CB36

Hi all;
I have a Giant Super Sportster that needs ~ 6.2 oz to balance, (gas upfront). I have a 1900mh Rx battery pack that I'm thinking could help with this if I move it way aft.

My thought was to cut the covering on the bottom of the fuse, (lite ply - lots of holes), and epoxy a battery floor in. The battery will be held by two velcro straps and I'd cover the opening with a lite ply hatch covered with Monokote. I'll use an aile extension to get the power forward to the switch.

Is there any reason that this isn't a good idea? I'd probably only need minimal lead to achieve final balance.

Thanks!!

da Rock

You got an excellent plan.

One suggestion. You want the weight back there, so have no qualms about building whatever structure you think suitable to spread the concentrated load that pack will be. Some structures would benefit from an extra brace or two supporting that battery.

Those lightening holes really are just semi-permanent hatches, aren't they. One of my models has had the same hole opened a couple of times. It's easier to iron on matching Ultracote than it is to build a hatch.

Great idea you got.

Jonathan Ott

My Feedback: (25)

I might recommend you go with a Heavy Duty extension to ease the electron flow over the extended length. The cost offset of HD over standard is very small considering the possible headaches and other ramifications that could come with too light of wiring.

Jon

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

In this case the airplane alternates between two 25's and as an aerotowed glider. The battery mount is used for CG control. It alternates between the very tip of the nose or back under the leading edge of the stab. The change is sometimes made several times in one flying session so I choose to use a screwed hatch door front and rear. Just monocoating over like da rock mentioned works fine also. I usually use lite sticks to fabricate a support for the battery and no floor per say on an installation like this.

This type of setup works just fine in balancing and as mentioned by Extreme Aerosport do make up you harness or extension out of heavier wire not the very tiny 26 gauge stuff. My total added wiring run is about three feet.

John

CB36

Thanks everybody....sounds like the way to go.

If I should happen to need more weight, any suggestions as to how to secure it? I'd like to be able to add to the weights to change the CG. I'm setting it up initially per the manual. Probably I'll want to shift the CG back a tad in the future as I get used to the flight characteristics.

Rodney

Just be sure to add enough structure to keep the battery from becomming a battering ram as it could tear loose and move forward in a hard nose down landing and destroying everything in front of it.. It may require a substantial bit of structure.