Ion For Xmas- Opinions please

[LCHelilover]

OK, I've decided to take the plunge and get an Ion. After reading over the board here, there seem to be three primary power systems being run- the Hacker which is the "stock" configuration, the Actro outrunner which seems to require a different mounting and gear system and the Neumotor 1521 which is a "drop in" replacement for the Hacker with slightly more power and lower heat buildup.

I plan to run this with 10s4p TP packs.

Which motor do you guys think is "best" now (I realize that the technology is changing rapidly)?

What speed controller is "best"...the "stock hacker" or something else?

Can I get the kit without motor & ESC and then add the esc and motor of my choice? If not, then I'll probably just go "stock" for now and modify to whatever the next generation of technology brings.

Thanks for your thoughts. :lol:

[fitenfyr]

The best IMO for a "newbie" to the Ion is bone stock.
This will be the easiest to work with until you get the feel for the helicopter and power system.
Then you can easily "upgrade" from there to either the NEU motor or the Actro single stage.
The other thing I find is that the gear train is going to get better in the coming months with all the work on the belt drives. Mostly that is for the 2 stage setups so having the complete second stage setup will be a savings down the road if you go with a out runner and a 2 stage setup on the higher voltage setups.

Box stock is also easier for online support. This way you don't have to go and explain a bunch of changes you have done.

The stock Hacker controller has worked just fine for me. In fact I have had a few issues with my Schulze 32.55. Nothing major just some soft start issues.


No matter what Santa will be good to you with one of them. :D

[Laurens]

If you want all out power I'd get the Neu or Actro with the Schulze 60-140, and 14s lipo's :twisted:

[Russ McC]

In some ways Jason is right that the stock setup is easy to get in the air. I am a Min Air rep and don’t like to be negative but frankly the stock Hacker motor is a waste of money and time, this motor has proven to only last 50 to 100 flights no manner how it is being used, I got tired of sending mine in after two trips for each of two motors I have and went to the Actro 32-3. My motors both broke the Kevlar wrapped rotors so if Chris can’t come on and tell us that the problem is cured then don’t get the hacker. For 10s get the kit with the Hacker controller and install a 32-3, this has been very reliable for me, no failures! You can get all the pieces for this from Min Air so it is not heard to install.

The Neu motor might be interesting also but I would like to know that the rotor is not going to have the same problems that the Hacker has. I like being on the cutting edge but if this is just a more powerful Hacker clone and will blow rotors then no thanks. On the other hand if the manufacture can come and explain how he has addressed this rotor failure issue so his Rotors will be bullet proof then I might like to try one.

[BobbySmith]

So far the NEU has proven itself i have 20 flights on mine and all is well
I think it is a great drop in replacement over the stock hacker and iam liking it better then my 32-3 setup
As for a esc i would go wiht the Hacker 77-o-h most bang for the buck in my opinion
Bobby

[Russ McC]

Hi Bobby,

I’m glad you’re trying it out but with the Hacker it worked so great that you would think it would never end then with a blink at 50 to 100 flights it would go to hell! Keep flying and let me know if it’s still going at 200 flights. I feel kind of bad comparing this new Neu motor to the Hacker, it might not be fair but it looks like it might be very similar in construction and that has me shy to try it.

[BobbySmith]

Yup you are right Russ me and Chris has had this conversation a few times about the hacker Stator.The thing is the Neu runsa lot cooler so maybe after 100 or 200 flights it will be good i will be putting 4 more on it tomorrow
I think chris has been flying his alot i would guess he is about to the 50 flight mark or maybe even more I have been flying my Stratus alot and playing wiht my new 14mz :D

Bobby

[misskimo]

Bobby , FU-EEE on the greese balls , fly the Ions, well, I will stay with the actros for now , winter blues, just sit behind the comp and listen to people fly sucks . but o-well , thats what I get for living in Alaska.

LCHelilover
Bobby has a Ion in the forsale side , its just like I ordered a year ago and ready for a 32-3, look in the forum for Ion with actro 3-3 , kit # and actro mout # are listed , get the heli version if you go with the actro , or just get the stock Ion and slap in the Nue motor too. either one sounds good and seams to have close power to each other ,

Tony

[BobbySmith]

HEHE Tony man since the time change it has been hard to get out and fly so i ave been going out and burning 4 tanks back to back i can do that in about 45 to 50 minutes


Bobby

[misskimo]

I here ya ! wish I could , 10 below F and 50 below wind chill and 6 hours of daylite , just dont cut it

[Darren S]

i'll chime in here with my 2 cents. i run my ion with the Actro 32-3, TP 8000 prolites, HV 85 esc, 9252 servos, pcm rx and rotortech 700's

lovin' every minute of it !! i did lots of research before my buy and have no regrets so far. i had some ESC issues early on but CC sent me a new HV 85 and so far so good. it's working rock solid. they said that all the new HV 85's have the updated hardware.

