Multiple transmitters

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Currently I am trying to get a few boats ready at once, I have three radio sets and was wondering if anyone has tried running three transmitters from a car battery ?

This would obviously save having to have 24 fully charged batteries or pocket full of Alkalines ready.

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

The mind boggles at the thought of you lumping a car battery about (in a back pack?) with three sets attached, one of which you are trying to operate – or do you anticipate three at once! Such is the way of things you’ll always need to be able to walk about, to the water edge when launching, to keep up with the boat, to see an obstacle from a different view etc.

 

I some times arrive with up to 4 sets, a 27, 40 am, and two 2.4’s, but always have them either separately powered, or swap over an 8 pack unit in the 2.4 sets. My most complicated set-up is a Navy 14 set, with 3 2way sticks and 4 switches, and thats a hand full when sailing a car transporter with ramp etc.

Good luck with what ever you devise, it’ll be interesting to see what you do.

 

Kimosubby.

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

The idea is that I can have a boat afloat, daughter can have one and so can my son.

 

Once we have hauled three boats and three transmitters a small 12v would be easy !

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

For my sins in a past life carried 3 transmitters when taking my grand children Radio controlled car racing.3 Cars but because the childern were in the top class and the old bot in group B I had to carry 3 chargers and the 11 plate battery ,left in the boot so not too much of a trouble .Your problem will only appear if you all want to be on the water at once .Good luck Michael

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Yup, the idea is to have more than one afloat at a time, to do away with the “Its my turn now !” or “When can I have a go ?” arguments.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Surely the transmitters will have the batteries already fitted and charged the previous day, so there’s no “extra” batteries to carry? I wouldn’t recommend using alkaline batteries if you plan a day’s sailing, but modern NiMH Tx packs will easily last a day out even if left switched on all the time. You can get them at nearly 3AH in AA-size cells these days.

You would alternatively require some form of voltage regulator to reduce the 12v down to 9.6v which would waste some of the power available. You would also have fun trying to connect all three wandering souls to the same physical point somewhere on the bank, without tripping people up or getting into a tangle with trailing leads.

How many problems do you want to make for yourself, Trevor? It don’t look broke from here so why try and fix it?

Dave M

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

OK but I am getting low voltage lights coming on the transmitter fairly quickly.

Using eight alkaline batteries gives 12v supply but rechargables give 9.6v – therefore I am starting off with low voltage am I not ?

 

Maybe I just need 24 new rechargables fully topped up just in case one or both of them want to come with me !

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Trevor

NiMH/NiCAD batteries are nominally 1.2v per cell, but fully charged can be as much as 1.55v. They quickly settle to around 1.2-1.25v and stay there until they are about 90% discharged, then the voltage drops off rapidly. The low voltage lighs are there primarily to indicate that alkaline cells are nearly flat (which they would be at 9.6v for 8 cells) and must be changed sharpish, but you can now see that NiMH cells have only just started to discharge at that voltage.

If I had a pound in my pocket for every transmitter that runs on 8 rechargeable cells every weekend then I wouldn’t need to run a business or even draw a pension!

Dave @ ACTion

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Dave,

Thanks for that I will try to ignore the flashing light and buy some more rechargables.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

A little bit of black PVC insulation tape over the LED will reduce your blood pressure no end

I can recommend this trader for rechargeable batteries (and chargers and leads and connectors etc etc) http://www.component-shop.co.uk/

No connection, as they say – just one of many satisfied customers.

DM

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 04/01/2012 18:16:09

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Thanks, I bought some stuff off them at the Sandown show in December – very sensible prices.

[aquaplanerParticipant @aquaplaner]

Trevor..buy a 12 volt 3000 mAh S L A battery pack used for video cameras..will be compact, can fix it in your waist belt..and can power your TX with a simple cord with a thermal link as fuse..it will give you a use time of 7 hours non stop..these batteries are to inexpesive also..you can also make a recharger for it..the whole set up here will take about 6 US Dollars..then no issues..hours of run time..have nice RCying..

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