|
http://www.batteryspace.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2634
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDXG9
This thing is neat no matter what kind of batteries you are using - especially lead-acid. As lead-acid batteries discharge with use the voltage drops linearly. As the voltage drops the lamp dims. Down around 10vdc the lamp will still be lit, but hardly putting out any light. I can't tell you the number of times I've seen people hunting for rocks with a light that was barely lit - the rocks just don't glow very well. But since they were seeing light out of their lamp, they assumed the rocks just weren’t glowing. Other packs (like NiMH and LiFE) don’t have this linear discharge problem, but it’s still a good idea to monitor your battery voltage.
Available from Battery Space ($17) or Hobbico ($10) - links above.
Installation: You can just stick it to the side of your SuperBright or Way Too Cool lamp. As supplied it has a switch to activate it when you want to see the voltage condition. Since it only draws 10ma I think you can do without the integral switch - just bypass it and have it always on when the lamp is on (cut out the switch and splice the wires together). The input wires must be connected to the switched DC inside your lamp (after the on/off switch) - then every time you turn on the lamp, you will also turn on the battery indicator. One of my buddies went so far as to mount the whole thing inside his SuperBright), and just have a slit (cut with a dremel) allowing the LEDS to show thru at the top.
Specs below:
|
|
The VoltWatch 12V Field Power Monitor provides convenient, affordable peace of mind to check field battery voltage levels. Field batteries are usually buried down deep inside a field box. This makes it difficult to get to the battery's terminals to measure battery voltage to see if the battery needs to be charged or not. By connecting the input lead on this unit to the battery, then mount this unit to the outside of the field box, you'll never have to worry about digging down through your box to get to your field battery anyway. Just push a button, read the voltage LEDs, and that's it.
FEATURES:
- Easy, one-button operation. the red, yellow and green LEDs clearly show voltage range from 11.0 to 13.0V. 7-LEDs provide instant, accurate battery voltage status of Low, Safe, or Max. Only one light at a time glows
- Very lightweight, only 1/10 oz - unit can be mounted on the side of the fuselage, or under the plane's canopy. Draws amazingly low current - less than 10mA.
- Comes with double-sided tape for easy, "anywhere" mounting.
- 2 banana plugs are also included for connecting to a power panel.
- Monitor battery power status to avoid over discharged NiMH battery pack , which is very important to get longer battery service life.
- Perfect for monitor our 12V NiMH, 12V NiCd and 12V Leadacid battery pack
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Length: 1.6 in (41 mm)
- Width: 0.6 in (15.6 mm)
- Thickness: 0.01 in (3 mm)
- Weight 0.1 Oz ( 2.9 grams)
- Power comsuption: 10 mA ( 0.01A)
Manual (from Hobbico): http://manuals.hobbico.com/hca/hcap0331-manual.pdf
|
