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DURALITE PLUSTM Technical Information

Higest Discharge Li-ion cells - All our lithium ion pack fabrication starts with the best lithium ion cells available. Each li-ion pack will support a maximum safe constant draw of two times its rated capacity, 2c - the highest discharge available today.

1 Amp Charge Rate Our newest generation of circuit will allow for a high charge rate of 1 amp. Although, it is recommended that a DURALITE charger be used, other li-ion chargers may be used if programed correctly.
  • FOR 7.4volt RX, ECU, Powerbox DURALITE PLUS™ packs - set the lithium charger for 7.4 volts (or 2 cells as read on some chargers) with a set charge rate of 1 amp
  • For 11.1 volt Seiko Rudder, ECU or TX DURALITE PLUS packs - set the lithium charger for 11.1 volts (or 3 cells as read on some chargers) with a set charge rate of 1 amp. .

Batteries

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Excusive Stay Balance Circuit™ on every pack Since the current demand of today's high torque digital servo's can be demanding on the flight system, there is a greater possibility for lithium cells to go out of balance and shorten the life cycle of the cells or cause a cell to be over charged or discharged. Our unique circuit monitors cell voltage, recognizes a voltage discrepancy greater than .03 of a volt between the series cells, adjusts the voltage accordingly and shuts the charge off at the appropriate voltage.

Safest RC battery pack available - Major commercial manufacturers of lithium battery packs for lap tops, cell phones and electric tools are required to have safety circuits to protect the cells and the end user from the dangers of over charging lithium packs. Only DURALITE manufactures packs for the hobby industry that adhere to these same professional safety standards.

Batteries

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Unique Dual Lead design - The Stay Balance Circuit prevents overcharging and is on a separate charging lead. The power output lead is connected directly to the pack cells allowing for uninterrupted power to the receiver and servers. Another advantage to this 2 lead system is that if something were to happen to the circuit, the output lead is not affected and there is no interruption of current from the pack.

Batteries

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Superior Pack Construction ONLY DURALITE manufactures its' packs with foam padding carefully covering the solder tabs. This extra step prevents damage to the solder joint and the battery tab.

Batteries

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In addition our packs have 2 layers of shrink wrap which protects the Stay Balance Circuit and adds strength to the structure of the pack. Other li-ion pack RC manufacturers do not add this additional step in the construction process

Receiver & Ignition Battery Applications

NOTE: Batteries recommended are minimum requirements only

Size of battery required relates to # of servo's and # of flights desired

 GLOW AIRPLANE RECEIVER

4 up to 5 servos

50-60 size plane

1 - 2150 mah 2 cell - 7.4v

6-7 servos

90 - 120 size plane

1 - 2150 mah 2 cell - 7.4v
or
1 -1900 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v

 GAS AIRPLANE RECEIVER

5-7 servos

25%, 27%, 30% Size

1 - 2900 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v

OR For Redundant System
2 - 1900 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v

6 - 9 servos

33%, 35% Size

2 - 1900 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v
OR
2 - 2900 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v

13+ servos

40%, 45%,50% size

2 - 4300 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v

SEIKO* Rudder Pack

1 - 2150 mah FLAT - 3 cell - 11.1V

 GAS OR GLOW HELICOPTER RECEIVER

30 - 50 size

Analog servos

1 - 1900 mah FLAT - 4 cell - 7.4v

30 - 50 size

Digital servos

1 - 2900 mah FLAT - 4 cell - 7.4v
or
1 - 4300 mah FLAT r- 4 cell - 7.4v

60 - 90 size

Digital servos

1 - 4300 mah FLAT - 4 cell - 7.4v

 JET AIRCRAFT RECEIVER

Most Jet Aircraft

1 - 4300 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v
OR For redundant system
2 - 1900 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v

 GAS AIRPLANE IGNITION

Single Ignition Unit

1 - 2150 mah - 2 cell - 7.4v
OR
1 -1900 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v

Twin Ignition Unit

2 - 2900 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v
OR
2 - 4300 mah - 4 cell - 7.4v

 SMOKE SYSTEMS

1 - 950 mah TO 2150 mah 2 cell - 7.4v

JET AIRCRAFT ECU Applications

NOTE: Batteries recommended are minimum requirements only


Most Jet ECU's


1 - 4300 mah 4 cell - 7.4v


BERGEN Turbine ECU


1 - 4300 mah FLAT 4 cell - 7.4v


AMT Turbine ECU


1 - 4300 mah 6 cell - 11.1 v

Discharge Curves

4300 mah - 4 cell RX battery
Click to enlarge

1300 mah - 6 cell TX battery
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ANSWERS TO MOST POPULAR QUESTIONS

Q. At what Voltage should I quit flying?
A. Stop fly voltage on a 7.4 volt pack is 6.9 volts measured with a one amp loadmeasured through the black lead or 7.1 volts with a one amp load measured through the yellow lead.


Q.Why are there two leads on the packs?
A.DURALITE PLUSTM Battery packs are supplied with two leads. The "yellow" coloured connector lead is for charging which directs the charging current through our Stay Balance Charge Safe CircuitryTM allowing for a safe charging process. The second lead has a "black" colored connector and plugs into the switch harness as usual. This power lead is connected directly to the battery pack allowing for uninterrupted power to the receiver and servos.


