Has anyone tried Lithium batteries in their aircraft.

[Head in the clouds]

both lipo and life need cell balancing to maintain the output, your standard lead acid battery does not. life batteries would be suited to a constant loss system where you where just using the battery for the starter and running everything else of a lead battery.

Not according to the Shorai distributor. They say the LiFe battery cells can be balanced if you want longer life or if they show signs of performance loss, otherwise they should be treated as a normal battery. Certainly no need to have a lead battery as well. The importer Principal is Chris Houghton, super nice guy, very informative, straight shooter, talk to him yourselves folks and get it from the horse's mouth - 0412 170 020. I ended up ordering mine direct from him and got free next day delivery as well...

 

 

[SAJ]

SAJ and Pudestcon - TAKE NOTE - the batteries that SAJ listed are the VERY DANGEROUS Lithium Ion Polymer (LiPo) type, they are highly flammable and catch fire! You don't want that in your aircraft, if they catch fire in a car or bike you can stop and walk away, in a plane you may be killed. High charge rates can ignite them, most of our plane engines produce high charge rates... Do Not put SSB (brand) or similar batteries in your plane if you value your life! These are the BAD guys, note their description, top line left side "Lithium In Polymer" (LiPos cannot be sent by airmail because they are dangerous goods) - http://www.superstart.com.au/Products/ProductList/tabid/108/mode/details/pid/434/Default.aspxThe safe ones are also called Lithium batteries but they are Lithium Iron Phosphate (Iron not Ion) which is LiFePO4. They are also exceptionally light and small and just a bit more expensive than LiPos but they cannot catch fire, the electrolyte is not flammable. Here is a link to the correct (safe) type, mine is 270cca, weighs less than 1kg and cost $250 delivered by airmail - http://www.shoraipower.com.au/

Thanks HITC, what Pud said much appreciated, could have made a big mistake.

SAJ