Power Systems for RC Scratchbuilds

[colorex]

Hi everyone,

I made this thread so you could suggest your favorite power systems.

It would be nice if you could post the important specs such as:

Motor:
ESC:
Servos:
Battery:

Weight of your plane:
Type of plane:
Flight time:

It would also be nice if you could add links to each of the parts.

-----

I started this thread because I might build something myself, around 250 grams.

 

[pgerts]

My "standard" since some years back are:

models up to 250 grams sport (indoor 3D) or 500 grams scale (cub type).

Motor : HXM2730-1500 Hextronics 24 gram
Esc : TR_P10A Turnigy Plush 10A, I am trying to get the turnigy plush for most planes
Servos : HXT 500 or HXT 900
Battery : N370.2S.25 Turnigy Nanotech 2 cell 370 mAh 25-40C with GWS-RD-8043 GWS SF 8*4,3 fits perfect with the propsaver.
Alternative Battery for outdoor flying :N460.3S.25 Turnigy Nanotech 460 mAh 3 cell 25-40C with GWS-RD-7060 propeller.

I am using micro deans connectors for all smaller setups. Not stocked by HobbyKing any longer?
I am also using the lipo volt indicator to check my batteries GT-BMON6


Models 400 to 1000 grams

Motor Combo : TPC>4-1-8x3.8 including Towerpro BM2409 18T with a 25A controller.
Propsaver : 3MPRPSVR - remember to cut the motor axel as short as possible.
I never use the black rubber bands, but "normal" short rubber bands twisted as tight as possible.
Servos : HXT900 (normally 4 of them)
Battery : N850.3S.25 Turnigy Nanotech 3 cell 850 mAh for light aircraft up to 1300 mAh with GWS-DD-8040. This prop fits the bigger prop saver perfect. the GWS DD 7*6 is used for faster pusher planes.
For "steroid" performance you should use a 4 cell battery.

Another thing i cannot be without is the servotester T-ST_01 to check and center all servos prior to fitting the servo arms and to check the motor direction before crimping the tube over the solder joint on the motor cables. It is much easier than connecting your radio TX RX and everything.

Flight time for both setups are 5-10 minutes depending on throttel management and flight style. Longer time if just cruising.

 

[colorex]

Thanks pgerts, I think I'll try that on my sratchbuilds! It's very economic! How much flying time do you get?

 

[ananas1301]

My Event has a 19g motor with 1700kv and a 10A ESC. That then with a GWS 8x4,3 Prop gives you around 300g of thrust I think if I remember the stats right. But my Event sadly doesn´t go vertical and also that motor only goes up to 2S. Always flying around 10 minutes.

Then today I got a delivery from HK (de warehouse) and that is 24g 1800kv motor which will be going on 2s and 3s.
Need to mount it still though and make the update on my build thread

Then I got my Hackerskyfighter.
It has a litlle 2900kv outrunner and a 5A ESC.
That goes for about 10 minutes.

Hope I could help you and didn´t forget anything.

 

[Jeffrey Saelee]

I have only tried two motors and one ESC....
My favorite motor, used with 10x5 prop, GOBS of power, easily take off a big heavy slow flyer at half throttle: hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8495
I used an E-Flite 30 or 40A ESC--Very good! I also love the Corona 929mg Metal gear servos($5 from HK). The "battery monitor 2-6S" is very hand too--even if it isnt too accurate.

 

[colorex]

Hey, What about this?

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__9070__Turnigy_3020_Brushless_Outrunner_Motor_1800kv.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3731
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9272
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__662__HXT900_9g_1_6kg_12sec_Micro_Servo.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7936

Is this a good setup to pull a small trainer? What weight and wingspan could it take?

 

[Jeffrey Saelee]

How about this:
Blue Wonder Motor (I've heard a lot of good reviews about it) http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4859
HK SS 15-18A ESC http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__6456__Hobbyking_SS_Series_15_18A_ESC.html
500-1500mAh 3S (Sorry, can't post anymore links right now--HK is not working)
5g or 9g servo
and the prop recommended, be sure to read the reviews

 

[colorex]

My "standard" since some years back are:

models up to 250 grams sport (indoor 3D) or 500 grams scale (cub type).

Motor : HXM2730-1500 Hextronics 24 gram
Esc : TR_P10A Turnigy Plush 10A, I am trying to get the turnigy plush for most planes
Servos : HXT 500 or HXT 900
Battery : N370.2S.25 Turnigy Nanotech 2 cell 370 mAh 25-40C with GWS-RD-8043 GWS SF 8*4,3 fits perfect with the propsaver.
Alternative Battery for outdoor flying :N460.3S.25 Turnigy Nanotech 460 mAh 3 cell 25-40C with GWS-RD-7060 propeller.

OK, I have some questions:

Will the setup pull a 1300 mAh battery?
Does it need the high discharge rate or is 20C enough?
Is this OK for a 500gr balsa trainer? (The setup with a 1300 weighs 200gr w/o Rx, leaving 200-300 gr for the plane)
Is there a smaller prop with the same performance?
Fast or slow flyer?
Average wingspan for a 500gr trainer?

Thanks for your answer...

 

[colorex]

How about this:
Blue Wonder Motor (I've heard a lot of good reviews about it) http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4859
HK SS 15-18A ESC http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__6456__Hobbyking_SS_Series_15_18A_ESC.html
500-1500mAh 3S (Sorry, can't post anymore links right now--HK is not working)
5g or 9g servo
and the prop recommended, be sure to read the reviews

Yeah, pgerts posted that motor above. I think it is good.
I don't like all the bad feedback on HK ESC's prefer the Plushies.
9 gram servos are cheaper.

Thanks!

 

[lobstermash]

My favourite/standard setup is:
Motor: KD A22-10S 1200kv - ~ 50g motor that can deliver over 700g static thrust at just 14A with a 9x4.7. If you want more speed, chuck on an agressive pitched 8" prop and it can take you to warp speed (unmeasured, but real fast) using a similar amp draw.
ESC: I just use the basic HK 20A. No failures yet.
Battery: 3s 1000-1600mAh.
Servos: $1.98 Turnigy 9g. They're fast, realiable and have continued to take beatings. I don't know what the people that report them as fragile have done to theirs...

All my planes range between 350-650g including the batteries.

Regarding the C rating question, the amps that can be safely drawn from a battery are usually the capacity (eg 1Ah) multiplied the discharge rating (or C rating). For example, a 1600mAh 20C battery can safely deliver ~32A. A 1300mAh 20C can deliver ~26A. A 370mAh 20C can only safely deliver 7.4A. So the smaller the battery, the more important the C rating.

 

[colorex]

Thanks lobstermash, but I think 9" prop is just too big for the plane I'll build.

 

[lobstermash]

Goes pretty well with an 8" prop... But you're probably right.