Q.Why do I need a voltage regulator with the DURALITE PLUSTM batteries?
A.The Lithium Ion technology has a higher per cell voltage than other batteries. The pack voltage is 7.4v which is too high for the servos. Our regulator evenly distribute between 5.1v, & 6v. We offer 5.1v, 5.3v, 5.6v and 6v regulators with or without fail safe switches.


Q.Can I power my aircraft from the "yellow" lead?
A.No. The "yellow" lead is only to be used for charging your pack and checking the current state of charge. It should not be used as the power lead for your aircraft due to the Stay Balance Charge Safe Circuitry that the "yellow" lead is connected to.


Q.Why do I need a pack with Redundancy?
A.Redundancy creates a safety margin where if there is a problem with any cell in a pack the pack will continue to operate at half of the packs rated capacity at normal voltage. The larger and more powerful 4-cell packs are assembled with two - two cell packs in parallel(2s2p). This paralleling creates "in pack or Redundancy" with 4 cells working together to allow higher amp output for larger jobs.Any reduction of capacity becomes apparent when your normal pre-flight ground testing is done. We offer Redundancy in our larger and more powerful four cell packs including the 1900 mah, 2900mah & 4300mah.


Q.What is the life expectancy of a pack?
A.Service life is dependent on a number of factors. The most important factor being the depth of discharge (dod). The more deeply the pack is discharged the shorter the cycle life. We feel a reasonable life expectancy is 300 cycles and/or two years.


Q.What will happen if I leave my plane on accidentally?
A.Discharging below 5.5 volts can harm the battery pack! The low voltage shut off will protect your battery should it be left on. For this reason there is an optional Low Voltage Shut Off protector that can be installed to prevent battery damage as the low voltage shut off will protect your battery should it be left on.


Q.What is the maximum charge voltage?
A.Packs must not be charged over 8.4 volts. Using our DURALITE PLUSTM packs which incorporate the "Stay Balance Charge Safe CircuitryTM", this is not a concern as the system is monitored and shut off at a safe level.


Q. What should the battery voltage read once charged?
A. All 7.4 volt Duralite plus lithium packs should read 8.2 to 8.4 volts with no load and 7.5 volt or better with a 1 amp load measured through the black lead. 11.1 volt packs should be 12.4 to 12.6 no load and 11.8 or better with a 1 amp load.


Q. Can you test off either the black or yellow lead?
A. Yes but the loaded readings will be about .2 volts higher on the yellow lead.


Q. Can you charge through the black lead?
A. No, there is a diode in the black lead which prevents this for safety.


Q. How long will the pack take to charge?
A. Depending on the pack i.e. 2150 mah or 4300 mah and the state od discharge, the charge cycle can take up to 6 hours.


Q. I just installed my battery in my plane and today I checked it and it is dead?
A. Check to see if you plugged your battery into the unswitched regulator wrong. If an unswitched regulator is connected directly to the battery without a switch, the regulator will drain the battery. See regulator installation instructions.


Q. My battery tests OK but seems to go down in voltage quickly in the plane.
A. Check to insure the battery is not plugged into the regulator and the regulator into a switch. The regulator must have a switch between it and the battery otherwise the regulator will draw down the battery and eventually kill it. Also check to make sure there are no servos jammed or burnt out. If you are reading your voltage through the switch part check and compare the readings with the one taken directly off the black lead of the battery. Also check the reading off the out put lead of the switch (the one that plugs into the regulator) and compare to the black lead off the battery.


Q. I get a voltage reading off the black lead but not off the yellow and the charger does not seem to be able to charge up the pack.
A. The balance safety circuit has shut down. Contact Tech Support at 1-877-744-3685 for a Return Authorization.


Q. Do I need to cycle the battery packs?
A. No. But you should exercise them by running them down and charging them back up every 4 to 6 weeks if you do not fly regularly.


Q. Can I leave them attached to the charger.
A. No. Disconnect after 6 hours and unplug charger from its power source.


Q. Is it safe to charge overnight?
A. Never leave any battery unattended while charging. Always be present to monitor it.


Q. Do I have to use a regulator with these packs?
A. Yes for the most part. Most servo's are not able to 8.4 volts. There are a few exceptions however such as the Kopopo and Seiko servo's. Always consult the servo manufactures information.


Q. How do I mount the packs in a plane or helicopter?
A. Always soft mount them with foam and use Velcro straps to tie them down. Do not use wire ties such as as "zap strap" types of ties can damage the Stay Balance Charge Safe Circuitry built into each pack .


Q. I notice when I am charging the pack and the charge light has gone out when I go to touch the pack the charge light sometimes comes back on.
A. This is due to static electricity and is not a problem. Just measure the voltage of the pack and insure it is fully charged.

Q.My charger LED lights flicker near the end of the charge process.
A.This is a normal operation for our chargers as the battery nears the end of the charge cycle.


