Is electric r/c worth it?    Gallery
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
    Search This Thread  
 
Printable Version

All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> Helimax >> Is electric r/c worth it?
Page: [1]

Tower Hobbies Get Coupon Codes Brands  
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/10/2007 9:33 AM   
calcop



Posts: 83
Score: 100
Joined: 1/3/2007
Last Login: 12/19/2009
From: San Jose, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Okay, I am a little disappointed. I got my replacement LiPo (ElectriFly 11.1 V 910 mA 15C) battery charged. I first flew with my factory battery and got 3 minutes of flight. I don’t know how Heli-Max justified their answer in 10 minute flights. Next, I flew with the ElectriFly and only got 6 minutes of flight. A lot of people tell me at least 10 - 15 minutes of flight with that battery. Yeah, right.

I am starting to get frustrated with electric r/c. I used to fly nitro r/c planes a few years back and never used electric planes. I used to think that electric r/c was a waste of time because the downtime between usage/charging was so big. I am starting to think that again. Nitro has such a faster turnaround.

It seems that the only way to get a good solid, worth-while, productive flight is to have like ten batteries. They are way too expensive to do that.

I will continue to practice with my Axe CP and see where i am at skill wise before purchasing the Heli-Max Kinetic Nitro powered heli.

Heli-Max fooled me in to thinking I would get 10 minute flights. ****s! If it were true using three batteries would give you an awesome flight session. Don’t get me wrong, I love flying my Axe CP!
I just wanted to vent....... Out!

Hide Signatures
       Post #: 1

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/10/2007 1:14 PM   
ElectricHead



Posts: 99
Score: 100
Joined: 11/26/2006
Last Login: 3/21/2013
From: Miamisburg, OH, USA
Status: offline 		My factory battery flight time is 5 min. I am going to purchase a Thunder Power 1320 mA 11.1v and charger soon as I can. I hope to get 10 to 12 min flights. I am going to get a charger that will balance the cells or a cell balancer that works with a charger. I do not know the brand of charger yet. Thinking about one that will charge six cells to cover my future needs. Three min flight times seem a little short. Is everything running free in your heli? No binding of rotor head?

_____________________________

Build a man a fire and keep him warm for the night, set a man on fire and keep him warm for the rest of his life!

Hide Signatures

(in reply to calcop)
       Post #: 2

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/10/2007 6:53 PM   
PilotLight



Posts: 1027
Score: 110
Joined: 8/15/2003
Last Login: 1/31/2011
From: Benton Harbor, MI, USA
Status: offline 		Those times seem short to me. Wonder why its draining the batteries so fast?

FMA direct has a charger that charges each cell individually. They say you can recharge in as little as 20 minutes. With 3 Batteries you could nearly fly non-stop.

I keep hearing about Li-po's that will charge in 5 minutes. Hope we see some soon.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to ElectricHead)
       Post #: 3

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/10/2007 6:57 PM   
COPO



Posts: 118
Score: 100
Joined: 7/7/2004
Last Login: 8/13/2010
From: Southwick, MA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: PilotLight

Those times seem short to me. Wonder why its draining the batteries so fast?

FMA direct has a charger that charges each cell individually. They say you can recharge in as little as 20 minutes. With 3 Batteries you could nearly fly non-stop.

I keep hearing about Li-po's that will charge in 5 minutes. Hope we see some soon.


I really like that FMA lipo balance charger. Does anyone have one? How good is it? Do you have to use just the FMA packs with it? Can I change the plug end to accomodate different Lipo battery connections?

Thanks


Hide Signatures

(in reply to PilotLight)
       Post #: 4

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/10/2007 8:05 PM   
perttime



Posts: 1287
Score: 125
Joined: 12/30/2005
Last Login: 5/21/2013
From: Tampere, FINLAND
Status: offline 		calcop:
seems like your flight times are short on the original battery too.
Some possibilities come to mind:
- what sort of a charger are you using?
- could there be something in your setup that makes the LVC cut in early?
- could there be something in your setup that makes you draw more power?
- could there be something in your flying style that makes you draw more power?

