Is it Nov. 5th yet???

[Inverse]

I run a BLS251 and although reports say it's "OK", I'm not willing to risk it.

[ChadL]

Same here....other LV tail servos are rated at 6v, but not the bls251. Why risk it when step down regulators are cheap.

Caralmar - If weight is an overall concern (with a heli this size I'm concerned) then give LiFe packs a serious look. They make wiring easier and cleaner and save weight. Lots of info on here about running LiFe packs. One primary concern is to make sure you have a charger rated for LiFe packs, or A123.

[Chris Sexton]

Originally Posted by ChadL

Same here....other LV tail servos are rated at 6v, but not the bls251. Why risk it when step down regulators are cheap.

I have been running a BLS251 on my TDR @ 5.6v through the Jive 120 BEC for many flights no problems.

My E750 has a BLS251 at 6V, no issues.

Someone once posted a link to the European site that speced it at 6V, can't find the link now.

[ChadL]

I've seen some reports too, but just don't want to risk it. I had a bls251 fail (on the bench thankfully) and I wasn't running a step down on that servo. Keep in mind LiFe packs run at 6.6v (I'm sure you know that). Perhaps the 1.8v difference was just too much for that servo? Too each their own, and in my case I like the peace of mind running a step down gives me.

[Gawl]

My lhs was able to secure 4 kits from a source at release and I should have one. Just starting my box, lhs has the motor but no pipe....owner snagged the last one from heli proz for his lol.

Not sure what servos I'm going to run, never ran a machine with this size servos. I usually run the torq hvs in my big birds and the mks 92+ in my smaller machines. Also not sure on FBL unit yet. I run a beast x with throttle Jockey and Rev Glo and love it on my Synergy, not sure the nx4 has the room. May try brain or the 540 for an internal governor.

[caralmar]

Originally Posted by ChadL

Same here....other LV tail servos are rated at 6v, but not the bls251. Why risk it when step down regulators are cheap.

Caralmar - If weight is an overall concern (with a heli this size I'm concerned) then give LiFe packs a serious look. They make wiring easier and cleaner and save weight. Lots of info on here about running LiFe packs. One primary concern is to make sure you have a charger rated for LiFe packs, or A123.

My problem is unfamiliarity with the LiFe chemistry. I have an iCharger 208B... dunno if it will do LiFe or not. What I've heard about them is that you can't tell how much charge they have by just looking at the voltage...is that correct?

Also, the servos are rated at 6v (DS510s)... so 6.6v gonna be ok?

Decisions, decisions!

[ChadL]

Originally Posted by caralmar

My problem is unfamiliarity with the LiFe chemistry. I have an iCharger 208B... dunno if it will do LiFe or not. What I've heard about them is that you can't tell how much charge they have by just looking at the voltage...is that correct?

Also, the servos are rated at 6v (DS510s)... so 6.6v gonna be ok?

Decisions, decisions!

The iCharger 208B is rated for LiFe packs. One of the reasons LiFe packs work so well as a receiver pack is they maintain 6.6v for a long portion of the capacity. The downside is it is difficult to get an idea of how much capacity you have left. They'll hold 6.6v and then drop very sharply. They're not like lipos where you can see a more linear decrease in voltage as capacity is used up.

What I've done in the past with LiFe packs is only fly 2-3 flights on each pack and then see how much capacity I put back in. I do this a few times to get a good sampling. Based off of how much average capacity I put back in I know how many flights I can safely get out of each pack. I don't even use a volt meter. On my Srimok once the pack has 7 flights I replace it, no questions.

I've been running Align, and Futbaba 6v servos at 6.6v for quite some time now with no problems at all.

[caralmar]

Originally Posted by ChadL

The iCharger 208B is rated for LiFe packs. One of the reasons LiFe packs work so well as a receiver pack is they maintain 6.6v for a long portion of the capacity. The downside is it is difficult to get an idea of how much capacity you have left. They'll hold 6.6v and then drop very sharply. They're not like lipos where you can see a more linear decrease in voltage as capacity is used up.

