LiPo Battery for SAB ILGoblin Piuma 700 – 6S & 12S Options

How to Choose a Battery for the SAB ILGoblin Piuma 700

The SAB ILGoblin Piuma gives pilots something that is still relatively unusual in the 700-class helicopter world: a genuine choice between a single-pack 6S setup and a 12S setup. That makes battery selection more flexible, but it also means there is no single “best Piuma battery” for every build.

For the SG768, the available battery space is approximately 50 × 60 × 300mm. The CNHL packs collected on this page have been selected with that space, battery weight and large-helicopter current demand in mind. A properly configured 6S Piuma can run one suitable 6S pack, while a 12S build can use two matching 6S packs connected in series.

The first decision should therefore be the power system, not the capacity. Once the helicopter is set up for either 6S or 12S, capacity can then be used to fine-tune runtime, flying weight and overall feel.

For example, two 5000mAh 6S batteries connected in series create a 12S 5000mAh system. Series connection doubles voltage, not capacity. The same principle applies to 6000mAh and 6700mAh pairs.

Three CNHL Battery Options Worth Considering First

Several capacities can work in the Piuma, but these three cover the most useful starting points: a proven high-capacity 6S option, a balanced 6S option and a straightforward way to build a 12S system from two 6S batteries.

CNHL Lightning LiHV 6700mAh 6S 120C – High-Capacity 6S Choice

The CNHL Lightning LiHV 6700mAh 22.8V 6S 120C Battery with EC5 Plug is the strongest choice in this collection for pilots who want to make full use of the Piuma's single-pack 6S capability while carrying more capacity.

There is already real-world Piuma experience behind this combination. One SAB Piuma pilot running a single CNHL 6700mAh 6S pack saw his flight time move from about three minutes to around four minutes and also noticed that rotor speed stayed more consistent through the flight.

That does not mean every Piuma will gain exactly one minute. Head speed, pitch range, governor settings, flying style and the condition of the previous battery all affect runtime. The more useful takeaway is that the 6700mAh pack has already been successfully flown as a single-battery 6S Piuma setup, with positive feedback on both endurance and power delivery.

For a 6S build where maximum lightness is not the first priority, 6700mAh is a particularly attractive direction for longer sport flying and pilots who want more usable flight time without moving to a dual-pack 12S system.

CNHL Lightning LiHV 6000mAh 6S 120C – Balanced 6S Choice

The CNHL Lightning LiHV 6000mAh 22.8V 6S 120C Battery with EC5 Plug sits in the middle of the Piuma 6S range and is the easiest choice for pilots who want a balanced combination of capacity, installed weight and high-current capability.

6000mAh is particularly well suited to the character of the SG768 because it provides substantial capacity without pushing as far toward the heavier end of the tray as a 6700mAh pack. For a Piuma intended to retain a light, responsive feel while still offering practical flight duration, this is the most natural all-round 6S option in the collection.

The 120C Lightning platform also makes sense in a large collective-pitch helicopter, where battery load can change very quickly as blade pitch and rotor load increase.

CNHL G+Plus 5000mAh 6S 100C – A Practical 12S Pair

The CNHL G+Plus 5000mAh 22.2V 6S 100C Battery with EC5 Plug is especially useful for pilots planning a 12S Piuma.

Use two identical packs in series and the result is a 12S 5000mAh 44.4V nominal battery system. This keeps the setup simple: each battery remains a normal 6S pack for charging and storage, while the pair supplies the voltage required by a properly configured 12S helicopter.

Because this version uses standard LiPo chemistry rather than LiHV, it also keeps full-charge voltage at the familiar 4.20V per cell. For pilots who want a clean, conventional dual-6S route into a 12S Piuma, the G+Plus 5000mAh 100C is the option we would look at first.

6S vs 12S on the Piuma: They Are Two Different Builds

It is useful to think of a 6S Piuma and a 12S Piuma as two versions of the same airframe rather than one setup with a different battery plugged in.

A 6S build normally uses a higher-KV motor and gearing chosen around the lower battery voltage. Its appeal is straightforward: one battery, fewer high-current connections and a simpler charging routine. With capacities such as 6000mAh and 6700mAh available in a single pack, the Piuma can still carry a useful amount of energy without requiring a second battery.

A 12S build moves to a lower-KV motor and an ESC capable of handling the higher voltage. Two matching 6S batteries are then an easy way to supply that system. The individual packs remain manageable 6S batteries, but together they provide the efficiency and voltage characteristics normally associated with a 12S 700-class helicopter.

Neither configuration is automatically better. A pilot looking for the simplicity and character of a single-pack setup may prefer 6S, while a pilot already building around a conventional high-voltage 700-class power system may prefer 12S. Battery capacity should be chosen after that decision, not before it.

