AirMagic Headset Battery Life

[JCH]

When I bought my trike it came with AirMagic comms and headsets.
For 12 months I've had perfect comms but then started experiencing transmission problems about a year ago.

I'm not very technically skilled... but eventually with the help of fellow trikers, traced the problem to flat batteries in the Pilot headset.
After changing them it was all perfect again.
All other trikes I flew up to that point during training, were equipped with a different system and I was not even aware of the existence of the batteries in the headsets.

Since the first change of batteries things have progressively gone South.
The first changed set of batteries lasted about 4 months. The next set about a month.
And now I'm at the situation where almost every second flight I have to change the batteries.

The headsets live in their bags in my car boot between flights like always and I cannot understand what could possibly drain the power.
When Bundy came to fly with me, we found the batteries flat and he indicated that they were experiencing the same problem with their school trike.

Are there any other guys out there that experienced the same problem and may have a possible solution for this?
I have to state that when the headset batteries are OK - combined with my V Rabbit antenna - the comms is SUPER and I will not change to any other systems.

[ZULU1]

Hiya, obviously if a problem exists we will fix them immediately just send them back. The system is designed to be simple in use and service. After use just unplug the pilots headset. I do not advise the use of rechargeable batteries as they lose about 1% charge per day. Use a good Liion AAA such as energizer blue. They will give at least 70-80 hrs flying time. If the problem still happens which it shouldn't we will fix at no charge. Just post pilots headsets to us at PO Box 681 Ballito, 4420.

Zulu1

[pietmeyer]

I use the energizer batteries in my headsets and get 100 plus hours. No problems.

[JCH]

After use just unplug the pilots headset. I do not advise the use of rechargeable batteries as they lose about 1% charge per day. Use a good Liion AAA such as energizer blue. They will give at least 70-80 hrs flying time.Zulu1

Hi Paul Thanks for the reply - PM sent.
I'm not using rechargeable batterries and remove the headset after each flight.
Duracel AAA

[Bugwar]

JCH , just check the type of battery you use and make sure it is the Lithium type. Normal Duracells do not last that long.

If it still run flat too soon, send it for repairs.

[gertcoetzee]

I have exactly the same problem, and now take out the batteries between flights.

Paul, should I send them in for a service?

Gert

[ZULU1]

Yes send them to us, we had a suspect batch of mosfets in the very beginning and thought we had eliminated them all...maybe not. We can also send a replacement amp board thats plug and play ? Let me know. These we know are perfect. No need to remove batteries at all.

Thanks Paul

[MADDOG]

mosfets

OK let me take a wild guess - metal oxide silicone controlled field effect transisters?

[ZULU1]

Almost Perfect, maybe you were thinking of a SCR or Silicon controlled rectifier. Why we use them is the switch for the amplifier, the cables used are tinsel type, you cant solder them..hence the plugs are crimped. This allows high flex and long life. So the original chip could (but didn't) exceed the current limit of the cable. The mosfet had a leak, that caused the battery drain, actually a slight design fault on my part so i changed the circuit and now seems well, about 20 in the very beginning.

For further info see this or buy me red wine next time I see you...used in strobes as well and dc welding machines and power supplies and so on. Golf cart controls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOSFET

and also this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon-co ... _rectifier

zulu1

[ZULU1]

I attach a picture of a Nomad headset, this has no means for any battery to go flat as its switched externally as the batteries are in the cable and uses a Binder plug, allows a massive reduction in weight of the headsets and has a battery level indicator built in. Takes 2 x 1/2 AA batteries at 1200mah and they are super light. Not available for the Alpha chatterbox series. Battery life is over 150 hrs.

[gertcoetzee]

OK will send in for repair. Gert

[ZULU1]

Ok, see what we have developed so you can check the battery level. Just plug in the pilots headset, press button and see how much battery life left. Comes with a pannier pouch and a set of Li Ion AAA batteries ready to carry in the plane. It also allows you to listen to side tone (listen to yourself with it plugged in).

Now that should fix it !!

Zulu1

[Bugwar]

Price delivered in JHB?