TRex 450SE on 3S A123

[Mac_Heli]

I'm looking for ideas on the placement of the ESC (CC45) and BEC (CC). Does anyone have some easy to reach pics out there?
Thanks...

[phillipda]

Originally Posted by Mac_Heli

I'm looking for ideas on the placement of the ESC (CC45) and BEC (CC). Does anyone have some easy to reach pics out there?
Thanks...

Hi Mac_Heli,
I have a CC35 in my Heli, I don't know if there is any difference in size, but I attached my CC35 to the side of my Heli held in place with velcro and just for safe measures a couple of zippy ties looselly around the CC35 and frame just in case the CC35 should let go of the velcro. Been using this setup for over a year now with no problems. The BEC I did the same on the otherside of frame. I do have some close up photos published somewhere here on the A123 thread.

Post 135 here on this thread, did have my photos, but I see there not there anymore.

[remoteav8r]

Hhhmm.. I am getting ready to buy a motor and esc for my Dragonus (same size, weight etc as a TRex for those who aren't familiar), and am a big fan of a123 for receiver packs and power for my E-Maxx monster truck. Going a123 sounds like an intriguing idea for my heli. Without having to sort through 35 pages of info, what seems to be the best setup for a123? So far from the reading I've done, I'm thinking possibly 3S, and the Scorpion 4400kv? What esc's should I consider? Have read Phoenix 45amp, hyperion 50amp, and the align esc's. From what I've read, I would need a BEC for anything but the Hyperion? I'm toying with this idea now a lot. I love a123 so far in other applications, and like trying new things. I'm relatively new to helis (do fff, and some loops, but that's about it so far) so I don't need crazy 3D performance. Thoughts/suggestions?? Now that the idea has been out there for a little while, are those of you who tried it initially glad you did? Is it worth doing, or should I stick with Lipos, which I also already have?

[kgfly]

Your first problem will be finding a way to mount A123 3S 2300 pack on a Dragonus. I have yet to see this done successfully due to the limited options for reconfiguring the frame (in this aspect the T450 is better suited for A123).

To answer your questions, yes, the Scorpion HK2221-6 motor (4400KV) is the leading choice on a T450 and given similar gearing, would suit the Dragonus as well.

I am not all that impressed with my Phoenix 45, it works, but I could never get the governer/tail interaction sorted out (have not tried their most recent firmware upgrade). Any 45A ESC will do, there are many choices. If I was buying one today it would be the TURNIGY K-Force 40A (57/10s burst) which is getting good reviews and has an integrated switched-mode BEC and is only $50. If money is no object then a Kontronik Jazz would be a very nice choice.

[cloudyifr]

Hello,

I have a Trex 450 with metal head I think it's similar to a 450se V2. Not real sure as it was purchased used.

I have hovered a dozen times and flown figure 8's. My goal is to fly backward figure 8's, some pirouettes and perhaps a loop and roll. But that's about it. No 3D.

I currently have an Align 430L motor on 3S A123 batteries, I have three packs made up. I get a max of 2750rpm on a 13t pinion. My hover times are about 6 minutes. The problem I have is that I consistently only put 1,100 mah back into the pack, they are 2300mah packs. So it seems I'm putting too much of a load on the pack drawing the voltage down and ending the flight early. As usual with A123's the packs drop off quickly but why so early?

I'd like to be able to fly longer flight times, if possible, with a 2,600rpm headspeed.

So I was thinking perhaps I should go with something like a 4400kv motor such as the Scorion or Hyperion HS-2221-6 with an 11t pinion. This would give me a headspeed of 2900rpm max.

Would this allow me to run more mah out of the battery pack. i.e. would I get l more use of the A123 pack? Would this increase or decrease my flight time?

Oh, I have a Castle Phoenix ESC but I don't know if it's a 35 or 45amp as there is no label on it and the Castle Link only shows 35/45 when I ask it to read the settings.

Thanks so much for your time.
Curtis
Montana

[JESbond]

You need to set your LVC on the ESC to 8 volts to get 2000 + amp hours out of the 3sA123 packs. I flew about 600 flights on my Trex450SE fours years ago and still have the same 3s packs for RC trucks. I bought 200 cells when I got in the hobby and stills have 200 cells. They are indestructable, even ran many down to 0 volts by accident more than once.
James

[cloudyifr]

Originally Posted by JESbond

You need to set your LVC on the ESC to 8 volts to get 2000 + amp hours out of the 3sA123 packs. I flew about 600 flights on my Trex450SE fours years ago and still have the same 3s packs for RC trucks. I bought 200 cells when I got in the hobby and stills have 200 cells. They are indestructable, even ran many down to 0 volts by accident more than once.
James

Thanks James. I have it set to 2v per cell.

I've ordered a Scorpion 2221-6 4400KV motor and will run that with an 11tooth pinion and I'll report back once I'm able to fly it.

Curtis
Montana

[cloudyifr]

Yahoo! I put the Scorpion 2221-6 motor in with an 11 tooth pinion and did a hover in my driveway. It's only 12 degrees F this morning but I hovered for over 10 minutes! Wow! I'm impressed. That's with headspeeds of 2400 - 2750 in governor mode.

I charged the battery and it took 1671 mah. Perfect! It also seems as if the packs is better balance during the charge cycle too. I think in the previous setup I was running one of the cells down too low.

Now I'm optimized for Trex 450 sport flying! What a great setup with A123 batteries.

Thanks for the all the help and Happy Holidays from myself and www.TailwindGliders.com

Curtis
Montana

[kgfly]

Cool! Good to see other still enjoying A123 in roles where they make sense.

[phillipda]

Is anyone still using there A123 cells?

[kgfly]

Originally Posted by phillipda

Is anyone still using there A123 cells?

Yep :-)

Flew my Protos 500 on the weekend using the same 7S packs I have been flying for many years now. Hundreds and hundreds of flights on each pack. Some packs have been crashed a couple of times. Sometimes left idle for a year or so. Usually charged at 20A.

Still going strong although usable capacity in the Protos is down around 1850 mah.

I'm only a gentle sport flier and for me they have been a great solution.

Also use them in electric boats :-)

[Four Stroker]

"I'm only a gentle sport flier and for me they have been a great solution."

There you go. Everyone does not need the liability of LiPo's. A123 are about 60~70% of the mass energy density of LiPo's. But are safe and last forever.

[chopstick]

A little late, but yes I still use A123 on my LOGO500.
2500 mAh 7S. And charching in about 10 to 12 minutes on a carbattery.
After hundreds of flights still goiing strong. No more worries about lipo's that in fact deliver even less then my A123 during most of their short lifetime.

[nitrodude]

People are still using a123 cells?
These things were awesome years ago before i first got out of the rc hobby.
I had a couple 1/8th scale brushless trucks that ran them. Including a crt truggy converted from nitro that ran a 6s pack with an airplane esc lol
These packs took a beating and kept working thats for sure.
When i got out of the hobby, i took 4 of the leftover a123 cells and made a 4s battery to start my motorcycle at the time. Worked great for years until i sold the bike.

[kgfly]

Yep, still flying (and swimming) mine.

Most recently used two 7S packs in parallel for my son's electric skateboard project. Worked like a charm :-)

I did finally have one cell die in one of my 7S packs while charging. It made a snapping noise when I started the charge and that was the end of it. No smoke, no fire, no drama. So now I have 6 cells to re-purpose.