Spektrum Smart Technology - Smart Vs "Dumb" Batteries

[@aragorn318]

Hi Tom, one of my Spektrum batteries is over two yrs old and currently has 47 cycles on it. And yet it still performs like new. Just curious, how many cycles can a Spektrum battery do?

[@bneil4059]

Do the smart batteries have low voltage cutoff?

[@TheTronebass]

I have a SPEKTRUM SMART POWERSTAGE BUNDLE 3S. Do I need to use the balance port when charging the included battery? I have been charging without it assuming it was automatically doing it for me. Is that correct?

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

It is best to balance charge when available for best battery life and to help alleviate potential issues

[@TheTronebass]

@@SpektrumRCvideos Thanks!

[@noControl556]

Is there limited metrics available to the Tx if the smart battery is only charged with a dumb charger?

[@matthewaugsburger536]

I have a few 5000mah 100c smart batts. Wish you would come out with higher mah batts for us

[@mekhiwesson4849]

A tip : watch movies at Kaldrostream. I've been using it for watching loads of movies recently.

[@waynebruno7051]

@Mekhi Wesson Yup, have been watching on KaldroStream for years myself :D

[@danielvandergraft1095]

If I replace the ic3 connector to deans do I need the middle wire

[@thehobbyguy2672]

Hi Tom ,I'm using the same air smart 6ch rx with the 60A avion esc,I'm using a dumb battery and I don't get the smart logo on my NX10 transmitter as u do can you suggest why, thanks.

[@tbocfoRC]

On the transmitter Smart screen what does F H and A represent? This is the screen that shows the receiver.

[@yota4x405]

Do these come out of the box set to auto discharge? Or do you have to set it up with the smart checker/charger for it to do it. Personally I prefer to discharge my own batteries when I don’t use them for a while. I hated my DJI batteries for self discharging

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

They currently do not come with it preset.

[@f900ex5]

1:30 Notice how the Smart checker goes from 27% to 36% with the non smart battery, This Smart checker does not give you the correct % of battery remaining vs normal checkers. I own one and its useless for non smart battery. Probably the same Spektrum Smart Battery's

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Good catch. Have you update your Smart Checkers? There is a firmware update that fixes this bug AND adds more functionality to the servo tester www.horizonhobby.com/pdf/SPM_Smart_Checker_Update_Instructions.pdf

[@cjadventures8840]

@@SpektrumRCvideos see this is what I like

[@DronemanJoeRc]

When you charge a dumb battery do you need to set anything on it as far as discharge time? or just plug it in and let it go and it will take care of that for you? bc when I plugged in my dumb battery like the power hobby pro limo 3s 3cell 11.1v 5200 man 50 c batt and I went into the settings it wouldnt let me set the discharge time unlike my smart battery would. So you help on this question would be appreciated and I'm a horizon customer just got your sonic wake 36 and the apprentice airplane fully stocked so please give me some info my friend.

[@soggycivic8594]

I bought a brand new spektrum smart 1200mAh battery. Assuming it is in storage mode, I tried to plug it directly to my brand new scx10iii that comes with a brushed firma esc… and it couldn’t power it on. I tried connecting the balancing lead to my voltage checker, and it didn’t even power that on. Do I need to charge my battery in order for it to work for the first time? Could it be that it got damaged through shipping since it was very cold while being shipped?

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Sounds like you got a bad battery. Best to return and exchange it at the place of purchase

[@alfredhackl6717]

Question: just received 3 x Spektrum smart batteries but my almost new Spektrum smart charger cannot see the balance cable and will not start charging - do you have any thoughts on that? It is also not showing me the voltage of the cells

[@nikheigl8]

Hey guys, Arrma Fireteam + Spektrum G2 + DX5Pro Updated the charger, the battery, the transmitter and still the transmitter is not able to detect the smart battery in the telemetry; the only thing left is to update the receiver (again 30$ for this shit cable) The telemetry shows the RPM and the ESC but nothing abt the smart battery (the reason i bought it) please guys help me

[@damaylaphoenix1155]

spektrum , how come you dont list any specs on these batteries? like the internal resistance , the charge rating? i plug a 3s 100c into the 2100 smart charger , press charge . i work on my car and 5 min later the battery was completely charged . discovered , the out the box setting is 12 amps! why? is that smart?

