Guidance!?!?

[softail_2007]

Hey, guys! I am new here, but have been flying helis since 1973. All sizes of glow and gassers; scale, pod and boom, etc....but something new now! I've never had an electric heli before, but the technology has advanced to far that I felt compelled to try one! I have a Thunder Tiger E620SE on the way to me. I could use some expertise, guidance, or magic(?) on which motor is working out best on 6S - I am not looking for 3D power, I am looking at the longest flying times I can get out of it. I have been told by Castle Creations that the Neu motors are giving the most efficiencey, and therefore the longest flight times. Any ideas? And what is a good, high-time 6S Li-po battery out there....probably something around 5000 mah? Thanks in advance!

[spork]

If you're looking for something robust and affordable, but not necessarily insane 3D performance you might want to try the A123 cells. They can be charged in about 20 minutes, they won't burn or explode, and you won't ruin them with a single deep discharge.

They're heavier than LiPo's, but I'm sold on them for my flying style on my T-Rex. People seem to think they're even better on the bigger birds.

[softail_2007]

Rick....what about flight times? Also, how many cells are you running, with which motor? Thanks!

[spork]

I'm running the Align 430L motor with the Align 25A ESC and 4S A123. The A123 cells are a bit lower voltage than a LiPo, so this gives me between 3S and 4S in LiPo terms. I get 8 minutes pushing it pretty hard. The cells cost about $10 each if you shop around a bit (and assemble your own pack).

[softail_2007]

Rick...you'll have to excuse my ignorance of the electrics. Is the mentioned motor big enough to handle the E620, or just used as an example? I'm thinking about using the Neu motor, which is supposed to be the most effcient, time-friendly motor out; Not that I know that for sure, mind you!

[spork]

The 430L is pretty much intended for the T-Rex 450. I'm not familiar with the E620 but am assuming it's a significantly bigger heli than the T-Rex 450. If you can tell me what pack is normally run on the E620 I can probably give you a pretty good idea of the weight, cost, and performance of the appropriate A123 pack.

Don't get me wrong. Most people use LiPo's, and they're great. I'm just suggesting you look at the A123's since it sounds like you're more interested in sport flying. You can save a few bucks, charge them quickly, and avoiding burning down your house.

[spork]

Here are a couple of threads that talk about A123's in your heli:

http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=33455&highlight=e620se

http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=29339&highlight=e620se

[MikeWz]

The E620 is equivalent in size to a .50 size bird (almost exactly the same size as the T-rex 600). I don't believe it was designed to run with 6S packs, but rather 10S or even 12S if you can get them to fit and keep the CG balance properly. Here's a thread on what people are recommending for motors

http://www.helifreak.com/viewtopic.php?t=32403

And I believe these are the packs most are running.

http://www.readyheli.com/FlightPower_EVO_3700_10S1p_p/evo370010s1p.htm

[spork]

If the Evo 10S1P 3700 is a good pack, the "equivalent" A123 pack might be 11S2P. This would actually give you more overall capacity (and more weight). Whether they'd fit and where is the first thing to ask. But this would run you about $220 vs the $400 for the Evo pack.

To me the A123 packs make more sense as the birds get bigger partly because I couldn't live with myself if I destroyed a $400 pack early in its life-cycle.

[softail_2007]

Actually, the recommendations from Thunder Tiger are either a 6S or 10S, and they are offering a combo pack - the TTR4750FP10 - with the 6S pack included. Their general concesus is that the 6S setup is good for general sport flying, while the 10S is better for 3D. Thanks!

[spork]

I'd be a bit nervous about running a heli of that size on 6S LiPo. That's gonna take a LOT of current (at that voltage) I imagine. Seems likely that you'd stress the cells pretty significantly. If you do run 6S you should be extremely vigilant about battery temps. Anything over 140 deg-F spells short life.

[Steve Bryant]

Softtail

you have PM

[litespeed]

I run the a123's on my e620 and I think they rock. I use Gary's frame set for the a123's from here,
http://www.tppacks.com/proddetail.asp?prod=aCNV%2De500
with 2-10s1p a123 packs running a Orbit 30-12 w/ 12 tooth pinion and a CC85HV and get a headspeed of 2150 to start which settles in at about 2000 mid flight. Plenty of power to swing Rotortech 610 blades and give 13 to 14 min "sport flights" and 10 min aerobatic flights consisting of flips, rolls, heavy climbouts and inverted flight. All this weighing in at 9 lbs 4 oz and at 210 bux for the 2 batteries. With two chargers I can charge in 35 mins on a flat pack and under 25 mins if I only use 2000 mah which is the norm on the 10 min flights.

I couldn't be happier.

Tom

[stevehonn]

The better heli for a 6S setup is the E550, having said that, my E550 weighs about 50 grams less than my Trex 600 and the E550 has a full Kasama metal head fitted and I would think the E620 is not much, if any heavier, with the same lipo pack fitted. If this is the case why should an E620 with 600mm blades be any harder on a lipo pack than the Trex 600?

I was surprised how good the E550 is on 6S although running a headspeed around 2200 helps a lot!

[Finless]

I will be building a E620 and will be going 10S 3700 packs... After seeing one fly like this (and flying one myself) this had a good power an 5 minute flight time.

FYI.....

Bob

[softail_2007]

Thanks to all of you for your input! Sounds to me like I might be better off going with the Align T-Rex 600....about the same size, better pricing, comes with correct motor and ESC, and is designed to operate on 6S right from the git-go! Thanks again!