Hide Signatures

(in reply to COPO)
       Post #: 5

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/11/2007 12:38 AM   
calcop



Posts: 83
Score: 100
Joined: 1/3/2007
Last Login: 12/19/2009
From: San Jose, CA, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: perttime

calcop:
seems like your flight times are short on the original battery too.
Some possibilities come to mind:
- what sort of a charger are you using?
- could there be something in your setup that makes the LVC cut in early?
- could there be something in your setup that makes you draw more power?
- could there be something in your flying style that makes you draw more power?


I am using the Hobbico Quick Field Charger MKII. The charger cuts off automaticly when the battery has reached its full charge. I am using the stock motors, CCPM circuit board, etc. I am hovering when I fly.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to perttime)
       Post #: 6

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/11/2007 9:06 AM   
Jellyson



Posts: 920
Score: 100
Joined: 11/6/2006
Last Login: 2/2/2007
From: Toronto, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Calcop there is almost certainly something wrong with your helicopter. The first thing I would suspect is too tight gear backlash. If the gears do not have sufficient backlash they will bind and suck power, shortening flight times.
This is a common setup problem.
THe backlash should be 0.002-0.004 inch, find the tightest spot by rotating the main gear by hand (these gears are never truly round), mark it somehow so you which spot is tightest, set the backlash at this point by loosening the motor, wedging a piece of typing paper or a bit of poly bag between the gears, tighten the motor down and eject the paper by turning the gears. Check it all the way around so you don't have any spots that are too loose or too tight.
If it still has such short flight times after you are certain that there is no binding in the gearing or the shaft, then the control unit may be bad. It is very unlikely that you have encountered several bad batteries in a row.
Of course you should confirm that your charger is working correctly...

What type heli do you fly in "real life"?
Looks like a cool cockpit.

Believe me, when you do seven minutes of acro with a TRex, it will seem like a very, very long flight.



_____________________________

The helicopter is the only flying machine ever invented capable of crashing into _itself_.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to perttime)
       Post #: 7

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/11/2007 9:53 AM   
Rcman4life



Posts: 54
Score: 100
Joined: 1/10/2003
Last Login: 7/14/2007
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Possibly the tail belt as well could be too tight aswell, I know I am having issues trying to get it the "perfect" tension...

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Jellyson)
       Post #: 8

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/11/2007 8:16 PM   
PilotLight



Posts: 1027
Score: 110
Joined: 8/15/2003
Last Login: 1/31/2011
From: Benton Harbor, MI, USA
Status: offline 		The Axe CP doesn't use a belt for the tail, but its good to know for future models.

Check the flybar paddles that they are parallel to the ground and to eachother. The extra drag could cause higher amp draw.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to Rcman4life)
       Post #: 9

RE: Is electric r/c worth it? - 1/11/2007 11:52 PM   
flying-llama


 

Posts: 92
Score: 100
Joined: 2/23/2006
Last Login: 4/30/2009
From: between-my-tx&crashed-aircraft, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: calcop

Okay, I am a little disappointed. I got my replacement LiPo (ElectriFly 11.1 V 910 mA 15C) battery charged. I first flew with my factory battery and got 3 minutes of flight. I don’t know how Heli-Max justified their answer in 10 minute flights. Next, I flew with the ElectriFly and only got 6 minutes of flight. A lot of people tell me at least 10 - 15 minutes of flight with that battery. Yeah, right.
...


Have you tried using those batteries several times?
I have been told that
1. it takes several charge/discharge cycles before the batteries will be at maximum performance
2. for the NiMH batteries, it helps to at first do a long, slow trickle-type charge

I have definitely experienced that the first charge/discharge cycle on some batteries are a lot weaker than the later cycles.

Hide Signatures

(in reply to calcop)
       Post #: 10

Page:   [1]
All Forums >> RC Helicopters >> Electric RC Helis >> Helimax >> Is electric r/c worth it?
Page: [1]





Jump to:


 
Google 



Search | Marketplace | Event Calendar | Local Clubs | Magazine | Product Ratings | New Products | Discussion Forums

Photo Gallery | Instructor Search | Field|Track|Marina Search

Advertisers | Hobby Vendor Resources | Rate Manufacturers | Sign In/Sign Up

SITE MAP!   : :   FORUM RULES

RC Universe is a service of Internet Brands, Inc. Copyright © 2001-2013.

Charities we support that also need your help
Yorkie Rescue | Humane Society | ASPCA | Crohn's-Colitis America


0.422RCU1