How to Mount Batteries on RC Helicopters

One of the most frustrating paradoxes of the RC aerial hobbyist is the fact that, while necessary to power your flying machine, batteries are ungainly and difficult to mount without disrupting the delicate balance of your project. This is especially a problem when it comes to RC helicopters, since the slightest misbalance can cause a catastrophic failure in the middle of a flight. Learn a few tricks to have your helicopter powered and stable in no time.

Things You'll Need

• Battery-mounting frame
• Mounting hardware
• Soft crash-landing surface

Instructions

1. Attach your battery's mounting frame to the largest, flattest, non-electronic surface on your helicopter with the included mounting hardware, and attach the leads to your RC control circuitry.

2. Test the newly installed battery by hovering your RC helicopter at very low elevations above an extremely soft crash-landing surface like a bed or packing foam.

3. Adjust your battery's placement on the aircraft's frame as needed, testing it between each adjustment with a short hovering flight. When your helicopter can maintain a hover without spinning or tilting, your battery is properly mounted.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't drill any extra holes or otherwise alter your helicopter at this stage, as this might imbalance your helicopter and you might be moving your battery's mounting frame anyway.

• Check your helicopter's flight for spinning, tilting, or other basic signs of an imbalanced aircraft during the testing phase.

References

• RC Helicopter Fun: Checking Center of Gravity

Resources

• RC Hobby Helicopter: Parts