....

Interesting that it’s designed around a six cell NiMH/NiCd pack rather than a two cell (or three cell) LiPoly pack.

__________________
Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE

Matt asked me to test one of these, and it was extensively used during an event a couple of weekends ago. We launched over 40 rockets with this controller ranging from 1/2A to E (maybe one F?) and it never missed a beat. Both BP and composite motors were used.

James

Chargers for 2 or 3 cell Lipos of 1500 mAh or bigger, tend ot be more expensive than the simple chargers used for Nicads.

Also, shipping may factor into this as big LiPos present a bigger risk of fire than NiCads.

Looks like it: "Cells and batteries that exceed these “smaller” cell or battery size thresholds must be shipped as fully regulated Class 9 hazardous material. "

https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phm...ttery-Guide.pdf

Having said all that, I use 3 cell (11.1V) Lipos for all my launching. Due to having 2200 mAh or larger packs, and a very good charger, that I use for multicopters and electric planes.

__________________
Contest flying, Sport flying, it's all good.....
NAR# 18723 NAR.org
GeorgesRockets.com
Georges'CancerGoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-geo...ay-fight-cancer

George, I use 3s LiPolys for the same reason…I have them and the necessary chargers left over from my RC airplanes

Looking at that DOT document you linked to, a 100Wh for “battery” limit still lets you ship a 3s battery of nearly 8Ah, far larger than needed for a launcher like Matt’s new one.

As for charging, a related discussion over on that other forum (centered around LiPolys suitable for the Estes PSII controller — a conversation I think James was involved in) led me to a $10 AC charger for 2s and 3s LiPolys that has a measured charge current of ~800 mA, certainly fast enough for a battery for this launch controller that would likely only need to be charged once or twice a season. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3DDQ7B...ct_details&th=1

I got one and tested it, and while it very very slightly overcharges (4.21V/cell) it otherwise seems to work just fine.

And there is the much lower self-discharge of lithium batteries. NiMH can be frustrating in that regard.

The PSII controller is tough to beat as a good value for a step up from the Electron-beam class of launch controllers, but it is interesting to see Matt/NCR entering that market.

__________________
Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE

I ordered one of these launch controllers and battery/charger from NCR.

It is scheduled to arrive Wednesday (UPS).

I really don't need another launch controller but it looked interesting and I wanted to support Matt for taking the plunge to produce such a product.

I also like to collect model rocket launch equipment.

I hope at some point to get the chance to use it.

__________________
Bob
S.A.M. # 0014

I've been known to do that, too....which is why I have an array of such things for "Classic Model" launches (and why the 7.2V NiCd battery sounds kinda familiar — going back to a Pro Series Command Control that took one or two such batteries and which is a progenitor, of sorts, of the current Estes PSII controller).

[My example of that one has two 2s LiPoly packs in it]

__________________
Bernard Cawley
NAR 89040 L1 - Life Member
SAM 0061
AMA 42160
KG7AIE

I just stick to the good old fashioned 12v 7Ah Gel Cell in my R/C aircraft flight box.
No need for anything new, light, high tech, or Li-anything seeing as it is not actually FLYING.

__________________
When in doubt, WHACK the GAS and DITCH the brake !!!

Yes, there is such a thing as NORMAL, if you have to ask what is "NORMAL" , you probably aren't !
Failure may not be an OPTION, but it is ALWAYS a POSSIBILITY.
ALL systems are GO for MAYHEM, CHAOS, and HAVOC !

I still use the Estes/NCR Command Controller. Did a kids launch last weekend, no problems at all with just one MiMH 7.2V battery pack installed. The Controller can handle two packs at once for 14.4 or more volts.

I do hope the best for Matt and NCR

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
=======================
If the Sky is the Limit, then,
why is there Footsteps on the Moon?
=======================

I had one of those. It was fantastic. Right up until it died after 2 months, for reasons unknown (one day it worked, the next day, a doorstop).

__________________
Contest flying, Sport flying, it's all good.....
NAR# 18723 NAR.org
GeorgesRockets.com
Georges'CancerGoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-geo...ay-fight-cancer