ORIGINAL: adr_ian64
Hey all, I flew my E-flite mini Edge today just doing laps in the sky and when I brought her in, the motor was hot, couldn't keep my finger on it for more than 2 1/2 seconds. setup is 1500mah Lipoly, E-flite 40 amp esc, himaxx 2025 5300 motor, stock gearbox, stock gears and stock 12x6 prop. I'm a bit puzzled as to how the other fliers with the same setup handle this issue. I'd ask them but I haven't seen them at the field last couple of times I went... anyway thanks for the help
A hot motor is normally caused by too too many amps, or a mechanical problem like a bent shaft or an unbalanced propeller.
If we assume the shaft isn't bent, the bearings and the gearbox aren't damaged and the prop is close to being properly balanced, too many ampes is caused by one of two things:
too much prop for the motor/gearbox/battery combo
or
too much voltage driving too many amps into the motor.
Since I have a Himax motor, I know that Himax includes documentation with their motors that recommend prop and battery sizes and amperage limits for their motors.
You did not say how many cells in the lipoly. This is extremely important. You may have too high a voltage going into that motor. Too much voltage would be like putting too big a supercharger on your engine. Eventually it will break the engine.
By stock gearbox, are you saying the gearbox that came with the plane or with the motor?
What prop does the Himax documentation recommend for that motor/gearbox combo?
Can you confirm that you are conforming to these recommendations?
Is your ESC programmable? Have you made adjustments to the timing in the ESC?
We need more info if we are going to help you.
RTFM - Read the friendly manual and available documentation
2025-5300 3mm 6.6 25A 80g 175
Integrated GWS Motor Mount and Himax Motors
-Direct upgrade for GWS 300/350 & GWS400 gear motors,
-Himax HA2015 or HA025 BL motor installed –optimum power and performance,
-use 2015 to replace 280 & 370 type motors,
-use 2025 to replace 370, 400, & 480 type motors,
-Aluminum gear housing – no more broken gear housing,
-Built-in cooling fins – no more overheated motors,
-10mm x 10mm mounting box – fits most planes designed with GWS gearboxes,
-6.6:1 gears installed, 5.3:1 & 4.3:1 gears included – flexible power manage
Based on this I would expect that the motor can take up to 11.1V. I would guess that a 12X6 prop is either too large or too deep, but I would consult the documentation that came with the motor. You are probably pushing over 16 amps/175 wattts, and that is probably too much.