Congrats and welcome to the forum. There are a lot of great people on here, don't be afraid to ask questions.

QuoteDo not charge at over 1C current. C= battery pack mah capacity

Hum, that charger I ordered has a max of 5A but is presumably "automatic." I don't know how it could determine battery capacity though..:

QuoteThe iMAX B6 Compact Balance Charger makes charging of your Lipoly batteries easier than ever before. With no current limits or cell counts to set, you simply connect your battery to the B6 and it starts charging automatically. The charge current is variable, determined by the capacity and charge state of your battery. The max charging current is 5A (up to 50W).

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=41635

Gil.
[/quote]

Hello Gil

That is a automatic charger, it bases charge rate on where the balancer lead is plugged into the charger. And as it charges it pickups the cell voltage and adjust amperage accordingly.

Joe

Hello Gil

I have used Lipo's in my R/C rigs. The power drain curve is more stable than the NIMH's, the battery packs weigh less than the same size NIMH and have more capacity. Caution does need to be taken when charging and using these batteries.

Charging:

Have battery in a Lipo safety charge sack    http://www.venom-group.com/Battery-Safety-Charge-Sack-Large.html

Have a bucket with sand by charging station to extinguish any possible fire or chemical fire extinguisher.

Follow charge amperage recommended by manufacture of battery, this is the charge rates for the Venom batteries I use.

Do not charge at over 1C current. C= battery pack mah capacity
÷ 1000. Divide the battery mah capacity by 1000 to determine
the proper charge rate. Example: 1200mah ÷ 1000 = 1.20 Amps
Charge Rate for Venom Power LiFe Battery Packs, example:
a. 800mah Capacity = 0.80 Amps
b. 1200mah Capacity = 1.20 Amps
c. 2000mah Capacity = 2.00 Amps

The video is old and quality is pore but the content is good and shows what could happen when charging the same risk is involved when using them at least in R/C's they don't take shock from crashes to well I have seen one truck and two planes burn after crashing with lipo's in them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3o_2mwRPdw

Store the batteries in a cool place and inside the charge sack. I only use my Lipo's when racing if I am booney bashing or offroad coarse I use NIMH's.

I have thought about trying to use my NIMH's with the RockMite.

73

Joe

Congrats on starting!!! My buddy went threw the same thing and he was having trouble saving for the classes, seemed like every time he had the money saved something came up (the story of life). He talked with the flight school and started making payments/gift certificates. By the end of the year he had the classes paid for.

73

Joe

Hello all

Just reading the news and saw where the sun is in the process of flipping its magnetic fields. This is something that happens every 11 years. I vaguely remember hearing about it earlier in the year. We are now at the point where it should happen within the next 3 months. Wanted to pass it on to those who didn't know or as a reminder for those who did.

73

Joe

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/05aug_fieldflip/

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2013/08/07/sun-will-flip-its-magnetic-field-soon/

Thanks Ray

I am looking into some other options including some used units. Buy once, cry once but like everything else still have to stay on budget. I am currently going threw and reading reviews on Radio Shack DX-398, Sony ICF-7601, Grundig G8 and others.

Basic requirements I am looking for

Battery : AA
Can accept wire antenna extension
Pick up world news station

Everything after that is icing on the cake.

Thanks for the replies. I thought the freq's where a little off and missing coverage, but I wasn't sure since my med's had kicked in. I will take a look at the Degenerate 1103.

Hello All

Looking at buying this little short wave radio to keep in the BOB and use at my location to expand information gathering during a event. But not to sure if its good or not? So I am coming to the guys that know! The radio is sold by County Comm for $44.00 plus shipping.

