Flight time, is this normal?

[Flying_Amp]

Hi

Been flying my 450X and Tarot 450 pro v2 both FBL, just got back into heli's a couple of months ago so started off slow with all the hovering etc, and nice circuits.

Now i use both Gens Ace 2200 25c packs and Zipp's, flight time at first was around 5 mins, mostly in normal mode (getting used to it all again)

Started throwing both heli's around,(flips big loops etc) and wow! after crashing the 450X yesterday, it turns out it looks like it hit LVC (4 min flight, about 3 mins into it) pack was checked and fully charged at the start.

So today i took out the Tarot, cut the time down to 3mins, again big loops, flips, and some punch outs, landed checked the battery and it was down 11.3v(yet a different one, and all with around 8 cycles on them)

I take it this is not normal, as i have never seen mention of such short flight times? what are most of you guys getting, i have 12 batts , all only months old.




Cheers

[Rich23]

Hey

Ive set my timer at 4 min 30 sec to get 24-26% left in the pack. This is flying in idle up and doing circuits and hovering mainly. I use gens ace 2200mah 25c packs and turnigy 2200mah 25c.

Rich

[Nick1975]

Im running 5 min timer on 2200 25c overlanders and Turnigy lipo's on my 450Pro FBL and putting around 1400 - 1500mah back in to the packs
All my packs are roughly a year old as well.

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[Flying_Amp]

So what do you think, am i just over doing it on the sticks, with punch outs etc.... i could see if it was just one pack, or just one heli, bit it's consistant, if i fly in this manner 3 mins is max for me, and i am no 3D god lol.

Just a bit disappointed, thought i would at least get 4 mins safely.

[Nick B]

what throttle curves are you running?

[NoFixedAbode]

You have not said how much capacity you are using. Flight times are not an accurate way of judging. Depends on head speed..gearing..motor...blade size....governor/curves etc......

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[Flying_Amp]

Packs coming down with between 1700-1800 of a 2200mah pack used.

The Tarot's running at 80,75,70,75,80 in IU and the same for the 450X, both use 325 blades , Tarot bog standard motor esc and 13t pinion if i recall , Blade 450X is bog standard as well. Headspeed has not been measure on either, the Tarot does sound to be higher than the 450X.


Cheers

[NoFixedAbode]

I am not really interested in details listed. But they look about right. 2200 ÷ 100 × 80% = 1760. Adjust your flight times accordingly. I have my timer set for 5 mins but not I have upped the head speed. The batteries are a bit warmer so I will change my flight time to 4:30 to suit.

Hope this helps

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[Flying_Amp]

Ok cheers.

[Mikej]

Flying_Amp,

Your flight times are a bit low (I typically get 4.45 - 5.00 minutes on my 450s running higher HS's) - your throttle percentages are not in the optimal range - it may help either upping the throttle % and running higher HS (counterintuitive obviously), or dropping a pinion size and upping the % but keeping the same HS.

However I would also look for other issues - is your belt too tight (assuming belt drive) or your pinion mesh too tight (these can both reduce flight times). How are you measuring the voltages? are you sure that the batteries are fully charged?

Something sounds wrong.

Cheers,
Mike.

[James A]

Just to add to your confussion I get 6 mins from my TRex 450 sport with flybar and I then tend to put about 1650 or 1700 back in. Throttle curve is 80% and to 85% on idle up but I'm not pushing her hard, just a bit of gentle inverted and flip outs etc. I'm using the Gens Ace 2200 30C.

Now to make you jealous, I get 8 mins from my 500 running Gens Ace 3300 30C and only put back in 1750 with the same sort of flying.

[Flying_Amp]

Totally confused now, flew tonight with the Blade 450x (after it's repair from the other day) dropped the time down to 3 mins, packs had only used 1100 mah from a 2200,and were in the 11.5v range straight after flight. still did a good bit of loops and flips.

Both the tarot (torque tube) and blade 450X (belt) both seem fine, certainly not too tight. I'll do some more flights tomorrow at the 3min mark, and if things are the same start to go up a bit again towards 4 min.

Cheers

[cjcj1949]

1100mah for 3 mins is very high. Perhaps it's the way you are flying. Try some fairly gentle stuff and you should get 5mins for the same end off load voltage of 3.8V/cell. You may have overused the packs. The 80% rule is ok for gentle use but the onload volts may be getting low especially as you managed to hit LVC.Hitting LVC is ok when hovering as you will just land with a drop in power or whatever your esc is setup to, but with more exciting flying LVC is no good and may be better switched off. I use an alarm that makes a noise when the volts drop to a preset level. This can be anything from 3.5 to 3.7V. The higher voltage is for good batteries, the lower for old not so good. What are the IRs on the packs you are using and what volts are you ending upat onload? Using the capacity you have been told is in the battery is called "abuse"...or using them at the C rating.

I've got a similar problem and after much measurement and fiddling I found a new battery "cured" the problem. I'd advise something better than a 30C GensAce for your flying and also a lipo alarm. My old batteries are still working but I've had to drop the end volts form 3.7 to 3.6. How much longer they'll last I don't know.

[James A]

Have to agree with cjcj1949, the one thing I do have is the DX8 with Telemetry so that will start the controller buzzing and bleeping when the battery hits the low voltage level I've set for it which does help avoid hitting LVC. For me this was been a real heli saver after Christmas when two of my older packs went dud, one had a dead cell that would be the only one to discharge during a flight, giving about 30sec. As soon as the heli went up it would start screaming at me.

I can't rate the on board voltage devices enough.

[Flying_Amp]

Thanks gents' low voltage alarm it is, can anyone recommend a decent one?