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02-08-2003 | 03:12 PM
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From: Oneida, WI
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I am new to electrics (old glow flyer) and have my first electric plane (Zagi FiXX). I have heard that it is best to break in a new electric motor and that a new battery pack is best if also broken in. I would appreciate knowing if this is in fact true, and if so, how to do it.
02-08-2003 | 04:06 PM
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I have been told that you can just run the cheap motors without a break in. From what little I know and have found they last a little longer if they are broken in. I just hook them up to a power pack from and old train set. I watch the volts so they are around 3 to 3.5 and let it run for a while. If it gets warm I shut it down and let it cool. Some say yes and some say no to the break in but it does not cost anything to do it so why not.
The batterys are slow charged for the first two or three times to get them up to spec. I just charge them at the lowest setting on my charger and do a slower drain. I do not charge them with the highest amp setting I can get away with either.
Does this help, I have not noticed a big jump in performance but then again I am not trying to get every last watt out of my set ups.
My opinon.
Dru.
The batterys are slow charged for the first two or three times to get them up to spec. I just charge them at the lowest setting on my charger and do a slower drain. I do not charge them with the highest amp setting I can get away with either.
Does this help, I have not noticed a big jump in performance but then again I am not trying to get every last watt out of my set ups.
My opinon.
Dru.
02-11-2003 | 05:29 PM
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From: Spencerport, NY
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Agreed. For cheap brushed motors, there is very little benefit to be gained from breaking them in. More expensive motors with replaceable brushes will have markedly better performance if broken in properly, however.
The purpose of breaking in motors is to round the brushes such that they make the maximum amount of contact with the commutator, and produce as little sparking as possible. You do this by applying a low voltage, like two "D" cell alkaline batteries, to the motor, with no propeller or gearbox attached. Let the motor run for 15 minutes or so, then stop it and check the brushes. Keep repeating this procedure until the brushes are nice and shiny across the entire contact area.
As for batteries, NiMH cells do benefit from a slow "forming charge" at 1/10 their capacity (a.k.a. C/10) for about 14 hours before the first time they're used.
The purpose of breaking in motors is to round the brushes such that they make the maximum amount of contact with the commutator, and produce as little sparking as possible. You do this by applying a low voltage, like two "D" cell alkaline batteries, to the motor, with no propeller or gearbox attached. Let the motor run for 15 minutes or so, then stop it and check the brushes. Keep repeating this procedure until the brushes are nice and shiny across the entire contact area.
As for batteries, NiMH cells do benefit from a slow "forming charge" at 1/10 their capacity (a.k.a. C/10) for about 14 hours before the first time they're used.
