Vibe 500E 3D Build/Test Notes

[mardy]

Any recommendations for where to get compatible pinions?

[Rob43]

Originally Posted by In_to_the_Mystic_2003

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..

I can imagine...as well you'd better for the cost. In my mind, and that may be a poor place to be, it's not that this is expensive compared to a T500, it's that it is even expensive compared to a Outrage 550, or even a Vibe 50N. If you don't get the 8717's and 8900 in the 50, it would be close once you add back in the lipo's needed. No matter how you choose to justify it, even at $575 for the kit, it's damned expensive. Many heli's are now available which need no upgrades to deliver some smackdown. Don't get me wrong, I'd love this bird, and maybe even with the Jive and Cora, but I'm not completely wired to go down this path.

[rotodingo]

Hello,

Vibe 500E contains T12 and T13 pinions. You may order to JR T14 ref 61387 and T18 61287 and T17 61237. You can also have pinions from Quick Japan from 12 to 20 or 22T (i order them to RC Champ) and Novak Steel pinions (i order them to towerhobbies)

[Mystic3D]

Man that was a departure from the thread.
Where did this come from?

[Mystic3D]

Jive 80LV
E-FLite Power 25
12T Pinion
95T Main Gear

[gwk]

Do you have to run an external BEC in the Jive or is the internal one sufficient? Thanks

[mardy]

Originally Posted by In_to_the_Mystic_2003

Man that was a departure from the thread.
Where did this come from?

Which one, Vibe motor / pinion alternatives discussion or yet another Vibe bashing rant?

[Mystic3D]

The JIVE 80LV does not need an external BEC. If you use the Jazz 55 a External BEC is needed per the documentation.

mardy. I was referring to the departure from the thread, something about how much it cost and he would not buy one. Who cares.
The purpose is to share information for those who have one and help.

[Mystic3D]

Update:

I am liking the Vibe 500E better than the Vibe 50. The Vibe 50 is loaded out with all the best stuff you can buy. The 500E tracks as well, is faster, more stable, more power. I cannot believe I am saying this...

[mardy]

I finally have mine built and have started trimming it out. The first thing that I noticed is that it is a bit nose heavy. I'm using a Flightmax 2650 with weighs in at about 455g. If I remember correctly, that is a bit heavier than the recommended Thunder Power pack. How are other peoples models balancing out?

[rotodingo]

You will need lighter batts. below 400g is the target. Thunder Power Prolite V2 6S 2600 are 360g. that should be very good. Perfect balance and lighter heli.

[rotodingo]

You can perfectly use a Jazz 55-618 without any external bec. I had this on my Vibe 500E and my Hirobo Lepton (until they were robbed from me). 3 years without trouble on the lepton and 18 months on the SVE/Vibe500. It works OK. Only downside: 5.0v output instead of the more interresting 5.6V usually seen on modern ESCs.

[mardy]

Originally Posted by rotodingo

You will need lighter batts. below 400g is the target. Thunder Power Prolite V2 6S 2600 are 360g. that should be very good. Perfect balance and lighter heli.

Unfortunately they are almost three times the price of the Flightmax batteries.

[rotodingo]

Readyheli sells them at 117$. Only one in stock today unfortunately. But now i don't buy anymore cheap batteries. I had some very good experiences with TP batts (5s 3300). Very good performances months after months. I was buying hyperion before. And i retryed hyperion after. Good performance at first but very soon power decreased. After one year hyperion batts was less powerfull than the TP after 2 years. This was before the G3 hyperion. Beside, very often cheap batteries are heavy. Approx 100g less on this size of heli is making a huge difference. Choose your side.

[mardy]

Readyheli only has one left in stock because I just bought the other 4 they had.

If anyone is interested in some unused Flightmax Zippy batteries, let me know.

[rotodingo]

Well, i'm happy to see that you found something good in my advice! With so light batts i'm sure the heli will be very happy. And they should be powerfull enough (far enough). With a wonderful and very light Kora 15-14 or Kora 15-16 this will be a rocket. A very light Jazz 55-6-18 could help too! Hacker X55-Sb is also very good with only a few grams more.

Nicolas

[rotodingo]

SoMardy, how this new TP batts works on the Vibe 500?

Nicolas

[mardy]

Originally Posted by rotodingo

SoMardy, how this new TP batts works on the Vibe 500?

Nicolas

The weather finally cleared on Sunday and I was able to take the Vibe out for it's maiden flight. The TP ProLights worked very well. Still a bit nose heavy, but much better than with the Zippy's. As for the Vibe, one word: smooth. It does take some getting used to the high head speeds. I'm used to 1800 RPM being top end. This is another reason why the quality and precision of the Vibe 500 is so important. When you have a bunch of critical moving parts spinning around at 2800 RPM, there's very little room for error. I think that I am going to really enjoy this machine!

[rotodingo]

Good to hear from you! You may use slower headspeed but it depens of what kind of flight you want to achieve. 2800 RPM is good for 3D. But for more calm flight or F3C flight, 2400 RPM works very well. You will need a smaller motor pinion. Or a lower Kv motor...

[mardy]

Originally Posted by rotodingo

Good to hear from you! You may use slower headspeed but it depens of what kind of flight you want to achieve. 2800 RPM is good for 3D. But for more calm flight or F3C flight, 2400 RPM works very well. You will need a smaller motor pinion. Or a lower Kv motor...

I have been looking for a Kora 15-16 here in the US, but no one seems to have it in stock. It has both a lower Kv and is considerably lighter than the E-Flight 25.