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Most of the Smart Packs can handle 3C Charge rate and it is listed on the label as suh. 12 amps is perfectly safe with that pack :) Also IR is not something that is listed because it is ever changing during the life and use of the pack.

[@damaylaphoenix1155]

@@SpektrumRCvideos thank you

[@tristandekker7209]

what is you want to use a smart recever and radio with a dumb esc and a smart batery. will you get annny data

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Depending on the receiver, but yes you will. Coming soon is the AR637T Smart Receiver; you will get RX Volt, Altitude Vario Data, Gyro data AND forward programming for AS3X and SAFE.

[@tristandekker7209]

@@SpektrumRCvideos and with the sr515

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

@@tristandekker7209 You will get RX volt and signal data

[@nick92065]

My DX3 is not seeing the smart battery on my Arrma Vortex. Horizon Hobby sent me a new receiver this still did not fix the issue. This is two brand new smart batteries. Yes the plug is in the correct channel on the receiver.

[@malelonewolf80]

Should be pretty easy for spektrumrc to make a script that forces users to enter voltage and mAh when plugging in a dumb battery, and thus give the battery percentage.

[@slymeJT]

I always recommend one of the SAFE equipped planes for new members at our club, it saves them from being put off too early (thinking that they will never get the hang of even turning the plane) and makes rescuing a plane so easy for me. No fingers on the sticks, I just hold the trainer button in and let go when I need to. Fantastic. However, the latest member who took my recommendation turned up with an Apprentice equipped with one of these smart ESCs. I cannot get it to work with proper batteries. As soon as it takes off the Low Voltage Cut-off kicks in. I did rescue the plane but it wasn't easy. What should I do to make this plane work properly with standard batteries? Is it even possible? I don't want to be telling new members to buy a plane and a replacement ESC which maybe tricky for a novice to install and I am not going to suggest that a beginner, especially those elderly joiners on a fixed income, invest so heavily until they are sure of it. I really do like HH products, I learned to fly on my own with a SAFE+ plane (the Sportsman) and I still have it. I like the prospect of what Smart systems can do but I do need a simple option if I am going to keep using them for new members.

[@1peanut]

Can i change the connector on a smart battery and balance charge it on a regular lipo charger ? if yes... do i just tape the little smart wire off ?

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Yes and Yes :)

[@1peanut]

@@SpektrumRCvideos awesome. Thank you for replying.

[@ROYteous]

The thing that stood out the most for me in this video is how you have a backwards tire on that SCX10...

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

LOLZ :)

[@loschika]

okey i have just received the S2100 and 4pcs 1300mah 3s lipo-s and i can not get the charger to charge them, or recognize them

[@1peanut]

I just got a aeroscout s1 and in beginner mode i have full rudder throw. in intermediate i have half rudder throw. Is this correct ?

[@nolacross704]

what rates are u In

[@Lawst-1]

These spektrum batteries are a gimmick, you can get two or even three good lipos for the price of one smart battery, and basically the only thing smart does is show how much battery life is left on the radio and not having to press a few buttons on a charger lol no thanks.

[@nitro197rice9]

I just dont understand why they think all this radio data is so great...no one can watch the screen while driving?

[@nicholaslepage7019]

There is no mention of capacity used on the avian smart esc?

[@nicholaslepage7019]

@Mark Evans unless I missed it they didn't mention actual capacity used with the avian esc even with a SMART battery. Only for the firma esc.

[@nicholaslepage7019]

@Mark Evans I think it did say the firma esc gives capacity consumed with the smart battery but not a dumb battery. just don't understand why spektrum would produce a telemetry esc that did not give capacity used when most of their competitors are doing so. I do like the idea of the smart batteries. They are probably just trying to the people into using their batteries, but may well backfire on them because I'm sure most would not want to be only limited to the spektrum lipos to get vital capacity data. Surely it must also be available on the avian ESC's perhaps not on the DX radio's but the ix?

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

From our testing and comparisons, without a smart battery adding additional data to the capacity used/%remaining fields, the capacity used numbers are inaccurate at best. It works much better when the esc and radio know exactly what battery is plugged in.

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

That being said everything is updateable (ESC/RX/RADIO) so this might change if users really feel that it is needed we can look into adding it.

