AMT 180 home made conversion to electric start
03-02-2009, 09:26 AM
#26
RE: AMT 180 home made conversion to electric start
im using a 7.4V Lipo 220mAh.
Guys - does anyone know where i could buy the AMT to FADEC RPM converter ? Gaspar is out of them and will not be making any more.
Also, can anyone who has one take a few pics of the unit ? i might build one of my own (im a student for electrical engineering).
thanks for the help.
Guys - does anyone know where i could buy the AMT to FADEC RPM converter ? Gaspar is out of them and will not be making any more.
Also, can anyone who has one take a few pics of the unit ? i might build one of my own (im a student for electrical engineering).
thanks for the help.
03-24-2009, 08:32 AM
#27
RE: AMT 180 home made conversion to electric start
OK guys, here is an update.
I ended up buying Gaspar's FADEC and with the great help of my buddy Ravivos (who made the RPM divider by 6) i finally test ran the turbine today and all seems great.
I did encounter some high temps (800ish) but that was because i had the thermocouple probe in too deep apperantly. i will test it again soon.
for those interested about the starter power and current, i set the starter power at ignition value to 030 and starter power at startup to 040, and checked with a watt meter i hardly see more than 5-6A draw from the starter.
Overall im fairly happy with the conversion. on the first try, engine fired right up and ran well.
I ended up buying Gaspar's FADEC and with the great help of my buddy Ravivos (who made the RPM divider by 6) i finally test ran the turbine today and all seems great.
I did encounter some high temps (800ish) but that was because i had the thermocouple probe in too deep apperantly. i will test it again soon.
for those interested about the starter power and current, i set the starter power at ignition value to 030 and starter power at startup to 040, and checked with a watt meter i hardly see more than 5-6A draw from the starter.
Overall im fairly happy with the conversion. on the first try, engine fired right up and ran well.
06-09-2013, 03:24 AM
#30
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RE: AMT 180 home made conversion to electric start
Looks good. Ass long as it's centered... it will be fine.
I never converted my AMT's to electric, because they are heavy enough.
I never converted my AMT's to electric, because they are heavy enough.
07-08-2013, 05:53 AM
#31
My Feedback: (34)
RE: AMT 180 home made conversion to electric start
Just incase anyone was wondering, I have flown this AMT 180 with my home made brass bracket 15 times in the last 3 weeks, with a lot more flights to come with no issue.
And it has made starting so easy I feel bad when my old school AMT is started and ready to fly while my boy is still trying to get his to lite off.
I took a air start box, found the relay that is popped by the computer to push air into the turbine.
use the + - off this air realy as a signal source for a $3 realy from autozone. Thus the starting box thinks it turning on the air valve but is actuly turning on the realy that is connected to a 2s power source (my box use 3s for fuel pump etc, so I just put a castel ebc to the relay for 2s power)
As these little starters are $30-60 its so easy its crazy not to consider them.
I also use a $3 12 pin connect from Radio Shake to connect my starting box to the jet.
And it has made starting so easy I feel bad when my old school AMT is started and ready to fly while my boy is still trying to get his to lite off.
I took a air start box, found the relay that is popped by the computer to push air into the turbine.
use the + - off this air realy as a signal source for a $3 realy from autozone. Thus the starting box thinks it turning on the air valve but is actuly turning on the realy that is connected to a 2s power source (my box use 3s for fuel pump etc, so I just put a castel ebc to the relay for 2s power)
As these little starters are $30-60 its so easy its crazy not to consider them.
I also use a $3 12 pin connect from Radio Shake to connect my starting box to the jet.
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bandit_av (09-23-2023)
07-09-2013, 05:45 AM
#34
My Feedback: (34)
RE: AMT 180 home made conversion to electric start
Hey guys I just want to warn you, I gess I got so cought up in getting my first turbine at a price I could afford I never really looked at the bigger issues.
While its only $30-60 to convert this thing electric, and runns great, I just got an email back from AMT Netherlands, as they seem to be the only peaple left to service or sell these older turbines.
At this time thats $970 us for an overhaul, pluse I would say around $75 shipping.
When you only pay $450 for the whole set up thats a lot$$$
But Im not worred as I was looking at AMT non hobby part of the site, and they clame these motors are good for around 200 hours before needed rebuilt,
So is it only the hobbiest should send them in after 25hours?
Well I just wanted to put this info out on the net, as I still think these are great motors and well worth the $$ if $ at a good price.
Mike
While its only $30-60 to convert this thing electric, and runns great, I just got an email back from AMT Netherlands, as they seem to be the only peaple left to service or sell these older turbines.
