Hello,

I've managed to get about 30 flights out of my stock Axe CP so far, and have tail-in hovering down pretty well. I'm ready to move on to side-in hovering, but the problem is that I'm not really getting enough flight time to get the kind of progress I'd like -- I only get one or two mistakes before the battery needs charging.

Well, the solution is obviously a better battery, and the TP 1320 3S LiPo looks like it's popular and will fit my needs pretty well. However, even on the stock battery, the motor/heatsink and battery itself gets quite hot, and with my flight times hopefully doubling or more with more power, I think the engine might be in danger of becoming too hot.

I've read about the heatsink-dremel mod, and I'm going to go ahead and do that, but will that be enough to keep motor temperature down through an entire charge of a LiPoly battery? Is there anything else I can do? I know brushless motors are a little more durable as far as heat goes and will give more power and longer run times, but I don't feel quite ready for that so I'm looking for alternative solutions.

On a semi-related note, is there any easy way to tell when the tail or main motor is going bad? I'd rather not find out during flight ...

P.S. On a normal 1320 3S LiPo battery and nonaggressive flying, does anybody have any idea on approximately how long a flight I could get?

Thanks!

10 minutes, it will go probably 13 but you probably don't want to drain it that low.

The motor gets warm, but mines been doing great since Dec with about 12 flights per week. You'll love the added power of the battery and the extended flight times.

I use Electrifly balanced Li-Pos (GPMP0709) (charged on a Triton Jr. with an Equinox Li-Po cell balancer) in my Axe and the motor gets warm, but not warm enough to be alarming. I get about 10-11 minutes on these as well. I aslo use the Electrifly non-balanced (I've have had them a lot longer, since I bought the chopper last September) GPMP0815 batteries as well. The balanced batts are only a month or two old.

Sounds like what I wanted to hear Is it worth getting the balancer as well?

If you get balanced cells, you have no choice, you have to get the balancer. the balancer is only about $25 bucks, and I guess it pays for itself in the long run. Tower used to list the non-balanced cells as the correct LiPo but now, they only list the balanced cell. I bought the Electrifly Equinox balancer.

what is the dremel heatsink mod?

as for a balancer get the blinky lipo balancer
simply the best balancer out there.

Use a Dremmel grinder to open up the heat sink to let the fan inside the motor get more air. You will find pics on here if you search. Pull the heat sink off and you will see the upgrade required.

The LiPo's are in my opinion required. Not only do they give you a reasonable flight time, but the heli is way more stable and consistent.

I bought the Great Planes 910 ma (recommended by Heli-Max) (GPMP0709) and the Great Planes 1250 ma. (GPMP0713) The 1250's make it imposable to put the canopy on. I get about 7+ minutes on the 910ma. Also, the bigger batteries move the CG a bit. Not a big deal, but it does affect the flight charastics a bit. I would recommend getting 2 (or more) of the 910.

I also bought this charger [link=http://shop.boomtownhobbies.com/displayProductDocument.hg?productId=11&categoryId= 6]DN Power G2 Li-Polymer Balanced charger[/link] The guy at boomtownhobbies is GREAT and very helpful. I needed an AC charger and this one was fantastic for the price. It is a great charger. And the Balancer is built right in! The LiPo's are barely above room temp. when the charging is complete and you can easily see the amperage being pumped in and the current voltage of each cell.

I purchased my batteries (along with a bunch of other stuff) from OmniModels. Have done and will do more business with them.

Other things for upgrades.

JCS Hobbies Flat Trainer Blade AXE CP Yellow (JCHE1302). - These made the heli a bit calmer and they are much more resistant to damage.

Ben

I've already got a charger that can charge LiPolys (the older Triton) and I'm looking at the Equinox balancer. I've seen it mentioned a few times that Electrifly balancer leads are ordered differently or something from ThunderPower. Will I need to buy/make some sort of an adapter in order to get it to work?

Apparently the Equinox do have different connectors to balance with.

Will using [link=http://www.commonsenserc.com/product_info.php?products_id=85]this[/link] adapter work?