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A10 dissapointment - 9/3/2003 8:04:04 PM   
rpat



Posts: 187
Joined: 5/3/2003
From: Weirton, WV, USA
Status: offline 		Well I flew my A-10 the other day and I have some questions for you fellows. First of all I bought two 7.2 volt 400 milliamp packs for it. This is my first foray into electric of any kind. I was highly disappointed with the flight duration, and I think that it is due to the battery pack. The thing just plain ran out of juice in about a minute and a half. The flight characteristic were about what I had expected from the small motors. My question is can I get larger battery packs that will fit into the same space as the ones that I bought? The pack that I bought fits just right in the compartment. The cells look like they are 1/2A size. If I can do better with the packs can anyone put me on to a site that sells these packs.
Thanks
Rich

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A10 dissapointment - 9/3/2003 8:39:50 PM   
cwat212



Posts: 223
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Tampa, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Is it a GWS A-10?

If you want to stay with a 6 cell 7.2v pack then get a pack with a higher MAH rating.

You can try a 7 cell (8.4volts) or 8 cell (9.6volts) pack and you should see increased performance. Just make sure your ESC can handle the extra amps.

I have bought packs from [url]www.allerc.com[/url] I am very happy with the packs and the service was great.

Check their packs - All the pack dimensions are listed and you can get one close to the size of the ones you have now.

I use the 9.6 v 650mah Nimh in my GWS Zero. Awesome. They are 2/3 AA.

Hope this helps a little.

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A10 dissapointment - 9/3/2003 9:01:13 PM   
rpat



Posts: 187
Joined: 5/3/2003
From: Weirton, WV, USA
Status: offline 		cwat,
Yes it is a GWS A-10. From what I gather from some of the other posts if you go over 8 volts you will burn out the motors. They are really small. I will go to the site that you recomended and check it out .
Rich

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A10 dissapointment - 9/3/2003 9:09:10 PM   
cwat212



Posts: 223
Joined: 3/7/2002
From: Tampa, FL, USA
Status: offline 		how does it fly on 7.2 volts? I am about to buy this kit.

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A10 dissapointment - 9/3/2003 9:19:44 PM   
rpat



Posts: 187
Joined: 5/3/2003
From: Weirton, WV, USA
Status: offline 		This is my first electric, and I would be no judge of it's performace. I can tell you this though, I coulden't get it more than about ten or twelve feet in the air. I could not get enough air speed to build up to get it to go up very far. speed wise I would guess that it went about twenty MPH if that

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A10 dissapointment - 9/3/2003 9:22:12 PM   
rpat



Posts: 187
Joined: 5/3/2003
From: Weirton, WV, USA
Status: offline 		Oh i went to the site that ou recomended and all that I saw was a 300 milliamp pack in the 7.2 volt range.

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A10 dissapointment - 9/3/2003 9:24:00 PM   
rpat



Posts: 187
Joined: 5/3/2003
From: Weirton, WV, USA
Status: offline 		I am on afternon turn and have to get going to work( now there is a four letter word). Will be back on tonight after work.

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A10 dissapointment - 9/3/2003 11:39:46 PM   
rdeis


 

Posts: 88
Joined: 8/2/2003
From: Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Status: offline 		I don't have one, but most reports say its very underpowered at 7.2V. All-up weight appears to be critical to flight performance, so you might try Li-Poly batteries.

Most reports that I've seen who were happy with it had 8 or 9 cells. heat-sinks on the motors, and frequently lubricated the shaft.

GWS is planning to release an updated kit with larger motors, but hasn't given a release date.

Here are some tips:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/tm.asp?m=938201]

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A10 dissapointment - 9/4/2003 12:17:31 AM   
skyhawknut


 

Posts: 512
Joined: 6/9/2002
From: Surrey, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		It flies ok on the GWS 6 cell 600 nicad. For slightly better preformance the GWS 7 cell 720 nimh pack is good, But I made a 7 cell nicad pack from N700AAC cells and it goes real good for a parkflier jet, weighs 17.5 oz with the 7 cell. Nicads give a little more punch.
The problem with going over 8.4 volts is the GWS packs have a fairly high internal resistance (I.R.) and when they recommend a certain voltage - they are using their packs. So when guys put some other cell in there that has a lower ir they burn out the motors and say "What happened, I was in the recommended voltage?" LIke I said - the best is the 7 cell nicad.

