I need pretty basic help setting up an full size electric patternship.
I have been having quite bad lucks with it so far.

What just happened is ICE HV2 80A esc burned up as I started a test.
The white line shows burn mark and this is the motor side.

There is a very good suspect for the problem. I forgot to insulate the 3 lines from the ESC and they could have short circuited.
Now the question is, even if they were in contact, does the ESC supply power when transmitter was at throttle-cut position ?
I need to know if this could be a defective part or purely my fault.

Another bad luck that I had earlier was Hobbywing's PENTIUM-80A-HV also burned up during a test.
Had an ampmeter connected to see how much juice is going in, and ESC burned up at about 65A (when ESC should run 80A continuously.)
I have been thinking it's definitely a defect, but then I recently was told it better not go above 65A.
In case both failures were my fault, what ESC do you recommend.

My set up is as below.
Neu F3A-1 motor - http://www.f3aunlimited.com/webstore...roducts_id=234
Turnigy nano 5000mah (two in series)- http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=20742
ICE esc (now dead) - http://www.f3aunlimited.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10_24&a mp;products_id=50
Hobbywing esc (now dead) - http://www.hobbywing.com/product_show.asp?id=196 (this maybe a wrong link since pic is different from actual part)
and a separate battery for receiver.

BTW, ICE burned at an instant when batteries were connected. I connected batteries in series first then connect the set to esc (thinking one by one may give wrong voltage info)
Hobbywing setup ran for a while and as I gradually increase the throttle endpoint (using DX8), it burned up as it reached 64 or 65amp. What I'm saying is, it didn't run for a while at that amperage.
It only took a second or two after reaching that current.

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And a theoretical side question.
As I researched, C rating multiplied by battery capacity gives amperage which in my case 35c x 5000mah = 175A (2 in series)
then ESC is either 100A or 80A, then motor is rated at 80A.

To me it looks like the setup is "bottle-necked" increasing a risk of burning parts. Wouldn't it make more sense battery amperage is lowest while ESC and motor A are higher ?
If ESC is fully open and let all 175A thru the setup, it'll fail everything, wouldn't it ? Maybe this is why I was told to be conservative and stay below 65A.... then, what's a point of getting a nice motor and high C batteries ?

Thanks in advance for the help.

It's probably best you get help from someone experienced in E-Pattern in your local area to check your set-up.

Note: All connectors should be insulated be they on the battery side or motor side of the ESC. I believe Castle have a pretty good deal on repairs so you should check with them.

Regards,
Jason.

I agree with Jason that the best help for you is to seek help locally. You've given a lot of detail about your setup, but even if we addressed your list comprehensively, there may still be some other minor showstopper which you haven't described or we might fail to mention which might be obvious to someone viewing your setup directly.

I can answer your "bottleneck question" with this explanation:

In practice one does not design a power system to be able to handle a full burst situation of the battery amp rating. While it could be done, much more expense would be "wasted" in the ESC which can already handle a burst situation for short periods of time beyond the listed steady state rating.

In general one sizes an ESC for a known amp load which a motor will draw with a desired prop (chosen to give desired performance throughout the RPM range of the motor as driven by the battery cell count). In general this can be determined by a wattmeter (or ammeter) on the bench at wide open throttle (WOT) however if the prop "slips" you may see less amps than the plane will draw in the air, otherwise this will likely be the max load the motor will ever see so it will be safe to size an ESC with slightly more capacity to insure it stays cool with moderate airflow to it.

One chooses battery size and C rating to insure the desired load can be supplied for the full time duration needed without going too large because weight will be a penalty. Often, manufacturer C ratings are overstated and/or do not reflect desired longevity issues one sees when batteries are (ab)used due to being undersized or improperly cooled/charged/stored, etc.

Of course all these factors have trade offs in weight and performance, as sometimes one must choose to downsize a prop, or increase a battery (gain weight).

Again, as Jason suggests, I highly suggest you take a "short cut" and find out what folks in your area are using to address the needs of planes similar to yours. Once you know your weight, time and performance needs you'll soon be able to see where you can deviate from a suggested setup to tweak things safely.

Joe

What prop are you using?

I have over 200 flights on nearly the identical system. With a 20.5 x 14 you should see 6700 rpm for around 90 amps. Something is shorted or connected wrong from the sound of it. Send The ice back to CC and they will get you straight.


I have agree please find someone with experience to help review your set up I hate to see someone just chewing up parts. Don't hesitate to call CC or Nue for help.

20.5 x 14 is what I have.
90 amps ??? what motor and ESC doyou use ?

I got a reply from Castle's Steve Rogers saying ESC does supply power to the motor side even with throttle cut position.
(I kinda guessed for brake function, but it's now confirmed)

Of course I do want to get help. Not too many people are into electric pattern around me. There are some but they only go out during the weekend and I'm not close enough to bother them at night.
But I guess I should.

Wind junkie, I'll read your posting about bottle neck part... I saw it during the day but just didn't have chance to read it carefully.

Thanks guys,

Simple, just go to a local pattern competition. The pattern flyers will be more than happy to help you out and show you their set-ups. Copy what works.

Regards,
Jason.

I will.
It's just that I wanted to compete on the next one.

It's quite far to just ask questions... anyway, if that's what it works.
Thanks, guys.