Hi guys-
Kinda new here. I've put alot of time into the super cub and the FS one simulator and I feel its time to upgrade. I think i'm interested in electric. Specifically lipo setups. My question is, i see alot of #'s on the parts. What do these #'s mean. Battery? Receiver? Speed control? Brushless Motor? Some general questions below? I need a simple answer as my A.D.D really doesn't do me any favors. My buddy started months before me, he had one lipo setup and dropped it cause of the problems he had, Now he's on to nitro. I really wanna progress but i don't want to go in over my head. Unfortunately I live on an island and no one flys here. I'd appreciate any help you all can give me.

Do most programable transmitter sync with any SC?

Can I use a comp trans. with the super cub?

once i buy a lipo setup, and want more performance, do i have to buy a whole new system?

The electric flight stuff isn't too complicated once you learn some basics. I would visit the electric forums since that is the main topic of discussion over there:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_227/tt.htm

I'll try and help as much as possible but it's an awful lot to take in all at one time and a lot to learn but slowly slowly and it will all fall into place.

Generally the Transmitter (TX) has to be compatible with the Receiver (RX), if you think you're going to be in the Hobby long time you're best of getting a good Transmitter now as I've 2 at home that I no longer use and so are now wasted money but add the cost of them and chargers up and I could have just bought the better one staright off and saved myself a couple of hundred pounds. If you're on a budget look at the Spektrum DX6i and if you can afford it look at their DX 7, both come with a Receiver included in the price and the 6i is amasing value for money IMO.

I'm sure from other threads you can use a computer TX wih the SC but I've never done it so not sure how, I wonder if the servo lead plugs don't fit most common receivers (you'll need one compatible to the nex TX) but maybe find a Super Cub thread on the forum and ask in there as I know others have done it.

You don't have to buy a whole new set up if you want more performance as you should get the right set up for the plane 1st off so you don't have to change later.

The mAh on batteries is the amount of charge they hold and how long they'll last per charge but the higher the mAh the heavier the battery is and in an ideal world you want a plane to be as light as possible so you need to find size /weight of plane that's compatible that gives you a reasonable flight time but doesn't make the plane fly like a brick. As an approximate rule most 40" wingspans will ideally use a 1800 mAh and 45" around teh 2200 mAh and will give approx 12 mins flight time per battery.

If that sinks in OK and you want more answers just let me know, if you're looking for a good second plane the Mulitplex MiniMag is an excellent choice as a 2nd plane / aileron trainer.

Just a by the way if your buddy had difficulty with his Lipo set up there was probably something wrong as even a number of teh die hard IC flyers at my club are now coming round to electric as the leccy fliers turn up, put a battery in teh plane and fly, when it's flat they change the battery and fly again as opposed to wasted hours tuning / setting up engines that never seem to run properly.

Don't get me wrong I'm not critising IC (can't beat the smell and sound) and would love one if they had the ease and simplicity / reliability of electric.

Another good source for information is [link=http://www.commonsenserc.com]Common Sense RC[/link]. They have some resources on battery information that explain a lot.

One thing to remember with electrics is that the whole setup comes into play when determining the battery size. The prop size, the ESC and the motor all factor into what battery you need (and can use). If you choose a battery that can't put out enough amps for the ESC it may damage the battery. One thing about electric setups, you have to take a lot of things into consideration when setting up the power system. That's one area with nitro definitely has it's advantages.

Good Luck!

Hold on, there, Witterings. Hours of tuning and adjusting? Hmm... with the right engine and prop combination (and you have to do that with electrics too.. select the right prop for the job), perhaps 20 minutes (two tanks) initially to 'break in the engine' then about 20 seconds after that doing a proper tune, and you're off and flying. So, come on, don't over exaggerate like that... because it just is not true.

Erroet: The only real advantage electric has over glow (IC) is that they are quieter. The disadvantage is expense, lack of overall power for a given aircraft as compared to the same aircraft with glow, and fragility. They are just not as tough as their glow counterparts.

One key factor that must be taken into consideration is weight vs. power requirements. They must match. That goes for both glow and electric, but is much more crucial with electrics. If you under power one, and it's easy to do (wrong battery selection, wrong ESC value, or wrong motor size) you won't get much flying time, if any, out of the electric.

Just be careful about what you choose. There is a general formula that explains the wattage requirements vs. weight or flying style.

I found this on http://www.stefanv.com/rcstuff/qf200407.html

CGr.

As far as I know (which is simply by reading the threads here), the SC (if it is Hobbyzone) will not work with a Spektrum or Futaba programmable radio. The 2.4GHz signal is proprietary between brands and therfor, you would have to install the Rx from the associated Tx into the SC, and hope that the operating voltage and plug leads for the servos is the same. I have no info on what those specs are however.
Good luck,
Curtis

CGRetired,
As I said don't get me wrong I love them but I have seen many not just one person, come down to the club, spend 3 hrs tinkering with their engine before packing their things up and going home without even having flown.
The number that stand, do the tests in the pitts, hold the plane upright and apply throttle, put it on the runway, go to take off and it stalls and it's back to the pitts again - you normally only get to see them do it 4 times before they give up !!!!!!
Yes there are some that also come down and don't have a fraction of the problems that others do but I'd stil say that overall they have less reliability and more time working on the engine than electrics - some even enjoy that as much as the flying but personally I'd rather just fly !!!
As I said before it's funny the number of die hards and we're talking 30+ yrs of flying who are now flying electrics as well for the very reasons I've mentioned.

Wittering: You I believe have it right all the way> I have been flying Glow for many, many years and still do but have now gone to electrics in past year. Still flying Glow as well as gas though.
Anyhow do your research extensively because electrics are expensive to start with so get the right stuff to start with. As been said, matching the motor, ESC, Battery, Prop is ALL important, also getting the proper charger for Li Po's. It is possible to to fly about any size aircraft you wish but o f course the larger they are the more costly everything is. I personaly stick to the 46 glow size or smaller for my electrics. Also believe it's good to go one size larger in motor size than what may be stated for any particular plane. That way you can fly at reduced power, which will be easier on battery but still have more power if needed. Most important to do as much research as you can and you will have success. Good luck.

Just my opinion, and I fly both electric as well as glow, but I found my initial investment for the electric to be less than the glow. As was said, the bigger you go the more the cost, but wouldn't that hold true in either case?

Since I only have one electric and one glow aircraft, with regard to cost, I can compare apples to apples so to speak and I find that once I was set up on the electric I was done if I wanted to be. Not the case with the glow as there are always recurring costs such as fuel so in the end, I would eventually spend more flying glow.

Guess the advantages in flying both far outweigh the disadvantages of flying one over the other.........or worse yet none at all!

Reckon it's best left to the individual and his/her particular circumstances.

Hey guys-

Thanks for all the help. I understand the debate from gas to electric. My other hobby has a similar debate. Anyhow, thanks again for the help here. I have however gotten a new plane. I went with the Spektrum DX6i. thanks for the suggestion. The guy at the shop said it was a great controller. I'm still not sure exactly the capabilities of my the power system but the guy who helped me has been really helpfull and very cooperative helping my friends and I. We spend alot of time in the store. I think what he set me up for will be ideal for me.

Again thanks for your inputs guys. This is practically my only source of info in the RC world due to my remote location. you all have been a great help!!!

heheh, thats why I buy saitos lol