RCU Forums - Battery/ESC/Motor matching?!*

Sorry, no, there is no one simple equation that will solve it all for you. Where glow engines are very standardized based on displacement, and how much power can be obtained from a given displacement, electrics are very diverse. A single electric motor can produce a very wide range of power simply by changing the prop size, gear ratio, and/or number of cells in the battery.

You can't expect to jump in with both feet and figure out your first power system all on your own, unless you're some sort of electric "rain man" or something... ;) Nope, your first power systems are likely just going to be something someone else already did. Even with all the right tools (e.g. Motocalc program, AstroFlight Whattmeter), you have to understand what the numbers mean in order to be able to set up a useful power system. This electric "thing" isn't something you can swallow whole.

Start simple. Read the FAQ at www.ezonemag.com. Don't try to look at every possible option at once. Pick a concept, like NiCd batteries, and study it. Check out the forums both here and there. Do a search on the airplane you're trying to power. Do a search on similar airplanes (might take a bit of research on your part). Ask specifically what power system you need to power your plane.

Figuring out electrics is not easy, and some people have major trouble with the concepts. If you find yourself getting increasingly frustrated instead of increasingly educated, break it down into even smaller pieces.