11-18 volts DC
Charge circuit power: 55 watts
Charge current range: 0.1-7.0 amps
Discharge current range: 5 watts
Discharge current power: 0.1-2.0 amps
Current drain for balancing port: 200 mAh per cell
NiCd/NiMH battery cell count: 1-15 cells
LiPo/LiFe/Li-Ion cell count: 1-6 cells
Lead battery voltage: 2-20 volts
Net weight: 19 ounces
Three things stood out the first time we took the X1 Touch out of the box. The first was the AC/DC operation which provides the flexibility to use the charger at home, work, the flying field, or nearly anywhere. We also noticed that it has a touch screen, or to be more specific, a 3.2-inch color touch-sensitive LCD screen, which makes programming easy.
The third item is the included universal balancing board, which ensures that the charger can balance all of your 1- to 6-cell LiPo packs without purchasing additional adapters!
In addition to the Hitec X1 Touch Charger and universal balancing board, inside the box you’ll also find the AC power cord, DC power cord, banana plug charging cable with a T-connector, the balancing board cable, and a 26-page illustrated manual.
The combination of the touch screen and an intuitive, easy-to-use setup system would make most users feel comfortable with jumping right in and using the charger, but a thorough read of the instructions will ensure that the modeler becomes familiar with its functions and capabilities.
Selecting the charge parameters via the touch screen to charge a 3S 2,200 mAh battery was quick and painless. First, select the Battery Type on the left of the screen and then choose the charger operation: Charge, Discharge, Storage, Fast Charge, Balance Charge, or Volt Meter. Next, select Cells at the bottom left and set your cell count. Then press capacity and select the proper capacity of the battery in 100 mAh increments.
At this point you can access other settings for safety and charge times, save your selections as one of five charge/discharge profiles, or select start to begin the charging process.
While charging, you can select Balance Status to view the levels of each cell and the battery resistance, which can be helpful for monitoring for the battery’s long-term health. A graph of the voltage curve can also be selected. Throughout the charging process, the charger operates quietly with the internal cooling fan occasionally kicking on.
The charger also offers a Storage option which, when the battery parameters are set, will automatically charge or discharge the battery to optimum voltage for long-term storage.
The Hitec X1 incorporates USB connectivity via a PC, but a USB cable is not included. The Charger Master software to support PC use can be downloaded from the Hitec website. (The download, at the time of this writing, was 42.7 MB and took less than a minute on a broadband connection.)
Using the Charge Master software allows complete control over the charger via a PC. While in this mode, the charger settings can only be manipulated using a connected computer. All of the data displayed during the time the charger is connected can be saved to a PC. The ability to update the charger’s firmware, if available, can also be handled by the software.
The Hitec X1 Touch combines modern styling with the simplicity of touch-screen programming. Its small size and AC/DC connectivity make it a great travel charger, and when combined with the universal balancing board, ensures compatibility with many battery brands.
If you’re looking for a charger capable of charging multiple batteries at the same time, be sure to read our review of the Hitec H4 Four-Port Multi-Charger on page XX of this issue.
Hitec RCD: 12115 Paine Street Poway CA 92064; Tel. (858) 748-6948; website: www.hitecrcd.com
E-36 DVD
This new, 80-minute DVD, E 36: An Introduction to Electric Free Flight, is not directed toward a beginner, and assumes that the modeler has some experience with rubber- or gas-powered models, which is made clear with a disclaimer at the beginning.
Following a brief video montage of the E-36 model in flight, we are introduced to National Free Flight Society (NFFS) Publication Services Manager Bob Stalick, who describes the parameters of the E-36, with the “36” being the limit on wingspan size. The aircraft is powered by an electric motor using a timer and a LiPo battery.
The model is the subject of a new NFFS and AMA event. Further rules govern the timed length of flights, with motor runs of 15 seconds for the first three flights. Detailed event guidelines are available in the Competition Rules on the AMA website.
The majority of the video is Bob’s discussion on the necessary components to construct an E-36 model as well as potential kits. Bob shares that the heart of the E-36 model is the motor, and his presentation includes a comparison of various options for the E-36.
The video provides a list of vendors from which builders can obtain the featured components. Bob’s recommendations contain gems of advice including “building them light is always better than building them heavy.” The DVD also features Vic Nippert, the originator of the event, who gives a brief history of its inception.
The video provides several helpful recommendations throughout for a number of building applications. The DVD is organized into easy-to-navigate chapters if the viewer needs to examine a specific section, such as components.
If you are interested in a comprehensive video that focuses on a unique facet of model building and can be used as a thorough instruction manual for a builder interested in this new event, the DVD can be purchased for $15 plus $3 for shipping from the NFFS.
If you watch the video on a computer, headphones or external speakers are recommended. The presentations are at a lower volume than the music and require volume at maximum output for standard internal computer audio.
NFFS Publications Services: Box 1775 Albany OR 97321; website: www.freeflight.org
