A123 Battery Cells For Your Radio Control Model Airplane

A123 Battery Cells For Your Radio Control Model Airplane

Electric model airplanes have been around for roughly three decades. A huge problem in the early days was battery energy density. In other words, they simply weighed too much for the amount of juice you could get out of them. This situation has improved dramatically in recent years with the advent of Li-Poly cells, but a battery pack for a larger model can easily cost hundreds of dollars. The advent of electric cars, such as the Toyota Prius has spurred an enormous amount of research into new battery technologies. In this article, I will describe an alternative to Li-Poly batteries that offers intriguing possibilities.

A123 Systems produces Lithium-Ion Nanophosphate cells. These cells have a nominal voltage of 3.3 volts and can withstand continuous discharge rates of 30C. They can be safely discharged down to 2.0 volts. The voltage remains fairly constant through the discharge cycle, but they do have a sharp drop-off at the end. Expect 300 cycles before you notice any reduction in capacity while at 1,000 cycles you'll have 75% of the original capacity. They are very safe. Overcharging or over discharging will not cause an explosion and will have little effect on the life of the battery. Balancing the cells when they are charged is still a good idea, but not absolutely required. They can be charged immediately after use in 15 minutes.

The cells are available in two sizes. The original M1 cell has a capacity of 2.3 Ah and weighs 70 grams (2.47 oz). A newer, smaller size can hold 1.1 Ah and weighs 40 grams (1.41 oz).

The primary source for A123 M1 cells has been DeWalt 36-volt portable power-tool battery packs. Each pack contains 10cells. I purchased two of these for $100 each through Ebay. The prices appear to have gone up recently to the $120-$130 range. Single cells can also be purchased online for $15 from a growing variety of vendors. You can find two of the smaller cells in a Black & Decker VPX battery pack which sells for about $15. The smaller cells can also be had for $12.50 each.

There are many Li-Poly chargers that support or can be modified to support the charging of these A123 cells. Because of the sharp voltage drop-off when discharged, you are probably better off using a timer when you fly. Otherwise you need your ESC to shut off the motor when 2.0 volts per cell is reached.

Bottom line? These cells give you 70% the energy density of Li-Polys for about 45% of the price. For many of us, that is a good trade-off. They are extremely safe and can be charged in 15 minutes. If you end up buying half as many battery packs because of the shorter charge time, then they become a much better value.