Electric Question

[halo25]

which you're epoxying now anyway and could have epoxied in situ...ya gotta laugh


Oh, and don't forget those bearing block bolts are the funny ones 'socket button head collar screw' not just an ordinary m3

I wasnt at the time but you know what, its been such a trial I find it funny now. I am almost resigned to having it back into having as many bits as it was new and rebuilding heheh

Aha - yes spotted that one and thanks to trex.co.uk a load of bits turned up yesterday including the correct screws.

PS thanks very much for the kind offer of the bearings, I forgot to say that - and its very much appreciated

[pgkevet]

I wasnt at the time but you know what, its been such a trial I find it funny now. I am almost resigned to having it back into having as many bits as it was new and rebuilding heheh

Aha - yes spotted that one and thanks to trex.co.uk a load of bits turned up yesterday including the correct screws.

PS thanks very much for the kind offer of the bearings, I forgot to say that - and its very much appreciated

No probs.. let me know if ya needs them. Just whack the rest together and re-set-up meanwhile

[halo25]

Feck what a week - family emergency took me away for 4 days so not long home.

Came home to a packet of plastic bearing blocks from nofixedabode (thanks mate) and some other spares.

Got the main gear fitted, its tight for anyone else going to the new parts. Stripped down tail and found the torque tube bearings are also shot, so replacements ordered. When the heli landed the last time I was sure the tail servo was seized as well. Took it apart today and sure enough the motor catches and stops at a point in the travel. So ordered a DS655 today with new bearings.

Stained crank went into a light vinegar and water solution - hey presto clean crank without any scrubbing

I think however I have decided the hunt for an electric is on, either the Trex 550 or Fusion 50. I can take off the servos, 3gx blades etc from the 600 once I decide where I am going with it.

[trillian]

I think however I have decided the hunt for an electric is on, either the Trex 550 or Fusion 50. I can take off the servos, 3gx blades etc from the 600 once I decide where I am going with it.

My suggestion would be go with the Fusion and go straight to 12s. Unless you already have a bunch of high C rated 5000mah 6s packs it's not going to cost more to go 12s and then you not only have more power but cheaper packs as well (because on 12s the amp draw is much lower). If you want to do it as inexpensively as possible I'd go with the Hobbywing 70HV or the YEP 80A HV ESC and Align 600mx motor. You could get a cheaper ESC and motor for a 6s setup but then you'll need as high C rated packs as you can afford because 6s on even a 550 is pulling a lot of amps.

[halo25]

Just doing some digging at the moment - Midlands have a frame with ESC/Motor (scorpion) for instance.

Its how many packs I need and how to charge them at the field thats mainly stumping me at the moment with 12s

[trillian]

Just doing some digging at the moment - Midlands have a frame with ESC/Motor (scorpion) for instance.

Its how many packs I need and how to charge them at the field thats mainly stumping me at the moment with 12s

Charging anything bigger than a 450 takes a fair amount of power so to charge at the field you'll either need a generator or maybe one of those deep cycle batteries (but it would still need to be charged sometimes).

You can parallel charge two 6s 2600mah packs in roughly the same time as it would take to charge one 6s 5000mah pack it just depends on the packs and what charge rate they can handle and then having the charger and PSU to handle it. (I don't charge at more than 2C usually)

For the Trex 500 I don't bother charging at the field because I can bring 6 or 7 fully charged packs (well, I only have 7 :-). For the bigger ones it's either charge at the field or invest in a lot of LiPos. That's the only drawback about electric really. I can only charge at one of the clubs I fly at, for the others I'd have to bring as many charged packs as I can carry depending on how many flights I want to do.

Generally speaking if you have a minimum of four flights worth, so 4 pairs of LiPos for a 12s heli, you can pretty much keep flying continuously because you fly one pair and then start them charging and by the time you fly the other three the first pair should be almost charged. It depends on how much time you spend changing the packs or chatting etc. but roughly you can charge in about 20 minutes so if you get three 6 minute flights then your first pair is ready to go again and you just keep going that way. Obviously if you have 5 or 6 sets of LiPos then you can easily keep flying almost non-stop.

[halo25]

Thanks for that - good food for thought, I do like the 550 but something draws me to the 600/Fusion for some reason.

Speaking to Raj I can get a really good deal on the 600 dfc airframe and transfer most of my bits - just the esc/motor to choose so bit of thinking to do.

Plan was 3 flights then charge but maybe 4 is better as you say so I can charge and go. The other good thing is that with electric I can fly closer to home sometimes and 4 packs would easily be a quick evenings flying.

I dont want to start a fusion 50 vs 600 dfe debate but are there any pros cons to each?

I guess for me with the fusion I would be going 2nd hand whereas the 600 I would build - reducing risk of more issues like I have already had!

[mark_w]

Before you buy a new heli, just take a moment to consider your position.

Flying by yourself can get boring, and unless you buy lots of packs or a genny you will have limited flight times.

Look into a club, there will be other flyers to help you get going and give you tips, and once you get the 600n in the air you can get some serous stick time in without having to worry about charging up.

just my 2p

[halo25]

Before you buy a new heli, just take a moment to consider your position.

Flying by yourself can get boring, and unless you buy lots of packs or a genny you will have limited flight times.

Look into a club, there will be other flyers to help you get going and give you tips, and once you get the 600n in the air you can get some serous stick time in without having to worry about charging up.

just my 2p

I hear you and in no rush :-)

I will essentially be flying by myself though as at the moment I am the only full time heli flier in my club.

Plan at the moment is to get the darn thing in the air and some stick time as I have 3 gallons of nitro with its name on it, then decide what next.....

My ideal would actually be one of each.

[trillian]

My ideal would actually be one of each.

Yeah, nitro and electric is a great balance IMHO. I know some people stick to one or the other but I almost always bring my 500 when I'm flying a nitro heli and like the difference. When I'm flying electric I don't have to think about how the engine is running and when I fly nitro I don't have to set a timer or worry about LiPo charging.

Between the Fusion and the 600 pro it's really just a matter of which one you like the look of best. Both can be made to fly very well. One thing I liked about the Fusion is how you can change LiPos so easily without removing the canopy or struggling to get the straps into a tight space, it's very well designed in that regard.

[JoeBailey]

Electric Question

The tail ratio on the 600 can be a little high meaning you need a higher head speed to keep a solid hold. The fusion is a very versatile model 6s 8s 10s or 12s with low and high head speeds and it will take any FBI system with its flexible geometry system.

[halo25]

I think my tail wag was a series of potential issues, if the tail ratio is like that then the rich running wouldnt of helped. Added bonus was shot engine bearing and I suspect the tail servo was never happy.

So hopefully today I get home to a DS655 in the post, new torque case bearings and engine bearings. Almost every bearing is new in the heli now or will be so I would expect a couple of months before anything else needs done.

Good info on the fusion/600 there too thanks guys. Personally I prefer the look of the fusion, but the thought of building something myself and knowing exactly whats in it also appeals

[halo25]

Still tempted by the fusion guys, thought the 600n is almost back together.

Any ideas how long or how much stuff is selling for just now?

I have literally replaced every bearing on the 600 - put the new gears, one way bearing and metal pitch slider on - DS655 arrived yesterday so thats on but needs set up. The OS55 is sat waiting for me to take the sheath of the front bearing (missed that bit) but is ready to go too. But somehow I am still drawn to selling the lot and going electric.

I have found a field 5 mins walk away I can fly from, so charging is much less of an issue now.