[@nicholaslepage7019]

@Mark Evans I think they would need to have a capacity sensor built into the esc. Their only option would be to do what open tx do and have a current counter built into their tx software

[@TOURMANBOB]

Very frustrated with the Spectrum G2 smart battery. Using the Spectrum S155 charger, I updated the G2 battery and ruined the battery. It will only allow an upgrade if the battery needs it, and it seems it did. However, at the end of the upgrade, it locked up totally. Now it's looking for the balance connector, and doesn't auto start anymore, plus doesn't give me the voltages of each cell while charging or afterwards. So the charger basically ruined the battery...it will still charge but doesn't stop on it's own any more, nor is it balancing the cells properly. It seems to have downgraded the G2 smart software. Nor is Spectrum support any help...

[@TOURMANBOB]

Ok, seems a load of the G2 batteries have a defective chip in them. Great Hobbies exchanged the battery and sent it back to the manufacturer along with a load of other "smart" batteries for much the same reasons.

[@Argon_02]

Ummmm I am not sure but are your bateries using a different balance connector? Or is my just broken... I opened the pack, tried to check the cell voltage with the balance connector and one of the pins just reads zero...

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Spektrum batteries use a standard XH balance connector. Sounds like you have a bad battery :(

[@Argon_02]

@@SpektrumRCvideos Aww, sucks... It had 3.8, 1.0, 0 and 0 on it's cells, sucks to be me :( hope I'll get a replacement from the online hobby shop. Oh and is it normal that the seal on the box was cut? My guess is that ASTRA (a Czech store that sells your products, I purchased it from a reseller PROFIMODEL) put a Czech manual in there, but it's still odd.

[@beyondthecutcreations9391]

What would cause a 5000 mah 3S 100c smart lipo to discharge on its own down to under 1v per cell... charger reads 2.74 volts for the battery

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Likely a bad component in the battery. Please contact place of purchase or our support staff for warranty support. Their email is [e-mail]. Thanks! :)

[@gortt7611]

Thanks, good complete overview.

[@jahmenrcbuildingasone4254]

Will dumb batteries only work with EC5 connectors?

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

"Dumb" batteries is just a nonchalant way of referring to any battery that is not a Spektrum Smart battery, so connector wise it does not matter. and you can use any battery on a smart esc and charger as long as you have correct adapters and or connectors. Hope that helps!

[@ezi0n]

@@SpektrumRCvideos why doesnt my Firma 160A report any data for a dumb battery on my DX5 pro as in your video?

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

@@ezi0n is your DX5 Pro updated?

[@TheSkyPod]

@@SpektrumRCvideos Did you read his question ? He is asking if only the EC5 lipos will fit into the Smart battery checker/charger , and not others like XT60 , XT90 , Cines , etc ?

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

@@TheSkyPod If you have an adapter anything will work, but the checker has a IC3 connection on it.

[@michaelmcmenzie6928]

Batteries aren't dumb batteries are batteries. The user chooses whether to be smart or dumb

[@tommycho3971]

Leading the way!!! Thanks!!!

[@RameyOwen]

Note to self: DX8 begins at 12:22!

[@Bawla187]

Sooo🤔, what brand and size motor is that sitting off to the top right there bud??? Ya know😎, the one that fell when you brought over the crawler??🤔

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

It is just a random inrunner. Used to get data from the esc. Nothing special :)

[@Bawla187]

@@SpektrumRCvideos mmhm🤫

[@greatquotestoliveby]

Please come out with some Graphene or Carbon type of batteries and I'm in!

[@SpeedSyko]

Oh thank god, I got 2 spektrum 3s 100c batteries and charging it without the spektrum charger.

[@camarokurt]

Just connect an old Shumaker 12 volt car battery charger. It'll be fine. :D

[@choppergirl]

Can Spektrum transmitters play wav files? What is the file folder structure they need to be in? If so, I can make a Spektrum version of my Choppergirl SoundPack (for Open-TX). Click my name for more info. I don't have a Spektrum transmitter so if anyone wants to help me with some file structure info, try and install it on their own transmitter and see what they have to modify, or donate an old transmitter for me to try it myself - that would be groovy. Under Open TX, all wav files are stored in a SOUNDS folder and SOUNDS slash SYSTEM subfolder

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

iX transmitters can play wave sounds and use text to speech. DX transmitters have a utility that imports wav files as well. Currently custom sounds are not supported on the NX line but it is in the works.

