Wanting to Electrify some of my fleet. HELP!
05-23-2007, 06:37 PM
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Wanting to Electrify some of my fleet. HELP!
I am a glow person who would like to convert some of my planes to electric. The reason? Because while I love my glow planes, they are a little hard to keep up.
Now, my larger planes will remain glow since electrics on a larger scale become expensive very quickly. Everything that I would like to convert (or build for electric) are around a ~36" wing, which should help keep everything simple.
I will list what I have with specs that I know off the top of my head, or information on where to find specs for it.
Most of what I am looking at (Motor wise) is at [link=https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/comersus_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory= 63&ParentCat=59]United Hobby[/link], [link=http://www.graysonhobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=251]Grayson Hobby[/link], or at [link=http://www.bidproduct.com/part/Product_list_BRUSHLESS%20MOTOR_1.html]Bip Product[/link].
Now, I know these are not the best, most efficient, nicest, or best quality motors out there, but my budget is limited (College Student putting myself through school, Elec Eng.) and there have been a lot of people that have had good experiences with these places and their products.
I am not really looking for any kind of extreme performance from these planes. I am still new to flying, and some of these will exceed my skills, so a bit, but I love building and I would like to get into electrics and I think that converting these planes that I don't have time to glowify will be an enjoyable experience.
I currently have Triton charger that I use for my regular flight packs. It will handle Li-po's but doesn't have a balancer built in so I will surely need ONE balancer that is a balance between price and quality that can handle whatever li-po's i get (2-4 series cell packs). I would prefer to not buy another charger, but I will if I have too.
Without further ado, here are the planes:
HOB 37" (.74-10 size, I flew it with a .15) P-51. I pulled the engine out and retired it because I was having fuel problems (tank too high, flooding engine). I would like this plane to remain relatively quick and lively, but not uber fast. This plane is on par with the spec'ed weight. It came out at 34oz RTF with an OS .15 in the front, so I am assuming it is about.. ooo...20oz right now with ALL of the gear out of it.
Guillows 27" P-51. I build this for electric originally. Currently it has a GWS brushed motor on a gear box spinning a 10x6 prop. Never got an ESC for it. I would like to go brushless with it. I want to keep the weight down since it isn't really designed for r/c. I don't need this one to be quick, just a nice lazy flier. Maybe a larger diameter prop so it can have more pull. I'd rather this one fly slowly and the other 'stang quickly then both of them moderately quick.
NES AcroPhat [link=http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=1315]AcroPhat[/link]. This is designed to be an acrobatic plane, and I would love for it to fly like that. NES gives power recommendations, but they seem to be out of date. I bought this for $20 from someone who told me it had been flown with a .25 glow on it as a speedy plane. It has a CF tube LE and a CF tube spar, so the wing has a lot of strength. The bare airframe weighs in at either 8oz or 12oz, I don't remember which. I think it has a lot of potential, but needs a bit of TLC (new firewall to remove the holes cut for the .25).
Two (2x) DNU's [link=http://www.ulmer-rc.com/dotnetnuke/Default.aspx?tabid=102]DNU (Das Not Ugly)[/link]. Planes is designed for a Cox SS up to a .061 engine. I tried flying it on a SS, but I need a throttle and would rather go electric then modify the plane for an OS .10. One plane is built and will need to be modified slightly for electric (New firewall, no biggie) The second one is in Kit form still and we be built around the power plant. I will remove weight where I can from the kit version. The built one weights in about 12ox (maybe 14, pretty sure it is 12) bare airframe. It has a pull-pull rudder with a push rod elevator. I will reinstall the HS-55's I had in there originally (HS-81 on ailerons, torque rods). I would like these to be sport fliers. Maybe capable of some aerobatics. I have considered going in and modifying the Kit I have to be more Ultra Stick like since I love the looks of that plane. With this in mind, the control surfaces may get redesigned for more.. interesting flying in mind. This should be a consideration in powerplant for the Kit, but not for the one already built.
HOB 2T 2m glider. I had a Cox SS on the front originally to get it up. Not enough power. The tail on this plane is weak. I do not like the tail design. It might get changed, but it will required tearing down and rebuilding the entire tail section. Because of this, it is too weak for High-Start launching. I would like an electric on the front to help get it up to altitude.
That about sums it up. My knowledge or electric power plants is somewhat limited. I have been doing a bit of reading in these two threads
[link=http://www.rccyberflyer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272]Thread 1[/link]
[link=http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1933]Thread 2[/link]
And this website
[link=http://www.maxxprod.com/mpi/tips3.html]MPI products sizing guide[/link]
And this power system calculator
(Sorry, closed the link, can't find it right now. It was a nice webpage that had boxes for different options for motors, ESCs, batteries, and the numbers to go along with them.)
While I would like help finding power systems for these, I would also like to learn in the process. For example, my limited knowledge or motors tells me that I want one with a high kv for the 'stangs and a lower kv for the Acrophat and the DNU's. A lower kv motor turns a larger prop slower, while a higher kv turns a smaller prop faster.
I would rather use outrunners for all planes if possible. I don't want to deal with gearboxes, but they might be necessary for me to get the speed I require for the 'stang, and the torque for the glider?
I am going to assume that I shouldn't need more then a 25 amp ESC, except for maybe the 'stang, but I know this will be based on motor choice.
