Hi guys,

Im having problems with Powermax. It looks like all Im getting is liquid out of it, so when my turbine is spooling there is no gas coming out of gas solenoid. Now, if I place th gas bottle upside down, then liquid starts flowing abruptly and the turbine starts sputtering flames and the fuel pump does not engage. If I unplug the gas bottle from the solenoid and leave it rght side up, nothing comes out of it. Now, as I start rotating it, gas/liquid mix starts flowing out. BTW the solenoid and Festo feel like ice blocks.

Is my Powermax bottle bad? I tested a brand new bottle and the engine started out just fine.

How do you tell if a Powermax bottle has gone bad?

Thanks,

David

Powermax bottles should flow liquid when held upright and gas when held inverted. I have had a couple of cans that had the plastic tube fall off inside the can and so I had to hold the can inverted to get liquid out.

I did have one bottle that didn't work well either way. It flowed liquid okay, but the turbine didn't seem to like it. Maybe the butane/propane mix was off somehow.

Maybe that's the case Gary. I can feel some kind of a pellet inside the can. Wonder fi there si something loose inside.

So let me get this right, I am supposed to use gas right? When I flip the gas can inverted, liquid pumps out and I get a very large flame and the fuel pump shuts down.

I should have gone flying today. is it windy down there Gary? Over here there was some wind, but not worthy of not flying.

David

David,

I'm assuming that you're starting right from the Powermax can, not just filling an on-board tank, correct? Basically, you really don't want to have liquid going directly to the turbine - it will make the mixture too rich and you might over-temp. as you saw. So if you're starting directly from the Powermac can, then you just want gas to come out. However, if you're filling an on-board tank, then you want to fill that tank with liquid, so you shoud be getting liquid out of the Powermax can. Generally, the on-bard tank should be mounted up-right, or nearly so, so that gas comes out of it and flows to the solenoid...

Bob

David
If you are filling an onboard start tank, then you want to fill it with liquid. If you are using the Powermax can during startup, then you want to use gas.

Looks like Bob beat me to it.

I didn't go out today but flew the Facet 5 times yesterday. It was a little windy but right down the runway.

Hope this helps

David, remember Tom and I starting the Wren 44?
Always keep the can upside down when using it direct.

Well, I've been doing it the way you guys are saying. I am filling an onboard tank, which is right side up. Now, when the Solenoid opens, nothing comes out. It's like the liquid is just sitting down at the bottom of the onbeaord tank. I am supposed to hold the Powermax can upright as well when I'm filling, right?

Yes, you hold the Powermax can upright to get liquid in UNLESS, as grbaker said, the tube has fallen off inside the can (that may be what you can hear rattling around inside the can). If that happens (it does sometimes), then you'll have to hold that can upside down to get liquid out. Also, if the on-board can is filled with gas, it can have enough pressure in it to keep much liquid from getting in.

To fill the on-board tank, first release the pressure and let it empty. This can take a few seconds as the can will cool as it empties and you have to wait for all of the liquid to turn to gas and get out of there. Warming it up with you hand if you can get to it can help. Then close the release valve and fill with Powermax. When you connect the Powermax can, make SURE that liquid starts to flow immediately into the on-board tank or you'll just fill it with gas again and you'll have to empty it again. Keep the Powermax connected and either upright, or inverted, as required for liquid to flow - until the bubbles just stop flowing into the on-board tank. This should insure that the on-board tank has enough liquid in it to start the engine. if you don't get enough liquid in the on-board tank, it will run out quite quickly and the engine won't start. In fact, it may not even light off in the first place. I think that is probably what you are seeing.

Of course, another question is are you sure that the solenoid is hooked up correctly (there is a flow direction for it), and its actually working?

Bob

This is the 3rd time I try to post and the server keeps quitting on me.

Bob, I can actually get the engine to run just on gas, but the fuel pump will not engage, meaning that the ECU is actually working pretty good. I was able to start on a new can of Powermax. Thanks!

Ronnie,

I relocated the Rx and ECU battery all the way to the nose. The CG is at 4.75" right now. Still not 4.5" but it should be 200% better than it was on it's maiden flight.

Guys, it was a really good day at the office last Friday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIiWR...elated&search=