Calling all 12s owners...

[kouasupra]

How do you like the 12s setup compare to the 6s setup? What are some pros and cons on the 12s setup? Was it worth it? I'm leaning this way very soon, but I would love to hear your input about this setup before I take the plunge. I'm looking at around $400 bucks for this setup. Did anyone built this setup for cheaper than what I listed?

When I was looking at the topic "budget 12s setup" I was thinking of just maybe a few hundred dollars, but $400 is a lot of money to blow on this setup. Or maybe I should opt for the trex 550 instead, because of the power to weight ratio. I want to hear everybody's input.

[jockew]

I converted my 600 to 12S earlier this year. I chose the Scorpion HK-4025-550KV motor with a 6mm shaft and Boca ceramic bearings (highly recommend), the Castle Creations Phoenix ICE HV 80 ESC, and an 18T pinion (RevCo), and 2 Turnigy 6S 2650 mAh 40C batteries.

I'm extremely pleased with this configuration. It's got lots of power and since I'm only a sport flier (figure 8, pirouettes, cradles etc.) I get over 7 minutes of flight time at a head speed of 2050 rpm. All parts run very cool and I seldom draw more than 20 amps.

My brother-in-law has the same setup except that he uses a 17T pinion and 3000 mAh batteries. He does flips, rolls, loop, full collective climb-outs, inverted flight etc and gets about 6 minutes of flight time at a head speed of 2200 rpm (governed). As with my setup, all parts run very cool and you can touch the ESC and motor with your bare hands after the flight.

I paid about $300 for the motor and ESC and about $100 for each pair of batteries.

[kouasupra]

Originally Posted by jockew

I converted my 600 to 12S earlier this year. I chose the Scorpion HK-4025-550KV motor with a 6mm shaft and Boca ceramic bearings (highly recommend), the Castle Creations Phoenix ICE HV 80 ESC, and an 18T pinion (RevCo), and 2 Turnigy 6S 2650 mAh 40C batteries.

I'm extremely pleased with this configuration. It's got lots of power and since I'm only a sport flier (figure 8, pirouettes, cradles etc.) I get over 7 minutes of flight time at a head speed of 2050 rpm. All parts run very cool and I seldom draw more than 20 amps.

My brother-in-law has the same setup except that he uses a 17T pinion and 3000 mAh batteries. He does flips, rolls, loop, full collective climb-outs, inverted flight etc and gets about 6 minutes of flight time at a head speed of 2200 rpm (governed). As with my setup, all parts run very cool and you can touch the ESC and motor with your bare hands after the flight.

I paid about $300 for the motor and ESC and about $100 for each pair of batteries.

Do you know if I can run the stock align BEC to save money? I'm assuming more teeth gives your less HS?

[snjbird]

YES, it is worth the money to do the conversion, every penny!
I have been flying mine for just about a year. I tried 8S too...
I used the HV 85... I already had it, I would like the ICE 80 HV, I use set RPM
I have the 4025-630 14T, the 550 wasn't out, but it seems like a better motor for 12S
KDE 700 main gear conversion
I have tried the following batteries
Flightmax 2650 30 and 40C
Flightmax 3000 40C
Voltz 2600 45C
Voltz 3300 35C best
All of these batteries double as Trx 500 packs, I like the 2650 best in the 500 but even the 3300 will fit under my Fusuno canopy; no mods.
I use the Align 6 amp regulator, I added it when I went FBL, mine is an older kit that had the 3 amp, it worked fine for 3 years.

With the VBar @ 2050 the heli flies like a FB machine @ 2400
My FTs went from 4 minutes @ 2400 too 6.5 at 2050 with the VBar
I think I have found the sweet spot for my setup 2200 gives me awesome pop, and 5:30 flight times on the 3000 batteries

[caralmar]

Definitely worth it! I bought a nice 6S setup and sold off all of the 6S stuff (Neu motor, 5000mAh packs, BEC, Rx lipo). With that cash, I bought the Scorpion 4025-630, Western Robotics Super Hercules BEC (friggin outstanding BEC), and 6s 3000mAh 35C packs.

I fly at 100% flat throttle most of the time and do lots of collective torture stuff! I get 6min flights and put 80% back into the packs. I tached my heli at 2300RPM in a hover at 100% flat, discharging to a little over 2000RPM by the end of the flight. I use a 13T RevCo 5mm pinion and ground a flat spot. Haven't changed the bearings on the Scorpion motor yet but I do lube it every 5 or 6 flights.

On 6s, my heli was dissapointing. On 12s, it is a madman's dream!

[P.I.Engineer]

caralmar: what pinion?

[caralmar]

13T 0.7M 5mm shaft RevCo pinion I ordered from ReadyHeli:

http://www.readyheli.com/RevCo-quotH...1_p_33794.html

[jlharv]

I agree, it was worth it. I loved my 6s 600. I even liked that it was slow, thinking that was better for learning. But now that I have 12s I love it even more. Plenty of power and it is sooo much easier on the batteries. I run a 14 tooth pinion and that is perfect for me.
A buddy of mine got a 550 and I was thinking like you, maybe I should have gone that way. I flew it, and I just like the way the 600 hangs. They are close in size, but the 600 definitely flies bigger. Go for it, you will not be disappointed.

[povern]

One word: UNBOGABLE

Do it you will not be disappointed.

Just do not go with a CC BEC of any type... GO WR.

