maestro battery charging time?

Barry N1EU

I think it's Polanfo - I just searched for it  ;-)

Gerald-K5SDR

We have another interesting one I need to test when I get back from a trip. I'll report if it works well.

Gerald-K5SDR

Yes, it is Polanfo Q5.

Corey/ KC0YNS

Darn, just my luck... Should have waited before buying the Mogix batteries... Think I'll wait until all this is figured out...

ctate243

Yes I second Howards recommendation, the Polanfo 12000 worked very well for me in Alpha testing and I am sure many more will be discovered with time.  The Mogix batteries should work ok as well so don't fret if you have purchased them.  These things are 10-15 bucks a piece so have a few if you are going long term untethered should be totally doable. 

Gerald-K5SDR

The Mogix I have been using runs just about 4 hours.

Tim - W4TME

The Mogix batteries are good batteries. I have several of them that I use interchangeably . I can get about 5 hours of run time from them.

Corey/ KC0YNS

One last concern, How fragile is the wire and mini sub plug, Do you think it'll hold up to numerous change outs over a long period of time?

Gerald-K5SDR

The battery plug is a USB A.

ctate243

I have been doing heavy battery swapping for some time now and have not managed to break mine yet..

ka7gzr

Thanks Howard I understand.

The battery symbol doesn't deplete during discharge. Is it necessary to look at the LEDs on the battery to determine charge remaining?

Lawrence Kellar KB5ZZB

I'm going to use a Jackery Titan 21000 mah.http://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Technology-Portable-Charger-Smartphones/dp/B015QGW4BU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UT...  It has been the best pack I have used  

Tim - W4TME

Is it necessary to look at the LEDs on the battery to determine charge remaining?

Yes, until you get to the point where Maestro detects low voltage condition and informs you to replace the battery. 

KY6LA_Howard

The battery symbol ONLY tells you that ur on battery not the amount of charge

Steve (N9SKM)

Maestro spec
- Max battery dimensions are 3.00" x 6.00" x 0.75"

(From amazon Size (LWH): 5.9 inches, 0.8 inches, 3.2 inches)

If their measurements were wrong it may fit. you will have to let us know.

G4NRT

Does this fit inside the Maestro battery compartment?

Steve K9ZW

As an FYI the Battery LEDs on many units are not linear - they may well show full charge during a lot of us, and then rapidly go down.

I was told this has to do with the technology and the design being optimized to a constant voltage being held as long as possible.  That may be only part of the reasons.

So unlike batteries which show a small voltage drop right from the start on a predictable gradual curve, LiPOs tend to appear 100% until far advanced in their discharge cycle. 

They are cheap enough, and offer a lot of power density in relatively light weight packages, that with the hot-swap Maestro feature it should be manageable.

So reminds me of the car I learned to drive in that showed a full tank of gas on the gage for hours of driving and then in moments would drop to less than an 1/8th tank when run five-ten miles more. 

73

Steve K9ZW

Phil M0VSE

Yes it does, I have just fitted one into my Maestro. I also like the numeric charge remaining indicator on the side of the battery although i'm not sure how accurate it is?

G4NRT

Thanks Phil. I've already bought the Mogix from the US but good to know. I assume it is a self-starter (no button to push) as well. Good to know for the future and slightly higher capacity as well!

Bob - W7KWS -

I'm a little concerned about wear on the connector & Velcro over time but I'm more concerned about handling the Maestro so often with the associated risk of dropping it. I'm pondering another battery solution. http://www.amazon.com/XTPower-MP-10000-External-10000mAh-included/dp/B00935L44E?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_1&smid=A1F3RS3IOEG1Z2 This battery will fit in the Maestro compartment but is .1" too thick so I'm weighing the pros & cons of leaving the battery cover off of the Maestro. The advantage of this battery is that it charges from 12 Volts. I don't know if it will power the Maestro while it's being charged but if that works, frequent changes of batteries could be eliminated as I'd just plug it in during normal use instead of plugging in the Maestro. This battery is a bit pricey but then I'd only need one of them as it would almost always have a full charge except when in use away from an outlet. I have a much larger Anker battery that has similar features & it does power the Maestro while being charged. Any input or experience from others on these thoughts would be helpful & appreciated.

KY6LA_Howard

It's only 10,000 mAh. Big battery for medium power. The smaller Polanfo is 12,000 mAh and fits the case.

Bob - W7KWS -

Thanks Howard, but can the Polanfo be charged in the Maestro while powering it? This is more important to me than 2000 mAh., given the concerns I described.

Steve (N9SKM)

NO. Scroll up. there is no charging while onboard. Tim explained it in this very thread.

Bob - W7KWS -

Steve,

Tim was talking about the Maestro not providing a Micro-USB for charging the battery.

I could have been clearer but I was talking about plugging a charger directly into the battery while it's powering the Maestro. I've tried it with a Mogix but plugging a charger into the Mogix turns the 5V output off.

Gerald-K5SDR

The battery is destined to protect itself by not allowing charge and discharge to happen at the same time. We found a battery that says it allows both but have not had much time to test.

Bob - W7KWS -

Gerald, Ahead of the curve again. With that tease, I'll not buy anything in haste. Hopefully you will be able to offer some ideas when I see you in Dayton.

Steve (N9SKM)

understood now. TBH with the fact that it has an onboard battery for swaps and the fact that we are dealing with rather inexpensive battery packs I would be much happier charging with it out of the maestro. The thing to look for would be a pack that states that it has "pass thru" ability which means that it passes the input current to the output and charges the battery with what's left over. The issue in my mind being that the maestro is going to be using most of the current that the wall supply can put out and charge rates to the battery itself would be quite low.

Gerald,
  I am sure it varies widely but what kind of current draw range off of the 5v pack are we looking at?

Sidenote- Just saw that a 6/29 order got his invoice and I ordered 7/3, The anticipation is killing me.

Lawrence Kellar KB5ZZB

I used velcro to mount it to the back of the battery compartment and found a flat USB extension cable to bring the connector to the outside

Steve (N9SKM)

RR, I think I will go the way of a smaller pack that will fit internally as I don't see myself sitting outside of the shack for more than the 4 to 6 hours operating that the smaller packs get. If I'm on the road ill just bring the plug pack.

Bob - W7KWS -

Lawrence, That may be the ticket, at least temporarily, using my 20,000 mAh Anker battery. Thanks!