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A10 dissapointment - 9/4/2003 10:09:42 AM   
rpat



Posts: 187
Joined: 5/3/2003
From: Weirton, WV, USA
Status: offline 		skyhawk,
Where can I get my hands on these GWS cells? Do you have a site you can put me onto to get these packs?

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My A10 Solution - 9/6/2003 1:15:18 AM   
akeyzoo


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 9/6/2003
From: Hollister, CA,
Status: offline 		RPAT. I am no expert, and have limited experience, but have found a solution that works great for me. First of all, this is what I have tried:

7.2V 350 mAh Battery (nicd) - Could climb once, descended and could't get more that 10 feet off the ground again. Eeks.

7.2V 600 mAh Battery (nicd) - Slightly better performance than above, but flight time of about 5 minutes before she became dangerously unfly-able. The bird stall easily, speed is your friend.

9.6v 720 mAh Batter (nimh) - Good performance, ran at 80% throttle after takeoff due to my concern over high voltage. Plane flew better....but I wasn't totally impressed...

7.2V 2100mAh Thuner Power LiPoly - WOW, great performance. Flies for over 20 minutes before I chicken out and land (ESC set too low, dont want to overdrain pack). I did some measurements and found something weird!!! My current draw is MORE with the LiPoly at 7.2V than my nimh at 9.6V!!! (7.75A MAX)


Sooo, I now love and impress folks with my A10 on LiPoly. I couldn't see myself going back. Combine the huge storage for long flights with lighter weight, and the plane is now happy.

I know this wasn't a cheap solution, but it is what works for me. BTW, my A10 has no wheels and I threw on a relatively heavy coat of paint. I mean honestly, I didn't buy the plane for anything other than looks!!!

Chris

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A10 dissapointment - 9/6/2003 10:59:58 PM   
rpat



Posts: 187
Joined: 5/3/2003
From: Weirton, WV, USA
Status: offline 		Chris,
The whole set up if you ask me was set more for looks that performance. The motors are so punny that it is almost sad. I did read that they are going to come out with larger motors for it. I hope that we can retro fit them to the ones that we bought. I also did not mount the gear, and when the thing ran out of juice I had to bring it down and tore off one of the wing tips. not bad it just tore off the drooped edge.
Where did you get your Lipollys at? if you got them off of the net please give me the site that I can go to.
Thanks
Rich

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A10 dissapointment - 9/7/2003 12:33:50 AM   
akeyzoo


 

Posts: 6
Joined: 9/6/2003
From: Hollister, CA,
Status: offline 		RPAT,
Got my batteries and charger from aeromicro.com. Perry there can hook you up. They have a retail store that I went to, but I know most of his business is mail order.

FWIW, I have spoken with people that have put bigger motors on with little gain. Perry actually has one with 01 brushless motors in it, and one of his other customers have tried the 5 blade motor. Little increase.

FWIW, I just broke mine in half....gotta get out the epoxy. Was landing and gave too much elevator, man she is pitch sensitive....anyways, stalled at 3 feet off the deck and when I came down I broke the fuselage off right in front of the bamboo...


CYA, Chris.

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A10 dissapointment - 9/7/2003 2:36:54 AM   
rpat



Posts: 187
Joined: 5/3/2003
From: Weirton, WV, USA
Status: offline 		Chris,
I think that the thing is pitch sensitive also. I only halfheartedly balanced mine so may be the thing really needs to be balanced right. I just got that balancing machine from Great Planes. I helped a new guy out at the field the other day and he had one with him, it is a nice piece of equipment, so before I do fly it again I am going to make sure that it balances.
Rich

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A10 dissapointment - 9/7/2003 5:00:35 AM