i prefer the outrunner for the simplicity, reliability and power. after 9 minutes of flying i put back in 6 Amps, which is enough flying for me.

heli is bone stock and Russ and Chris were/are great supports. Tony too !!

darren

[BobbySmith]

Darren i feel left out (sniffle sniffle :( )

I still havent had any lluck with those cc controllers i have cc110 on its way back now but my hacker is old reliable it is almost a year old and still rocking
I have some video fixing to be posted of teh Neu i woudl have to agree the 32-3 set up is definatley simplified


Bobby

[WillJames]

I love my ACTRO eqipped Ion/Hacker 77-O-Heli Setup. I have gotten all my advice from Bobby Smith ChrisS and Karl Nelson and it has all been spot on. Thanks Bobby especially. This Ion-X is the most fun heli I have ever had. The Actro may not be the most powerful setup anymore, but I can get a solid 10 minutes of flying and fun while the motor is never abouve 110 degrees, the packs are never over 110 degrees and I never put more than 3/4 capacity back in. Things should last a long time like this, I have 4 sets of packs and LOVE the Ion.

[Hotshot Charlie]

What battery packs are you using, Will ?

[WillJames]

I am running 2 sets of Tanic 8880's and 2 sets of the TP 8000's. I have a Honda 2000 watt generator 2 30AMP Power Supplies and 2 of the Shulze isl-636+ and 2 of the isl-330's to charge the big packs. I run a 1660 Lipo RX pack as I had some glitching with the BEC and Bobby was nice enough to hook me up with the LiPo RX pack and I already had the Duralite Regulator.

Yea I kinda overdid it, but I am really having fun with my Ion. I would recommend one to anyone but the hardest 3D guys, they ROCK.

[Hotshot Charlie]

Sounds like a perfect setup for a 1.5D guy ! :mrgreen:

A lot of stuff to make the electric fly, but for some reason, the electrics just tickle my fancy ! :shock:

[fitenfyr]

Russ is right....
My Hacker motor lasted about 30 flights. ALL of them were very light and mild loading.
It is STILL at Hacker in AZ awaiting replacement. It was one of the non Kevlar wrapped motors. It has been there for about 3 months now....:(
Supposedly the new motor is on the way next week, but I have to call tomorrow.

I have the 32-4 in my Ion right now and hands down the Actro's are the best motors right now.

My suggestion was mearly based on the 100% newbee to big electrics.
I think the stock setup is just a bit easier to get aclimated to the Ion than the higher power Actro's.
First time I spooled up the Actro I was a bit intimidated by it and I had flown the Ion a bunch before. :D
Besides the manual is setup just for the 2 stage and is easy to follow that way.

[50feet]

Crap! The hackers only last 50+ flights? I better start setting aside for a replacement. Is this all of them or older motors? Mine is kevlar I think with the silver case. And are the ones that have short life being pushed hard or can I expect the same from a mildy flown motor?

[fitenfyr]

Your mileage may vary. :D :D

Russ is pretty easy on his, but he flys the helicopter to the limits each flight. :D

Start saving for an Actro and you will be fine. :D

[Russ McC]

Your mileage may vary.

Both of mine with the Kevlar rotor went 100 and 101 flights with 55 tooth lay shaft gear, some pilots can kill the same motor in 3 flights! Average seems to be 50 to 100 flights no manner how it is being used, if it is being used it will fail (unless they have done something I don’t know about sense I gave up on the Hacker). The last ones I had fail where used in the winter only and never got above 120 degrees so I don’t think that heat is the only factor. Just think, your transmitting 2500 or more watts through the glue joint that holds the magnets to that very small shaft, soon the glue joint breaks and a portion of the stack slips, the Kevlar does not seem to help prevent this for long, at best it might keep the rotor together saving the field windings. The symptoms are gobs of power & heat, just gobs of heat or heat and stripping the lay shaft gear just hovering. You can’t get complacent with this motor, check your heat every four minuets, if you don’t it will get your batteries when the motor goes south, it can over amp, over heat and over discharge your packs in short order. If the motor was to stop during a flight hit hold fast, if the motor has broke and jammed it will draw about 200A for about ten seconds before the controller goes up in green flames, this was cool but it got the motor, controller and batteries witch was not cool.

[LCHelilover]

Thanks all for the information and opinions.

After looking at the options, I think I'll go with the Actro 32-3 and the Hacker controller. I'll let you know how it flies! :glasses2:

George

[Chachin]

Wow Russ... I better start saving for a Neumotor then :(. After all the bad Hacker reports in the Ion, I can hear the clock ticking in my head as I fly.

Chachin..