TX Batteries

[Bill-SOCAL]

Seems like a lot of transmitters out there come set up for "dry" cell alkaline type batteries. I know my Futaba 3PM did.

I am using the Energizer lithium e cells. About $16 for 8 of them, but they have a 3,000 mAh capacity and just never seem to go down much. After a month of running 3 boats up to 3 times a week, setting them up, etc. I still get over 12 volts on the screen at start up. Futaba says 9 volts is the drop dead stop using voltage.

Here's the link:

http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/l91.pdf

I thought about going to NiMHs, but frankly I like not having to mess with charging the TX. I have more than enough charging going on with the boat packs!!! I just carry an extra 8-pack in my box and when these finally go down, I can toss them and be ready to go again in a minute or less!!

Added: The 3PM 2.4 TX has an average current drain of 250 mA or less according to the specs.

[ice329]

Rechargables are only 1.2 volts were regular alkiline etc are 1.5 volts. Makes a big differnce when your talking X8. I always use alkaline batterys in the TX. I get a long long time use out of cheap Fugi super alkaline batterys.

[Bill-SOCAL]

True enough, but I had never bothered to look up the capacity of the "dry" cells. 3,000 mAh is going to last a good long time! Way longer than the 700 mAh NiCad pack Futaba sells for the 3PM!!

[ice329]

Earlyer in the year I spoke to guys from Futaba. They suggested using the regular batteries like the ones your useing or alkaline over rechargables. Ever since then I used alkaline and never had a glitch since, but I also use 7.2v packs.

[Ctonez]

One of the guys in our club made an adaptor to use an 11.1V lipo pack.
2350mah I think...I may go that route in the future, but I currently use Duracell 2650mah rechargable nimhs. They work for about 3race weekends before they need a charge.

[Bill-SOCAL]

I was not wild about the non-rechargeable batteries at first. But I gotta say, I like them now. I really like not messing with charging and having spares in the box.

[wickedgmc]

I use a 2100mah 11.1v lipo and charge it maybe every 2 months with pretty much 2 days a week worth of off road racing. During the summer I was running my boats 3-4 days a week for 2 hours or so and would race on Friday or Saturday and I would charge every 6 weeks or so.

[Dale Koblitz]

I was thinking about trying those. You get good range out of them even though there lower voltage according to the post after yours?