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Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

Old 03-08-2011, 05:31 AM
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CGRetired
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Default Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

I am going to try to post the Prop Chart as a Sticky as requested by a couple of members. This prop chart is for glow powered planes. I will update it with one for electric as soon as I get it.

Also, based on a request from several RCU members, I'm going to add the basic electric setup guidelines to this sticky.

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Old 03-08-2011, 05:41 AM
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goirish
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

Hey CG, I use that chart often. BTW how are you feeling?
Old 03-08-2011, 06:00 AM
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CGRetired
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

Hi Irish

Great. It's nice to de-pressurize, ya know? I'm down in FL for a week, return tomorrow to the NJ weather.. blah. It's been nice here on the Gulf Coast.. temps in this low 80's.

The health issue is under close watch, going back to the Dr on Thursday for a follow-up. What's odd is that there were no indications other than discomfort. Tests proved negative. But, after the procedure two weeks ago, well, I'm feeling much better.

Thanks for asking, my friend!!

Dick.
Old 03-08-2011, 02:34 PM
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CGRetired
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

Ok, folks.. I am going to do some "improvements" in this sticky from time to time. One thing I am going to do is add something for electric props too because that seems to come up as much as it does for Glow props.

Look for that in the near future.

By the way, please thank Gray Beard for the suggestion that this be a sticky. I am sure many will appreciate the effort and the knowledge he puts in this forum.
Thanks, Gene!!

And, of course, thanks OzMo for posting the chart in the first place. Guys like you keep things going on RCU.


CGRetired.
Old 03-08-2011, 03:25 PM
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goirish
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

I would like to see a chart for electric. boy!! am I dumb when it comes to elect. I spent most of the day today trying to figure out where the fuel line went, never did find that sucker. Ordered a pair of Zurich sunglasses today. Original design, medium rose. 48.00 to my door. Model aviation has a zurich ad for 20 yankee green backs off.
Old 03-09-2011, 05:29 AM
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CGRetired
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

Neat stuff! Those Zurich's are great.. and twenty times as great with twenty yankee greenbacks off!!

And, for those of you that follow Daylight Savings Time (some areas do not), don't forget.. SPRING FORWARD this weekend.. Set the clocks ahead one hour at 0200 Sunday morning. I'm going to get up at 0200 just to do that. Or, should I get up at 0100 because when I spring it forward, it will be 0200? This is confusing... [X(]

As far as that fuel line is concerned, Irish, this picture is just for you...

CGr
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Old 03-30-2011, 09:32 AM
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

CG,

Is it any reliable?

http://www.coastalplanes.com/tools/propchart.htm
Old 03-30-2011, 12:20 PM
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CGRetired
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

How does it compare to the first chart?

CGr
Old 03-30-2011, 12:40 PM
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armody
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

I did not mean to compare it, I wanted your opinion as you have more experience, that how much one can rely on it. I feel that the chart link I posted is pretty reliable, things at RC are mostly on approximation, ain't they?
Old 04-29-2011, 07:04 AM
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CGRetired
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

They are always an approximation. They give you a starting point. So, you can pick one in the recommended size and fly with it. If it doesn't do what you want, you can up-range or down-range to something different until you find one that works.

CGr.
Old 05-22-2011, 06:16 PM
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

CGRetired,

Here's a site that has helped me with electric props and motor combinations.
It doesn't cover every motor but it seems to work fairly well. It is by Markus Muller.


http://www.s4a.ch/eflight/motorcalc_e.htm


I hope this helps. Happy flying, Oscar
Old 07-06-2011, 01:57 AM
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

This is a cut and paste from a previous post in this forum:

Read through the following and work it out.

Once done, you will know what wattage you are working with and what motor and esc to buy. Always go to the higher level when figuring out what motor and esc to buy.. if it works out to 17 amp ESC, go to a 20 amp ESC. Match the motor to the esc. If it doesn't match up with what you picked out, move to a motor/esc combination that does, get the weight (should not be that much difference) and work it out again and get the right one.

