TRex 450SE on 3S A123

[kgfly]

Originally Posted by JustPlaneChris

I agree about flying with a timer, but there is an option for a soft cutoff. This is straight from the Phoenix user's guide:


That's the setting I always use, and it definitely works. I forgot to set the LVC for an A123-friendly setting when I first experimented with A123 in my B400 and hit the cutoff. It just slowed down and landed.

Hmm, I know I searched for such an option when first using CasteLink to setup my CC45 a few months ago and couldn't find it. Next time I hook up the heli to the PC I will look again. Thanks Chris.

[Epoweredrc]

Originally Posted by JustPlaneChris

I've used the Park BEC with 3 digital micro servos + gyro + Futaba 9257. Works fine, so you should have no problems with analog servos.

thanks for the info lil late but thats alright, i never could get the CC45 to go to full on the led flash but never solid not sure why, i was trying to use it in fixed mode.

[kgfly]

Did you perform the throttle calibration steps ? That's almost certainly why.

[Epoweredrc]

Originally Posted by kgfly

Did you perform the throttle calibration steps ? That's almost certainly why.

according to the castlelink intructions or ? they dont give much info I read you have stick at half then plug in bat it beeps then you go to low thrttle it beeps teice 9 i think it was)

I done that but still didnt work right. when i went into ST- modes it still just flashed never solid..

new to this stuff never tryed hooking one up to a heli.

[t2o]

Hello,
That is what the CC does in Head Speed Mode, it flashes all the time and this indicates the govornor is active and doing its thing. This may vary by software version but all of mine flash when Head Speed is selected.

I also thought this may indicate a problem but a call to CC got the answer. It is OK!

[shaggybirdman]

so is a CC 45 big enough for 3s A123? i thought it was a bit border line. A123 is what 3.9v fully charged?

[rvsixer]

Originally Posted by shaggybirdman

so is a CC 45 big enough for 3s A123? i thought it was a bit border line. A123 is what 3.9v fully charged?

Even the CC35 is fine for 3SA123 (see my graphs at http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...postcount=1961 ). The cells are 3.3V nominal, but down to 2.8-2.9 under load.

[shaggybirdman]

well it seems that i don't need the CC 45 after all. i set the lvc highest cut off (stick down during setup), and poof she flew for like 5+ min what a blast! i need to make another pack or two now. looks like no more lipo's for me.

[whitewater]

I just flew A123's for the first time on my Trex 450. 4S x 2300mah, Neu 1107 2Y motor, Jazz 40-6-18 esc, no bec, Align 325 woodies, GY240 gyro, Microheli head and tailcase. I soldered the pack myself from cells without tabs. They came from Aircraft-world.com Don't even try soldering with 40 watts. My Weller station wouldn't touch the cells. I used the recommended Weller 80 watt, 3/8ths inch chisel tip which is a little cumbersome on the negative end until you get used to it. I have ordered a 1/4 inch tip for this iron. The pack took a while to make but I know the next one will go faster. It came out just over 11 ounces so I was concerned about weight. I am used to TP 3S 2200 Lipo's. Much lighter....

Flight report: Incredible power! No 3D as I had just strapped the pack to the front with velcro and didn't trust the setup inverted. Lots of FFF with hard carved turns and hard climbouts. Hard climbouts with hardly any noticeable drop in headspeed. I have never felt that much power in the Lipos. The extra weight was more than cancelled by the extra power. My heli actually felt lighter and more responsive. I would love to try 4S lipos but I am tired of babying them and still having performance degradation. I hope these A123's keep putting out like I am hearing. I flew 10.5 minutes on a chilly evening and at the end of the flight had more power than one of my freshly charged 3S Lipos which are 1 year old but have been babied and balanced with every charge. Anyway, I recharged at 5 amps and it was ready to go in 20 minutes. I replaced 1700 mah for that 10.5 minute flight. I was using governor mode with a throttle curve at 75% linear on 3S Lipo hoping for some headroom. There was none due to voltage sag. With the A123's I lowered to 60% linear and had headroom up the wazoo! I will take my tach next time. Sorry this is so long but I am excited about these A123's. All I need is one more pack for nonstop flying all day. Working on a Trex 500 and plan to try 7S A123's soon. By the way I live in Salt Lake City, Utah at 4500ft. elev. and usually have to overpower everything with the thinner air.
A123's

[kgfly]

Cool!

How did you mount your 4S pack (photos please!).

What is the KV of that Neu motor ? You might want to consider 3S 2300. Flights will be shorter with a bit more bogging but the heli will be more agile, less nose heavy and if it matters to you, more crashworthy.

