Power Setups

[Jag01]

G'day all,

Ok I am probably posting this in entirely the wrong area, however I just want to get it out there and get some feedback.

I am setting my my first gasser (85" and 50cc) this is to be my introduction to large scale planes. I intend in the future to move onto 100cc planes.

With that said I am looking for opinions on which way to go as far as power setups which would suit my immediate needs and future needs.

I use a Futaba 14mz radio and have available two receivers to suit, I am not necessarily set on using a dual receiver setup however I do have that option available.

So I am looking for suggestions on which way to go, the power systems I have looked at so far at the Smartfly power expander, Emcotec and the PowerBox-system.

Given that I need engine kill and would like to use 6volt servo operation, however want to limmit my receiver voltage to 4.8v what would be the most economical way of going?

I look forward to any advice.

Cheers,

Jeff

[exeter_acres]

You are opening Pandora's box with this question........

On my 85" QQ yak...

One 2400 Fromeco LiIon battery, 1 switch, 1 regulator, into 1 RX.. thats it... and I fly the pee out of it....

[Jag01]

Yeah I thought I would be, however discussion is always great! information is power and once armed with the information then one can sift through it to decide what works for them. So bring it on I say!

Cheers,

Jeff

[Zee]

I use I4C Isolator. You can use two 6V batteries for servos and one small 4.8 battery for receiver.
Very simple set up and no another gimicks required.
Zee.

[suraerobatics]

I use 2 fromco 4800 on two regs set at 6 v for the sevros into a single rx a jr 955 pcm and a 2400 fromco batt and reg set at v for ingnition on my carden aircraft 40% edge 540 and love it is awsome

[cap231jim]

My setup on my 35%:

-2 2400 lithium (TBM) packs
-2 heavy duty switches/regulators
-1 receiver

That's it; no power expanders or the like.

When I used to fly 50cc stuff I would use one battery (ni-cads) with two switches and one receiver. I was concerned about the standard Futaba switch and didn't know about heavy duty switches so I just used two stock switches.

Someday, when I grow up, I'll have a 40% airframe. At that point I'll look into a different way to manage the power to all those servos.....still not sold on the dual receiver thing though.......

I think we sometimes overcomplicate our setups.... (IMHO)

Jim

[3DBatixkid]

If you want a setup that will run in a 100CC id suggest the following, but it will not be the lightest setup for the 85in.

Any of the Smart Fly power expanders. If you want to get the EQ 10 with the built in servo matching, you wont need to get extra equalizers for the surfaces with ganged servos. The Power Expanders will run the receiver at 4.8v and the servos at whatever you set your regulator to.

I am running the Super Reg from Smart Fly in my 100cc. This has two inputs and two outputs for deans connectors, and mates up to the power expanders nicely. You can use two switches between the batteries and the regulator, or a soft switch on the regulator.

Be sure to pick up a fiber optic ignition kill as well. They are invaluable.

For this setup you only need one receiver which is fine, even in 150cc planes.

Hope this helps

[Kiwi]

Jag01.

Biased opinion here but it works.

If you have even the slightest intention of going to a bigger plane in he future then try not to match your equipment to a minimalist requirement.

I can show you boxes of equipment that has been purchased with the idea that the guys can save 5 or 10 grams in weight, but 12 months down the track they are out buying all new stuff for the 100cc or 150cc dream plane. You can save a packet of cash by doing it right the first time.

OK, the pick of the crop in power systems is the Power Expander EQ10. That thing will be good for any sized plane you ever build.
On regulators there is a choice. The Super regulator from Smart-Fly or two separate regulators from Fromeco. The problem with the separate regulators is they do not balance the battery discharge and you can end up with one pack being used more than the other. Its minor and it wont ruin your day at all but some guys like to keep packs balanced.
Battery packs are pretty much a no brainer with Fromeco likely having the cream of the crop on Li_Ion service and support but there is also the Flightpower Li_Po flight packs if you want capacity and light weight.

Ignition kill is a must on any gasser and the Smart-Fly Ignition kill is the simplest system you will find but again there are others and some made in Oz I think. If you go to the Giants Down under thread and ask these questions you get answers from guys who live right next door to you.

If your looking for a one stop shop to fix you up with all the information and equipment you need try calling Howie at Desert Aircraft in Brisbane. He makes a living from doing this stuff and has it all sussed out.

