batteries for f450

[rodg98133]

Right got everything else I need for my f450 build, just need some power for it now however I am really confused looking at different batteries/chargers etc

Am I ok to use 4s? What mah can I use? The bigger the better right? 5000mah?

What charger do I need? Will the cheap £13 ones on ebay do? Can I only charge one at a time?

Really confused lol. Any help much appreciated.

Tia

[orfordness]

A lot will depend on your selections...
if your quad is light, then some cheaper 3S 2200Mah will be fine, most 3S batteries have XT60 connectors.
once you move above about 4S/2650MAh the batteries are heavier and change to 4mm HXT connectors.

to start out, i';d try a couple of 3S 2200MAh, something like some cheap Turnigy blues:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__26705__Turnigy_2200mAh_3S_30C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html
Steve

[rodg98133]

Its just the standard frame at the minute with the e300 motors and esc. No fpv or gimble etc.

What benefit is 4s over 3 then? And what flight time am I going to get with those ones you suggested? Can you recommend a charger to go with it?

[orfordness]

I started out on these on my clone 450, i was getting between 10-12min
don';t forget bigger is also heavier....
what size props have you got?
Charger wise i have one of these:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25406__Turnigy_Accucel_6_50W_6A_Balancer_Charger_w_accessories_UK_Warehouse_.html
be wary of fakes on ebay, I believe these are quite good too:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__49452__IMAX_B6_AC_Charger_Discharger_1_6_Cells_GENUINE_with_UK_plug_UK_Warehouse_.html

some will need external power supplies....

[Friskle]

If you have the E300 set up, then zippy flightmax 11.1v 3s 2200`s or 4000`s would be perfectly fine.

[rodg98133]

I have the standard e300 props. Whatever comes with the kit. I';m not sure. Ive ordered one of them batteries for now just to get me going. I just need to find a charger now. It';s the whole power supply thing that';s confusing me. Is it just a power adapter I need? The sort of thing you use to run xmas lights etc?

[quadfather]

It depends on what charger you buy, which depends on what batteries you want to charge.

For example the Turnigy Accucel 6 is internally limited to 50W, and it accepts up to 18V from the PSU.  I use a 12V 10A laptop PSU and it';s been absolutely fine, although overkill.  The Accucel wants a 5.5mm barrel plug.

Or you buy a charger with internal PSU and don';t worry about it.  If I had to buy again I';d get the IMAX B6-AC.

[Friskle]

i use a fusion PSU , only a 100w one,  as its all i need, but they are relatively cheap

http://www.sussex-model-centre.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=30279

that will give you an idea :)


i also did one a while back using an old Xbox 360 power brick.

[robshaw]

All the above is good advice. However if you have a bit of extra cash to spend and want to future proof your charging setup I would be tempted to go for a 4 way charger. You will soon get mighty fed up of waiting to charge 1 pack at a time. Believe me. I am just toying with ordering a second 4 way as even 4 packs at once is becoming incredibly tiresome (and my current unit is becoming a bit tired)

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=361104315195&alt=web

You will of course need a decent 12v psu for this too. Such as one of these....

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=391009596758&alt=web

[rodg98133]

All the above is good advice. However if you have a bit of extra cash to spend and want to future proof your charging setup I would be tempted to go for a 4 way charger. You will soon get mighty fed up of waiting to charge 1 pack at a time. Believe me. I am just toying with ordering a second 4 way as even 4 packs at once is becoming incredibly tiresome (and my current unit is becoming a bit tired)

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=361104315195&alt=web

You will of course need a decent 12v psu for this too. Such as one of these....

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=391009596758&alt=web

Those look great and definatly something I will be investing in the near future however for now I just want to fly the thing and don';t have any money to spare really so cheap to start with and then better kit shortly.

Ive got a spare laptop charger that outputs 15v @5amp can this be used with a charger if I just buy a cheap charger for now?

[robshaw]

Yeah I think that would work. If you just get the 2200mah lipos you will only be charging at 2.2A so that psu should be fine. I wouldnt chance any higher load on it tho.

[rodg98133]

Will this work?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191402144406&alt=web

I';ve ordered the turnigy 2200 mah battery linked to earlier and want to use that laptop power supply for now?

[robshaw]

Yeah that will be fine.

[quadfather]

Will this work?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=191402144406&alt=web

I';ve ordered the turnigy 2200 mah battery linked to earlier and want to use that laptop power supply for now?

Beware of fake IMAX chargers.  HK sells both (for reasons that elude me). 

This is a genuine one.