| Electric power for RC aircraft: planes,
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| | discharging can result in fire or
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| helicopters, ducted fan jets; is the
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| | explosion! (Battery manufacturers are
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| fastest growing aspect of this hobby
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| | now often including protection built into
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| sport. There are lots of reasons for
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| | the battery packs to minimize these
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| this, but perhaps two major developments
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| | dangers, but the rule is to read the
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| have created this gold-rush atmosphere.
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| | directions and be careful).
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| First, the recent bringing to market of
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| | When coupled with the many new
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| the Lithium Polymer battery - a
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| | inexpensive brushless motors and
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| refinement of the lithium-ion battery.
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| | controllers now available, modelers can
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| Second, the disappearance of many of the
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| | have fully aerobatic rc planes that will
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| traditional local RC flying sites under
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| | fly for 15-25 minutes(!) without
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| the pressure of real-estate development
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| | recharging! And, it is possible to buy
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| and population growth.
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| | such a plane and equip it for under $300
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| The radio control Lithium-Polymer (Li-Po)
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| | total! This is an exciting development,
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| battery is characterized by the use of a
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| | and as one hobby-shop owner put it to me,
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| solid, the polymer, which acts as the
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| | "this is putting the fun back into RC!"
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| electrolyte, like the acid in your car's
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| | Because of the inherent advantages to RC
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| battery. This development has made the
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| | electric airplanes; quiet, reliable,
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| lithium based battery relatively more
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| | clean and now long-flying and powerful,
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| stable, physically stronger and a little
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| | it really is possible and fun to fly in
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| easier to manufacture.
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| | the small schoolyard or park. You don't
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| The advantages to this battery for the
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| | have to seek out the RC flying field that
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| modeler are 50% or greater weight
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| | is an hour's drive away from home or work
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| reduction over nickel cadmium batteries,
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| | and you don't have to deal with neighbors
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| greatly increased power storage and
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| | who are incensed over the noise from glow
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| considerably longer shelf-life without
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| | or gas powered models.
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| auto-discharging.
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| | For more information on the developments
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| The disadvantages are that the LiPo
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| | and the basics of electric flight, please
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| battery must be carefully charged on a
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| | visit my site at
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| dedicated LiPo-capable charger, maximum
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| | Reprinting: you are welcome to reprint
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| discharge must be monitored and that
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| | this article, but it must be complete,
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| careless handling, charging, or
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| | unaltered and with original links intact.
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