triumphman49

My Feedback: (149)

Was a little worried of "brownouts" referenced for Spektrum receivers. So I might need to consider using the regulator between the switch/receiver. Some regulators (or UBEC's) seem to be limited in the amount of amperage available - would 3-5 amps be enuf for say 5 servos & ignition?

A1PCFIXER - does your last post indicate 2 regulators? 1 between switch & rcvr & 1 between gear port & ignition unit?

Many Thanx for your time & advice Mike Brennan

triumphman49

My Feedback: (149)

I do see your voltage regulator has multiple leads!!!

a1pcfixer

My Feedback: (7)

Mike,

Nope, just one, an MPi (3rd item down ACC135);
http://www.maxxprod.com/mpi/mpi-21.html

My indications of {a} and {b} are for the two output leads off that single regulator.
It also has dual input leads, but only one is needed/used with a 2S1P LiPo or Li-Ion battery.
One such battery runs everything.

SpinnerRow

Or like me and a few others are doing it:

A123 > Switch > Reciever/Servos
......................> Two Diodes in Series > Opto Ignition Kill > Ignition Module.

a1pcfixer

My Feedback: (7)

Now ya got it!

Only one caveat on yours;
it requires users to have or purchase a charger capable of charging A123/LiFe batteries, AND do NOT load test those.

MetallicaJunkie

is it a 2 piece wing? im done buying planes, but i could use one more

SpinnerRow

True, but my charger is the same one I use for my TX/RX NiMh batteries, my 12v lead acid field box as well as my A123 batteries. More and more inexpensive chargers are coming out that support A123. Tower sells one for $34.99

This topic is really for another thread but personally, I think A123 is the best battery to come out for R/C. I can charge mine (2600mah 42% A123) from dead to fully charged in less than an hour before I go to the field, they don't lose power over time, don't catch fire like Lipos do, don't need a regulator and can deliver 30+ amps of power (the 42% I have can deliver 60amps) until they are dead with little voltage drop. I don't need 60 amps of power in a 60 sized plane but it is nice to know that the voltage won't sag if the plane needs 3-4 amps for a few seconds. I'll be converting everything I have to them this year. The days of charging my planes overnight are gone for me. A lot of people don't like the fact that you can't tell how much you have left and at first that is a bit unnerving but the first few times I fly a plane with them I keep track of the time and when I get home I stick the plane on the charger. It will tell me how much it put back in and from that you can figure out how long you can fly. In my case with a DLE 20 in a 60-90 sized Edge with six digital servos, running the ignition and and plane on one 2600mah A123 required about 180mah per 10-12 minute flight. I could easily get 10 or so flights on the plane before I need a charge. I've never come close to that many flights on any given day.

airborne2.4

LOL

boostoman

that plane looks alot like the plane below from sdshooby.net:

http://www.sdshobby.net/60in-edge-54...13j3vu1difr3a6

a1pcfixer

My Feedback: (7)

LOL! Folks have said the same thing each time a new battery technology came out!

LiPo's don't catch fire unless you force that to happen. Too many chicken little's crying the sky is falling, nothing more.

Li-Ion's also don't catch fire, maintain voltage curve just like A123/LiFe's do, and they generally weigh less than A123/LiFe's.

Only negative to Li-Ion's is the need of a regulator. But with NO need for a NEW A123/LiFe charger, using chargers we have that's already LiPo/Li-Ion capable, for many it's better to go Li-Ion.

Just think, when the next battery technology comes out, we get to go through all this all over again!

SpinnerRow

Yea, but that is the first time I've said it!

dwaynenancy

My Feedback: (62)

I'm putting mine into a UCanDo, .60 size.

ghoffman

My Feedback: (3)

I just ran the Velox with the DLE-20 and it started and ran great with only a very slight richening of the LS needle probably because it was 28F out. I ran about 5oz of fuel through it then I got cold. The pop bottle had zero leaks, and it started easily after the first start. I admit, I used an electric starter at first, just to get it primed before I froze! The Nordlocks on the motor mount and muffler screws did not loosen up even a little. First decent weather, we will go fly!

cmptrguy

My Feedback: (19)

Lion batteries do not have as flat a discharge curve as the A123 batteries. They also discharge while not being used at a much higher rate than A123's. That is why you can test them using a load meter and see if it is safe to fly. Over 7.1 VDC good to go - 7.00 VDC and less charge don't fly. A 2600mAh Lion weighs 4.30 oz and 2600mAh A123 weighs 6.0 oz so 123's are slightly heavier and also slightly bulkier than Lion's. However, I am changing over my gas airplanes to A123's. One of the primary reasons I like A123's is no regulator as regulators are another single point of failure in your electrical system (battery =1, switch =2, regulator =3). Anytime you can reduce the single points of failure you do it. Diodes used to drop voltage for your ignition are also single points of failure but are much simpler and with many less parts than a regulator. If the regulators were made with Mil Spec parts - it would be a different matter - but they are not (to expensive). Asa for Lipo's - one of the guys at our field lost a 30% extra due to a Lipo fire. What caused it -not sure - it had just come in from a flight and was NOT being charged and it caught fire and before anyone could do anything the airplane was fully involved. Not much left. I fly Lipos but only in my electrics. These are just some observations - for 38 years it was my job to look for single points of failure that could compromise full scale military aircraft.

jedijody

My Feedback: (1)

Yes it is.

RBean

I took to cowling off my Top Flight P-40 to see if it was possible to install the DLE 20. The top of the cowling is part of the fusilage and does not come off. Looks like too much trouble. So back to the Hurricane. Got the engine mounted. It is a tight fit. The carb is close to the firewall, but there is a big hole just the rear of the carb so I think it will be ok. Problem will be carb and choke linkage because of their location. Then I'll have to put it on the CG meter to see where I will have to mount the batteries, ign etc. With the OS 120 FS I had to mount the radio battery under the engine to get it to balance. With the 120 the plane weighted 9.5 lbs. I'm going to have to fill a lot of unneeded holes in the cowling. Here is a picture of the Hurricane with the 120 in it and pictures of progress so far.

ghoffman

My Feedback: (3)

I also like the Sierra and Hornady boxes!

a1pcfixer

My Feedback: (7)

I've yet to see ANY proof of such statements, only commentary.
Plus, seems like everyone has some buddy that had a LiPo fire, yet there's little evidence to PROVE it was a faulty pack, and not operator error, which is far more likely. I've got maybe 100 various LiPo packs that I've used over the past 6+ years, with ZERO fires. I've even tried to make them blow up, no-go.

Instead of stealing this guy's entire post, I'll just post the link to it.
His detailed info reflects my thoughts on A123/LiFe -vs- Li-Ion very well!

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9578737

jstanton

My Feedback: (14)

I am just about done with the Great Planes PT-17 install on a DLE-20. Here are a few pics. This is the perfect size engine for this plane

a1pcfixer

My Feedback: (7)

Very nice looking PT-17!
Especially like the good fitting fake radial cowling.

What is it's wing span & estimated weight?

boostoman

Iwould like to add that your price is very equal to the chinse site price when you callculate the price with shipping within the US

jstanton

My Feedback: (14)

The wing span is 71.5" and she should weigh in around 13.5lbs. The little DLE-20 look like the perefect size gas engine fot the PT-17.

SigMan

My Feedback: (21)

sign me up.

SigMan

My Feedback: (21)

this is my pic. beutiful plane. SEAGULL SPACEWALKER-120

mschulz531

I'm envisioning the plane and it is beautiful...now if only I could see the actual picture...<g>