Q. What size battery do I need for my 33% plane?
A. There are a number of factors to consider when selecting the right set up for your aircraft. How many servo's does it have? Are they digital? How long or how many flights do you like to fly in a day? See Applications Chart for more info. If you are unsure at to the correct setup for your aircraft contact Tech Support at support@duraliteflightsystems.com


Q. What size pack do you recommend for the ignition unit?
A. For twins 2900 - 4300 mah packs. For singles 2000 - 1900 mah packs. We also have Universal ignition power wire adapters for a number of motor manufacturers.


Q. What is the difference between a Power Box pack and an ECU pack?
A. The ECU pack has 30" of 14 gauge wire and comes without connectors on the power leads. The Power Box pack has only 16 gauge wire 12" long w/mulitplex connector.


Q. Can I charge through my switch that has a charge port?
A. No you must charge through the yellow lead on the battery pack.


Q. How can I contact Duralite for technical support
A. support@duraliteflightsystems.com or call us toll free at 877-744-3685

Battery Specifications

Installation Diagrams

Instructions for Use

Frequently Asked Questions


Voltage Parameters

7.4 Volt Li-ion Packs measured under 1 amp load

Stop Fly
—6.9 volts under 1 amp load

Fully charged
—no load - 8.2 - 8.4
—under 1 amp load - 7.5 volts & above

Do not discharge below 5.5 volts. Charge rate not to exceed 400 mah.


11.1 Volt Li-ion Packs reading off Transmitter

Stop Fly
—10.8 volts

Fully charged
—no load - 12.4 - 12.6 range


Installation Diagrams

accessoryBattery Mounting Installation - Correct Method using Velcro & Foam

accessoryParallel Redundant Set- up - For 35-45% Redundant Aircraft Single Receiver Set Up

accessoryVoltage Regulator Switched - Connect the regulator between your battery & receiver.

Voltage Regulator Unswitched - Connect the regulator between your switch and receiver

Click on images to enlarge.


Instructions for Use

Get the most out of your DURALITE PLUSTM Battery system.

Please read the enclosed Instructions for Use and Safety Guidelines before using the DURALITE PLUSTM Battery System. > MORE

Storage

Li-ion/poly chemistry batteries perform best if used often. With regular use they do not need to be cycled. They store best if not left in a fully charged state. If they are to be left for long periods of time (over 4 weeks without use) you should exercise them by charging them back up, and then discharging them to about 7.6 volts. This should be performed every 4 - 6 weeks.


Stay Balance Charge Safe CircuitryTM

Exclusive to DURALITE PLUSTM
Li-ion/poly Batteries

Only DURALITE PLUSTM Batteries have the revolutionary Stay Balance Charge Safe CircuitryTM installed in every pack to help prevent overcharging. Our exclusive circuitry also balanced the cell providing consistent voltage for constant servo speed and torque.

Only DURALITE PLUSTM offers the hobby industry a lithium-ion pack that has the same safe charging standards required by major battery manufacturers in other industries. > MORE


Safety Information

The recommended safe charging procedure for all Li-ion & Li-Poly batteries is to charge them out of the aircraft in a fire proof area or container. If the batteries are too difficult to remove from the aircraft, place the model on a non-flammable surface, outside and away from anything combustible. ALWAYS BE PRESENT DURING CHARGING CYCLE. ALWAYS DISCONNECT BATTERY FROM CHARGER WHEN CHARGING CYCLE IS COMPLETE. NEVER LEAVE THE BATTERY CONNECTED TO CHARGER FOR MORE THAN 6 HOURS. Never attempt to charge a damaged battery.

 

Specifications

Battery Pack Configurations

We use only high quality state of the art Lithium-ion cells in our DURALITE PLUSTM packs. We assemble two cells connected in series to create the 7.4-volt system. This configuration becomes our 2-cell pack (no "in pack redundancy"). The larger and more powerful 4-cell packs are assembled with two - two cell packs in parallel. This paralleling creates "in pack redundancy" with 4 cells working together to allow higher amp output for larger jobs. This also creates a safety margin where if there is a problem with any cell in a pack the pack will continue to operate at ½ of the packs rated capacity at normal voltage. Any reduction of capacity becomes apparent when your normal preflight ground testing is done.

Each battery pack has two leads. The yellow connector lead is for the charging cycle (voltage in). The chargers lead also has a yellow connector. The lead with the black connector is the power lead (voltage out). This connects directly to your switch, the voltage regulator and finally the receiver. It is reverse protected so you can not accidentally damage the pack by connecting an incorrect charger.

Most applications will require a Voltage Regulator.

Maximum Continuous Discharge

Each DURALITE PLUSTM pack will support a maximum safe constant draw of two times its rated capacity and support pulse loads of 5 times that capacity. For example, this allows for a 4 amp continuous load from an 2000mah pack and a pulse load of 10 amps. A 4300mah pack will support a 8 amp continuous load with a pulse load of 20 amps. Higher loads can be supported but this type of usage will reduce battery life and possibly cause damage to the pack over time.

No Memory

DURALITE PLUSTM batteries have no memory and do not need to be cycled. They require minimum maintenance allowing for hundreds of hours of worry free flying.

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