My flight time sucks....

[jason mc]

Ok guys help me out here...Please! I am at my witts end with this thing! heres what I got....
2 3s 2650ma packs in series
100a hobbywing esc set on high gov (if I remember HS tacked at 2800)
1600kv motor
13t pinion (stock 425 gearing)
I also use a 2s 1300ma pack with a bec to power my electronics.
I have checked gear mesh, belt tension ect. It spins very freely.
my flight time just flat sucks. I only get 3:30 of flying time leaving 3.77v in all cells . I would
just be thrilled if I could get atleast 4:30 and leave 3.80v +/- in my packs.
I was thinking of going with a 1400kv motor and maybe a 14-15t pinion to help flight time. I also read that going with just a 6s pack would help instead of 2 3s in series.... I have read sooo much these past few days my head is spinning! What do you guys suggest?

[PTcaflyer]

...Well, here is what I know...
Save the 3s packs for the 450 and just use 6s 2650's or 3000 batts.
I tried using a BEC, but found I never stressed my Batts powering EVERYTHING from the ESC...Hobbywing Platinum's 80a and 100a W/3a switching bec(you can set them to 6v too).
I sport fly all of mine for at least 5 min. each flight and they come down at 3.8+ on each cell...Flightmax 3000/Sky 2650/Winforce 3000/Blue 2200...Mix of IU1 and normal.
A fresh 3000 pack at High C rating could go 7 min. at least.
I run a stock 850kv on my 550 and 980kv on both my mid boom and now MD500 scale/425E(Detrum 80a ESC) My new 425 bird will have a Z30 / 1100kv on it...
PT

[Jerrymac]

What kind of motor are you using? Different brands of motors makes a big difference. For instance, I have 2 identical 425's running all the same electronics, gearing, blades, and batteries with only the motors being different. Both run 15-50-20-61 gears. Power wise, they are so close that I can't tell any difference.

One has a Z-power, Z-20 1470kv motor and gets 4:30 min flights with 6s 2650mah batteries coming down at about 3.85 to 3.90 volts per cell. The motor, and batteries are barely warm after a flight.

The other one has a garbage Scorpion 3026-1400 motor on it. Scorpion motors are inefficient pigs that suck lots of power out of the batteries, run very hot, and don't make any more power than other more efficient motors. It only gets 3:30 min flights with the batteries coming down at 3.7 volts per cell. The motor and batteries get very hot too.

If I could find another Z-20 1470 I would toss the Scorpion in the trash can.

[jason mc]

Right now I use this motor
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...er_1600KV.html
I tried the turnigy motor after having the Scorpion 3026-1400 motor in for severl flights....I didnt much care for the scorpion motor. It had great power but it got the same flight time as Im getting now and like most have seen it gets tooo hot. the turnigy motor has good power and comes down warm to touch. I have also used the align 1600 kv that a friend has and same deal. 3:30 flight time and came down almost as hot as the scorpion.
I was wondering if the HYPERION HS3026 1400 KV motor would give better flight time.
maybe if I went with a different gearing would help to slow the HS to 2600. Really dont want to go lower than that.

[Jerrymac]

Well, after lots of searching it seems that Infinity Hobby still has the Z-20 1470kv motors in stock. This is my favorite motor so far for the Hurri 425. I think I might just order one for myself.

http://www.infinity-hobby.com/main/p...oducts_id=1864

I believe the Hyperion motors are just re-branded Scorpions, as is the newer Gaui motors.

[stark]

Jerrymac,

cool, what do you prefer on the 550?

[Jerrymac]

Roger, for decent power and flight times I like the Z-Power Z-30 1100 for running 500mm or 550mm blades. Unfortunately they are getting hard to find for some reason. Everyone seems to be out of stock, or stopped carrying them. HeliDirect used to carry the Tonic-X motors which were rebranded Z-powers, but they don't sell them any more.

Although I am not a big fan of Scorpion motors, some guys have spaced out the pitch and roll arms on the stock frames and ran HK-4020-1100 Scorpions. They are larger than the Z-30 and I am told they have a lot more power, but my guess is that the flight times would be shorter.
I think Rob (Nexgen) and Scott (dunkonu23) have used the 4020 series on a long boomed Hurri so, if interested maybe you could PM them and ask for their first hand experience with it. If I remember correctly Scott told me he was real happy with the performance, but didn't mention anything about his flight times.

Jerry

[stark]

Thanks Jerry. I will keep the Z30 motor in mind while moving up to 550 size. For now I'm training on my 425.

Back to the original topic. I'm running my 425 with hyperion 3026-1210kv motor, Turnigy 3000maH 30C 6S pack and gearing set to 2600rpm. (16T pinion with stock gearing 50/19/61).
I get about about 6 mins sport flight with 22.2Volts (3.7/cell) left in the battery (no-load).

I have battery voltage telemetry so I set my low voltage alarm to 21V and land the bird when the pack voltage (under load) reaches 21V.

But flying style can matter a lot. I'm a beginner so just do circles and occasional flips/rolls.

I'm not really happy with the turnigy packs since the pack voltage drops to 21V while doing a full pitch up within 2 mins of flight. I'm looking out for better batteries. How do the gens ace sound? 2600 or 3300 for a 425?

[Jerrymac]

I haven't tried the Gens Ace myself (yet) so can't comment on them, but I have read quite a few positive comments about them. I run older Mega-Power 6s 2500's and newer GForce 2650's in my 425's and the CG is spot on. I think 3300's might be a little too heavy for the short boomed 425. I run 3300's in my long boomed 550.

I have a medium boomed Hurri ( with 522 belt) built on a HeadHunter frame running 500mm blades, and use my 2650's on top of the battery tray, and a 3s 1000mah RX battery underneath the battery tray for perfect CG, with the tail servo mounted on the boom. I get 5:00 min flights running a Z-30 1100 and 2300/2400 head speed.

I am currently saving up to convert all of my Hurri's over to HeadHunter frames. Awesome upgrade. Direct to swash servos, single 2mm thick side frames, larger OW shaft bearings, and a motor mount that makes setting the gear mesh a snap. It is by far my best flying Hurri.

[kgd1]

You can still get HeadHunter frames? Were? The web site seems to be dead.

[Jerrymac]

Originally Posted by kgd1

You can still get HeadHunter frames? Were? The web site seems to be dead.

I don't know about the HeadHunter website, maybe Scott is just too busy to update it, but I do know for sure that HH frame kits and parts are still readily available directly from him. I know this for sure as I have almost daily contact with him on another website.

He is an active member here on HF too. Feel free to PM him with any questions. He is a great guy and will help you out in any way he can. His user name here is dunkonu23. I believe he is an Alees team pilot so you can probably find him over on the Alees forums here at HF also.

[rmparry]

Originally Posted by Jerrymac

I don't know about the HeadHunter website, maybe Scott is just too busy to update it, but I do know for sure that HH frame kits and parts are still readily available directly from him. I know this for sure as I have almost daily contact with him on another website.

He is an active member here on HF too. Feel free to PM him with any questions. He is a great guy and will help you out in any way he can. His user name here is dunkonu23. I believe he is an Alees team pilot so you can probably find him over on the Alees forums here at HF also.

Hi,

I noticed that you are using a hobbywing ESC. I am using the 60A varient with a 1800kv typhoon motor with 2 x 2300 lipo in series and was only getting 3-3.30 minutes.

A lot of people commented on how rapid my gaui was and aggressive sounding, i went through the ESC setup again and changed my timing from 12khz to 8khz, it might be just hz, i cant remember now... but it did make a difference to the output of the motor and a slight increase in flight times... Worth a look maybe...

Rick