[Epoweredrc]

Originally Posted by t2o

Hello,
That is what the CC does in Head Speed Mode, it flashes all the time and this indicates the govornor is active and doing its thing. This may vary by software version but all of mine flash when Head Speed is selected.

I also thought this may indicate a problem but a call to CC got the answer. It is OK!

But i had it in FIXED mode.... thats what someone told me to try first.
I aint got a clue how to set it up for gov mode can you ro anyone tell me how to set my T-curves for GOV mode? i might try again...

Dang yall I really wanan get a Scorpion 2221-6 so can use 2300mah A123's


I been flying these in planes 2 yrs father 3 yrs and they last. 3 cells zip charge them about a 8 min charge and fly again, all u got worry about is keeping the esc and motor cool Oh wait scorpions never get warm at least the ones on my planes dont.

anyone running the CC45 what firmware verion u running? mine is set on like 1.0 i think something like that...
yall running the reg CC45 not the HV right!?

a guy i flew with yesterday has a CC45 i think reg one hes got a slow start)spool) up set it was neat watching the blades barley turn then getting faster and faster looked more realistic.

[kgfly]

Regular CC45, not HV. I recommend you get the CastleLink USB cable and then you can (a) upgrade to the new 2.00 firmware and (b) find it very easy to program the ESC from your PC.

[whitewater]

KGFLY,
The Neu motor 1107 2Y is rated at 3400 KV. Here are a few photos of the pack assembly and mount. Sorry about the cluttered bench. I really do like the flight duration and performance with the 4S but you are right it would be interesting to try 3S.

[kgfly]

Thanks for sharing that info WhiteWater. Heck, that's not a cluttered bench

I think the combination of the Jazz ESC and the Neu motor is probably unbeatable for efficiency and contributes a lot to your remarkable runtime. With a 3400KV motor I imagine you would want to run a 14T or 15T pinion with 3S A123 to get a good headspeed. It would certainly be interesting to learn what performance and duration you would get with your setup on 3S so do let us know if you try it.

[t2o]

epoweredrc,
Whoops! sorry about that.I mis-read and thought "fixed" was refering to fixed speed instead of "fixed" end point. I love my CC45 and am a true believer in the Head Speed Mode. So as kgfly says get the Castle Link. And call them at CC, they are great at Customer Service.

[Epoweredrc]

Originally Posted by t2o

epoweredrc,
Whoops! sorry about that.I mis-read and thought "fixed" was refering to fixed speed instead of "fixed" end point. I love my CC45 and am a true believer in the Head Speed Mode. So as kgfly says get the Castle Link. And call them at CC, they are great at Customer Service.

no prob.... okay so no one can tell me how to set the curves when using gov mode?


I already have a castle link and have it on my PC ( on my laptop also) I have been flying CC esc's for 4 yrs now got two 25A and who knows how many 25A 45A 70 A my father has...

programing without the castle link stinks.

I am trying to decide what controller to go with when i get my Scorpion motor. CC,scorpion,Aglin or something else. have heard good and bad about all.

[holsen]

What do you think for basic beginner training, wanting max flight time.

Would a Scorpion -8 give me longer flight time on 3S A123 than a -6?

[kgfly]

Yes. The -8 is more efficient than the -6 with Io being about 20% lower. Of course it is lower KV (3600 vs 4400) which means you will need a larger pinion to achieve the same headspeed and hence will be working the motor harder.

However for learning IMO around 2600rpm is actually better than 3000rpm. The heli is less skittish, accelerates more slowly (although still plenty fast!) and does less damage when it hits the ground (at least it might).

If you are committing to 3S A123 I would get the 2221-6 motor and play with pinions to tame it early on. Perhaps go with 11t to start and then as your skills develop you can step up to 12t and above to push the headspeed up.

[Epoweredrc]

is there a weight limit that a heli can handle? i mean i know ppl strap cameras to helis and fly... I got sick of 3 min flight with 1100mah A123 and put my 2300Mah 4 cell A123 on my titan and WOW she flys great with it. got plenty power for me in ST-1 and 5 mins flight..

just wondered am i hurting anything with the weight? I know the one person above using 4 cells so... guess weight not issue?

[kgfly]

If you like the way it flies then the weight is no problem Being heavier increases the disk loading which makes the heli more stable in wind, an extra bonus, but also less agile. Being heavier also increases tends to increase the risk of frame damage in a crash. Other than that there is no real downside if the flight performance meets your needs.