Specifications:

Run Time:
? Radio: 150 hrs at 40% Volume

?Light: 70 Hrs

Frequency Range:
? FM 76-109 MHz

?MW 520-1740Khz

?SW 5.20-18.30 MHz
?SW1= 49 Meter Bands 5.20 - 6.20 Mhz

?41 Meter Bands 7.10 - 7.30 Mhz

?31 Meter Bands 9.45 - 10.45 Mhz
?SW2= 25 Meter Bands 11.01 - 12.05 Mhz

?21 Meter Bands 13.60 - 13.80 Mhz

?19 Meter Bands 15.10 - 15.60 Mhz

?16 Meter Bands 17.55 - 18.30 Mhz

Sensitivity:
? FM < 10 microV

?MW-AM < 1 microV/Meter

?SW-AM < 30 micro V

Power Requirements:
? 3-4.5 Volts DC via side jack (no adapter included)

?2 each "AA" batteries
?Dimensions: 3.4" X 2.55" X .83"
?Weight: 85 Grams not including batteries
?Speaker: 40 mm in diameter, 4 Ohms, .25 watt
?Earphone Jack: 3.5 MM, Earphones Included
?(Instructions come in both French and English)
?(Blister Packed)
?Clock: 12 Hour Format with Wake Up to Radio Alarm Feature

http://countycomm.com/gp4light.html

Thank You

73

Joe

Quote from: KK0G on July 04, 2013, 10:51:02 AM
As we celebrate America's independence today, remember the 3% who fought for our freedom. The brave men who signed the Declaration of Independence were gambling with their lives, their fortunes and their freedom, don't let their sacrifice be in vain.

Happy Independence Day!!

Well said KK0G !!! Thank you to all the past and present sheepdogs who fight to maintain our freedoms.

73

Joe

Normally it wouldn't be so bad, usually humidity runs around 12% on these 100+ degree days, but this time it's running 24 - 30%. So no relief by staying in the shade. It reminds me of work trips to Missouri in the summer. This just sucks !!!

73

Joe

I second Gil with last 3 days of weather I have been having winter would be very nice. Fridays high was 106, Saturday 108, today we are looking at 110. Possibly next weekend we will drop to the high 90's.

Joe

This is the only Forum I come to anymore. I have seen the bitterness not just on HAM radio sites but almost all forums I use to regular.
I tend to come up with crazy ideas, and its nice to have a place that I can post those ideas and get good solid feed back. The knowledge that everyone has and is willing to share is greatly appreciated. I would not be as far in my communications as I am if not for all of you.

Thank You Gil and everyone else for maintaining a great place.

73

Joe

Thanks everyone for the feed back. Finished it today now I just have to finish the Rock-Mite to use it. I did check the continuity and all is good.

Quote from: RadioRay on June 06, 2013, 09:54:04 PM
Tritium inserts so that you can find and orient your paddles in the dark?   

That is a cool set-up.  Mongo LIKE!


>Ray

Ps.  What color are the tips on QRM piercing rounds?

No Tritium insets on the paddle saving those for the End Fed. I seated 150 grain FMJ QRM piercing rounds.  ;D

73

Joe

Quote from: KC9TNH on June 06, 2013, 06:06:02 AM
LOL - I like it.
3rd terminal for keyer functions or are you going to route that as a 'common' underneath the tacti-cool base?

Need to find a police armorer who routinely swaps-out the standard 5# Glock trigger spring; couple of those for nuthin' could be useful.
;D

I am going with 3 terminals. As for the 5# Glock springs, I have a tray full of them from all the Glocks I have worked on. But digging in my used parts box I found a HK firing pin spring that should do the job.  ;)

The only thing I will have to buy is the plug and wire. And I stopped when I was in town this morning and picked one up, everything else I have laying around the shop. So total cost of this build will be $10.00 for the cord and plug.  ;D Not bad for a 7.62 'tacti- 8)' paddle.

Another crazy idea popped into my head today about making a paddle for my Rock-Mite.  ??? So I took a break from work to see if I might have something. I grabbed two 7.62 x 51 casings from the bad brass bucket, dug threw my box and retrieved the wear plates I had from when I worked on utility trucks, and a couple of 1/4" clevis pins.

I drilled holes threw the brass to accept the pins. Then drilled holes threw the pad. And stuck it all together.

It is still in the beginning stages but the just of the build is there. Once the brass is completed I will seat a couple of bullets in them to round out the look.

73 Joe