There are a few versions of the Mercury but we do not have any parts any more for the very first version, you can recognize them with at the "open" compressor nut.
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I assume that the engines you have are "air start engines", a typical "overhaul" would cost around 750,- Euro (ex shipping back) depending on the state of the engine.
At this time thats $970 us for an overhaul, pluse I would say around $75 shipping.
When you only pay $450 for the whole set up thats a lot$$$
But Im not worred as I was looking at AMT non hobby part of the site, and they clame these motors are good for around 200 hours before needed rebuilt,
So is it only the hobbiest should send them in after 25hours?
Well I just wanted to put this info out on the net, as I still think these are great motors and well worth the $$ if $ at a good price.
Mike
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bandit_av (09-23-2023)
04-09-2015, 06:17 AM
#35
Hello guys,
Lets bring up an old thread to life with some new info - i just converted another AMT to Electric Start, this time it is an OLYMPUS!
Bought a JJ1800 starter, and got it fitted to the Oly's cowling with the generous help of my friend Rafi, and then burned 2 starters on the first 2 start attempts - as my fuel pump was a bit weak, starting at high RPMs only, causing the turbine to "hang" on the starter at 10K, burning the poor chinese Speed 400 motor instantly.
SO i decided it was time for a better solution that would still fit into the JJ1800 starter housing, and then it occured to me - why not go BRUSHLESS !
Found an old Ammo 24-45-3790KV motor in Rafi's shop (it would be much easier to just use a 28mm outrunner) and Rafi milled an aluminum cylendrical adapter to fit it in the 28mm starter housing.
then installed the original bendix from the Speed 400 on the Ammo motor's shaft and walla - first ever AMT with electric BRUSHLESS start!
Then i thought about switcing - shall i use an external start box etc.. and the idea came to mind that since i need a brushless ESC anyway - i might as well use the RC controll and spin the starter from my radio via a switch !
grabbed a cheapie chinese 60A ESC (15$) and connected everything up - turns out 30% "throttle" was way more than enough to get the Oly running in seconds with this setup! i did also mix in some slower speed to the ESC command in order for the starter to engage softly.
Here is a short video showing the start procedure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOyO5R7cLBE Since then i added a remote glow plug igniter (home made) and can also turn on the glow plug from my radio - so the only things i still have to carry with me to start the motor are strting gas and the optional EDT - to be honest the engine works so well i dont think i need the EDT at all.
Lets bring up an old thread to life with some new info - i just converted another AMT to Electric Start, this time it is an OLYMPUS!
Bought a JJ1800 starter, and got it fitted to the Oly's cowling with the generous help of my friend Rafi, and then burned 2 starters on the first 2 start attempts - as my fuel pump was a bit weak, starting at high RPMs only, causing the turbine to "hang" on the starter at 10K, burning the poor chinese Speed 400 motor instantly.
SO i decided it was time for a better solution that would still fit into the JJ1800 starter housing, and then it occured to me - why not go BRUSHLESS !
Found an old Ammo 24-45-3790KV motor in Rafi's shop (it would be much easier to just use a 28mm outrunner) and Rafi milled an aluminum cylendrical adapter to fit it in the 28mm starter housing.
then installed the original bendix from the Speed 400 on the Ammo motor's shaft and walla - first ever AMT with electric BRUSHLESS start!
Then i thought about switcing - shall i use an external start box etc.. and the idea came to mind that since i need a brushless ESC anyway - i might as well use the RC controll and spin the starter from my radio via a switch !
grabbed a cheapie chinese 60A ESC (15$) and connected everything up - turns out 30% "throttle" was way more than enough to get the Oly running in seconds with this setup! i did also mix in some slower speed to the ESC command in order for the starter to engage softly.
Here is a short video showing the start procedure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOyO5R7cLBE Since then i added a remote glow plug igniter (home made) and can also turn on the glow plug from my radio - so the only things i still have to carry with me to start the motor are strting gas and the optional EDT - to be honest the engine works so well i dont think i need the EDT at all.
Last edited by i3dm; 04-09-2015 at 06:28 AM.
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bandit_av (09-23-2023)
04-10-2015, 01:54 PM
#36
Here is a demonstration with home made remote glow plug igniter installed. starting is becoming easier every day! 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogvwk44-rfY And here is my "Turbine cooling cycles mix" for Futaba 18MZ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9IfJujOeKg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogvwk44-rfY And here is my "Turbine cooling cycles mix" for Futaba 18MZ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9IfJujOeKg
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bandit_av (09-23-2023)
