New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
08-31-2008, 11:35 AM
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New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
Hi,
As the subject suggests I'm new to this and I have a few questions that I haven't found the answers to so if members could give some answers I'd be grateful.
1) It seems that ESCs are programable. Do members bother adjusting what they can or just use them as is? Are any of the options worth setting?
2) I'm building a Radical Quick Wing, are breaking props on landing a problem on these kind of models? If so is there any way to stop it without using a folding prop?
3) I have an Duratrax Intellipeak ICE charger, will this be OK for charging Li-Po's? Should I buy a balancer to connect between the ICE and the Li-Po's?
Thanks.
Steve.
As the subject suggests I'm new to this and I have a few questions that I haven't found the answers to so if members could give some answers I'd be grateful.
1) It seems that ESCs are programable. Do members bother adjusting what they can or just use them as is? Are any of the options worth setting?
2) I'm building a Radical Quick Wing, are breaking props on landing a problem on these kind of models? If so is there any way to stop it without using a folding prop?
3) I have an Duratrax Intellipeak ICE charger, will this be OK for charging Li-Po's? Should I buy a balancer to connect between the ICE and the Li-Po's?
Thanks.
Steve.
08-31-2008, 12:01 PM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
hey Steve,
1. I've never bothered to program my esc's although that being said, the brake function is useful for aircraft that will belly land, ie if the prop can turn it might not break
2.I don't know that aircraft but you can always fly cheap props and just replace them. I always like to have a weak link thats easy and cheap to replace
3.blancers are great, lipos are not cheap, if you can make them last longer, do it. just try to stick to one brand of battery so you don't end up w/ a pile of balance connectors
1. I've never bothered to program my esc's although that being said, the brake function is useful for aircraft that will belly land, ie if the prop can turn it might not break
2.I don't know that aircraft but you can always fly cheap props and just replace them. I always like to have a weak link thats easy and cheap to replace
3.blancers are great, lipos are not cheap, if you can make them last longer, do it. just try to stick to one brand of battery so you don't end up w/ a pile of balance connectors
08-31-2008, 12:05 PM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
ORIGINAL: steelcityuk
Hi,
As the subject suggests I'm new to this ...
Hi,
As the subject suggests I'm new to this ...
And I suggest you also do a bit of browsing in these very useful FAQs:
www.ezonemag.com
-> FAQ
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=3
-> ¨Everything You Wanted To Know About Electric Powered Flight¨
Selecting power system, several links:
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18521
08-31-2008, 12:07 PM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
If you want to meet the natives Steve, three fora in the UK:
www.rcmf.co.uk
www.rctalk.co.uk
www.modelflying.co.uk
Vriendelijke groeten
Ron
www.rcmf.co.uk
www.rctalk.co.uk
www.modelflying.co.uk
Vriendelijke groeten
Ron
08-31-2008, 12:18 PM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
Clubs in the UK:
http://www.bmfa.org/
-> clubs
-> view clubs list
Britisch electric flyers association:
http://www.befa.ef-uk.net/
Vriendelijke groeten Ron
http://www.bmfa.org/
-> clubs
-> view clubs list
Britisch electric flyers association:
http://www.befa.ef-uk.net/
Vriendelijke groeten
Ron
08-31-2008, 01:46 PM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
Keep an eye on this timing and poles thead:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=915702
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=915702
09-01-2008, 03:16 AM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
Hi,
Thanks for the info. I'll check through the various links. Although I'm new to electric I've flown IC in the past and have been practicing with a Hobbyzone Super Cub.
The last link to motor timing attracted my interest because after assembling the Quick Wing and installing the motor and speed controller I powered it up 'on the bench' to check all was working OK. However it isn't, the motor seems gutless and has a peculiar random knocking noise then after about 10 to 20 seconds the motor stops. If the throttle is closed and reopened the motor starts again for another short burst. The ESC seems to be getting very hot but I don't have any reference as to what is hot and what isn't. Occasionally the motor will run in a very jerky way. So is this a sign of a timing problem? I've setup the throttle end points as advised in the ESC instructions.
The ESC is a Turnigy Basic 18 AMP, would I be better off buying a programming card rather than trying to using the transmitter? If so which cards can be used, I would buy a Turnigy but they seem in short supply in the UK.
Thanks.
Steve.
Thanks for the info. I'll check through the various links. Although I'm new to electric I've flown IC in the past and have been practicing with a Hobbyzone Super Cub.
