Here's my $.02 on the whole thing... First, just about all modern-day equipment, digital or analog, can handle the "nominal" 6V that we associate with a 5-cell pack. That being said... There are 2 "problems" with running a 5-cell pack: 1) A 5-cell pack is "nominally" rated at 6.0V BUT...Hot off the charger it is substantially more than the nominal 6.0V (check it some time for yourself). That is where the "jitters" you hear about come in AND it does subject your system components to some pretty harsh treatment. Fortunately it doesn't last very long BUT it is over-stressing your components to some degree. 2) A 5-cell pack, with the same mah rating as a 4-cell pack, will provide LESS flight time than the 4-cell pack...PERIOD. 5-cells gives you more voltage, when you give your equipment more voltage (V), it draws more current (A). It'll make that servo seem faster and more powerful but the cost is in current draw, which saps your battery more, and yes, it "might" shorten your servo life a tad. Keep in mind, particularly with analog servos, that those little tiny gears are typically not designed for that extra "oomph" that you're getting either (keep spares on-hand <G>).
Lastly, I just gotta ask the question...How many pilots out there can really, I mean REALLY, tell the difference??? Does it make THAT much difference if your servo moves .0x seconds faster? Can you REALLY feel or see it? Do you REALLY think THAT is going to make you the next WC or get you down on time and on the spot??? The proper approach to get more powerful or faster servos, IMHO...Buy more powerful or faster servos to begin with!!! It never ceases to amaze me that some people will put over $1500 into an aircraft (power, glider, heli) and then try to save a few dollars on the servos! That's my $.02 ~ Happy New Year to all! -Sheldon- YNT uDesign A Soaring Nationals Supporter -----Original Message----- From: Marc Gellart [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 11:48 AM To: Bill's Email; soaring@airage.com Subject: RE: [RCSE] A good reason to use 5 cells Dittos Bill. Don't guys run even bigger packs on individual sets of servos on IMAC ships? Marc Sent with Wireless Sync from Verizon Wireless ---- Original Message ---- From: "Bill's Email" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: 12/29/05 11:27 am To: "soaring@airage.com" <soaring@airage.com> Subj: Re: [RCSE] A good reason to use 5 cells [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Barry is a very intelligent guy so likely forgot to mention that he's > got a voltage regulator between his 5 cells and the system to protect > things. > > A voltage regulator insures that your digital servos and RX don't get > too much of a good thing, Every digital servo that I am aware of, and I run most of them from JR281's to 8611's and Futaba 9252's, CAN take 6 volts without a problem. Old wives tale. 7.2 volts is a different thing. But I love this myth about needing a regulator with 5-cell packs. I have run 5-cell packs (Nicad & NiMH) in everything from D/HLG to molded TD to helis to 40% giant scale aerobatic planes for several years, ALL with digitals of various sizes, with not a single problem. Run a regulator if it makes you feel better, but it is totally unnecessary. And even in my big aerobatic planes I cannot tell the difference between flight #1 and #5 (when I charge). The very worst thing that you "may" observe is a slight jitter when you first turn on. Lasts about 15 seconds as the surface charge goes away. And to the point about stalling, etc. causing a need for a regulator. Sorry, the regulator does nothing there. A stalled servo pulls what a stalled servo pulls, irrespective of a regulator. Most OEM plugs are rated at 3 amps continuos (means no real rise in temp at that amperage) which is well below the full stall current for most glider digitals, and right at stall current for say an 8611 or 9252. WEM RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News. Send "subscribe" and "unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please note that subscribe and unsubscribe messages must be sent in text only format with MIME turned off. Email sent from web based email such as Hotmail and AOL are generally NOT in text format
