Conference vmszoo::rc

    Andy,
    
    I have also been looking for the 1.5 volt ignition batteries.
    Unfortunatly to the same demise as you ,zip! I have figured out
    a cheap substitute. Radio Shack sells battery holders , that hold
    four "D" cells. By cutting all the bus bars and resoldering them
    in parallel, I feel there should be enough current to light glow
    plugs. I feel the best alkaline batteries are Duracells, I do a
    lot of photography and my Vivitar  flash sucks up batteries like
    crazy and the Duracells outlast anything, even the new Kodak Gold.
    Good hunting.
    
    Bob in Phila  

    re.. last few
    
    I too ran into the same problem with the 1.5v battery. I found that
    by taking the 4 cell radio shack holder and making it in parallel.
    I found that the glow plug will work on only one (1) D battery.
    So 4 would be overkill.
    
    			Good luck
    			Steve M. in the pitts.....
    

        Alternately, find the biggest single cell ni-cad that you can, and
        use that instead. I think INDY lists an F cell that is quite huge,
        and should drive that glo-plug for a while. If yu can't find one
        big one, parallel a bunch of smaller ones. 
        
        Better yet, get one of those power panels that drop your 12v
        starter battery down to 1.5v for the glow.

    
    As an alternative to lugging around a flight box, or in my case
    a "Sailing" box, it is much easier to carry a large 1.5 volt
    battery and powering my electric starter from the car battery,        
    especially for "Trial" runs with new boats.
    
    As for the "Limited" life of the large cylinder type battery, I had
    mine for two years, since I started back into RC, before it "Died".
    
    I like the idea of paralleling larger batteries but what is the
    life of the unit ?
    
    
    Thanks for the ideas,
    
    Andy
    

    
    Well, I should have defined "Sailing Box".  Mine consists of a
    12 volt wet cell, a half gallon of fuel with an electric pump.
    electric starter, two drawers filled everything from fuel line 
    to epoxy, and of course, hand tools.
    
    Anyway, if anyone comes accross the large 1.5 volt battery please
    let me know, maybe another note should be started to compare the
    contents of flight boxes ?
                                                  
    Thanks,
    
    Andy

>        Well, I should have defined "Sailing Box".  Mine consists of a
>    12 volt wet cell, a half gallon of fuel with an electric pump.
>    electric starter, two drawers filled everything from fuel line 
>    to epoxy, and of course, hand tools.

    I have a huge box like that too, with one addition - a "flight" panel.
    As mentioned previously (somewhere), why not use one of these to
    get your 1.5V from your 12V battery (particularly since you're lugging
    that around anway!). Mine has a built-in feul pump, ammeter, 1x12V
    starter output + 1x1.5V Glo-plug output which can be switched from
    normal to 'Hi-amp' for obstinate engines. The whole thing measures
    about 5"x4"x3" and is well worth whatever I paid for it some years
    ago!
    
    Ken.

    Re. -1
    
    I wish I could get my fuel into a 5"x4"x3" box, let alone everything
    else!
    
    Sorry.
    But seriously: I think that an electronic power panel is a good
    idea for someone who is flying/motoring constantly. (sailing??)
    I have been through two and have now reverted to using a couple
    of nicads in parallel. In fact, I have two sets (one in use and
    one charged as backup). Guess what? Reclaimed them from flight packs
    where one cell had died. See, kill two birds with the one stone.
    
    Regards
    Tony
    
    

     
    SAILING is in reference to RC gas powered model boats. Tony, what
    size batteries did you use and were they sufficient for the entire
    day?
    
    Andy

        I can understand the economy of recycling retired nicads for this
        use, but I don't know how long they will last. Typical TX/RX
        nicads are 500-600 mah (.5-.6 Ah). Your typical 12v gel cell is in
        the 4-12Ah range. The nicads might make it thru a days use OK. The
        Gel Cell might be able to go for weeks (months?) between charges. 
        
        For a new purchase, the gel is the only real way to go. Doesn't
        have the memory problems of nicads. Doesn't mind being left on
        trickle continiously when you aren't out flying (Do so!). LOTS of
        capacity for starting, running glow plugs, fuel pumps, recharging
        your flight packs, and just about anything else short of starting
        your car when it's time to go home. 

        The only time I'd use a nicad is when I can't get a small enough
        gel cell. That means flight packs. If I could find a 1-2Ah 10V
        gel, I'd put it in my TX immediatly. I've got the size I need
        (1.2Ah), in 6V, and 10V in 2.5A sized gels that are a bit to heavy
        for a TX, so I'm still looking. 

    Re .10
    
    I use an 18AH motorcycle battery for the starter. I use two nicad
    packs for the plug: one  is 2 x 800Mah cells in parallel, the other
    is 3 x 800Mah cells. The sixth cell was the bad one, from an old
    electric flight pack (not mine). I use one set with the other as
    backup. Normally I manage at least a dozen starts from each set
    before recharging. When everthing gives up, I will probably go to 
    either a gell cell or a set of nicads for the starter, plus a plug
    driver or nicads for the plug. I like the idea of a "portable"
    starter.
    Tony
   
    

    
    found!
    
    Master Hobbies
    Cherry Valley, Leicster.
    
    Price: $6.00
    A little overpriced as is everything there, but not too bad.
    This is similar in size to the 6V lantern battery.
    It makes an excellent back up and lasts a long time.  (year +)
                                              
    Andy