Spektrum DX6 - cheap lipo conversion using Turnigy 4000mah DX8 lipo

I'm very pleased with new DX6, but running on AA cells is a bit old hat, even using nimh+ 1800mah, so I wanted to run a lipo for the extra capacity - around double the battery life.

Spektrum make a custom lipo for new DX6 part is SPMB2000LITXCS but its expensive and only 2000mah capacity, I presume half the space is taken by the internal charge circuit so there is less space for lipo cells.

I already use the Turnigy 4000mah lipo in my DX8 which at $18 for twice the capacity seems cheaper and better, and this plugs straight into the DX6 and works perfectly.

http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking/...

Just needed to work out how to charge it, as there is no charge socket on the DX6.

If you want a plug and play charge lead for a standard charger, Spektrum charge adaptor SPM6834 gives you two 4mm banana plugs to charge using a std lipo charger but you need to unplug the lipo from your transmitter every time you need to charge it.

Or if you have a DX8 you could swap the battery over to charge in DX8 using its internal charger, I thought of doing that, but its fiddly to unplug the battery and the DX8 takes ages to charge, over 24 hours, so didn't seem ideal either.

I preferred to solder on a balance lead so I can open battery cover and plug charger in easily, my cellpro chargers will charge through balance lead only in an hour or so, if your charger needs power leads connected as well, you can buy or make a balance to charge adaptor lead which has banana plugs or deans/xt60 etc socket on red/black leads.

I'd suggest charging at 1C max.

Hope this is useful info.