If your adamant that you only want your gear for the 85cc sized plane then look at www.smart-fly.com and you will see the sports series power systems that come with everything built in to one board. Regs, Ign Kill, etc etc.

Hope that confused you sufficiently mate.

[T-Time]

I am not all that experienced, and am actually building my first gasser at this time as well (Hangar-9 27% Extra 260 w/ da-50). I was given this setup by a very experienced large-scale pilot. I am using a 6v nimh battery on one switch as my ignition power source. For all of the servos and receiver I have 2 nimh batterys each with their own heavy duty switch. One of them is connected dirrectly into the "battery" input on the receiver. The 2nd is connected via a "y" harness into my "gear" input along with the servo that is going to control my engine choke. This way if one of the batteries goes, the other will still be functioning as a back up. Also the servo on the choke will act as my kill switch. With this system, regulators as well as power expanders are eliminated, and thus saving weight, as well as saving the chance of one of those pieces of equipment failing causing the whole power system to fail as well. A well known pilot in my area lost a 40% this year because the redundeny system failed. All of his batteries were all fine, but the system that regulated them all failed causing the total loss of a VERY EXPENSIVE plane. Best to keep it as simple as possible, while still being effective...... just my 2 cents

[toprudder]

In my 85" 50cc plane, I have a single 2600 mah battery, TBM2CD, from Troybuilt.

http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/LiIonBatteries2CELL.htm

Some people might suggest having two of these batteries.

I have the Smartfly SuperReg

http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/Regul...#SF%20superreg

and the Smartfly Powerexpander Sport

http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/PowerSystems_QPES8.htm

Nice things about this setup, they can all be used for larger planes. The regulator will accept two batteries on the input, even though you only need one (IMHO) for a 50cc plane. The battery I spec'd has one normal charge lead, and one high current lead with a Deans Ultra plug. There are two large current jumpers that connect the regulator to the power expander. The regulator can be adjusted to 6v to power the servos, the power expander regulates the receiver to 5v. On my system, I also use the failsafe switch option of the regulator, it plugs directly into the regulator, and none of the servo current flows through the switch. If the switch lead is cut or comes unplugged, the system stays on.

I also use the Smartfly fiber-optic kill switch, and highly recommend it.

http://www.troybuiltmodels.com/KillSwitch.html

I use another 2600 mah battery for the ignition (way overkill) and a Smartfly ignition regulator as well. To simplify this, you could use a 4.8v Nicad or NiMh for the ignition, and not need a regulator.

You might take a look at the Smartfly website, I think they have package deals, and also include other little goodies (like the short Deans Ultra jumpers between the regulator/expander).

I think two receivers are not needed, and some will say they can actually interfere with one another though I have not tried it or seen it myself. I do like the idea of redundancy though I think we can get carried away with it.

No, I am not sponsered by Troybuilt or Smartfly. I've just had good service from both.

Bob R.

[caurimare]

	Quote: Originally Posted by exeter_acres
	You are opening Pandora's box with this question........ On my 85" QQ yak... One 2400 Fromeco LiIon battery, 1 switch, 1 regulator, into 1 RX.. thats it... and I fly the pee out of it....

I second this set up this is all you will need in a 50 cc plane and if later on you want to get a 100 cc plane just go and get it and keep your 50cc as well.
I am a weight freak and all my planes are on a strict diet, I just don't like to use something that you really dont need (in this case power expanders dual batteries etc in a 50cc plane)

[patrick82]

I have a 2.6m Yak running a DA-100. I have a dual receiver setup. I have kept things real simple in that I have 2 2400mah packs into two switches then from each switch into each of the receivers. I use matchboxes in each wing and one heavy duty rudder servo. all works great but due to the current drain on the rudder servo I find one pack frequently tops up with 20% extra during charge. For all my use and all day long flyingin this setup works great. I do plan to switch to Li-ion or li-po batteries with regulators so that the servos get the same regulated power all the time. Long story short. Keep it simple. Every bit of non essential "bling" is another possible point of failure. I have however also thought about jumping between the packs of my current setup to get the same current drain out of each pack. And no the receivers don't bother each other. I have had glitch free flying for some time now.... Anyways Im from OZ and it's rather more expensive getting good gear here than in the states or the likes of.