Hobby King USA Warehouse - Great packaging, fast shipping, but one small issue...

[tw-ryder]

Hi everyone,

I hope I'm starting this thread in the right forum, I have great things to say about ordering from the USA Warehouse of Hobby King, but an incorrect listing is keeping this from being a pleasant transaction. An item I bought, supposedly a 12V UBEC compatible with 2S power, is not as described. Strictly a step-down converter, I learned yesterday after installing it.

The packaging of the shipment, (a Big shipment), was outstanding! They really took their time, and put real care into the box. Go HK USA Warehouse!

You see, the shipment was mostly 12V LED stuff for my Delta Ray, a 2S trainer. Obviously I won't be running these LEDs off 2S, so the listing on the HK site says clearly that 2S will be converted to 12V. Sold. Jeez, I wish I would have looked at the International listing for the same part, commenters have proven it's strictly step down.

12V 4.5A UBEC 2-5S Lipoly (7.2-21V)

USA listing
Intl listing

So here I am with Hobby King's chat window open while I type this, trying to get them to fix the listing. I know a $9 part is nothing to them, but legions of FPVers could be led astray by their listing! And I get the impression that the CS and PS people I speak to don't care. Bouncing me between their offices, not fixing anything, but admitting the listing is wrong: "It is what it is, what can I say?" I was told.

This isn't going well, but I'm going to keep pressing them. I've enjoyed purchasing from them, but the way they're handling this is shocking, let's hope it's an exception...

 

[tw-ryder]

After asn hour with a helpful Product Specialist, Henry, he transfers me to Customer Service for a refund or credit. And goes downhill, fast:

[21:57:32] Will: Thank you Ps 10
[22:00:23] PS 10: You're welcome. Have a Great day! Daisy will be with you soon.
Operator PS 10 has left the chat.
[22:00:31] Will: Awesome
Operator Daisy has left the chat.
The chat is ended.


Wait, WHAT?!

 

[colorex]

After asn hour with a helpful Product Specialist, Henry, he transfers me to Customer Service for a refund or credit. And goes downhill, fast:

[21:57:32] Will: Thank you Ps 10
[22:00:23] PS 10: You're welcome. Have a Great day! Daisy will be with you soon.
Operator PS 10 has left the chat.
[22:00:31] Will: Awesome
Operator Daisy has left the chat.
The chat is ended.


Wait, WHAT?!

If you haven't run out of patience, maybe try again?

 

[Foam Addict]

That UBEC steps voltage down to 4.8 volts. But don't worry, The LEDs work fine off of a 7.4olt lipo. I just tested the same ones.
Just install a tap from the battery to ESC connection that has a jst connector to the LEDs.
Like this: https://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=42558

 

[tw-ryder]

Much appreciated! I think I've got a solution in a buck type step up, found one for $5 here in the US. I'm tapping my 2S until it gets in, made a quicky in the field to power the LEDs when I learned what I ordered was a step-down. Also in the field, lol!

Oh, and Foam Addict, I also got the 5V version for a 3s Apprentice, but the one I was referring to was the 12V. Does anyone have a use for a 12V Step-Down BEC? Free to a good home?

 

[tw-ryder]

If you haven't run out of patience, maybe try again?

Or order a known-good part from a reputable vendor specializing in varying voltage requirements on airborne platforms, like Sierra RC? Would the SEPIC Boost/Buck regulator there serve this purpose, Colorex? And then I can keep my patience for things like, granddaughters! lol

 

[Foam Addict]

Much appreciated! I think I've got a solution in a buck type step up, found one for $5 here in the US. I'm tapping my 2S until it gets in, made a quicky in the field to power the LEDs when I learned what I ordered was a step-down. Also in the field, lol!

Oh, and Foam Addict, I also got the 5V version for a 3s Apprentice, but the one I was referring to was the 12V. Does anyone have a use for a 12V Step-Down BEC? Free to a good home?

I'd love it, but I'm 2,000 miles away from you...

I'll admit, the LEDs are a Little dimmer on 7.4 volts, but the brightness level goes from Blinding (11.1 volts) to Slightly less blinding (7.4 volts). They really drop off after that though. I will be flying my night flight wing (LEDs on 11.1 volts) tonight after school, and I will try to get some good photos as I fly.

