grotto2

My Feedback: (2)

I made this diagram last week for a buddy who was setting up his first electric pattern plane.
Maybe others will find it useful.

tph1

My Feedback: (12)

As Grotto told me, make sure to keep the reg. Away from the receiver to avoid interference

dreadnaut

My Feedback: (5)

I am using a CC ICE 75 w/2x 8s4000 packs. A diagram for that setup would have to show the middle (red) wire from the ESC's throttle/internal BEC disabled. I don't use an arming plug; should I? I'm pretty new to this higher power E-stuff.

woodie

The arming plug serves 2 purposes.

First, it is an additional safety item. Anytime the plug is removed, there is no power to the motor. For example, at the end of a flight, the first thing my helper or I do is remove the plug prior to picking up the plane. Absolutely no chance of a mishap for whatever reason then.

Second, it is a convenience item. You can install the batteries, hook everything up and put the canopy (or chin cowl or bellypan) on the plane and it is ready to go except there is no power to the ESC. I always worried about hooking everything up and having the ESC 'hot' while I put the canopy on.

I know, the ESC has safety logic that prevents it from arming, etc, but I just feel better using the arming plug. The arming plug is not a 'required' item, some leave it out of the system for weight or simplicity, but most guys I fly pattern eplanes with use them.

Woodie
Team Acme LG

grotto2

My Feedback: (2)

You're correct, Dave. The HV85 does not have a BEC, so disconnecting the red wire is unnecessary. Some speed controls are different and require that you remove the red wire to externally power the receiver and servos.

Great input, guys!

-Ron

dreadnaut

My Feedback: (5)

Yeah, Woodie, the arming plug makes sense, so I go ahead and wire one up. Thanks for that and for RCU.

lectrictech

My Feedback: (2)

Is there any harm in leaving the BEC wire intact and using a lipo on a reg or a flight pack with a controler that has a BEC. Does this give a back up incase the BEC fails or would a BEC failure drain the second source?

grotto2

My Feedback: (2)

Not a good idea.

You would be tying the outputs of two regulators together (or a regulator output and a battery). The lowest voltage source would be driven by the highest voltage source (they're never exactly the same) resulting in failure, overheat and/or waste of power.

It's safer to keep the thrust system and control system separate for our size airplanes.
Park fliers take the risk.

Hunter12396

what are those 5s 9400s for and are they batteries

bjr_93tz

The 5s 4900's are the batteries, connected in series to give you a 10s 4900mAh system.

Fast forward a couple of years from the original post and you'll find the external arming plug is/was such a great idea, it's now compulsary...

j payne

Brett
The use of a external arming plug is not compulsary yet

John

bjr_93tz

True, my bad....

nonstoprc

My Feedback: (90)

A popular option for forming the 10s pack and delivering the power to ESC is the use of 4mm bullet connector.

Power the RX via a dedicated source as drawn. BEC-only puts the airframe in danger when the main battery pack is ejected or very low in voltage.

Personally, I do not use an arming plug. Just open the canopy and disconnect the pack.

jgg215

Are you referring to compulsary(not yet) in Australia or USA?

grotto2

My Feedback: (2)

I'm still running this system and I'm stuck with the arming plug since my canopy is too hard to remove and bolt back.

On the next one I will probably switch to bullets for all the connectors and arming plug as (I believe) the Deans are only rated to 50A.

-Ron

j payne

Hi John
The external arming is not compulsary in Australia yet but the Australian Pattern Association are going to submit a rule to make it compulsary at the next rules change here in Australia but I think it will be only a matter of time before the FAI make it compulsary

John

jgg215

John,
There is a proposal before the AMAContest Board for the same thing.
I posted an old picture of you on the Queensland pattern site.
John