Vibe 500E 3D Build/Test Notes

[Mystic3D]

This is a start, work in progress on what I found so far. This thread is not a debate on why it is expensive or why you want one or do not want one. Only to share what I found for others to gain insight into and share thier insight.

1) Commentary

a) Pros

i) Bearing Blocks at top of frame and below the main gear. So very secure and smooth.
ii) Tail Drive is belt, takes forever to spool down, great for autos, large gear drives belt held by two large idler pulleys so low resistance.
iii) Uses same ball links as Vibe 50, strong and adjustable. Tighten by squeezing with pliers.
iv) Tail mechanism same design as Vibe 50, slop free, simple
v) Instructions are very complete, clear, detailed
vi) Flys very smooth, hands off hover, no pitch up

b) Cons

i) Recommended ESC(E-Flite 60A), no soft start, Gets Very Hot, Does not learn endpoints(Spool up starts above 1/8 stick), belongs in an airplane.
ii) Landing Gear is one piece plastic, nothing wrong, just looks cheap compared to the rest of the heli.

2) Configuration

a) E-Flite 60A ESC
b) E-Flite Power 25 Motor
c) JR 3517MG on Cyclic
d) JR 7703D with 3500G on Tail

3) Gear Ratio

a) Pinion Gear = 13T
b) Main Gear = 85
c) Ratio = 7:08:1
d) 12T also included in kit

4) Weight without Battery=1400g
5) E-Flite Power 25

i) RPM/Volt (Kv): 1000Kv
ii) Resistance (Ri): .026 ohms
iii) Idle Current (Io): 2.60A @ 20V
iv) Continuous Current: 38A
v) Maximum Burst Current: 58A (15 sec)
vi) Weight: 196 g (6.9 oz)
vii) Overall Diameter: 35mm (1.40 in)
viii) Shaft Diameter: 5mm (.20 in)
ix) Overall Length: 56mm (2.20 in)
x) Max Efficiency 82%
xi) ESC Timing 20-25 deg
xii) ESC Switching Freq. 8-16KHz

6) Battery

a) Thunder Power extreme 2700 6S 30S

i) Reccommended
ii) 120Lx39Wx46H
iii) 430g

b) Zippy-H 6S 3300(Tested Fit)

i) 147Lx46Wx40H
ii) 530g

c) Outrage 25XP 3000(Tested Fit, Would not buy)

i) 140Lx42Wx37H
ii) Weight: 438g

d) Flightmax 6S 2650(Will Fit)

i) 143x45x32
ii) 409g

e) Hyperion 6S 2500 CX(Will Fit)

i) 105Lx34x53
ii) 400g

f) Flightmax 6S 4000(Will Fit, Very Heavy)

i) 147Lx52Wx39H
ii) 585g

g) HYPERION G3 VX 22.2V 6S 3300 MAH $155.00 (Not Sure?)

i) 136Lx43.3Hx42.7W
ii) Weight: 524g
iii)

7) Build Notes

a) After Step 5-7 in the Manual
i) The Vibe 500E can take full size servo or mini servo’s like the 3517. With 3517 servo’s the Linkage Rods from the servo’s to the swashplate need to longer than the manual calls for. With Servo’s centered adjust linkage so that when at full pitch washout block is 1/8” from head block. This will ensure the washout pins are engaged when at full negative pitch.
ii) Next you need to make the washout arms level. At mid stick you needs to adjust the linkage rods from the swash to the stabilizer arm to ensure the arms on the washout arms are level. The linkage rods need to be the same length(very important).
iii) With pitch still at mid stick, Next the seesaw arms need to be parallel to the stabilizer arms. You will need to adjust the linkage rods from the swashplate to the seesaw arms to make them perpendicular to the main shaft or parallel to the stabilizer arms.
iv) Now put on the blades and put a pitch gauge on the blades. Ensure the flybar is level. The EL500 Flybar Lock/Swash Leveling Tool from Readyheli works very well for this purpose. The Main Blade pitch should be 0 degrees. Adjust the linkage rods from the main blade grips to the seesaw arms to ensure the Blades are zero pitch.

