Spektrum SPMAR9100 User Manual
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Spektrum AR9100
7
Spektrum AR9100
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Battery Voltage
IMPORTANT: D0 NOT use a 4-cell 4.8-volt battery to power
the PowerSafe.
Four-cell 4.8-volt batteries do not provide enough voltage headroom
(additional margin needed) necessary to power the system when heavily
loaded. Under load the system voltage can drop below the voltage system’s
minimum operating voltage threshold (3.5 volts) and cause loss of control.
The PowerSafe is capable of handling voltages from 6.0 to 10.0 volts. The
voltage limitations are generally the servos. Most servos are compatible
with 5-cell 6-volt packs. Five-cell 6-volt NiMH packs have become the
standard for many giant-scale applications.
Be aware that NiMH batteries have a tendency to false peak
when being fast charged. Be especially careful when using NiMH
batteries that they are fully charged and have not false peaked.
Many pilots are using 2-cell LiPo batteries to power their aircraft. LiPo’s
offer greater capacity for their size and weight, and are easier to manage
when charging. Before using LiPo batteries, please check the voltage
specifications of your servos. Use of a voltage regulator, such as the
Spektrum VR6010 (SPMVR6010), might be necessary.
Note: When a battery is connected to the PowerSafe a low current drain of less than
1mA occurs even when the switch is turned off. If the system is going to be stored
for any length of time, it’s important that the battery(s) be disconnected from the
PowerSafe to prevent over discharge.
Installation
The PowerSafe requires a minimum of two remote receivers to operate
and one receiver must be plugged into the A receiver port. Three remote
receivers are included and in most cases it is recommended that three
or four receivers be used. Each receiver functions independently and
additional receivers (up to four) offer a more secure RF link in difficult
environments and the added security of redundancy should a failure occur
outweighs the slight additional weight and cost penalties.