Thanks for any help you can offer guys.
-Stephan
Now, my larger planes will remain glow since electrics on a larger scale become expensive very quickly. Everything that I would like to convert (or build for electric) are around a ~36" wing, which should help keep everything simple.
I will list what I have with specs that I know off the top of my head, or information on where to find specs for it.
Most of what I am looking at (Motor wise) is at [link=https://www.unitedhobbies.com/UNITEDHOBBIES/store/comersus_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory= 63&ParentCat=59]United Hobby[/link], [link=http://www.graysonhobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=251]Grayson Hobby[/link], or at [link=http://www.bidproduct.com/part/Product_list_BRUSHLESS%20MOTOR_1.html]Bip Product[/link].
Now, I know these are not the best, most efficient, nicest, or best quality motors out there, but my budget is limited (College Student putting myself through school, Elec Eng.) and there have been a lot of people that have had good experiences with these places and their products.
I am not really looking for any kind of extreme performance from these planes. I am still new to flying, and some of these will exceed my skills, so a bit, but I love building and I would like to get into electrics and I think that converting these planes that I don't have time to glowify will be an enjoyable experience.
I currently have Triton charger that I use for my regular flight packs. It will handle Li-po's but doesn't have a balancer built in so I will surely need ONE balancer that is a balance between price and quality that can handle whatever li-po's i get (2-4 series cell packs). I would prefer to not buy another charger, but I will if I have too.
Without further ado, here are the planes:
HOB 37" (.74-10 size, I flew it with a .15) P-51. I pulled the engine out and retired it because I was having fuel problems (tank too high, flooding engine). I would like this plane to remain relatively quick and lively, but not uber fast. This plane is on par with the spec'ed weight. It came out at 34oz RTF with an OS .15 in the front, so I am assuming it is about.. ooo...20oz right now with ALL of the gear out of it.
Guillows 27" P-51. I build this for electric originally. Currently it has a GWS brushed motor on a gear box spinning a 10x6 prop. Never got an ESC for it. I would like to go brushless with it. I want to keep the weight down since it isn't really designed for r/c. I don't need this one to be quick, just a nice lazy flier. Maybe a larger diameter prop so it can have more pull. I'd rather this one fly slowly and the other 'stang quickly then both of them moderately quick.
NES AcroPhat [link=http://www.nesail.com/detail.php?productID=1315]AcroPhat[/link]. This is designed to be an acrobatic plane, and I would love for it to fly like that. NES gives power recommendations, but they seem to be out of date. I bought this for $20 from someone who told me it had been flown with a .25 glow on it as a speedy plane. It has a CF tube LE and a CF tube spar, so the wing has a lot of strength. The bare airframe weighs in at either 8oz or 12oz, I don't remember which. I think it has a lot of potential, but needs a bit of TLC (new firewall to remove the holes cut for the .25).
Two (2x) DNU's [link=http://www.ulmer-rc.com/dotnetnuke/Default.aspx?tabid=102]DNU (Das Not Ugly)[/link]. Planes is designed for a Cox SS up to a .061 engine. I tried flying it on a SS, but I need a throttle and would rather go electric then modify the plane for an OS .10. One plane is built and will need to be modified slightly for electric (New firewall, no biggie) The second one is in Kit form still and we be built around the power plant. I will remove weight where I can from the kit version. The built one weights in about 12ox (maybe 14, pretty sure it is 12) bare airframe. It has a pull-pull rudder with a push rod elevator. I will reinstall the HS-55's I had in there originally (HS-81 on ailerons, torque rods). I would like these to be sport fliers. Maybe capable of some aerobatics. I have considered going in and modifying the Kit I have to be more Ultra Stick like since I love the looks of that plane. With this in mind, the control surfaces may get redesigned for more.. interesting flying in mind. This should be a consideration in powerplant for the Kit, but not for the one already built.
HOB 2T 2m glider. I had a Cox SS on the front originally to get it up. Not enough power. The tail on this plane is weak. I do not like the tail design. It might get changed, but it will required tearing down and rebuilding the entire tail section. Because of this, it is too weak for High-Start launching. I would like an electric on the front to help get it up to altitude.
That about sums it up. My knowledge or electric power plants is somewhat limited. I have been doing a bit of reading in these two threads
[link=http://www.rccyberflyer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=272]Thread 1[/link]
[link=http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1933]Thread 2[/link]
And this website
[link=http://www.maxxprod.com/mpi/tips3.html]MPI products sizing guide[/link]
And this power system calculator
(Sorry, closed the link, can't find it right now. It was a nice webpage that had boxes for different options for motors, ESCs, batteries, and the numbers to go along with them.)
While I would like help finding power systems for these, I would also like to learn in the process. For example, my limited knowledge or motors tells me that I want one with a high kv for the 'stangs and a lower kv for the Acrophat and the DNU's. A lower kv motor turns a larger prop slower, while a higher kv turns a smaller prop faster.
I would rather use outrunners for all planes if possible. I don't want to deal with gearboxes, but they might be necessary for me to get the speed I require for the 'stang, and the torque for the glider?
I am going to assume that I shouldn't need more then a 25 amp ESC, except for maybe the 'stang, but I know this will be based on motor choice.
Thanks for any help you can offer guys.
-Stephan
