Guys,

Anyone got experience of the Emcotec DPSI Regulator? Pretty expensive but looks really good....

Regulator, Failsafe switch, 15min continuous current 3Amp, 30Amp peak for 5sec, audible alarm for low voltage, visible alarm for low voltage and no current draw when switched off meaning you don't have to remember to unplug your batteries if you're not going to be flying for a few days.

Rgds,
Mark

Hi There,

I won one of these units at the Tucson Shootout..It's really pretty cool! I am going to use it on the ignition.The only drawback is the battery has to be wired with an additional lead for charging and 1amp load checking.. All of my other models use a JR chargejack switch and li-pos with regulators ...Easy to charge and check right from the switch....

I have had 4 of the emcotec boxes through my garage in different planes .....Emcotec's products have given me trouble free service..

I'm sure that the new regulator will be the same!!!!

Dave

Top of the line, state of the art, the highest quality available, what more can I say.

The manufacturer has the DPSI as a sideline product, because he's a modeller.
For serious business they manufacture sensors for the auto industry. Airbag sensors e.g.
This means that they have the best manufacturing equipment, and do understand the neccessity of quality control.
You do want your airbag to pop when you crash your car, don't you ? (but not at any other occasion).

Also they deliver some parts to the Mercedes Formula 1 Racing team.

Desert Aircraft sells them in the US

Thanks Guys,

As the saying goes - "You get what you pay for"!!

Dave, regarding the lead/charge lead, I will probably opt for one of their LongGo LiPo packs that come pre-wired with a charge lead as per pic.....

Rgds,
Mark

Have you fellows over there had good luck with the "soft" Li-pos? Over here they are relegated mostly to use in foamies, park fliers. etc. The guys flying big airplanes that are using lithium are using the typical cylindrical cell lithium packs. I have not seen, or heard, of anyone using the Longo type packs in giant planes here.

Aresti,

I've not heard of many people using Li-Ion or Li-Po over here - very few giant scale planes around (which probably benefit the most) to create a 'market' for them, hence the only real market is for only the small packs that indoor foamies use. I'm sure it'll change over time though.

Do you know why people shy away from Li-po over there? Is it because those suppliers that sell a lot of proven package (such as Fromeco) are currently using Li-Ion? If, for arguments sake, they switch to Li-Po I guess the majority of flyers would too??

Rgds,
Mark

Li-po packs are very popular with the electric crowd and fomaies, etc. In giant scale, the lithium packs sold by Duralite and Fromeco are very popular. But these are the typical cylinder type cell. The soft-sided Li-pos jsut are not perceived as being up to the task for the big airplanes.

I've been looking into the Emcotec to install in my 2.6 Composite ARF Yak. It appears that the batteries can be charged via the switch per the info below:



The high power switches present an alternative to the traditional on/off switches. Two different versions enable it to be used as an on/off switch for the receiver station (JR version with UNI connections) or, for example, for igniting gasoline engines (MPX version with multiplex high-current plugs). The switches are available in four different colors (black, white, red, and blue). An additional integrated charging cable allows the connected battery to be charged without unplugging it. The charging cable/battery connection is only activated when the pin plug is plugged into the out socket. In switched-on mode (pin plug in the "on" socket), the charging cable is deactivated and separated from the battery. An ultra-bright red LED in the middle of the switch signals the switched-on mode.

Avionics,

Was looking for my Yak too!!

Did you see that the 2000 and 3300 packs themselves have an integrated charge cable/socket which can mount to the fuselage sides too, for example.

Rgds,
Mark

Hi Mark,

I did see that charging possibility. Initially I was thinking about using the Longgo batteries but decided to stay with NiMh. If I find a need for weight reduction I may change my mind.

what are your guys thoughts on the switch itself? If I read the site right, it looks like you have to move a tiny pin from one plug to another to turn the unit on and off? It doesn't read to me like this is a fail-safe switch...not to mention the thought of just a tiny pin keeping my airplane turned on makes me nervous. (Regardless of their note about how much force would be required for it to vibrate out)

Any other suggestions on a high-quality fail-safe switch??

Copied from the Emcotec manual:

Because the distribution voltage is switched on electronically (the
switch does not activate any current, but rather only the switch-on
signal), no losses, contact errors or transition resistance occur. This
internal electronic switch is fail-safe. Thus, a switched-on “DPSI RV /
RV Mini“ remains switched on even if, for example, the On/Off switch
is separated or interrupted.

I believe that if this works as advertised then it would qualify as a "fail safe" switching method.

Unless you physically insert the pin into the OFF position the regulator is always on. If you loose the pin or even if it falls out the system is armed. This is a failsafe on device...

It is so funny, I fly Lipo for about 2 years now in my Foamies and I fly the Lipos also in 2 (glow and gas) models as a receiver pack.
1 FuntanaS 40 with 2s 1200 E-techs and powerflite 6V reg
1 Funtana Pro with first the Emcotec dpsi mini RV and now with the new Powerbox sensor with 2x 2s 1200 E-techs (redundancy)
You know why LiOn battery's was never a succes in foamies/electric airplanes?
Because they have not the power output and lightweight that LiPo's have and that is a fact!!!!!!
So if you take a look to the specs, the LiPo are lighter and have more power. ( you can drain more Amps)
You have to pack the lipo's in foam because the thin tabs(positive/ negative pole) are a little bit fragile but we have enough room right?
For my new Composite ARF Extra I will use the Emcotec DPSI mini RV with 2x 2sKokam 2000 (redundancy) and 1x 2sKokam 2000 and a powerflite reg for ignition.
I think within a year Fromeco and Duralite will switch to lipo's, they have to otherwise they will loose in the "battery system battle".

