DX7 Lipo Conversion and Battery Alam Settings

[MrLupold]

Thank you for the great how to video!

big help for the new lipo guy's

keep flying!!!

[Purepain76]

Hi I was wondering if I can use a regular 3s 2200 mah lipo pack in my Spektrum DX7 providing I solder the proper lead onto the lipo pack ? Also wanted to know if there is a setting for using a lipo battery pack that I have to select when I change over to a lipo ? Thanks and great video lots of useful tips

[MattReedVT]

@Purepain76 Any 3s will do for the DX7, there isn't anything you HAVE to do to make it work. All the components inside are rated to handle the extra voltage, The concerns of others are the Voltage Regulators don't have large enough heatsinks on them to handle the extra current, but in practice they seem fine, I've had years of flying on the LiPo from 20deg F to 90-95 degF with no issue, but if you dont change the alarm you could drain the lipo even further than you should (3v per cell).

[MattReedVT]

@Purepain76 Also, Even changing it to 10V leaves you at 3.3v per cell. they do make a diode or other things you can do to drop the voltage down so it Alarms properly, and more closely matches the voltage of the NiMH battery. But if you watch the reported voltage on the screen while running and just charge it when it gets down to 11v you'll be fine.

[johnfranks]

nice, clear instructions!

i flipped the coaxial power jack 180° making accidental wall charging impossible. can be easily reversed if desired.

-jfc

[Nandox7]

On my Futaba 9 I started using a LiPo 3S as well.

But because there is no way to alter the alarm I ended up using a diode to limit the

voltage that enter the radio and still have it warn me way before the low voltage damage the lipo.

For the DX7 I'd recommend the same, if you can get a ~1 - 1.5v voltage drop it will more than enough to make it safe and we can still enjoy the wonders of a long lasting LiPo.

[macdaddy1600]

NICE VIDEO THANKS

[macdaddy1600]

how long did you wait to get your battery

[macdaddy1600]

I GOT A NICE USED DX 7 HELI WHEN I WAS PROGAM MODE THE SCREEN WAS BLINKING I THENK THE BATTERY IS BAD ITS NMIH HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO CHARGE ALL NIGHT

[JOEJOE42PR]

THANKS FOR THE TIP!! BEEN USING LI-PO ON DX7 FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. HAD NO IDEA THE VOLTEGA ALARM COLUD BE RE-PROGRAMMED OR RE-ADJUSTED.....

[Mateyhv1]

Why don't you simply exchange the NiMh pack with a 2700mAh one? It could be self a self made pack. That wouldn't void the warranty, charging could be done through the standard port, no safety issues as with Lipos, and you could use the original pack as a backup.

[MattReedVT]

@Mateyhv1 While that is an option that many people go with 2700 mah will still only last one full day of flying... maybe two. the LIPO packs can go a week... a month.. or if your a casual flyer way more... During the winter I can go 2-3 months because I only fly 1-2 times a week and only on weekends.

[MattReedVT]

@MattReedVT Also recharge time goes form overnight to 1 hour in case you get to the field and forgot to charge your transmitter

[Mateyhv1]

@MattReedVT that makes sense. Even though I am a bit afraid of the over voltage condition.

[MattReedVT]

@Mateyhv1 Overvoltage is the biggest concern by people, As I said below some people have added diodes / resistors / added heatsinks to the voltage regulators / swapped out the voltage regulators. Also if you ever have a problem with your radio and call spektrum the first question they ask you is "Are you using a LiPo Battery?" to me the benefits outweigh the risks. I never have to worry about low voltages at the end of the day.

[macdaddy1600]

@Mateyhv1 4 guys got dx 7s they all have lipos in them no problem at all over 2 years everything is fine YOU CAN YOU A LIPO PACK IN YOUR DX7

[FAT979]

Very well explained, many thanks

[GreenMountainRC]

It is true that it is more than recommended voltage, some forum threads suggest capacitors, or swapping voltage regulators. Apparently with the proper heat sink the voltage regulators can handle it. I know people that have been using lipos without additional mods for over 3 years without issue. But again as the manual says it WILL VOID your warranty

[sjaakslinger]

What about Spektrum's manual statement, that 12.6V could be too much and 9.6V is the design voltage? Anyone had any problems using a 3s LiPo?

[AgentJay73]

I want to thank you for putting this video up. I'd thought about getting a LiPo pack to replace the stock 1500 mAh NiMH pack in my DX7, but it wasn't until I saw this video that I actually decided to do it. I just finished setting up the radio and I'm looking forward to being able to fly without having to recharge the radio all the time. Very informative and helpful!

[MattReedVT]

Also I've learned that you can adjust the second setting in the battery menu to offset what the radio sees as the voltage so you can trick it into alarming at the exact voltage you want. You can see in the video that +8 is default on the radio.

[zamoua]

this is a AAA+++ Video thank you

[compaddict238]

@duckstew in Short, No you can not charge through the charge port, In addition, I still remove the LiPo to charge it due to safety reasons (i.e. Using a LiPo Sack) I would not want my TX to go up in flames just because i didn't want to pull the batt.

My Advice is to find a female JST connector and make an adapter to the style of connection your lipo charger has. Also there are a *few* (Cellpro 4s i hear) chargers that can charge through the balance port of the battery. might be worth a look.

[duckstew]

is it possible to charge the rhino battery through the TX charge port if a lipo charger is used? I have a lipo from MAXAMPS that does not have a charge plug or balance tap.

[compaddict238]

@SpeedDemon46 With a moderate amount of flying (2-3 times a week) you will only need to charge this thing probably once a month or less. Also if you are running low on battery you can throw it on a lipo charger and be back up and running in an hour, fully charged, at the field, where the stock battery takes hours to recharge. For me, I've only been flying once a week or less (winter here) and I havn't recharged it since I posted this probably 4 months ago now. Still 100% on the battery meter.

[SpeedDemon46]

What's the benefit of the 3c lipo vs. the stock battery?

[33apd]

Nice work!

Vermonster

[ChefWannabeToo]

great info and vid. do u have the blade msr or mcx? if so can u show a setup on the DX7? thx