[@choppergirl]

@@SpektrumRCvideos Ah, cool, thanks for the info. I should email the company and ask them if they will donate one of their oldest models that can play custom sounds. I would assume if I developed foroldest wav capable model,. then everything else would then be able to play the same thing. I down sampled every thing to 16,000Hz so older processors could handle it. I'm not familiar with the Spektrum history or line of models at all. The whole dmmn RC hobby has actually been something of a complete bust and total fail for me, since I can't see to solder any more(blind), so I fly the sims.

[@robertfpv7733]

I like horizon products but I don’t think you should call the old battery type dumb vs the new smart batteries. If you can’t set up a lipo charger then go with the smart batteries but if you are actually smart and know how to adjust a couple number like the amount of cells and battery capacity then go with the old school lipo batteries. They are cheaper then the so called spectrum smart batteries

[@jcallesano]

So after watching this, the question Still Remains of how long the Spektrum smart battery takes to Auto discharge? And what happens if you interrupt that activity once it has self-initiated? Also how do you go about changing the time where it goes into self-discharge mode if you do not have a Spektrum smart charger? All of the other information that the smart battery displays is really just a luxury and not that useful to me as 99% of people that run any kind of LiPo battery are just going to run it until low voltage cut itself off... these batteries are pretty expensive at around $77 a piece for a 3s 5000 milliamp battery. Although it does have a hardcase on it it's still a little bit pricey compared to other two packs of the same type and capacity battery for the same price

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

The time it takes to discharge to storage varies depending on the size of the battery. After it starts, it is drawing about 150mah an hour. So essentially take half your packs capacity and divide by 150, that will give you a rough estimation. In some cases with large packs it could take over 24hrs. That being said, the pack simply having this load on it to bring it to storage is sooo much better then leaving it fully charge :) Also nothing happens if you interrupt it, the pack will know if it is being charged or being used with a model and will stop this process. To setup and change auto storage you will need a Smart charger or the Smart battery checker.

[@jcallesano]

@@SpektrumRCvideos very interesting and thank you for the response. Does anything inside the battery get warm while it is self discharging? Something has to be absorbing that energy

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

@@jcallesano The chip in the battery that is controlling this function does get warm while performing auto discharge :)

[@sacrificialrubber779]

Think I am gonna try a 6s, prices are comparable!🤔🤔🤔👍🏻

[@MotCogs]

They are very nice and the 30C are rock solid in most anything!

[@jaredsay3331]

I own a spectrum DX6R DX5C DX4C dX2E and about to charge over to spectrum battery and ESC for all my models and I own trx6 snap-on hauler trx4 blazer scx10 hpi sprint rustler 4x4 stampede speed Pioneers 1/16 erevo 1/10 erevo three Clod buster and three TL01 and I'm in the process of buying a Losi Camaro drag car

[@chrislrocks]

I want to use the spektrum charger and batteries. The charger is WAY underpowered. Who cares how small the charger is, we must have performance. With the new RC'S we just be able to charge four 4s lipos in parallel quickly.

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Which charger? If you want fast, high watt charging we suggest the S1500 500 Watt DC charger. Can pump 20 amps into the largest of packs with ease.

[@chrislrocks]

@@SpektrumRCvideos excellent thank you. Will look into it and a proper power supply to get that DC wattage.

[@rcnoob4747]

They used a lectron pro as the dumb battery

[@IstasPumaNevada]

Added expense and complexity in the battery, all for the privilege of being locked into a proprietary system if I want to make use of any of the special features? No thanks.

[@richardoneill1965]

I will tell you the price they are the price of a plane, supposed to be a hobby not when you need a bank loan to pay for them.the smart thing is spectrum got it from isdt

[@RuudyL]

You also can say Expensive battery's V Cheap battery's

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Well there are expensive non-smart batteries :) See maxx-amps, thunderpower etc. Our batteries, even with the added benefits of Smart, are very competitive in price, power and reliability to the top of the line packs offered by the competition. Are there cheaper packs? sure, but when it comes to LiPos, the old adage "you get what you pay for" is very true :)

[@STLHUSTLE314]

Guy so busy trying to sell me one and gave me the wrong one

[@SpektrumRCvideos]

Big Boy 314 ???