Posts: 4273
Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
NY, USA Status: offline
Hi,
The new Senior Telemaster ARF from Hobby Lobby is one big value! It comes right out of the box pre-built and covered for less than you could build it yourself. The ARF design is so complete that even all the control surfaces are already attached.
I'll have plenty of fun converting this plane to clean and quiet electric power using my own setup design.
Here a some of the specs for the Sr. Telemaster ARF:
94” wingspan
64” long
1330 sq. in. wing area
Flying Stab area 320 sq. in.
10 lbs. 8 oz. flying weight
4 channels; Aileron (2 servos), Elevator, Rudder and Throttle
Posts: 262
Joined: 1/16/2002 From: new hudson, MI, USA Status: offline
Hi Greg...I have a Axi 4130/20. Would that do it? How many Lipos? This would make a great tow plane for lite gliders I was thinking. Like the new easy glider foamy and most 2mm gliders. what do you think?
Posts: 4273
Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
NY, USA Status: offline
Hi Ron,
The 4130/20 motor should work fine using a 10s Lithium pack. My plan is to use the 4130/16 on a 6s Lithium pack. Since weight is not an issue (other than needing some for proper balance) using NiMH cells is also a good solution for a lower cost.
Posts: 269
Joined: 6/17/2005 From: San Diego, CA, USA Status: offline
I have the kit version and was planning on the following set up. I plan on hauling a camera and other little things but that's about it. This set up should be good for 3 8 min flights.
Posts: 4273
Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
NY, USA Status: offline
Mike,
That is essentially the Hobby Lobby stock setup with the appropriate Lithium pack replacement. You can see how good it powers the Sr. Telemaster in their video.
My AXI4130 setup has slightly more power but not much more.
Posts: 576
Joined: 8/7/2003 From: Orange,
CA, USA Status: offline
Greg:
Could the pack setup be 6S2P. I only have 3S packs. So, would the configuration be to take two three packs wire them in series, that would give approx 22.4 volts. Then take two more three packs wire them in series to get 22.4 volts, and then combine the series packs parallel? you would have a total of 12 cells of Li Pros, 22.4 volt output, and assuming 2,000 mah batteries, you would have the 6,000 mah, right?
Posts: 4273
Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
NY, USA Status: offline
Al,
Yes, that's right. I have packs wired that way using the series and parallel connector modules from FMA. Since each module supports up to 5 in series or 5 in parallel, you can cut them apart with a razor knife or Dremel tool. The modules use Dean's Ultra connectors. You can wire the modules to your application and then easily pull the "super" pack apart for other applications. If you fly with them as a 6s2p pack, you can also recharge them as a single pack.
You can buy them at Hobby Lobby here or FMA Direct here.
Posts: 4273
Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
NY, USA Status: offline
For my Sr. Telemaster, I'll be using a single 2p6s BalancePro HD pack which was formerly known as Skyvolt.
The 38oz pack is also used in my Great Planes Lil Toni power system upgrade for pylon racing.
The advantage of this pack (although expensive) is that each cell can be balanced on every charge and monitored during discharge for a true safety cutoff that keeps the pack lasting over 500 cycles. Although the pack can be charged at a 3C charge rate, the BalancePro HD 6s Charger only goes to 10 amps so the actual charge rate is about 1.5C.
Posts: 576
Joined: 8/7/2003 From: Orange,
CA, USA Status: offline
Thanks for the confirmation. I have the connectors that you mentioned. I don't cut them though, if I don't use all the terminals, I shrink some tubing around the open male Deans terminals, so nothing can short out. I also found that once you cut those strips, they don't go back together and they are expensive.
For added safety, I also put JB Weld (the quick hardening version) over the underside and exposed top side of those terminals. That way a stray washer or misplaced screwdriver will not cause those Li Pos to short out. I found out, through the hard knocks method, that when something shorts out a battery, the first reaction is to jump back. Thus, the batteries just keep on shorting and burning insulation off. When the insulation burns off, even removing the washer or screwdriver doesn't stop the shorting. That is bad, bad, bad, can cause a nasty fire and ruin a perfectly good day.
Just to add some humor, I uploaded some pictures of what my workplace looks like after it was cleaned. For some reason it doesn't look anything like your kitchen table. LOL
PS. I am ordering a Telemaster kit first thing Monday morning, thanks for your contribution to this hobby, it's appreciated greatly.
Al
< Message edited by algutkin -- 11/29/2005 5:10:32 AM >
Posts: 4273
Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
NY, USA Status: offline
My AXI 4130/16 motor arrived for the Sr. Telemaster so I installed the Radial Mount Set and started creating a mount. The basic front design of the Sr. Telemaster allows for a dozen different ways to mount the motor. I choose to create an extended firewall from two 1/4" thick pieces of 3" square birch plywood.
The one piece had been "pre-enjoyed" and had some extra holes in it. It holds the motor mount using #8-32 hardware and T-nuts. The other piece that does not hold the motor, gets cut in half.
I drilled some 1/4" holes on either side at 1-1/2" from the firewall and cut slots to the holes using a craft saw.
Posts: 4273
Joined: 5/24/2003 From: Rochester,
NY, USA Status: offline
The motor is first screwed to the main 3" square block so that you can detect alignment issues when gluing it in place. I attached one side using three servo screws and epoxy into pre-drilled holes.
The two-sided assembly is then slid into place on the frame and glued in with epoxy while watching the alignment. A slight downthrust is built into the frame and should be followed.
The last step is to screw and glue the third side in place. The result is a rock solid mount for the AXI 4130 motor.