Choosing the right RC Helicopter batteries is very important. By far the most popular form of RC Heli battery is the LiPo (Lithium Polymer) battery.
It has become a viable option over the fuel-powered RC Helis. While choosing the right RC Helicopter batteries, it is better to go for LiPo batteries for the following reasons:
- They are lightweight and are available in any size and shape.
- They are loaded with a huge capacity which means that they are capable of holding enough power for longer periods of time.
- Demanding motors can easily run on LiPo batteries because LiPo batteries have high discharge rates.
What You Need to Know About RC Helicopters Batteries
Shopping parameters:
Voltage
This is where the LiPo batteries rank higher than any other battery. While the standard NiMH or NiCad batteries provide 1.2 V per cell of voltage, the LiPo batteries are capable of providing a voltage of 3.7 V per cell. On top of this, the LiPo batteries for RC Helis have two or more hooked up cells (hooked in a series) for providing higher voltages.
For RC Helis which are bigger in size, LiPo batteries with more cells are an option. When you are shopping for batteries for your RC, make sure that you are getting the best bang for your buck. Ensure that you get an appropriate size for your heli.
Capacity
This is the amount of power held in each battery pack. The unit of measurement for capacity is milliamp-hour (mAh). In other words, it is the amount of load that can be put in any battery for a time frame of 1 hour during which the battery will be completely discharged.
An example: if a LiPo battery has a capacity of 1000 mAh, it will take 1 hour to completely discharge the battery with a load of 1000 mAh placed on it. If a load of 500 mAh placed, the battery will take 2 hours for complete discharge. So, while purchasing a battery, you need to keep in mind the amount of charge drawn by the RC Heli.
For bigger RC Helis, it is wise to get batteries that have a higher capacity for that you can fly your heli for a longer period of time.
Discharge Rate
This is the final thing that you must consider while shopping around for batteries. This actually refers to the amount of time taken by the battery for safe and complete discharge. In the case of LiPo batteries, the discharge rate is indicated by “C”.
If the discharge rating for any battery is 10C, this means that the battery will be completely discharged at a rate which is 10 times more than the capacity of the battery. Higher the discharge rate, the better it is!
Your RC Heli is a valuable investment. Do not short change yourself by purchasing a cheap power source. Often people will choose the cheaper options, they end up spending more in the long run.
