Checking charge during flight?

[rstrobel1621]

Is there anyway to check the charge on a battery during flight so that I don’t over-discharge it? If so, could I make it so that I see the charge on my Spektrum DXe?

 

[Forster]

I don't think the DXe has telemetry. On other models (i.e. the DX6e) you can use the telemetry settings to alarm you when your voltage drops. Depending on the way your ESC is set-up, you should be able to tell based on the way the motor sounds. On my B-Kit 20A E-Max BL/Heli, with stock settings, the motor rpm will drop and you can hear the difference in "Soft Cut-Off" mode. Still have enough power to land without killing the batteries. My radio has timer so for the aircraft without telemetry (i.e. the Champ S+) I can set the timer based on previous flights. I generally check the remaining charge after every flight with my batteries to see how much demand I'm placing on them and how healthy the battery is.

 

[Namactual]

https://store.flitetest.com/battery-voltage-alarm-1-8s/

I always fly with one of these attached to my batteries. I set the alarm to 3.7 volts so I have some time to fly a few more patterns before I land if I need.

It's cheap and easy. It might be hard to hear sometimes, but I just power back and glide every few passes.

 

[Hai-Lee]

I never fly without a battery voltage alarm! I also monitor the time of the flight.

For gliders and other high Altitude models where I may not hear the alarm I have a version which has a high intensity LED fitted which I position so that it faces downwards whilst in flight.

Have fun!

 

[sprzout]

I never fly without a battery voltage alarm! I also monitor the time of the flight.

For gliders and other high Altitude models where I may not hear the alarm I have a version which has a high intensity LED fitted which I position so that it faces downwards whilst in flight.

Have fun!

Interesting!! Is that something you bought, pre-built, or did you wire something up yourself with the LED? I know I've always just flown with a timer, and then check my batteries when I'm done, which usually shows me about 3.7-3.8 voltage, depending on how hard I've flown/what I've flown. I like to err on having MORE battery than not enough.

 

[Hai-Lee]

I bought mine locally but a quick search showed that HK used to sell them at least.

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hobbyki...li-ion-cell-checker-alarm.html?___store=en_us

Have fun!

 

[sprzout]

I bought mine locally but a quick search showed that HK used to sell them at least.

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/hobbyki...li-ion-cell-checker-alarm.html?___store=en_us

Have fun!

Thanks! Kind of a neat idea, just need to see if I can find something from somewhere other than HK (since it looks like it's out of stock, and because I have issues with them not getting parts to me in a ridiculously long period of time).