The website has a scrolling ‘news feed’ of items (see below) listed in date order, most recent first. You might prefer to access information from the general list of topics shown under “Categories” which appear to the right or beneath the ‘news feed’ depending on what device you are using. There is also a “search bar” facility, plus you can subscribe by email. If you’d like a demonstration sail, please click the Trial Sail item on the main menu bar above.
When you recharge your AAs and pop them in your transmitter, what voltage do you see?? I’m getting 5.4v… I’m sure it used to be more. Do you get similar?
I was on the verge of simply buying a large box of AA batteries from the super market and burning my way through them – throwing the old ones away, except it’s not allowed of course. I popped in a set of brand new Energiser AAs straight from Waitrose and the transmitter said 5.6v….
For a long while I’ve used the “smart charger” that came with my battery set from Amazon. I’ve got to thinking the charger is not “smart” at all. It just has a symbol that blinks and eventually stays lit when it claims the battery is full. Not very intelligent or smart. I suspect it also does not stop charging at that point…
I got to wondering what my favourite LIPO/LIFE charger manufacturer (SKYRC) would make of all this. I’m proper pleased with my LiFe/LiPo charger – a SkyRC T100. To my delight, they make a AA/AAA series of intelligent chargers. You can pay seriously mad money for units that will manage charging of 8 batteries and upwards… 8 at a time would be nice. However, I set a budget ceiling and went for a 4 cell unit.
It manages each battery independently, and you can adjust current, voltage target and a few other things. Critically when it reaches the voltage target, it goes into standby mode – I really wanted that (safety).
If you are inclined, you can manage it from your phone (app).
The only pain is that a PD power unit (whatever that might be) is extra – not sure why but that added another £17 on top.
The transmitter is up to 5.9v after one attempt.
It’ll also re-condition batteries and trickle charge if you want. Great.
I was looking today for more information as to how low Receiver Batteries should be allowed to go before pulling the boat out for a fresh battery. The numbers above are per cell, so as most of our batteries are 2 cell, just double the above numbers.
This was a super explanation and you can read it in full here
Our third radio sailing transmitter guide has just gone online – this time for Spektrum !
All our latest transmitter features are in there. Take a look if you can ! Errors, omissions and amendments gratefully accepted. Just email them in via our Contact page.
To read it, click on RADIOS in the Menu Bar above.
Datchet Radio Sailing - Making It All Much Easier !! 