Spektrum XBC200 Smart LiPo Battery Checker and Servo Tester
Worth a Closer Look
Updating a Smart battery’s firmware is easy.
Model Aviation contributor Greg Gimlick (email: maelectrics@gimlick.com) found himself in awe of a battery checker and even ordered a second one to carry to the field. The following is his review.
Every now and then, you buy something and find out that it is so much more than you anticipated—the Spektrum XBC200 Smart Battery Checker and Servo Tester is one of them. It has more functionality than its predecessor; in fact, it has more capabilities than any battery checker I’ve owned to date.
It’s more than a battery checker. It has a built-in cell balancer, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) checker for servo outputs from the receiver, a receiver voltage checker that graphs voltage over time, an integrated servo tester and driver, plus connections for IC2, IC3, and IC5 Spektrum Smart batteries. It will also check non-Smart batteries since it has a balancing port, and the IC connections are backward-compatible with EC-series plugs.
Other features include:
- Spektrum Smart connectivity to allow users to adjust battery parameters and take advantage of all Smart Battery features.
- An excellent color display.
- A quick-charge USB-C power port for compatible Android and iOS devices (up to 12 volts and 2 amps).
- A port to easily update and access new features.
- A battery temperature monitor.
- Input voltages of 5 to 36.
- Accuracy of +/- 0.005 at 4.2 volts.
The intuitive menu structure is easy to navigate to find whatever function you want to use. The servo tester will allow you to select the midpoint and each endpoint, or have it sweep through the entire range of travel. I found this to be so easy to help with setting up control surfaces during a build that it has replaced the servo driver I was using. It has also replaced three devices that I used to keep on my bench.
An extra benefit is being able to update Smart batteries from the checker, as long as it’s running the latest firmware. That’s easily updated via the USB port.
Having the receiver testing capability is also something that you’ll find yourself using more and more as you set up your aircraft. Being able to monitor the voltage over time and to check the PWM of the outputs will give you confidence in your setups.
Conclusion
At a price point of $59.99, I can’t over-state how satisfied I am with this purchase! I thought I had a couple of decent battery checkers, but this has relegated them to the shop drawer. I fell so hard for it that I ordered an extra to keep in my transmitter case so that I’ll always have one at the field and one on the bench.
New Products From the Modeler’s Mall
Tel: 321-537-1159
Website: .bmjrmodels.com
Some models just catch your attention and need to be built! The Sky-Scraper, which appeared in past issues of FAC News, caught BMJR Models’ eye. The company obtained AMA plans of the original 1940s Scientific Model Airplane Co. aircraft and a copy of Mark Fineman’s March 1994 Flying Models article for the Skyscraper Special Flying Aces Club (FAC) Embryo Endurance version, from which both of the Free Flight (FF) configurations were built and released as the dual B-216 kit.
The 40-inch wingspan BMJR Skyscraper S-40 RC version of the Skyscraper Special (kit B-609) features a flat-bottom airfoil and dihedral for rudder, elevator, and throttle control. With a 173-sq.-in. wing area, the FF lineage comes through with a very docile and stable flyer for slow-pass touch-and-gos. Aerobatics such as loops and snap rolls have been performed without problem.
The laser-cut kit is complete except for the two servos, covering, and the motor.
E-flite V1200 1.2m BNF Basic with AS3X+ and SAFE Select @ $479.99 from Horizon Hobby
Website: horizonhobby.com/e-flite/
Fly fast and look good with E-flite’s V1200 1.2m! The fastest propeller-driven E-flite model yet, it can reach level-flight top speeds of 140-plus mph on a 6S 3,200 to 7,000 mAh battery, or 110-plus mph on a 4S 3,200 to 5,000 mAh battery, right out of the box!
The BNF Basic version is equipped with a 100-amp Spektrum Avian Smart ESC, plus an AR637TA+ receiver to deliver full-range, real-time telemetry, along with the benefits of enhanced AS3X+ and optional-use SAFE Select technologies. Operational flaps improve slow-flight performance and allow for shorter takeoffs and landings, while the updated and upgraded retracts with sprung wire struts let you fly from pavement, packed dirt, or shorter grass surfaces at any suitably sized field.
The airframe is composite-reinforced throughout and molded in higher-density EPO foam to be stronger and stiffer with a dent- and damage-resistant surface, and the factory finish with a higher-visibility color scheme improves orientation.
No glue is required for assembly; just six screws install the stabilizers. The one-piece wing removes easily for transportation and storage. Supply a full-range, six- to seven-channel Spektrum DSMX/DSM2-compatible transmitter, the battery with an EC5 or IC5 connector, and a compatible LiPo charger, and go fly!
Tel.: (513) 755-7494
Website: oldschoolmodels.com
The Old School Model Works Dove is the perfect, simple, hand-launched glider for introducing new modelers to the art of building and flying model aircraft. A part of the company’s Schoolyard series, the kit can easily be framed up in just a weekend, and then enjoyed at a schoolyard or park.
This 28-inch wingspan glider is built from lightweight balsa and light plywood and goes together quickly using the straightforward, illustrated manual—most novice builders can assemble it with basic hobby supplies. Cover the Dove with modern iron-on covering films for durability and bright colors, or traditional tissue for a more vintage look and finish.
A clever feature is the Dove’s adjustable tailboom system, which can be manually positioned by sliding it in or out of the fuselage to finetune the balance and glide performance. When the perfect glide slope is achieved, the tailboom can then be glued permanently in place, locking in the ideal setup for consistent, smooth flights. The wing is held on by rubber bands and is removable for ease of transportation and storage.
This lightweight and quick-to-build model is the perfect gateway for new aeromodelers to build confidence and experience to take on more-advanced, traditional model aircraft projects in the future!
SOURCES
- Spektrum
spektrumrc.com
