RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (Full Version)

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HEMICUDA -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (6/20/2009 4:07 AM)

drummrboy,

Sorry to hear about your Electristar's demise.  But you shouldn't trash it or anything like that.  You could fix
it, sell it, train somebody else with it or give/donate it to someone who might not have $ to get into the hobby.
It's not fair to an Electristar or other worthy plane to end up in the trash just because it suffered damage in
a crash.  Just my 2 cents

Hemicuda



maozasaf -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (7/24/2009 6:09 AM)

I have a question,

Can I use one 3cell 11.1v 4000mah 30c lipo battery for my electristar?
Is this enough?



Fast Guy -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (7/24/2009 11:26 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: maozasaf

I have a question,

Can I use one 3cell 11.1v 4000mah 30c lipo battery for my electristar?
Is this enough?


The only problem I can see is that you may not get enough RPM to get enough performance out of the stock prop and anything bigger than 12in. on the Estar is getting too close to the ground while taking off. You may have to go to a 3 blade prop.



lejongleur -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (7/24/2009 3:22 PM)

If your EStar weighs about 5 1/2 pounds, then you want 400+ watts to make it fly reasonably. At around 12 volts, this equates to 34 amps, which is within the range of your ESC and battery, so it should be possible. As fastguy said, propping the plane suitably may be your problem - make sure you test everything with a watt meter!



nk1851 -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (7/24/2009 3:34 PM)

We have 4 guys in our club with this plane. They all fly 4S batteries and all are very satisfied with the performance.



bigedmustafa -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (7/24/2009 9:11 PM)

I finally got a chance to fly one of these last Wednesday while training a student. He has the NiMH packs for it rather than LiPo. It was a really gentle trainer with terrific glide characteristics that was still fairly aerobatic. I was surprised at how much I liked the way it flew.



lejongleur -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (7/24/2009 10:52 PM)

Yes, I fly mine with a 4S ranging in size from 3250-4270mah. It has a Power32 and uses about 200-200 mah/minute, so a flight of 12-18 minutes is possible.



maozasaf -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (8/9/2009 8:09 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: lejongleur

If your EStar weighs about 5 1/2 pounds, then you want 400+ watts to make it fly reasonably. At around 12 volts, this equates to 34 amps, which is within the range of your ESC and battery, so it should be possible. As fastguy said, propping the plane suitably may be your problem - make sure you test everything with a watt meter!



who do i test amps with a watt meter?



lejongleur -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (8/10/2009 1:29 AM)

Yes you need a watt meter like this one or similar:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLMV0&P=FR

- It will tell you the volts, amps, watts - both peak and at any point in time. Extremely useful in not frying motors, batteries or ESCs, and to get the maximum power out of your setup.



maozasaf -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (8/10/2009 3:36 AM)

oh....
I thought you were talking about this one

i have this one [image]http://www.electricgeneratorsdirect.com/images/DT830_200.jpg[/image]
....but i only know how to check the volts.



lejongleur -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (8/10/2009 4:29 AM)

I think you'd have difficulty using a regular multimeter to measure wattage. You need to be able to measure voltage and amperage (under load) simultaneously.



maozasaf -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (8/10/2009 4:31 AM)

[:o][:o]

thank for the help



lejongleur -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (1/30/2010 10:38 PM)

I got a request to give some info about the upgrade to a Power 32 Eflite motor. I flew the stock motor setup with a wattmeter onboard and it measured 465 watts peak, using a 3700 mah 4S kipo and an 11x7 prop as prescribed. As the plane weighed in at 88 ounces, this is not stellar performance, but flies OK.

As I had a couple of motors lying around, I put in a Power 32. I re-drilled the X-Mount to match the firewall blind nuts, and used alloy spacers to move the motor forward for two reasons: to get the cg further forward when using a 3700 mah 4S lipo (say 13 ounces), as I find my Electristar seems to always glide long, and climbs under power a lot, and the second reason was to allow use of a regular 5mm collet prop adapter. I stuck with the 11x7 after trying other props - 12 inches seems to be the maximum diameter before you run the danger of prop strikes, unless you installed taller nose gear. I've used "Mystery" ESCs - both 60A and 80A, without any problems. This gives a power rating around 800 watts, and noticeably better performance.

