Any news on the Trex 500?

[BruceW]

I think Bob was talking about two packs in series for each of those cell counts. Two 3S 2200mAh (= 6S 2200 ) packs provides more power than a single 4S 2500mAh pack (265g) and he said that was only adequate. The 10S Trex600 I've been looking at has 2x 5S 3300 (884g) packs so I'm guessing a 2x 4S 2500 (530g) for the Trex500 would be a nice power house.

Weight combinations might look like this:

Possible Trex500 table
2x 3S 2500 (EVOLite) = 360g
2x 4S 2200 (TPX)     = 440g
2x 4S 2500 (FP)      = 530g
2x 5S 2070 (TPX)     = 544g
2x 5S 2200 (TPX)     = 564g

Current Trex600 table
1x 6S 4900 (FP)      = 724g
1x 6S 5000 (FP)      = 799g
2x 4S 4350 (FP)      = 888g
2x 5S 3300 (TPX)     = 884g
2x 5S 3700 (FP)      = 956g

Based on these combinations, it should be safe to assume that power is proportional to the weight unless we're talking about the Kong Power batteries.

[kgfly]

Other 500-class helis (Lepton, QJEP8, HDX500) can all be flown on 3s2p, 4s or 5s. In some cases 6s requires something other than the stock motor since there is not enough range in the gearing to go up to 6s.

Clearly 3s2p (or 6s1p if supported) is hugely appealing to the massive installed base of 450 owners. It is also usually a compromise with adequate but not strong performance, especially as the weight gets up in the 1.8-2.0kg range. These size helis so far have shown that 4s is usually the sweet spot for very good power and reasonable flight times and 5s for really high performance. Those looking for extreme power go for 6s.

Align have no doubt thought carefully about the upgrade path for 450 owners and I am sure the T500 will have a stock setup that uses 2 x 3s packs either as 3s2p or 6s1p.

It is very unlikely that the stock motor/ESC will support 8s operation as this pushes into the HV space requiring more expensive ESCs, and different motors from those likely to be suitable for the 3s-6s range. However I have no doubt some power-hounds will be experimenting with CC45HV+Zxx motors within a week or two of the heli becoming available

It has been a long wait and it will be a fun few weeks as more information trickles out, then much anticipation as the supply pipeline gets primed and the tap turned on.

[BruceW]

I forgot about the 6S upper limit on the Align ESCs so that would mean anything over 3S would be run in parallel. 4s2p 1800 (370g), 4s2p 2500 (530g) or 4s1p 5000 (498g) might be the sweet spot but that is going to have a higher current draw which could create heating problems. With a 4S setup I think we'll start seeing the 25C and 30C rated batteries getting their upper limit discharge rating tested.

I would prefer to go with a 6S or greater setup so I'll probably stay away from the stock Align ESC if its still capped at 6S and a 6s1p 2500 only provides adequate performance (shorter flight time).

I sure hope Align took into account the cache of batteries that people have for their 450 when designing the power specs.

Question, does a FP EVO25 4s2p 2500 have the same discharge rating as a 4s1p 5000 which is equal to 125A? Or, is the FP EVO25 4s2p 2500 limited to 62A (same as a single battery)?

[kgfly]

Bruce,

The other 500-class helis I have seen hover around 250W, FFF around 500W and push up into the 700+W range for 3D, with extreme setups reaching 1000W. Converting those power levels to current gives:

3s: 23A (hover), 46A (flying), 92A (screaming peak).
4s: 18A, 36A, 72A
5s: 14A, 28A, 56A
6s: 12A, 24A, 48A

Using 2 x 3s1p 2200 = 3s2p 4400 20c/30c pack conservative ratings are 66A (690W) continuous and 105A (1100W) burst so they can certainly handle the load.

Using 2 x 3s1p 2500 = 3s2p 5000 18c/28c pack conservative ratings are 67A (700W) continuous and 110A (1150W) burst so they can certainly handle the load.

Using 2 x 3s1p 2500 - 6s1p 2500 18c/28c pack conservative ratings are 33A (690W) continuous and 56A (1180W) burst so they too can handle the load.

Using 2 x 4s1p 1800 - 4s2p 3600 20c/30c pack conservative ratings are 54A (760W) continuous and 86A (1200W) burst so they too can handle the load.

So any of the common packs typically used today on 450 helis (3s 2200, 3s 2500, 4s 1800) can be combined to fly most 500 helis quite nicely. The same is likely to be true of the TRex500.

Note that for learners and scale flying running a 500-class heli at ~2100rpm gives significantly longer flight times, typically over 10 minutes compared to the 6 to 8 minutes more normally seen for hard flying at 2400rpm or higher.

[BruceW]

Kenneth, thanks for the breakdown on the power ratings. I haven't followed the 500 heli-class that much so that is good information to have.

I guess you answered my question about discharge rating for batteries in parallel with your numbers.

Bruce

[Laurens]

My experience is 3s 3200 and 4s 3700 in a 500 size heli (robbe Spirit Li). Both will 3D very well, but on 4s 3700 FP its a beast. Also flying time is very acceptable then.

[brovic777]

I wish Align would hurry up and give us a real picture of thier Trex 500 instead of this CAD drawing.

[IMG]http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o91/******777/Pics2/500-03CAD.jpg[/IMG]

[rotary65]

Well, if they're going to be flight testing prototypes on Oct. 10th, then it won't be long before we have photos. Videos shouldn't be much longer than that either assuming tests go well.

I'm not fond of the LG - seems narrow and tall (angle? maybe it's the relatively wide spacing?) and the canopy seems tilted upwards. Probably just the angle. The head looks to be a 600 head shrunken down. It has straight (not stacked frames). Interesting. Looking forward to more.

[oldschool269]

The above photo looks a little like a 600 nitro .

Jason

[Mavdriver]

More pics please

[oldschool269]

OK so these guys added the 500 to their price list
http://www.wattsuprc.com.au/product_detail.asp?pid=500

so it cant be far off now , ohh its killing me ., LOL's
the 500 or a nitro 600 for christmas ???

for the 600 launch they did this two weeks before the 600 was here ... i wouldnt think the 500 wouldnt be that far off...
BEFORE NOV !! damm , only 1 month to go , should have this one cranking by christmas..LOLs
Jason

[Bobbyk]

Does this means come Black Friday, we are all going to stay at home and have a good sleep in and wait for the T500 to be release soon after that.

umm!!

[Razor_Racer]

Uhg.. the 500 looks ugly! IMO its the ugliest in their line of helis, hope that CAD drawing isnt what its going to be. Oh well, if the price is right it will still sell.. and some aftermarket canopies would hopefully come too

[brovic777]

Originally Posted by Razor_Racer

Uhg.. the 500 looks ugly! IMO its the ugliest in their line of helis, hope that CAD drawing isnt what its going to be. Oh well, if the price is right it will still sell.. and some aftermarket canopies would hopefully come too

It can be the ugliest heli in the world, but people will still buy it cause its Align.

For me, its its uglier than the Swift 550, then its hasta la vista for me, cause the Swift defines the word UGLY for heli's.

[Hulley]

Patiently waiting. OK Is it here yet?

[erniefritz]

I'd like to see real photo's....

[Pinecone]

Hmm, is it time for a Trex 500 section and move all the threads into one place?

[Pinecone]

Cool, I ask one evening (I am in Hong Kong) and the next morning, it has come true.

So now, can you ship a Trex 500 to my house for free?

[mewsikman]

are they making the t-rex 700 in a nitro version???

[erniefritz]

Oh yea , from what i hear , the Trex 700 will be a Nitro version , 690-700mm blades

But that's not due out till next year....