The last link to motor timing attracted my interest because after assembling the Quick Wing and installing the motor and speed controller I powered it up 'on the bench' to check all was working OK. However it isn't, the motor seems gutless and has a peculiar random knocking noise then after about 10 to 20 seconds the motor stops. If the throttle is closed and reopened the motor starts again for another short burst. The ESC seems to be getting very hot but I don't have any reference as to what is hot and what isn't. Occasionally the motor will run in a very jerky way. So is this a sign of a timing problem? I've setup the throttle end points as advised in the ESC instructions.
The ESC is a Turnigy Basic 18 AMP, would I be better off buying a programming card rather than trying to using the transmitter? If so which cards can be used, I would buy a Turnigy but they seem in short supply in the UK.
Thanks.
Steve.
09-01-2008, 09:45 PM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
ORIGINAL: steelcityuk
Hi,
Thanks for the info. I'll check through the various links. Although I'm new to electric I've flown IC in the past and have been practicing with a Hobbyzone Super Cub.
The last link to motor timing attracted my interest because after assembling the Quick Wing and installing the motor and speed controller I powered it up 'on the bench' to check all was working OK. However it isn't, the motor seems gutless and has a peculiar random knocking noise then after about 10 to 20 seconds the motor stops. If the throttle is closed and reopened the motor starts again for another short burst. The ESC seems to be getting very hot but I don't have any reference as to what is hot and what isn't. Occasionally the motor will run in a very jerky way. So is this a sign of a timing problem? I've setup the throttle end points as advised in the ESC instructions.
The ESC is a Turnigy Basic 18 AMP, would I be better off buying a programming card rather than trying to using the transmitter? If so which cards can be used, I would buy a Turnigy but they seem in short supply in the UK.
Thanks.
Steve.
Hi,
Thanks for the info. I'll check through the various links. Although I'm new to electric I've flown IC in the past and have been practicing with a Hobbyzone Super Cub.
The last link to motor timing attracted my interest because after assembling the Quick Wing and installing the motor and speed controller I powered it up 'on the bench' to check all was working OK. However it isn't, the motor seems gutless and has a peculiar random knocking noise then after about 10 to 20 seconds the motor stops. If the throttle is closed and reopened the motor starts again for another short burst. The ESC seems to be getting very hot but I don't have any reference as to what is hot and what isn't. Occasionally the motor will run in a very jerky way. So is this a sign of a timing problem? I've setup the throttle end points as advised in the ESC instructions.
The ESC is a Turnigy Basic 18 AMP, would I be better off buying a programming card rather than trying to using the transmitter? If so which cards can be used, I would buy a Turnigy but they seem in short supply in the UK.
Thanks.
Steve.
For your ? 3 above According to Tower Hobbies web site yes you can charge Lipo batteries with that charger, and no you don't need a balancer but I highly recommend one.
09-05-2008, 08:10 PM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
With any plane that's belly landed, you have to make sure to stop the motor and glide it in for a landing. It helps if you program moderate to heavy braking in on your ESC, so the prop will stop fairly soon after you kill the throttle. With nitro planes you can time the prop so that it won't stop in a vertical position, with electrics you can't. However, my experience has been this: as long as the prop is stopped and you flare on your landing for a gentle touch down, the prop will usually just bump itself out of the way without breaking, even if it is vertical. If you land hard, it can dig in and break, and possibly bend your motor or gearbox shaft.
09-06-2008, 06:47 AM
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RE: New to Electric Flight and Li-Po's
ORIGINAL: steelcityuk
...However it isn't, the motor seems gutless and has a peculiar random knocking noise then after about 10 to 20 seconds the motor stops. If the throttle is closed and reopened the motor starts again for another short burst. The ESC seems to be getting very hot but I don't have any reference as to what is hot and what isn't. Occasionally the motor will run in a very jerky way. So is this a sign of a timing problem?...
...However it isn't, the motor seems gutless and has a peculiar random knocking noise then after about 10 to 20 seconds the motor stops. If the throttle is closed and reopened the motor starts again for another short burst. The ESC seems to be getting very hot but I don't have any reference as to what is hot and what isn't. Occasionally the motor will run in a very jerky way. So is this a sign of a timing problem?...
A prop saver might be worth looking at. If you were to land a little heavily, it would not dig in and simply fold over. As mentioned above, there are many excellent sources of information that should help a lot.