I got hold of a spare wing, fixed it up including installing two hard mounting points about halfway out, so that I can mount cameras (or rockets!). I haven't got much good video - trouble is, you need to shoot several hours of other planes following you or crossing your path before you get many shots worth keeping. Anyway, this setup works OK with two Flip video cameras on the wings and another camera under the belly on the battery hatch, even though they must create quite a drag. Cameras seem to be getting smaller, better and cheaper all the time so I may try some others at a later date. I also have an AXI 4120/18 which I may install, as the Power 32 now has noisy bearings. The AXI weighs 2.5 ounces more than the Power 32, and as it's kv is 515, it really needs a 14 inch prop, so I will have to find tall nose gear. If I run it with a 5S I should think it will lift a lawn chair if I need to, otherwise it will probably provide similar power to the Power 32 on 4S, as max current is 55A. With three cameras, the AXI, and a 5S 3000mah battery, I expect the AUW would be a bit over 100 ounces, which I believe is the Electristar's original design weight, using the NIMH batteries it was intended for.

Hope this is useful!...Chris



HEMICUDA -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (1/31/2010 4:51 AM)

Chris,

Thanks alot for following thru with the post. So the Power 32 puts out about 800 watts and the stock
motor is around 600 watts if I remember right. That would make up for the weight as the plane is
on the heavy side.

Thanks
Hemicuda



Fast Guy -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (1/31/2010 1:39 PM)

I have been running 5s lipo and 6s A123 in my Estar with the stock motor. APC 12x6 and a Castle Phoenix 60s ESC. Performance is quite satisfying (won't hover for long though) and the motor seems to be happy handling the higher voltage. Amp draw is about 40a so the motor is producing close to 750 watts. The stock Estar motor is rated for 18v from the info I could find so if you have some 5s batteries lying around and get a new ESC you have a nice upgrade.



lejongleur -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/4/2010 6:23 AM)

Anyone ever attempted to find taller nose gear for an Electristar, to accommodate larger props, camera mounts, etc?

If you have, I would like to know where to get/how to do it.

Thanks...Chris



tubamike78 -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/4/2010 12:16 PM)

i like the dave brown lites.

3-1/2"

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXB929&P=7

4"

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXB930&P=7

4-1/2"

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXB931&P=7

5"

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXB932&P=7

6"

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXB934&P=7




lejongleur -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/4/2010 6:05 PM)

Thanks - I already have big wheels on the plane. The nosegear itself is adjustable to some extent - I have it set to be as tall as possible, but still find that a 12" or maybe 13" prop is about as big as the ground clearance will handle.

Any thoughts on the gear?



HEMICUDA -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/25/2010 2:07 AM)

I recently purchased two 4s 14.8v 20C 5000mah Blue lipos from Hobbypartz.com for my Electristar.
The sell for $44.70 ea and should definitely be a big improvement over the 2 x 3000mah ni-mh
(14 cell, 16.8v) that I have been running. Will keep posting as to how they work out in the near
future hopefully.

Hemicuda



tubamike78 -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/25/2010 2:26 AM)

let me know how you like them, i've been looking at that lipo for some of my planes. another place i found stateside for cheap lipos is valuehobby.com. purchased some of there gforce lipo's from the toledo show and they have been out-performing the electrifly packs i have.



HEMICUDA -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/25/2010 2:40 AM)

I saw those @value hobby also. At the time they didn't have much in the 4s or large capacity
range but that seems to be changing. Hobbypartz has good prices and a good selection when
they have it IN STOCK, which isn't often. Some say they (Blue lipos) are slightly heavier than
others of the same size but you're talking to someone who is going from 14 cells of ni-mh to
4 cell of lipo, anything is an improvement. I've also been using my new Thunder AC6 charger.
No problem so far, just not looking forward to trying to charge 5000mah lipos 4s at 2.9A, (5A
50 watt charger, max) should take 2 hrs per pack. Need bigger charger and then a power
supply,.....spend....spend...spend....

Hemicuda



tubamike78 -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/25/2010 3:28 AM)

lipo's are a huge improvement over the ni-mh, i'm sure your really going to enjoy the electristar now. for a charger, one of mine is a great planes polycharge 4, allows me to charge up to 4 4-cell packs at the same time at 3 amp's each.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKAU0&P=ML

have it hooked up to a deep cycle marine battery that i picked up at sams club for around $70, have several chargers pluged into it charging all day long at air shows with no problems.



lejongleur -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/25/2010 3:38 AM)

Hemi - Something like this Accucel charger

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=7523

Will give you 150W charging, and a max of 7A. I use one to charge 5S 5000mah lipos at 5A with no problem. As you said, you need a suitable power supply like this one

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=8592

Which can run the charger and give those big batteries an old-school charging at 1C or more.

Hope this helps...Chris



HEMICUDA -> RE: Hobbico Electristar Select EP Trainer RTF (2/25/2010 5:40 AM)

Tubamike,

I 've seen the polycharge 4 but you have to get 4 balancers for it too....blinky type. More expence.

Lejongleur,

I've seen those too. on my list...trying to find stateside distributer like nitroplanes.com
or valuehobby.com ....still shopping around.

Thanks to all,

Hemicuda






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