To 12T or not to 12T

[torpedoarmed]

Hi guys, I have a question, a fellow pilot suggested I use a 12T pinion on my T500 ESP FBL 3GX. It has a stock Align ESC and a Scorpion 3026-1600 motor, I am running 6S 3000 20C packs.

His suggestion was based on my flying skill and what I am going to be doing for teh next few months, just figure-8's and stuff. He mentioned the benifit would be less stress on the ESC and packs and more flight time which I would welcome.

I have one and gave it a try but just in hover it seemed lofty and lacked power. When I tried it I was runnning -1/+7 pitch and 0/65/70/75/80 throttle, I had to go nearly top stick to hover, where as teh 13T wasa closer to 3/4 stick.
After reading a couple of posts I have adjusted my throttle to a flat 80 but have not tried it on the12T the 13T works just fine.

So should I go back and try the 12T and maybe more throttle like 80-85? If I do use more throttle with a 12T then where is teh benifit of more flight time?

[Bengsch85]

I would stick with the 13T because the 500 likes headspeed. If I start going below 2700 it gets very floaty and imprecise in forward flight. I have the stock 1600 motor and run a flat 80 curve in normal which puts me around 2700 in hover. My idle up modes are 85/80/85 and 100/95/100. I run +/-12 pitch with the normal mode cut down to -3. For me the 13T is pretty docile in normal and idle 1 with 5 minute flights on 2650 packs. But it allows me to get very aggressive in idle 2 when I want it to be. And the hover pitch is about 4.5 degrees at 2700 headspeed.

[Wildcards]

Run the 12t at as close to 100% as possible. running the motor at 100% requires much less work for the ESC. and the 12t will yield more torque than the 13t and will be easier on the whole power system. if you find the 12t at 100% is not enough bump it up to 13t. Most people run a 13t at 100% on the 1600 motor.

[Mateyhv]

You are taking oposit measures, on one side you are lowering the throttle curve and pitch angle and on the other you are rising the head speed because you have got too low pitch curve and head speed to mantain control...

Just take steps logicaly, with the 12T pinion (without governor) and a properly set heli you can do almost everything you want. Run a throttle curve like 0/65/80/inh/100. Add some more positive pitch, like +9 and you are done. Don't worry it wont take off like a rocket

[torpedoarmed]

Thanks for the replies guys!
Beng, that's kinda what I concluded after my first 12T flight versus the 13T BUT it is my understanding for me right now, the 12T would be less stress on teh ESC and longer flight times.
Wildcards, if I run close to 100% shouldn't I be concerned about that because I have 20C packs?
Mateyhv, If I wanted to make idel 1 a flat curve just for whatever. hover or FF&FFF what would you suggest? 80?85? And yeah I am goign to step my pos pitch to 9

[Blayd]

My idle 1 is a flat 85%, my idle 2 is a flat 95%. Most motors have a limit and never really get to 100% due to efficiency loss. So, if you set it to 100%, your not really getting that motor to 100%.. but close.
I like the 85% for my orientation and FF. I like the 95% for FFF. When your ready for 3D, you want it as fast as you can get it..( within limits of course..) and maybe even think about running governor mode.

[torpedoarmed]

Originally Posted by Blayd

My idle 1 is a flat 85%, my idle 2 is a flat 95%. Most motors have a limit and never really get to 100% due to efficiency loss. So, if you set it to 100%, your not really getting that motor to 100%.. but close.
I like the 85% for my orientation and FF. I like the 95% for FFF. When your ready for 3D, you want it as fast as you can get it..( within limits of course..) and maybe even think about running governor mode.

Just ot be dead, on, your running a 12T?
and there would not be an issue running 20C packs at 85% or 95% all the time?

[Mateyhv]

Originally Posted by torpedoarmed

...Mateyhv, If I wanted to make idel 1 a flat curve just for whatever. hover or FF&FFF what would you suggest? 80?85? And yeah I am goign to step my pos pitch to 9

I would suggest you a shallow V curve, its more efficient than a plain curve because the added pitch drag is countered by the increase in power, so you are actually maintaining the headspeed.

You may use a 10% spaced curve for example 90/80/90. But I don't see the point of adding the first 90 as I guess you are not going inverted so you should have a curve like the normal and then add 80 for the center point and 90 for the last one.

In any case dont use values lower than 75% for real flying because that is going to be hard on the ESC.

[Punkin71]

12t, 92-100% flat curve + 10-10.5 degrees of pitch. very good settings if you are getting comfortable with forward flight. At least it was for me almost 2 years ago.

[torpedoarmed]

Mateyhv, Punkin71, thanks for the insight. I will just set idle 1 to 80/inh/80/inh/90 with +9 on pitch for now. I am slowly wading into higher pitch numbers, I stil get a little jerky ont he collective soemtimes.

Chris

[torpedoarmed]

85% flat throttle, 9' +pitch, WOW it really respondes fast!
Also using 3000 Mah 20C turnigy packs, 5 minute FF flight took only 1500 Mah to recharge so I would say a good 7 minute flight would be OK

Thanks again for the suggestion guys!

[Mateyhv]

With almost the same setup I landed after the 7.30 min beeps, just left the batteries at 20%.