Using Two 6S Batteries in Series for 12S

Two 6S batteries can be combined into a 12S system by connecting them in series. For this type of installation, the packs should be treated as a matched pair rather than two unrelated batteries that happen to have the same cell count.

Use the same battery model, capacity and chemistry for both sides of the pair. Ideally, the batteries should also have similar age and cycle history so that one pack is not consistently reaching its voltage limit earlier than the other.

A properly rated series connection is required, and polarity should always be checked before connecting the completed battery system to the ESC. Each 6S battery should still be balance charged and monitored correctly as an individual pack unless the charging system has been specifically designed for the complete series assembly.

EC5 and the Piuma Battery Tray

These CNHL batteries are supplied with EC5 connectors, but the connector printed on the battery label should not be confused with the way every Piuma is wired.

The ILGoblin Piuma can use SAB's D5 quick-connect system built around the removable battery tray. Depending on how the helicopter has been assembled, the battery-side wiring may therefore need to be adapted to the D5 system or another properly rated connector arrangement chosen by the builder.

This is normal for a kit helicopter where the motor, ESC and final power wiring are selected as part of the build. Before installation, check connector type, polarity, wire length and current rating rather than assuming the factory EC5 plug will connect directly to the finished helicopter.

Why Battery Performance Matters So Much in a 700-Class Helicopter

A 700-class collective-pitch helicopter can ask for a large amount of current very quickly. Adding collective pitch increases rotor load almost immediately, and aggressive cyclic or 3D flying repeatedly moves the power system between relatively light and very heavy load.

A battery therefore has two jobs. It needs enough capacity to deliver the desired flight time, but it also needs to maintain useful voltage while the motor is working hard. Excessive voltage sag leaves the governor with less headroom to hold the commanded rotor speed, which is why pilots often notice battery performance most clearly during hard collective manoeuvres rather than during gentle hovering.

This is also what makes the real-world experience with the Lightning 6700mAh pack particularly relevant to the Piuma. The improvement was not limited to flight duration; better head-speed consistency was noticeable as well. For a large electric helicopter, that is exactly the kind of difference a strong battery setup should be helping to deliver.

SAB Piuma Battery FAQ

Does the SAB ILGoblin Piuma use 6S or 12S?

It can be built around either voltage. A 6S Piuma normally uses one 6S battery, while a 12S Piuma can use two matching 6S batteries connected in series. The motor, ESC and gearing must match the chosen power system.

Can the SAB Piuma fly on one 6S battery?

Yes. A correctly configured 6S Piuma uses a single 6S battery. CNHL already has real-world experience with a single Lightning 6700mAh 6S pack being used in a SAB Piuma, with positive feedback on both flight time and head-speed consistency.

Can two 6S batteries be used to make 12S?

Yes. Connecting two matching 6S batteries in series creates a 12S battery system. Capacity does not double, so two 5000mAh 6S packs become 12S 5000mAh rather than 10000mAh.

Can I use two CNHL 6700mAh 6S packs together?

Two matching 6700mAh 6S packs can form a 12S 6700mAh series system when the helicopter is configured for 12S and the pair can be installed securely with suitable wiring and center of gravity. Because this carries more capacity than a typical 5000mAh 12S setup, the additional flying weight should also be considered.

Which CNHL battery is a good all-round choice for a 6S Piuma?

The Lightning LiHV 6000mAh 6S 120C is the most balanced starting point. Pilots looking for more capacity can move to the 6700mAh version, while lighter-capacity options are available for builds where minimizing battery weight is more important.

Which CNHL batteries make the most sense for a 12S Piuma?

Two matching G+Plus 5000mAh 6S 100C batteries make a straightforward 12S 5000mAh standard-LiPo system. Matching 6000mAh or 6700mAh pairs can also be considered when the additional capacity and installed weight suit the individual build.

Will the EC5 plug connect directly to the Piuma?

Not necessarily. CNHL packs in this collection are supplied with EC5 connectors, while many Piuma builds use SAB's D5 battery tray connection. Check the wiring on the individual helicopter and use a properly rated connector conversion or battery-side installation where required.

Can the Lightning LiHV packs be charged to 4.35V per cell?

Only when using a charger with the correct LiHV mode and after confirming that the installed ESC and complete power system support the resulting maximum voltage. If that has not been confirmed, charge the pack no higher than standard LiPo voltage of 4.20V per cell.

More Battery Options for RC Helicopters

The Piuma shows why battery selection for a large electric helicopter cannot be reduced to cell count alone. Two 700-class models may use completely different capacities, pack arrangements and flying weights even when both are powered by 12S.

For other large electric rotorcraft, the 700 Class Helicopter Batteries collection brings together CNHL packs suited to the power and capacity ranges commonly used in larger 700-class builds.

For more cell counts, capacities and helicopter sizes, browse the full CNHL Helicopter Batteries range.