Hi,


I have just got back from flying a Electrafun plane. The weather was fine, there was a slight breeze but nothing else. When the plane was launched it climb about 2 feet the fell back to earth and landed quiet hard and flipped.A few minuets later we tired launching it again, and it done exactly the same thing, and i had not put much pressure on the stick to make it lift. finally, after trying to find the landing gear, we launched it for the third time, this time it got up to about 20ft, then i noticed it wouldn't turn easily, after using the full rudder stick it moved left but not much. After using up a lot of the field trying to get it to turn, i decided i better land it otherwise it would fly into the trees or the road. i brought it down smoothly as i didn't need to turn or to use the motor, then i checked the plane over and everything seemed to be OK.

i am wondering whether it is the battery that has caused it to do this, there are no connections loose, luckily i have other battery's.

i want to know how to discharge the battery properly, i think this is what has caused it, that there is not enough power in the battery to work.

If anyone has any suggestions or answers, they will be appreciated,

Thanks in advance,

Al

P.s, If anyone wants to see what the Electrafun looks like, there is a link,

www.electrafun.co.uk

You would need a somewhat expensive digital peak charger with discharge function in order to properly discharge the battery pack. In the USA, a popular choice would be the Great Planes Triton. However, it probably costs more than your entire setup...

I would try charging the pack using the at-home slow charger, following the included instructions to the letter, one more time. If the power doesn't improve, then contact the manufacturer/distributor of the Electrafun and either get a replacement or your money back.

Hi,

Thanks for your comment,

I flew it one more time today and got better results when i charged it again, but i will still try your method. i have other battery's if this one fails.

Al

Venom

Just looked on the J perkins site, they have a video of the Electrafun doing quite a fast take off, so it looks like it should have plenty of power to fly well.

Don't take offence if I assume your a beginner.
Have you flown it successfully before?
Is the prop on the right way round?
To discharge the battery pack, leave it connected to the model and run the motor until you hear it slow down, (it may cut out automatically), though you shouldn't need to do this, normal flying will 'condition', (improve), the battery.
If your charging the pack off a car battery, it may not be fully charged, as a fully charged 8 cell pack is about the same volts as a car battery.
If you mains charge it, do it just before you go flying, not the day(s) before.
A full change, should just start to get the pack warm, just noticeable warm, not hot.

Hope this helps.

If it's a little better, it could just be that the battery needs to be broken in. According to the website, it is a NiMH, and those do need to be gradually worked into full capacity.

Hi,


i charged it up on the mains charger last night and flew it this morning, it all works now, shame about the wind, it was abit too strong so i only got about 5 minuets flight time before i had to stop.

I have had the airplane for just over a year now, but only flown it a few times because where i live in England there is no-where near that is good, but most of the holidays I'm in Scotland which is perfect for flying.
i have flown it successfully a few times in Scotland as there is a lot of space to practice.


Thanks for your comments, my plane is sorted now,

Al