Can a Battery Cause Flight Controls to Not Work?

BSquared18

This problem has me scratching my head; hope someone has an answer.

New to RC copters, a couple of weeks ago I bought a Blade mCX2, along with an extra 120 mAH e-flite battery.

Then, I ordered five 160 mAH Turnigy batteries from an eBay seller, each for about half what I had paid for the extra e-flite battery locally.

What has me scratching my head is that for one out of the five Turnigy batteries, when I install it fully charged, everything works fine EXCEPT for the forward/backward control. Throttle, yaw, and left/right bank work fine, but the forward/backward control is totally non-responsive.

The other four Turnigy batteries work fine, although one of these was exhibiting the same problem for a while but then, after I gave it an extra charge, it worked fine.

I've tested them over and over, making sure they are properly installed in the battery cradle.

One puzzle: Why is the problem occurring only with one flight control, and no others?

I'll be looking forward to some theories.

Thanks,
Bill

chopper54 · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 4:54 am Post subject: post subject

good question BSquared18
i dont think your head is the only one to get scratched here.

could you try running the battery down by using the throttle and recharging. perhaps a couple of discharge and recharge cycles will bring about a cure.
but any way as you got them at such a good price you do have four good ones. as all your other batts are ok it must surely be the one battery that is the problem rather than the heli. you never know though this hobby does throw up some strange happenings. Confused

BSquared18 · Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 9:20 pm Post subject:

Some additional data on this puzzling issue:

First, when a battery is inserted that causes the copter to malfunction, I can hear a small chirping noise in the copter when the copter is at rest. I don't hear that sound when a "good" battery is installed.

Also, when any of the Turnigy batteries are installed, there sometimes is a sound from the copter until the motor has been run for a few seconds. No such sound from the E-Flite batteries.

The "C" rating on the 160 mAH Turnigy batteries is 30, contrasted with a C rating of 14 for the 120 mAH E-Flite ones. Can that be a factor?

Bill

chopper54 · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:27 am Post subject: post subject

i am no expert BSquared18 but is it possible
that your new batts are slightly over powered and they are gently frying the main board. Confused

chopper54 · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 3:10 am Post subject: post subject

hi BSquared18
after my last post i went and checked my msr batts. they are the same as you are using. turnigy 160 and 30c and have been no problem at all. so my last post is probably rubbish talk or straw grasping.

BSquared18 · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 4:32 am Post subject: Re: post subject

chopper54 · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 5:10 am Post subject: post subject

i have the original mcx which came with a 110mah batt, the msr is supplied with 120mah batts. i dont know the c rating as i have none left and only use the turnigy batts now. i cant test the mcx as its gathering dust with broken skids for the last couple of months but the msr is working fine with the turnigy batts but i dont know if the curcuitry is different in any way.
best to be safe and change batts as you dont want to wreck your heli with risky batteries.

solentlife · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:50 pm Post subject:

High mA / C rating does not mean they feed more power by their own decision - it means they are capable of meeting that demand.

So in theory you shouldn't have any problem at all as long as the Voltage rating is same ...

What can happen is that current draw when operating servos can exceed momentarily batterys capability and you get a momentary drop in voltage enough to knock out Rx. This can occur with any rated battery if it has internal resistance problems or the ESC BEC rating is not enough for servo demand.

But it sounds like you have a duff battery - which happens ... factorys put together components and then quick test and send out ....... so odd ones here and there will be strange !

BSquared18 · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:04 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone for your input.

"Flying Goose" at RC Universe came up with the answer, which seems so obvious once it is pointed out.

He suggested that perhaps the more powerful batteries are a bit longer and are rubbing up against a servo.

He was right. You see, the end cap on the problem battery came off the first time I tried to install it. When I glued it back on, it stuck out a bit more than the caps on the other Turnigy batteries. That extra length was just enough to cause the problem.

With all the longer batteries, I have to be careful how they are positioned in the cradle. When I do that, there is no problem.

Thanks again, and chalk this one up to a newbie who is just learning.

Bill

chopper54 · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 3:26 am Post subject: post subject

i like a happy ending

tpcollins · Hopping Maniac Joined: 23 Dec 2010 Posts: 25

I too bought a 160 mAh battery for my CMX2 and the only thing difference I've noticed is the extra weight - it takes a bit more power to get it airborne. I didn't think the extra 10 grains would make a difference but it is about a 20% heavier battery so that's probably why it acts a bit sluggish.

solentlife · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:43 pm Post subject:

Good to hear a good ending and simple cure !

Seve2240

tombo242 · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Seve,

Seve2240