What I've done in the past with LiFe packs is only fly 2-3 flights on each pack and then see how much capacity I put back in. I do this a few times to get a good sampling. Based off of how much average capacity I put back in I know how many flights I can safely get out of each pack. I don't even use a volt meter. On my Srimok once the pack has 7 flights I replace it, no questions.

I've been running Align, and Futbaba 6v servos at 6.6v for quite some time now with no problems at all.

Good to know!

Looks like a couple of LiFe packs are in my future. Figure 1900mAh or so would be a good size for this heli?

[ChadL]

Originally Posted by caralmar

Good to know!

Looks like a couple of LiFe packs are in my future. Figure 1900mAh or so would be a good size for this heli?

1900mAh may be a bit heavy. If I remeber JC's setup he is running a ~1500mAh LiFe pack. I'll probably run the 1300mAh Hobbico LiFe pack.

[PauloG]

What are your plans for igniter? Can you fit a switchglo type of thing in the NX4? Or just go with the single igniter to reduce weight?

[ChadL]

I'm going to use a pushglo. I have one as a backup to my switchglos. I think a switchglo may be a bit bulky.

[caralmar]

I have an extra SwitchGlo so that's what I'm using.

[WillJames]

Man you guys got me thinking. I may just go LiFe myself unregulated and get a pushglow and just keep it simple. Man decisions decisions.

[WillJames]

Originally Posted by ChadL

The iCharger 208B is rated for LiFe packs. One of the reasons LiFe packs work so well as a receiver pack is they maintain 6.6v for a long portion of the capacity. The downside is it is difficult to get an idea of how much capacity you have left. They'll hold 6.6v and then drop very sharply. They're not like lipos where you can see a more linear decrease in voltage as capacity is used up.

What I've done in the past with LiFe packs is only fly 2-3 flights on each pack and then see how much capacity I put back in. I do this a few times to get a good sampling. Based off of how much average capacity I put back in I know how many flights I can safely get out of each pack. I don't even use a volt meter. On my Srimok once the pack has 7 flights I replace it, no questions.

I've been running Align, and Futbaba 6v servos at 6.6v for quite some time now with no problems at all.

Thank you for the info. I think I will go this route as well.

[PauloG]

Originally Posted by WillJames

Thank you for the info. I think I will go this route as well.

Yeap, I think I would build that way on this bird as well, because of space and weight.


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[WillJames]

It would be great if someone would put a parts list together so we can just get it ordered.

I am also going with a beast x on this machine as I don't have an extra v-bar to spare. I may go beast x on my E5 as well.

[Gawl]

Originally Posted by WillJames

It would be great if someone would put a parts list together so we can just get it ordered.

I am also going with a beast x on this machine as I don't have an extra v-bar to spare. I may go beast x on my E5 as well.

Was thinking the same with throttle jockey for a governor but was thinking either brain or the 540 for an internal governor and to save some weight.

[WillJames]

Originally Posted by Gawl

Was thinking the same with throttle jockey for a governor but was thinking either brain or the 540 for an internal governor and to save some weight.

No GOV for me, curves baby. After flying primarily E for a few years, looking forward to curves again. Might even get a gasser to get back into the hockey stick curves.

[ChadL]

Originally Posted by Gawl

Was thinking the same with throttle jockey for a governor but was thinking either brain or the 540 for an internal governor and to save some weight.

I don't have any experience with the brain....including the one in my head

I have a SK540 and the nitro gov on the SK540 works pretty well. I don't know what I'm running for a FBL controller yet, but the 540 does perform well. If Futaba would get the issues with the CGY sorted then I'll run that. I have 3 laying around and the gov on the CGY is outstanding (really easy to setup).

[Gawl]

Originally Posted by WillJames

No GOV for me, curves baby. After flying primarily E for a few years, looking forward to curves again. Might even get a gasser to get back into the hockey stick curves.

Why curves over governed?