ORIGINAL: Mike Wiz
The assumption here is that you are flying 8S. Is that right? Personally, I like 5000 mah with an 8S power system. In the old days I flew TP 8S3P 6000 mah batteries. I once lost a plane due to running out of battery before I could land so I always like hauling a few extra electrons aloft... just in case.
That said, on my Reactor I fly 6S 4000 pack. If you go up in voltage, you can create the same wattage with fewer amps thereby allowing you to use a lower capacity battery. This is a big part of what made electric power so much more viable than it was back when we ran NiMh or Nicad. We could run higher voltage without making our planes weigh a ton.
Thanks guys.
Nope. I'm running 6S. 8S pushes the Amperage way up over the motor's 50/80A constant/surge current limits. I'm around 75A in flight (around 85A static). 8S pushes the Amperage up around 150A (with the same prop) if memory serves. I guess I could spin a smaller prop (running 17 x 8 now), but I don't think I want to and the RPM will also go way up possibly putting it over the RPM limit for the prop (APC).
I'm just thinking 3300mAh is a little small. Right now I have my timer set on 5 minutes (giving me about a minute in reserve). I think I need to go up to 3800 or 4000, but I really don't want to go any more than that.
Was just wondering if other guys who fly Pattern competition have to do the same math and mind their flight time too.