Is it too risky, or maybe even stupid, to use a Kool Flight Ultimate BEC (or others brands of 10S BEC's) instead of a battery in a 2K $ F3A plane ???
My radio is a JR9303 2.4GHZ with a Spektrum AR7000 in the plane.

Any experience good or bad ??


Jens
Denmark

Using a bec allows for a single point failure to not only lose power to the motor but crash the plane. All of the electric F3A guys that I know use a separate battery or even a dual receiver battery set up to power the radio. Not to say your idea won't work but I would want more redundancy.

I run a UBEC from the 10S, and a second UBEC from a 730 mAh 2S. Both have diodes with different ratings I don't remember the exact value. The 730 pack is used only when the shorting plug isn't installed, and is a backup. With the shorting plug, power is drawn from the 10S. I have had one case where the 10S came loose and unplugged, and know of a few others, so didn't want that or UBEC failure to have any chance of causing a crash. The cost and weight of the redundant power brings a lot of added safety.

Ken

Yeah, but what do you know Ken? LOL

Just kidding of course!!

What bec are you using and how much does it weigh? That seems like a good idea. One I hadn't though of.

I may be out to practice with you guys on Sunday if I get my stuff back from Airtronics and installed in the plane.. Hope to see ya there!

Chris

Some pattern guys are flying with a 2S 450 mAh pack for the RX! I been using the new switching ESCs with the built in UBEC, no issues at all but for bigger set ups, I prefer to use a RX pack. Just in case ... just ...

In the past I used UBEC's exclusively in my 10 cell e-helis, and every one failed in time, but always at startup, So I just learned to put connectors on them and carry a spare. Then one fine day, I had one fail in a 3 foot hover, the machine just rolled over and died. I have never gone back to a UBEC or anything in between my RX power and RX. I use 4 cell NiMH packs only.\

Just my $.02

Chris

Good info Chris..

C

So the conclusion must be: Use it, BUT only with a backup.

Thanks to all, who make their comments.

Best regards
Jens
DK

I have never seen the need for it honestly. The Bec is quite heavy IMO. I would never trust one on it's own.

I run one 2 cell lipo, and a Jaccio perfect switch. Lipo's are much better than the nicads or nimhs.. I haven't had one lipo fail yet as a rec pack. But I do change the lipo rec packs yearly in my planes.

Chris