Expensive Lesson, Please Learn from my Mistake.

[CLSSY56]

Since the only thing hurt was my pride, please, all of you take this lesson to heart as if it was your own plane.


I got home today and had plenty of light for flying, nearly an hour before sunset. I took the Apprentice up today, as I flew the T-28 yesterday. I was trying for some endurance flying and climbed ~800' chopped the throttle and glided back in. I was on my second time around and all of the sudden my DX-7 started chirping like a cricket. The Apprentice was quite a ways away and I thought it was telling me that I was getting close to being out of range. I didn't look down, I should have. My TX battery was too low and was loosing signal. What a stupid mistake, I've gotten so use to the LED lights on the DX-5E, that I didn't pay attention to the voltage much. I do wish the DX-7 had a scale of some sort. The worst part about this is that I could of caused damage to property or someone else. Luckily it was on the other side of some houses and above last years soybean field. The only thing I could do is make sure that it didn't hit the houses and kept it over the field which is separated by a thick tree line. What a sickening feeling of seeing your plane going down in a spiral and then go behind the tree line, followed by a thud.

The only things that survived was the electronics inside, most if not the rest of it is damaged beyond repair.

Does anyone have any advice of how to safely discharge a Lipo, so that it can be disposed of?

[ATIS]

man sorry to hear that. The DX7 doesnt have a "out of range" signal...only a low voltage warning. I never fly if my TX goes below 9.9volts...just one of my personal safety things.

[pinchflat]

Wow man that sux. That batt may be OK. I have some duct tape we can fix it.
On a serious note gotta check that voltage. I guess the DX7 sucks more juice than a DX5e.

[liquid1]

WOW I am sad to see this..For some reason My DX5e with recharged Batts only light up to the next to last light 1 light short of full Batt. It light good with alkilines any taughts. I have 2 chargers and 8 Recharge batts I need to check volts. I'm scared to use them..
Back to your crash do you think packing tape will fix the plane its tough as nails just a taught. My wife was sitting beside me when I opened your post. She looked at me and told me I better Make Darn sure All Batts are charged full before Flight. Thanks for posting this is a Huge reminder that sometimes we all forget the Important things for flight..My 989 Brain has a Discharge program that will suck the life from the batt. I'm still figuring out all the options on this charger. Hope you get to salvage what you can. Sorry to see this makes me cringe..

[CLSSY56]

What are ya'lls thought about the integrity of the Lipo? Can it be flattened and saved? I don't believe there are any punctures.

[liquid1]

What are ya'lls thought about the integrity of the Lipo? Can it be flattened and saved? I don't believe there are any punctures.I would carefully try to take wrap covering off of Batt then inspect and re-wrap with flex plastic and tape if all looks good then put on charger thing is a cell might be broken.

[CLSSY56]

Lipo looks good. No punctures and still holding voltage. I'll keep it in the fire bag just to be safe.

[tkrahlin]

That SUX!!! Sorry.

I'd be real concerned about that battery even if you did flatten it back out.

Do you have something like this? It reads and displays the voltage of each individual cell.
http://www.commonsenserc.com/product_info.php?cPath=32_40&products_id=548

[rcdude07]

What are ya'lls thought about the integrity of the Lipo? Can it be flattened and saved? I don't believe there are any punctures.


:no:: :thumbs down:





NO!!!!!!!



Once a Lipo has puffed it is unreliable. It is even more likely to catch fire the next time it charges or gets hot, it likely burst and catch fire.

Here is a link from a link on InsideHeli podcasts about a lipo fire.
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=194957
Completely destroyed the house.


Your safest course of action is to properly dispose of the lipo and replace it.



Rule of Thumb for Lipos: Once puffed, never trust, properly discard.

[CLSSY56]

No puffing, just bent up. Yes I have a cell spy like that. All voltages are good and pretty close.

[CLSSY56]

Well, it'll cost me ~$35.00 to fix on top of the spares that I have already.

[WJCJR1]

The DX-7 does have a battery level meter/scale. I am at work and can not snap a picture but on the display screen where it is mixed in as one of your trims. Next to the voltage readout there is a slide-line there that gives a visual of the state of charge of the battery.

This certainly bums dude, sorry to see that. Glad nothing else bad happened.

CLSSY I would dump the LIPO dude! It may be a mfr CYA but the mfr's suggest ANY damage from a crash the battery is not reliable or safe. I would not care to find out if this warning is valid or not. Drain her out carefully then toss her. These LIPOS once discharged are landfill safe.

Wayne

[ATIS]

:no:: :thumbs down:





NO!!!!!!!



Once a Lipo has puffed it is unreliable. It is even more likely to catch fire the next time it charges or gets hot, it likely burst and catch fire.

Here is a link from a link on InsideHeli podcasts about a lipo fire.
http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=194957
Completely destroyed the house.


Your safest course of action is to properly dispose of the lipo and replace it.



Rule of Thumb for Lipos: Once puffed, never trust, properly discard.


I agree completely...nothing worse then burning your house down or setting your plane on fire in the air... the plane fire would be a cool video but depending on where it crashs you might be financially screwed.

[ATIS]

I nice mod to the DX7 is picking up a nice 2500mah Nicd battery. I have one in my JR 9303...11.3volts off the charger and it will settle after a few flights at 10.5 volts and stay there all day long.

[brianfp_400]

RIP Apprentice.

I would not fly a bent up lipo. Maybe keep for bench testing is about all. Definitely store in a fire bag.

[CLSSY56]

The Apprentice isn't dead yet, I should have it back up in a week or so, since I have most of the parts. Especially if I can get these for $20/ea
http://www.unitedhobbies.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7634

[Seeya]

So sorry to hear that!

I've heard that chirping from my DX7, too, but in my case it was after I accidentally forgot to unplug it from Phoenix after the previous night's simming.

[CLSSY56]

So sorry to hear that!

I've heard that chirping from my DX7, too, but in my case it was after I accidentally forgot to unplug it from Phoenix after the previous night's simming.

That's a much better way of finding out, I would not suggest the method I tried :laughing:

[liquid1]

The Apprentice isn't dead yet, I should have it back up in a week or so, since I have most of the parts. Especially if I can get these for $20/ea
http://www.unitedhobbies.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7634
WOW great price on that batt..I been playing around with my new DX-7 TX and notice it has the voltage reading in top right corner, I;ll thanks to you for sure keep an close eye on it..

[CLSSY56]

yes but after a few weeks, I forgot what voltage it's suppose to be at.

[tkrahlin]

yes but after a few weeks, I forgot what voltage it's suppose to be at.

There's a 'notch' on that battery voltage bar that corresponds to the low voltage warning. It looks to be at about 40% of the total bar.