Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

Hello,
I've just converted my Oxalys to 170CDi power.. After a near miss earlier this summer, I've been more aware of the current drain of each flight!
On my Oxalys, I've had a few different set-ups regarding engine/servos.
Currently I'm using JR DS8355 for ailerons/rudder/elevator and a small JR Digi on throttle. I've connected the CDi-unit directly into the RX through a digi-switch.
RX-battery is a Graupner LiFe 1100mAh.

Last time I was out testing, I had 3 flights of approx.8min each. This drained a total of approx.800mAh from the battery! (I charged 800mAh after flying). I thought this was a bit "scary", and a real wake-up call!..
But the major question is: Is it normal? (Using approx.270mAh/flight). If so, I'll have to invest i a slightly larger RX-battery...
(Yes, I know electro is using less than 100mAh/flight, but I'm not there yet!).

As a comparison, using JR DS8401-servos and YS170, I avaraged 110mAh/fligth.

Any thoughts?

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

Depending on the schedule you,fly this is very normal. I remember when I flew glow several years ago in Advnced and intermediate, I would easily put 200 mah per flight back,into the battery. You can stay with the smaller battery if you like but charge after every third flight or use a bigger battery. Your servos with glow are always fighting to find center with the vibration of your engine, again, IMHO this is normal, and digital servos are power hungry:D

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

Those numbers are not that far off. With a Hyde mount previously I was using roughly 200-225 mah per flight depending on conditions. I know some guys using the YS mount used slightly more. 275 would certainly be well within the limits of normal for that setup.

Archie

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

Hello Thinn,

On my Axiome I consume about 180Mah on the Rx and 86mAh on the CDI battery per flight of 14min.

I use a TP1350mAh for Rx and a TP900mAh for CDI, I usually make 5 flights befeore changing to my second set of bateries.

1100mAh is good for 2 flights for me, as I do not drain the batteries more than 50%, and as you know you can only measure the LiFe when recharging, so not knowing what you have is really scary part in my opinnion.

Regards

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

Thank you for the reassuring answers!
I'm flying F3A P-13, using a stnd Hyde-mount.

I was hoping for a bit less Amp-drain given the smoother running CDi-engine. I've got counter-weights on the ailerons, but I'm guessing the speed etc of the servos require a fair share.

Just found the Graupner LiFe 1600mAh RX-battery weighing the same as the 1100 and similar dim's - Now ordered!
http://www.graupner.de/en/products/0...2/product.aspx

I'm setting up my new model, so I'll pop in a 1600-battery there! Same engine, same servos...

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

I run serperate receiver and ignition batteries on my model and get almost identical run down between the batteries; roughly 100mah per battery per flight. Ignition is slightly less and receiver is slightly more. The batteries are two 1,100Mah LiFe batteries which easily allows for 6 flights + a nice safety barrier.

BTW I got my packs from http://www.hangtimes.com/ after some communication with them I was able to get a battery that allows for both charging and balancing through one regular futaba DSC port on the side of the model, very easy for rapid field charging as I don't have to take off the wing to get at a balancer connector. Might be useful for someone...

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

I fly a Valiant with YS170DZ CDI. I use JR3241s on the elevators, JR 8411s for rudder/ailerons and small digital servo for throtlle. Using a TP1800 Lipo with a Digiswitch with regulator, I fly 3-10' flights when the batteries are recharged they show that about 45 to 50% of the power was used.
So, what I do is 3 flights and replace the battery.

Good luck
Rene Grebe
Texas

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

Are you guys using the Tech Aero Ignition Battery Eliminator? This device allows using a common battery for radio and ignition.

I use an 1800ma LiPo in my pattern gas set-ups, powering radio and CDI through the Tech Aero unit. I stop at 75 minutes of flying per charge....voltage reads 7.4 to 7.5 volts after flying, which is nominal voltage for a 2 cell LiPo.

My gas set-up is 2 stroke; so the 4 stroke must be realy banging the control surfaces around....interesting!

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

Not really, if you take another quick look at Apereira's numbers which are pretty close to mine ~250mA for 15 minutes of airtime (cdi+plane) we're both only using up about 1250mAh for 75mins of airtime. I'd fully expect an 1800 Li-po to be still showing nominal voltage with 30% of its capacity remaining.

Everyone's definition of a "flight" is different. For me it's a fair chunk of the 600cc fuel tank down the YS's throat which is about 12-13 minutes of >20% throttle (I don't time the idle). At a comp and for serious practice I only put in 1/3rd tank.

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

Another important note is we ussually make lots of corrections if it is windy, on calm days the Rx draw is about 30mAh less.

RE: Current drain using YS170CDi?
 

I am running the 170cdi in both my Valiants. LR85 Hyde mount. All servos are JR digitals. 9411 on ailerons, 8511 on rudder, 8231 on elevator (pull/pull) and 362 on throttle. Battery is Duralite Li-Ion 4 cell 4300 (redundancy) pack. This is the same weight as 2 x 1100 Nicads. The ignition draws from the Rx pack through the Aero Tech IBEC.
I can get alot of flights with this set up. The battery loses approximately .07 volts per 8-9 minute flight. I have never had to charge at the field. The only downside is about an extra 100grams for the 4 cell pack, but i can live with that as i have the redundancy in the event of a cell failure. Which hasn't happened yet.