8) ESC Setup – Not documented in ESC Manual or Motor Manual. Found suggested settings for motor on another website.

a) Refer to ESC Manual for how to program the following settings
i) 6 Cell Voltage Cutoff
ii) No Brake
iii) Timing = 20 degrees or 25 degrees(I choose 20 degrees)
iv) Throttle Input = 1.2ms-1.8ms
v) Start up Rate=1 second
vi) PWM Switching 8kHz or 16kHz, I choose 8kHz

9) Pinion

a) I initially went with the 13T pinion and set the mesh using the standard method of Paper between the main and pinion gear. Note the main gear is VERY True, no high spots as you rotate to check the gap at different parts on the main gear.
b) I switched out the pinion for the 12T which is also supplied with the kit. Upon trying to set the gear mesh even if you push the motor mount backward towards the main gear to tighten the mesh there is too much gap there. So I removed the motor and modified the motor mount to move the motor backward towards the main gear. Taking a small round file to file the slot closest to the back of the heli to allow the motor to be closer to the main gear. I took off about 1/8” and it allowed the motor to be mounted closer to the main gear. Then setting the mesh was not a problem as the motor was moved towards the main gear.
c) The 12T is the smallest I would run in this heli as there would be a problem setting the correct mesh.

10) Maiden Flight Notes

a) Upon advancing the throttle, you must advance to over 1/8 stick before the ESC engages. Upon engagement the heli spins 90 degrees around for lack of Soft Start Mode in this ESC.
b) Heli Flys like a dream, tracks straight, hovers hands free.
c) With Throttle Curve 0-50-100 at hover Blades Speed was tached at 2800 RPM.
d) After 5 min Flying in 100 degree ambient, motor temp was 156F and ESC was 147F, Battery 105F. ESC and Motor TOO HOT.
e) Flying 5 min 4 packs, temp was 138 on motor and 142 on ESC. 1900 maH out of each of the 5 packs. Still need to change setup of ESC. Paddles were making noise, landed and the vinyl covering the paddles had come off. Removed all the Vinyl. Flew fine but made strange woosh noise.

11) Alternative Motors

a) Based upon Headspeed Calculator the motor Kv must between 850 and 1000 for a target headspeed between 850 and 1000 and either a 12T or 13T motor.
b) Motors that work in a Trex 500 do not apply here as Trex has a 11:57 Gear Ratio. Note average weight is 200g heavier than Vibe dry/without battery.
c) Hacker A 40 12S – Will not work with Jive 80LV
d) Neu 1706H/1.5/Y/F

i) Really wanted a Neu as I have had great results, but Kv is too high to work.
ii) RPM/Volt: 1,255 Kv
iii) 5.6oz.
iv) Overall Length: 39mm
v) Overall Diameter: 43mm
vi) Shaft Diameter: 5mm
vii) 8 Poles

e) Scorpion 3026 1000Kv

i) Motor will fit and work.
ii) Just not sure if any better than the one I have.

12) ESC

a) The EFlite 60A ESC works but with no real softstart it is being replaced with a Jive 80LV for the Softstart and Governor Mode.

[Gorgin4325]

Thanks for the great info.

Do you happen to know if the Scorpion 880kv Protos motor will fit? If I could switch everything over from my Protos to the 500e, I probably would.

Thanks,
G

[Mystic3D]

Scorpion 880Kv will fit physically. Just not sure about the kv rating, if it is high enough for good power. Stock E-FLite 1000kv makes good power. Motor selection is not my strong suit as kv rating does not apprear to be the entire story as it relates to actual power/torque the motor produces.

[Mystic3D]

More Flight Notes:
Switched out the E-Flite 60A ESC for a Jive 80LV.
Perfect! E-FLite Power 25 Motor is running at 120 deg on 100 deg ambient, batteries at ambient. Motor is fine, good power, 8 min with 1800mAh taken out , just testing, Sport Flying.

Love the Heli Now..

[Mizark]

I run a Scorpion 3026-1000 in mine with a Jazz 55-6-18 & 12t pinion. I have governed the headspeed to 3000 or so & this heli rocks.

I tried the 14t pinion (our kit here in Australia doesnt come with 13t) & the ESC was getting too hot. I have now received a 13t from RH & may try that so I can get more head room for the governor.

Loving this heli though.

[Mystic3D]

Mizark.
What Throttle % are you running to get 3000RPM. With 1000kV E-Flite Motor and 12T pinion I am at 62%.

[Mystic3D]

The headspeed is dialed in now:
Normal Mode: 12T at 50% Points 2-5 = 2800 RPM
Idle Up 1: 12T at 60% Flat = 3000 RPM

This thing is soo stable you can put it in a hover and it just sits there for 20 seconds, of course no to a little wind. Pitch Pumps loads of power , the JR 770 w/3500G cannnot hold it from kicking over a little bit. Perhaps I need to reduce the headspeed a little.
Added some Red Fuel Tubing to the landing skids to reduce wear when taking off from concrete. The Trex 450 Skid Nuts are too large ID, the Trex 250 Skid Nuts too small ID.

Did a check on belt, bolts, everything tight. Main Gear runs true, motor a little hot at 115 deg F. The Belt used is heavy duty and has not streched at all. Head still no slop at all.