You should be fine.

Here are some guidelines:

1. Power can be measured in watts. For example: 1 horsepower = 746 watts

2. You determine watts by multiplying ‘volts’ times ‘amps’. Example: 10 volts x 10 amps = 100 watts

Volts x Amps = Watts

Therefore,

Amps = Watts / Volts ( / = divided by ). Simple elementary math.


3. You can determine the power requirements of a model based on the ‘Input Watts Per Pound’ guidelines found below, using the flying weight of the model (with battery):

50-70 watts per pound; Minimum level of power for decent performance, good for lightly loaded slow flyer and park flyer models
70-90 watts per pound; Trainer and slow flying scale models
90-110 watts per pound; Sport aerobatic and fast flying scale models
110-130 watts per pound; Advanced aerobatic and high-speed models
130-150 watts per pound; Lightly loaded 3D models and ducted fans
150-200+ watts per pound; Unlimited performance 3D and aerobatic models

4. Determine the Input Watts Per Pound required to achieve the desired level of performance:

Example:

Model: E-flite Brio 10 ARF
Estimated Flying Weight w/Battery: 2.1 lbs
Desired Level of Performance: 150-200+ watts per pound; Unlimited performance 3D and aerobatics
2.1 lbs x 150 watts per pound = 315 Input Watts of total power (minimum) required to achieve the desired performance

5. Determine a suitable motor based on the model’s power requirements. In this case, you will need a motor/esc/battery combination for 30 amps continuous... 3 cell LiPo at 11.1 volts (nominal) is 315/11.1=28.xxx amps, round out to the higher 30 amps.

So, get your paper and pencil out and work out the details. Let us know if we can help.

Old 08-01-2011, 04:02 PM
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M9cat
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

So I just bought some pusher props for my Super Cubs..I didnt know that they were counter rotating props so i just switched the red/blue wires from my motor to esc...How well or will the plane even fly right? It seems to be working just kinda scared to put into the air..
Old 08-07-2011, 06:43 AM
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky


ORIGINAL: M9cat

So I just bought some pusher props for my Super Cubs..I didnt know that they were counter rotating props so i just switched the red/blue wires from my motor to esc...How well or will the plane even fly right? It seems to be working just kinda scared to put into the air..

I am not 100% clear on your question but I will make a go at it.<o></o>

If I understand correctly, you have a front engine type airplane and you have purchased ‘pusher props’. When you put the pusher props on your airplane and power up, the plane wants to got backwards – so you changed the motor to spin the opposite direction.<o></o>

<o></o>

Will this work? Well…. Yes, sort of. Is it recommended or a good idea? NO. <o></o>

<o></o>

The propeller ‘pusher prop’ you have is designed to be mounted on a rear engine plane where the propeller ‘pushes’ rather than ‘pulls’ the airplane along.<o></o>

<o></o>

If you take a close look at the propeller you will see it is in-fact an airfoil – like a wing. As the propeller spins it creates lift. It is the lift (and some deflection) that causes the ‘pull’ force or thrust.<o></o>

<o></o>

Again, taking a close look at the propeller you should see one side (the side away from the motor) has a slight curve (convex shape) and is thicker at the leading edge and thinner at the trailing edge. The other side of the propeller is flat, or is some cases concave.<o></o>

<o></o>

By spinning the propeller in the opposite direction you completely defeat the engineering that went into the design. It is like putting your airplanes wing on upside down and with the trailing edge forward.<o></o>

<o></o>

Because of the pitch in the propeller, it will deflect the air and produce thrust but it will not produce lift. You will get substantially diminished performance and unpredictable behavior.<o></o>

<o></o>

In addition to the diminished performance, you will be introducing stress and loading to the propeller that was never intended. The propeller may tolerate the stress or it may fail. If the propeller fails when someone is in the path of the debris the results could be disastrous.<o></o>

<o></o>

If the propeller is designed to push, let it push – don’t make it pull.


