SMC HCL HP FLIGHT PACKS
THE SUPERIOR Matching Concepts (SMC) line of HCL HP Flight Packs are competitively priced LiPo batteries that have a good performance-to-weight ratio. The company offers several sizes and configurations. Another huge benefit of HCL HP Flight Packs is that you have connector options when you order them, and they come out of the package ready to use. The connector options are T-Style, SC5-compatible with EC5/IC5, XT60, and EC3.
On its website, SMC states that typically low-priced packs are built using lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) or lithium manganese oxide (LMO) for cathode material. This makes for weaker cells under load. SMC uses 100% lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) for the cathode, which is the best material to hold voltage under load.
Beyond the pack’s C rating, SMC states that the company decided to use a different method to show the pack’s rating that is more accurate because the voltage under load is used to determine the cell’s rating. SMC calls this the “Performance Factor.”
They arrive at this number by loading a fully charged pack at 100 amps and taking the voltage of the pack at 5 seconds. The voltage of the pack is divided by the number of cells, providing the voltage per cell. A 2S pack that is at 7.84 voltage at 5 seconds under a 100-amp discharge would have a 392 rating, which is 3.92 volts per cell. On 3S, 4S, or 6S packs, you can multiply the 392 by the number of cells.
The LiPo batteries in this series can be charged at 1C to 5C. The company also advises that a higher charge rate will put less mAh into the pack and will reduce the cycle life. I always charge my batteries at 1C to get the maximum lifespan.
I have three different 3S 11.1-volt batteries: 1,800, 2,200, and 3,400 mAh, respectively. I ordered all three batteries with the EC3 connector and weighed them on my postal scale. The 3S 1,800 mAh weighed 5.2 ounces; the 3S 2,200 mAh weighed 6.4 ounces; and the 3,400 mAh weighed 9.2 ounces.
The 3S 1,800 mAh has worked great in my E-flite Slow Ultra Stick 1.2m. Looking to extend the flight time without the weight of a 2,200 mAh LiPo battery, it has been a great solution. The battery I had been using was a 30C 1,300 mAh battery with a weight of 3.9 ounces. The SMC battery added only 1.3 ounces and provides nearly 33% more capacity for the longer flight times that I wanted. It likely provides more power from the motor, given the higher C rating and capacity; however, that wasn’t the primary goal on this aircraft.
Currently, the 3S 1,800 pack is $11.95; the 2,200 at $13.95; and the 3,400 is $21.95. Depending upon which connector you select, it can add up to $1.50 per battery. The batteries have performed well, and with the weather warming up in Indiana, I plan to use them extensively.
