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Originally Posted by haroony341
generally how long does a backup battery last?
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If you're using the camera, not very long. Using this year's yellow battery, we'd get less than a half hour of total time before the camera got flaky, and the servos lost strength shortly afterward.
Quote:
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also, what is the best method of charging the batteries? i know you can just leave them on the charger for an extended period of time.
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Do
not leave them on the "charger" supplied in the 2007 Kit of Parts! It is certain to overcharge them, and likely to damage them. The best method is to use a true charger designed for a 7.2v NiCd battery pack, like the ones supplied in 2006 and 2005.
We use the IFI-approved (but not IFI-supported) on-board charging circuit. It's very liberating to not have to worry about charging the backup battery. This is likely to be especially important at the Championship, as the RC will stay running on backup power for quite some time after the main breaker is switched off following a match, and the long walk back from the field means the pit crew won't be able to notice it and shut it the rest of the way down quickly.