Nathan

My Feedback: (12)

We all want to seek the advice of someone who's been there, someone with experience, someone considered an expert in the field we have questions. This is your chance RCU members, Sal from Northeast Sailplane has the experience to answer your electric airplane questions. Enjoy Ask the Expert!

David_McGinnis

I am trying to get my Castle Link to work. I have installed the app on my XP SP2 PC. I start the app and can click on any button. But when I connect the Phoenix 10 ESC the app freezes and I can click on nothing. I can't even close the app. I can do anything else on the PC just not make the app work

lthibault

Hi,

Can you provide me information for a glow to electric conversion.

The plane is a Kyosho Flip-3D 40 size airplane. Could you specify the required Motor, ESC and propellor? Lipos used will be two Thunder Power 4200MHA 3C in series.

SPECS:

* Length: 59 inches
* Width: 59 inches
* Total Weight: 5 pounds
* Wing Area: 60.0dm²
* Airfoil: 20% symmetrical
* Motor: 2 stroke 46-50 class OR 4 stroke 52-63 class (both sold separately)
* Radio: 4 channel 5 Servos

RoyR

I am a long time RCr, but have just begun my hand at electric.
I got a GP foamy for Christmas and just bought a Brio 10. Preparing, I bought a Triton charger and battery for the foamy. The foamy battery did not require a balance charge. I followed the recomendations for the Brio 10 and ordered everything I thought I would need. It turns out the battery I bought requires balance charging. SO, I ordered the Electrifly equinox cell balancer to go with my Triton charger. Upon receiving it, I noticed the balance plug on theThunderpower Lipo I bought for the Brio, is not the same as the balance plugs that came with the balancer. So finally here is my question. Is this hobby so specialized I need to get a Thunderpower charger for Thunderpower batteries and can only charge Electrifly lipos with the balancer I have? Can I get an adaptor to use the Trtion charger and balancer to charge the TP lipos? Or will the balancer only work with Electrifly lipos?
I have a lot to learn, but I'm trying.

Thank you.

salnsp

Have you tried to hook up the controller to see it it works in normal mode (default mode)? If it works then it sounds like a software issue. I would delete the software, got back to the castle creations website and reload the software.

Here is the link: http://www.castlecreations.com/downloads.html

The current version is Castlelink Version 2.22

If this doesn't work, you might possibly have a problem with the speed control. It would be nice to be able to try another controller on your system first. If you can't or this doesn't work, its time to call Castle Creations. The number is 913-390-6939

salnsp

Since this is a 3D airplane we want more thrust than speed so we would be shooting for 1.35-1.7 thrust to weight ratio. Assuming that the Flip will weigh in at 6 lbs with electric system (96 ounces). This translates to 130-163 ounces of thrust. We want to keep the prop speed around 50-70 mph. The batteries you are using are two 3-cell TP Li-polys in series which comes out to 6-cells, we should shoot for 50-60 amps draw at max throttle.

I have worked out a few examples:
For an Outrunner you want to stick with 350-500 Kv or so.

Axi 4130/16
390 Kv
52 amps
150 oz thrust
17 x 8 APC prop
prop speed 48 mph


Himaxx 5030-390
390 Kv
52 amps
150 oz thrust
16 x 8 APC prop
prop speed 52 mph

Here's a Neu ORK (Outrunner Killer)
Neu 1910/3Y
360 Kv
52.6 amps
163 oz thrust
18 x 8 APC prop
prop speed 45 mph

Here's a High Performance Inrunner with geardrive
Neu 1509/1.5Y
6.7-1 Gear ratio
56 amps
166 oz thrust
16 x 10 APC prop
prop speed 60 mph

The Outrunners will work fine with big props, as will the ORK, The inrunner is more efficient, can then produce more power, but is more expensive. These are typical examples of motors that will work. There are many others.

Since your batteries should easily produce up to 60 amps continuous, and we have set up the examples to draw under 60 amps. I would go for a 60 amps speed control. Also since you are using a 6-cell Li-Poly battery system you will need a high voltage BEC to run the receiver and servos Good examples are the Medusa Potencia 3.5 or the UBEC.

salnsp

No batteries absolutely required a balance charge. You can simply slow charge (1/10 C) and this will bring the cells into balance. Balancing, while basically a good thing, is not necessary every time you charge. Unfortunately, every cell manufacturer seems to use different balance connecters. I agree, there should be a standard. I am sure, you should be able to get an adapter for the TP battery. Still, you can charge the battery for the Brio with the Triton charger without balancing.

BTW...Astroflight makes a great inexpensive balancer called the Blinky. It will balance up to 6 cells. It can be used on all the major batteries as it has a universal connecters (more or less),. Astroflight also carries several adapters for the Blinky for batteries that will not fit the universal plug on the Blinky. The blinky sells for $25.00

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

Sal, Royrs question is similar to mine. a cheap batery pack site sells adapters that allow tp and apogee voltage taps to hook to polyquest connectors. Is the polyquest connector whats on my equinox? Tim

salnsp

The Equinox is a battery? This would be a good question to ask of your supplier.

FERNDALE AIR FORCE

The equinox is the electrifly balancer that works with the triton jr charger. I'm trying to figure out the connections. I'll check the lhs this weekend. Tim

jack41

Hello Sal, glad your here. I've posted this question before on the other e-flight site and have not recieved a reply??? That is what is more effecient, running one's lipos serial then parallel, or visa versa? My setup is a 6s2p
Thank You, Jack

salnsp

I think you mean as far as the motor system is concerned? That is a very easy question to answer. It is more efficient for the system to get the requred watts by increasing voltage instead of increasing amperage. In otherwords more cells less amperage. The motors and speed controls always work more efficiently in this manner.

tic

Is it true that the zagi is flown mostly by punks that buzz old ladies and pets and are generally "rude" RC pilots?...Would it be better to get a true electric powered glider than fly one of those wings?

salnsp

Tic, I will assume you are joking a bit? The aircraft is what we both make of it and what we enjoy. Flying wings are fun the fly. They are great knock around toy. Sailplanes are a completely different thing. Except of the slope I wouldn't really call the flying wing a sailplane. An electric powered sailplane can be for speed of theremaling. (Hotliner, F5J). If you want to do either of these things a sailplane designed for the task would be a better choice.