[P.I.Engineer]

thanks, ihave mine on 12t, i'm having trouble with tic toks, i think i want some more head speed. Going 6 mins on 12t, guessing i'll drop to 5 with 13t.

[caralmar]

My bird will tic toc nicely (elevator tic toc) without bogging. However, I've found that with the Mavrikk G5 Pro Wide Chord blades I can bog the motor doing them. So I guess I'm trying to say that blades have something to do with it as well. Using the Align 600Ds my bird is quite nimble.

Remember too that at higher head speed, you're also giving up torque. The 13T was the ideal balance for me. 12T felt like I was flying a bus.

[kouasupra]

Thanks for all the great replied. Surely I'll be going this route in a few weeks. I just have a couple questions.

1.) I have the CF model, and I noticed the budget 12s thread he's using a ESP body instead. My frame is different from from his. Would I need to buy a ESP frame or can I just dremel that out.

2.) Why would you guys not recommend the CC pro BEC? And which BEC would you recommend?

3.) Will a belt system work with this, or should I save the trouble and upgrade to a TT instead?

[caralmar]

Originally Posted by kouasupra

Thanks for all the great replied. Surely I'll be going this route in a few weeks. I just have a couple questions.

1.) I have the CF model, and I noticed the budget 12s thread he's using a ESP body instead. My frame is different from from his. Would I need to buy a ESP frame or can I just dremel that out.

2.) Why would you guys not recommend the CC pro BEC? And which BEC would you recommend?

3.) Will a belt system work with this, or should I save the trouble and upgrade to a TT instead?

1) CF frames will work too... its just a matter of fitting the Scorpion motor in there.
2) Too many problems with the CC BEC Pro....loads of threads on this POS. I had issues with it myself as well. Go with the Western Robotics Super Hercules BEC. Rated for up to 14s and simple switch setting to set it to the right voltage.
3) Belt or TT shouldn't make a difference. You're just upgrading the power system.

[jockew]

I have the "old" style CF frame that I've modified to accommodate the Scorpion motor. My modification is done as the one in this thread:

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=142238

Note the additional crossbars (H60187 - Frame Mounting Bolt) added for additional frame strength and rigidity.

When it comes to selecting motor, if you'd choose the Scorpion 4025 I'd highly recommend you to get it upgraded with a 6mm shaft as the torque is much higher in lower KV motors. The Scorpion 4025 motors also comes with unsealed (open) bearings which will wear out quickly since they are more susceptible to dust and other pollutants. Upgrade to sealed bearings. I got my motor form Innov8tive Designs (http://www.innov8tivedesigns.com) and they performed the upgrading for me.

[kouasupra]

Originally Posted by jockew

I have the "old" style CF frame that I've modified to accommodate the Scorpion motor. My modification is done as the one in this thread:

https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=142238

Note the additional crossbars (H60187 - Frame Mounting Bolt) added for additional frame strength and rigidity.

When it comes to selecting motor, if you'd choose the Scorpion 4025 I'd highly recommend you to get it upgraded with a 6mm shaft as the torque is much higher in lower KV motors. The Scorpion 4025 motors also comes with unsealed (open) bearings which will wear out quickly since they are more susceptible to dust and other pollutants. Upgrade to sealed bearings. I got my motor form Innov8tive Designs (http://www.innov8tivedesigns.com) and they performed the upgrading for me.

I was thinking of Boca bearing instead. What's your take on CC ice HV 80a esc, instead of the CC HV85? I find the 80A is cheaper.

[kouasupra]

Originally Posted by caralmar

1) Go with the Western Robotics Super Hercules BEC. Rated for up to 14s and simple switch setting to set it to the right voltage.

Ouch! The price is around $100 bucks vs the CC BEC which is around $40 bucks. Is there anything else that will work but isn't too expensive?

[jlharv]

Originally Posted by kouasupra

I was thinking of Boca bearing instead. What's your take on CC ice HV 80a esc, instead of the CC HV85? I find the 80A is cheaper.

I went with the 4025 630 and 6mm shaft with Boca ceramics and the ICE HV 80. So far both are flawless and I am very happy. The logging features of the ICE are nice and helped me to tweak my throttle curves.

Originally Posted by kouasupra

Ouch! The price is around $100 bucks vs the CC BEC which is around $40 bucks. Is there anything else that will work but isn't too expensive?

From what I have read, most people that have problems with the CC BEC Pro were running it on 12s. I am running only 6s to the BEC (and of course 12s to the ESC). So far I it seems perfect. I have around 60 or so flights on it so far. I only see about 30mah difference between the discharge of the two packs, so no biggie there.

[jockew]

I have no experience with the CC HV85 but I'm very pleased with the CC ICE HV 80 and I highly recommend it. I run it in governed mode and the logging (another nice feature) show that when the ESC has been properly setup the head speed ripples only a little during load changes.

[Brett74]

I run my CC BEC on 12S on my 600 but after one fried most of my 700 Electronics I am going to run both the 600 and the 700 BEC's on 6S instead. 500 dollar lesson !!

[EatMorePizza]

absolutely loved it!!
sold it for the 700e and I miss it.


scorpion 4035-410kv
kde one way hub
t700 115 mod 1 main gear
16t pinion
3rd bearing mode
ice 80
cc pro bec
vbar sat ready
mikado fbl head con
8900g
8717 cyclic
edge main and tail blades.
6s3000 packs
battery tray mod


very powerful very smooth



cons-
i could find enough time to enjoy it more