Thanks guys...

After a couple hours of reading manuals on their site last night, I stumbled across this as well. This made me feel much more comfortable about using the switch provided.

I've been leaning heavily towards using one of their DPSI units in a 35% Carden I'm building...this cleared up my last concern with the unit.

Does anyone know of any Emcotec dealers besides DesertAircraft in the states? DA only shows a few of Emcotec's products on their site. I haven't called DA to confirm yet, but I assume they can order any Emcotec product even if it's not listed on their site?

Hey Bill,

I just traded off a Comp-arf 2.6 Yak 55sp with dual Batteries America 2200Mah Li-po's on the Rx and a 1900mAh Li-po on the ignition .
I ran 1 switch from Each Rx Batterie into aSmart fly 6V regulator(2Bats 2switches 1Reg.into 1 RX) and a Powerflite Adjustable Regulator set to 5.5 on the Da Ignition from the off the shelf @the LHS ThunderPower Battery...
I charged the Li-pos with my 4 output Powerflite charger(500Mah @8.4Volts) The li-pos charge exactly the same as the Li-ions do!!!

This particular setup will fly over 9-15 min flights!!!!! The plane now has over 200+ flights with no problems whatsoever.(between the new owner and myself)
Li-po's work well in giant SA applications!!

I recently aquired 2 4000Mah Li-pos for another big bird.. They are 1oz lighter than a 4cell 4800Mah Li-on....

Based on my experience ,I would have to say that Li-pos and Li-on s interchange well in GiantSA applications.

Dave

Almost exactly.
The nominal voltage per cell of a LiOn is 3.6 Volt and the nominal voltage of a LiPo cell is 3.7 Volt.
If you charge a Lipo like you do (I assume it is a LiOn charger) then the lipo will be for +/- 90% full instead of 100%.
It is not dangerous for your lipo cells, it is just a few minutes less flights.
Don't do it the other way around, charging LiOn's on a LiPo charger, you overcharge the cell and that is very dangerous.[sm=thumbdown.gif]

I did a search on Google and did not find another US retailer. With the customer service that DA provides I won't be looking any further... I believe that they could order any of the Emcotec products. I plan on calling them tomorrow to find out.

Hi Didier,


The predominate cells being used by the Lithium Ion pack manufacturers are 3.7VDC, in fact I don't know of any manufactures using the older 3.6VDC cells. I am not saying they are not out there, but you would have to put the pack together yourself. The statement that a Lithium Ion cell is a 3.6 and a Lithium Poly is a 3.7 is incorrect.

As far as charging is concerned, charging a 3.6VDC battery on a 3.7VDC or (7.2/7.4) will not result in a incident requiring a Hazmat response, Unless there is something drastically wrong with the cells. If there is a problem with the cells charging on a prescribed charge setting can cause the exact same problem. Charging a 3.6 on a 3.7 setting will result in a slightly overcharged cell. In the long run this will degrade the cells cycle life, (read the amount of charges that a cell will take before it starts to wear out).

Fromeco is in no way promoting that any one go out an buy 3.6VDC packs and charge them on a 3.7VDC charger. If you do this you will not get the full cycle life out of your batteries. Lithium Ion and Lithium Polymer cells weather they be 3.6 or 3.7 will have the longest service life if they are slightly undercharged and NOT over drained, to use simple terms.


Kurt Cook
Fromeco Scale Avionics LLC
www.fromeco.org
[email protected]

I spoke with Brian H at DA about the Emcotec systems. They can order any Emcotec product; DA is working on an update for their website to address this. Brian is knowledgeable about the systems and gave me a few tips for setup and use of the Mini LDO I plan on using in my 2.6 Yak. Once again DA customer service excels .[sm=thumbup.gif]

That's excellent.

I'll be ordering a DA100 next month for my 35% carden...I'll ask about the emcotec products then. Right now my thought is to use the dpsi twin because of all the redundancy and data logging capabilities. It's worth it to me to spend a little extra $$$ to give myself the piece of mind that the radio system is truely redundant (even to the Rx).
It's good to hear someone there is knowledgable about the systems...I'm sure i'll be looking for some guidance when I order the electronics system later on.

What made you decide on the mini versus the larger system? I'm curious to get someone else's opinion on this. I'm pretty sure I'll go with the twin for both of my 35%'s after all the reading I did over the weekend...but a little extra research never hurts.

I chose the RV Mini LDO 6 because it offers what I want/need in a small package. I was thinking about the dual receiver setup and the DPSI Twin for a more redundant system but have decided to take small steps this time. Of course the day is just starting and I may change my mind and go dual systems...

I have a Patty (Greatplanes), with ZDZ 50, 2 x ailerons, 2 x rudder, 2 x elevator, DPSI RV mini 6, receiver Fubaba 148DP and a Tx FF9. How can i connect the dpsi and the Rx
thanks

Guys, thought I'd bring this thread back from the dead...

I recently purchased an entire DPSI Twin system with the Longgo batteries. I'm curious what the experience has been of those that have installed these Emcotec products into your aircraft. These systems seem to be bulletproof but I'd love to hear any additional thoughts or insights now that some time has gone by.

I used to import Emcotec to the USA until DA snitched it from me. Although I tried the Power box (mostly because i was so mad at both DA and Emcotec) but at the end, I still think that EMCOTEC is best product, quality convination you can get out there. I use his accus and dpsirvs on ALL my planes (35-40%), after having some ignition issues with my 3Ws, i started to power the ignition right from the DPSI with an electronic on off switch. i had never had a problem with it since then.
Hopefully he will come out with a servo matching capability like on the powerbox.
I just wish i could still sell them, I even own the the domain name DPSIRV.com