 

[tw-ryder]

I'd love it, but I'm 2,000 miles away from you...

I'll admit, the LEDs are a Little dimmer on 7.4 volts, but the brightness level goes from Blinding (11.1 volts) to Slightly less blinding (7.4 volts). They really drop off after that though. I will be flying my night flight wing (LEDs on 11.1 volts) tonight after school, and I will try to get some good photos as I fly.

Here's the bird in question, running epoxy-coated 12V LED strips, next to the scale GT power LEDs. The strips on 12V get stupid obnoxious ludicrous bright, and along with blue and white LEDs from HK should get some attention. When they get 12V, LoL! (Saturday, thanks USPS).

 

[Foam Addict]

Hey, Great Job! You will love night flight.

Here's a picture of my wing tonight:

 

[Craftydan]

TW,

Have you considered turning those LEDs around and shining into the foam? It's shocking how well foam diffuses light, making a hard light into a glowing wing.

 

[tw-ryder]

That looks awesome, FoamAddict! Great looking wing

Crafty, the Delta Ray has a few segments of LED strips in the fuse, nacelles, and along the servo wire traces down the wings (RTF, so I had to use the existing plumbing, lol). In the pic, what you can't see is that my wee 2S battery can't even trigger those lights And I don't want to host the first thread about how the E-Flite Delta Ray is not 3S compatible, lol

Haven't heard back from HK yet, I hope those listings change, at least. Either way, FT Folks, be wary of any step-up style converters/regulators advertised from any site, not just HK. Now that I've had some time not flying, I've found dozens of listings for this same style of BEC stating that it's 2S compatible.

Guess I need to finish the Album for our Delta Ray, we were keeping the little guy quiet until we can get some nice LED pics.

 

[Craftydan]

You *could* run the motor/rx/esc off of 2 cells though the the balance port off the 3S and then the lights off the main feed . . .

would be a really bad for the battery, but would work . . .

yeah the cheap buck up-converter for the lights is the way to go.

 

[Foam Addict]

You *could* run the motor/rx/esc off of 2 cells though the the balance port off the 3S and then the lights off the main feed . . .

would be a really bad for the battery, but would work . . .

yeah the cheap buck up-converter for the lights is the way to go.

Please don't try the balance tap idea. I blew up a battery in my workshop trying to recharge it after an experiment like that. (well I actually got it out of my workshop before it went off, but that's irrelevant.)

 

[Craftydan]

Agreed -- It's ok in the plane, but you have to take care when recharging it. In that configuration, the top cell will be much higher than the bottom two at the end of the flight.

You'll either need to run a balance discharger to get that top cell down or a really smart charger running in a balance charge mode to recharge the cells individually. Otherwise, it' just not safe and too many things can go wrong.

The upconverter really is the safe way to go.

 

[tw-ryder]

Excellent information! Thank you for converting your experience, negative though it may be, into good advice. Trust me, it will be followed!

As of right now, all of our models have LiPo voltage alarms hard mounted, with long balance leads to the battery compartments. We've read many times the perils of balance plug tapping, and have gotten into the practice of soldering bullet or JST connectors to our ESC's T-connecter battery lead. This is the first time I've needed to step up a voltage though, as the Delta Ray is 2S, and has an exposed board setup rather than traditional Rx and ESC making me hesitant to plug a 3s in.

Stay inside, Magic Smoke, stay put

 

[tw-ryder]

Well all went well installing the step-up 12V converter,m and I went crazy installing and embedding LEDs on the Delta Ray. Will create a new thread for the Apprentice and Delta Ray mods we've done, but for now here's a pic from the ground last night before flying.



The extra weight didn't seem change a thing, but I did also throw a Turnigy Nanotech 1500mah 2S in, a scoche heavier than the 1200mah stock battery, to balance CG. These LEDs are obnoxiously bright, difficult to photo, but dang if you can't see her clearly at 9PM! Pics and video to follow shortly

 

[xuzme720]

Is there a plane buried in that bright light somewhere?!?

At least you don't have to worry about visibility now! Looks great!