Charging at the field

[Paul C]

Guys

How many people charge their lipos at the field ?

When I first saw electric flight in the hobby EVERYONE charged at the field due to the cost of batteries now it seems what with the likes of Hobbyking etc that people just buy enough packs for a days flying.

I take the latter approach but it would be useful in the summer when I want more flights to be able to re charge instead of buying more and more packs.

I don't always fly somewhere where my cars parked that close so charging from the car battery is out. Is a standard car battery the order of the day ? also I've only got a B6 charger i.e. 50W max output, is it worth charging at the field with these as they wont be that fast anyway ?

[Green-giant]

If thats a Bantam BC6 or any other charger for that matter its worth taking if you dont mind carrying 2 extra items, i use a eleric golf cart to get up the path to my field and use the 12v battery to run my charger, i have enough LiPo's to last a weekend i think but always like to top up NiCad's up there and charge a LiPo when i finish, i just keep them charged for when ever i want them.
I say its worth taking

[Big Si]

I charge all mine before i go flying
But take a 85amp Leisure battery with me and charge there as well
if its a nice day i take a small generator
Charge every thing there,hate to go flat if its still light and nice
Get your self more chargers
Never have to many
OH and a set of jump leads just in case

[Paul C]

Cheers Guys

Will give it some thought on whether field charging is for me or not.

On first impressions, by the time I've bought a decent trolley to drag all this gear to the strip, a decent car battery, possibly another charger...................... I might as well have bought a load more packs and just charge before I fly

What attracted me to sell off my glow fleet and go electric (amongst other reasons) was the beauty of turning up with a model, tx, few tools and a case of batteries and just fly. If I start lugging a small power station up to the strip I might as well go back to glow with the gallon of fuel, starter and battey, glow clips etc, etc

[Nutz]

Only charge at the field during those longer warmer summer days.

[ntsmith]

I agree that the beauty and attraction of electric flight is not to have to lug those infernaly heavy field boxes about. I fly some small electrics between charges of the larger ones. I can take enough small packs with me to keep me flying between charges of the more expensive batteries that I cannot afford more of. I can then get away with just taking a reasonably sized Pb battery although its getting towards the inconvenience of the smelly fuel powered things.
I have been pretty miffed in the past having bought large expensive batteries and then for what ever reason no longer have that model that uses them. By keeping the larger expensive ones to a minimum I can largely avoid this situation.

[Green-giant]

depending on which field im at, i leave a lead acid in the back of the car and charge my LiPo's there with boot open and fly between charges, then its not a hassle to carry it.
The other field i have to walk a little bit up a hill/path literally 2 minutes and its within out fence and gate/pad lock so i leave it next to the car charging, no ones gonna pinch it if they cant see it and most are honest people anyway, oh and i can still see it:D lol

[Karate kid]

bantam charger and a leasiure battery for me, in the boot of the car at one field on a fishing trolley at the other.


cheers

sean

[phil]

Good question, I would like to know how "you boys" using 10-12s packs are field charging, especially at the higher charge
rates available with some of the latest packs.

[Green-giant]

Some people have a generator and carry the 60amp power supply and charger, some people just charge them at home! lol