[Mystic3D]

Ohh and not a dime spent on "Upgrades". Only mistake was the EFlite ESC, Jive is the way to go.

[john john melon]

i am thinking about buy it but i am not sure. i have been reading alot and hear many things about it. if you could take some close-up pics of the bird i think it would make my decision more clear. i know their are pic from hoobie shop but i think that they put the best quality of the bird. thanks

[Mystic3D]

Pictures of my bird before adding the Jive

[GMRO]

Very nice pics! Good build...thanks for sharing.

I'm thinking of putting another V500E together for a night bird. I can see me getting rid of all but (1) 450 for indoor flying. Just keep the 500's for my outdoor flying. The more I fly the Vibe500E the more I like the 500 size heli. This one really rocks!

[Mystic3D]

Yes the 450 is great to Learn on, if you can fly it well, you can fly anything. BUT I know my biggest issue with 450 is simply seeing it and losing orientation. The 500
is a very nice size. Now if I can just find a custom canopy for my Vibe 500 that is bright red then all is good.

[Rob43]

I am thinking on the canopy thing that buying a spare and sending it to Oat at Insane would result in maximum appeal. I think he'll do his typical art on a smaller canopy for touch over $100.

[StoneGod]

Can anyone comment on a comparison between the Atom 500 and Vibe 500E?

[GMRO]

Do you have a link for the Atom 500? I've never heard of it and I'd like to see it.

The V500E really flies well. It's tracking, locked in feel, and aerobatic ability is really very good. Recently I let a few guys fly mine, they fly much better than I do and have more tricks in the air, and I have to say that WE all thought the heli flew very strong and well. They commented WOW this think tracks superbly and handles all you throw at it.

For me that was a great thing to see. Though I've see Ito fly his very HARD @ IRCHA and that was enought for me.

I'd still like to see what the Atom 500 is all about. THANKS!

[StoneGod]

Originally Posted by GMRO

Do you have a link for the Atom 500? I've never heard of it and I'd like to see it.

The V500E really flies well. It's tracking, locked in feel, and aerobatic ability is really very good. Recently I let a few guys fly mine, they fly much better than I do and have more tricks in the air, and I have to say that WE all thought the heli flew very strong and well. They commented WOW this think tracks superbly and handles all you throw at it.

For me that was a great thing to see. Though I've see Ito fly his very HARD @ IRCHA and that was enought for me.

I'd still like to see what the Atom 500 is all about. THANKS!

Ask an ye shall receive!

http://www.commonsenserc.com/page.ph..._atom500e.html

You can also find a bunch of videos on YouTube if you look there.

Cheers,

[Mystic3D]

The Atom looks like a copy of the Vibe 500E. Must be less expensive(no engineering time), probably flies well( yes a copy).
Reminds me of the first Common Sense LiPo charger I bought. I would touch the side and get shocked. I sent it in for repair, 30 days old, and they could not duplicate. I asked for a replacement, oh we discontinued that charger, and we cannot get you another. So I threw $140.00 it in the trash. Now that's what I call world class support.

The cost of a heli is not only the upfront cost, but the long term cost and the cost of "upgrades".

Thanks but no thanks

[GMRO]

From the link sent in this thread, THANKS, I agree it looks to be a knock off. Oh well...

I see some plastic parts like t/r grips and other little differences like the front large drive pulley for t/r.

IMO the quality of the V500E is 2nd to none. I'd stick with the real thing.

Thanks for sharing.

[Mizark]

Originally Posted by In_to_the_Mystic_2003

Mizark.
What Throttle % are you running to get 3000RPM. With 1000kV E-Flite Motor and 12T pinion I am at 62%.

Sorry about the delayed reply I had forgotten about your thread

Umm the Jazz is different as it doesnt work like a normal ESC. 74% or so throttle on a Jazz is 100%. I have set my end points to 80 when I configured the Jazz & am now running about 75% throttle curve. This would mean my curve setting is around 68%-70% id say. Its a bit confusing but it works

I ended up just sticking with the 12t as its fine.

[rotodingo]

Other motor that fits perfectly well inside the Vibe 500E: Kontronik Kora 15 motor (i used it 2 years)

I was using 5S and 17T pinion with Kora 15-14 and 2800 RPM (ESC Jazz 55-6-18). You may use it with 6S and smaller pinion. Or use Kora 15-16 (KV690. 15-14 is 790) that will give you 2900-3000 rpm with the 17T.

On 5S Kora 15-12 works perfectly too with 15T (tested by myself)

Motors temp is perfectly OK with this motors. No hot at all.