Radio Control: Electronics
Greg Judy of the Dallas Electric Aircraft Fliers (DEAF) club of Dallas TX wrote to tell of the 12th Annual DEAF Electric Fly-In, scheduled for October 3-4 at the Dallas RC Club. This affair combines some serious competitive events with "fun" events-something for everyone. Scheduled activities include LMR for Seven-Cell Sailplane/OT and 30-Cell Sailplane, AULD, Speed 400 pylon race, Lightest to Make Ten Minutes, Weight Lift, Best Scale, and a lot of fun-flying. The meet offers a paved runway, pond, and food, plus a free evening buffet. You can get full info from Greg at (817) 468-0962; E-mail: the [email protected], or http:/web2.airmail.net/warner1/deaf/ This issue marks the 15th anniversary of my association with and writing E-things for Model Aviation. My writing began in the September 1983 issue with the start of an intended five- or six-part Electric series, which grew to be ten parts before it was all over.
Radio Control: Electrics
THIS MONTH'S TOPICS include some followup on the Large Pack Slow Charger and the Pulse Mini-Lab articles, reader input on the End Of Charge Beeper, and some observations at the '98 Burlington (NJ) meet. The Large Pack Slow Charger (July 1997 MA) offered two versions of an easy-to-build overnight charger for large motor packs. This is used, for example, to equalize cells in such packs, or to simply get fully charged and ready to go for the next day's flying. One reader asked about slow-charging more than one pack at a time. Specifically, he wants to charge three 10-cell 1,000 mAh packs. The LPSC as presented is capable of charging up to 22 cells. It does not "know" where the cells come from; whether there are individual cells, one large pack, or several packs in series. Since two packs of the reader's example total 20 cells, he could simply series-connect them and charge away! But three packs would total 30 cells in this example, and the charger would not function with this total connected. What to do?
Radio Control: Electrics
THIS MONTH'S topics include a meet announcement, a new catalog, observations at the '98 LVRCS meet, servo current drain and related consequences, and my own ESC design progress. The Concord Model Engineers, in conjunction with Sailplane and Electric Modeler, present the Third Annual Devil Mountain All Electric RC Fun Fly, Sunday October 4. The meet will be held on the Bay Area Radio Control Society field in Richmond CA.
Radio Control: Electrics
THIS MONTH'S column offers some special battery, charging, and discharging stories. It seems that every couple of years I manage to run my auto battery down while charging my motor packs. This happened again a few weeks ago, but it was not exactly a surprise this time. My car had warned me a few times with some sluggish starting sounds, which I ignored. This was the original battery in my '96 Voyager minivan, and the fact that the battery lasted more than two years, given the way I use it, is something new. Previous OEM batteries failed after just a few months of deep-cycle use-the kind of use a battery is likely to have with lots of motor-pack charging. I do not know if the car maker has upgraded the battery specification, or as follows below.
Radio Control: Electrics
THIS MONTH'S column discusses reader mail, The Electric Connection Service, Electric "niche" areas of interest, and a personal Electric Wish List. Late News: The Silent Electric Flyers of San Diego announces the Second Annual "Mid-Winter Electrics" February 12-14. Contact Charlie White, 4420 Ladera St., San Diego CA 92107; Tel.: (619) 223-8903, E-mail: [email protected] for more information. Each issue of MA is immediately followed by a flurry of reader letters that lasts about two weeks. This mail brings not only reader reaction to what has just appeared, but often to long-past column content as well. It seems that each new issue triggers some readers into writing-about anything!