Old 10-05-2011, 09:22 PM
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

Hello M9cat,

I know their hasn't been any activity on this thread in a while. I just happen to be looking through the "stickies" here and found your question about using a pusher prop on a front mounted electric motor for your Super Cub. You may have found that it works OK after reversing the rotation of the motor. The only problem would be if there is right thrust built into the motor mount. For a reverse rotating prop you would need left thrust to counteract the torque of the prop.
In fact, in the electric control line planes today, pusher props are preferred. They give better line tension.

Loyd
Old 07-23-2013, 09:40 AM
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

I ran into this thread too and thought I would mention ,.. If you move the prop from the back to the front , face it the same way and turn it the same way it will do the same thing...Standing facing the plane if the prop is turning counter clockwise with the airfoil leading edge forward , you just take the prop and move it forward , turn it the same direction face it the same way and it will do exactly the same thing...The prop dosent know if it is pulling or pushing but turning it backwards will be like when your motor sometimes starts and runs backwards .. It will , not fly apart but it won't create much pull or push either ..
Old 08-01-2013, 10:29 PM
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Default RE: Prop Chart and Basic Electric Setup Sticky

If your plane has built-in right thrust then turning the prop the opposite direction will make the problem the right thrust was supposed to correct twice as bad. You'll need to use left thrust to fix it which is probably a nightmare if the plane is built. As has been suggested, just get a tractor prop.
Old 10-27-2013, 11:51 PM
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Whats up? I have an O.S.91 (non pump engine) in a Grate Planes lance air, 80"wing span, l'ed like to go with a 3 bladed prop, what size prop do l need? can not make head's or tail's out of prop chart's?.............';~/
Old 05-26-2015, 06:42 AM
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If you have a pusher prop but need a puller prop, it seems to me; put the prop on the motor backwards (front of prop to the motor) and run the motor in the opposite direction. That way the prop pushes toward the back of the plane, thus actually pulling the plane forward.

Jack
Old 05-26-2015, 08:15 AM
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I don't know about a fourcycle, don't think it will work installing a pusher prop on a tractor airplane. l Do Know! That if you have a twocycle that will let you rotate the front carb and baring housing to the right (standing behind the motor) 25 degrease to the right, this will change the port-timing and the motor will run backworded and you can use a pusher prop. BUT! The niddle valve will be clouse to the muffler and when your tuning you will have to be careful not to get burned. This will work! l have dun it before on pusher airplanes that l did not have a pusher prop for. (WORD) LOL...... Keep flying and out of the trees. P.S. On a electric plane it don't matter. Just do some wire swapping.

Last edited by slamn sammy; 05-26-2015 at 08:20 AM.
Old 10-01-2015, 05:24 PM
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I want to switch from a 3 blade prop to a 2 blade prop on my Durafly T-28 Trojan 1100. Any suggestions of what I need to use? Thanks for any help.
Old 10-02-2015, 05:39 AM
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Originally Posted by YakinCornbread
I want to switch from a 3 blade prop to a 2 blade prop on my Durafly T-28 Trojan 1100. Any suggestions of what I need to use? Thanks for any help.
A
l got it figured out. You drop one inch in sizs and go yo one in pitch. Works fine, al you can Google it. LOl....... There's a chart that shows from two blade to three and four blade.
Old 10-02-2015, 08:33 AM
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Thank you
Old 01-16-2016, 06:31 PM
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Originally Posted by oskartek
CGRetired,

Here's a site that has helped me with electric props and motor combinations.
It doesn't cover every motor but it seems to work fairly well. It is by Markus Muller.


http://www.s4a.ch/eflight/motorcalc_e.htm


I hope this helps. Happy flying, Oscar
This link did not work for me - but I found this one that may be worthy::

http://www.ecalc.ch/motorcalc.php

No connection to me ---

Regards - Randy

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