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Post by chipbutty on Oct 27, 2010 15:40:38 GMT -5
Cheers. I did. ;D Picked up an Align 60A ESC today for a bargain £25. It's for the Trex 500 so it should be fine. A nice Castle Creations ICE will have to wait. Maybe Santa will bring one. I decided to put the extra cash into new lipos for the 425. I'm looking at a 2650mah. Is that a better option than 2200mah in this heli? I've always had good luck with Turnigys so I'm thinking of picking up some 3S ones www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9267Does anyone know if they will fit ok with the Gaui FG canopy (204166) and plastic frame? Is there any advantage to getting 6S lipos rather than 2 x 3S lipos? The COG looks better with 2 x 3S as the weight looks better distributed with one above and below the frame. I don't have any 6S lipos anyway. Is it worth looking at 3000mah or would they make the heli too nose heavy? If you have to add weight to the rear of the heli to balance things out then it would seem to negate any potential extra flying time? I've read a lot about lipos in the 425 forum over on Helifreak but it gets very confusing as people are running all sorts of different frames and canopies!
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Post by dunkonu23 on Oct 27, 2010 18:56:26 GMT -5
I would do the Two 3S setup in series, more MAH = more weight in general, so you're looking to balance flight time with your CG. In cases where the battery combo is too heavy, there's nothing stopping you from moving the ESC to between the frames in front and/or moving the tail servo to the boom. I would probably go for the 2650 mAh batteries and see what that brings for you. . As far as the canopy goes, it should fit.
Glad you had a great holiday!
Scott
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Post by Jerrymac on Oct 28, 2010 0:21:16 GMT -5
I would have to agree with Scott on the 2650mah lipos. They should be just about right as far as the weight goes. I am using a single 6s 2500mah sitting on top with a modified battery tray on my 425. You can see that the battery is pretty far forward from the motor and the GC is spot on, but I also have my tail servo mounted on the boom. Here is a link to the mod. on mine. gauihelicoptertalk.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=options&action=display&thread=87Also, I am running 2 x 3s 3300mah in my 550 with a plastic frame and I tried the 425 FG canopy on it to see if it would fit. It is very tight, but with 2650mah or 3000mah it should work fine. I usually check the battery dimensions and weight, then cut a block of styrene foam the same size to check for fit. Then I poke holes in the foam and add lead fishing sinkers to make it the same weight as the battery to check CoG. That way I have a general idea of what batteries will work before buying them.
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 28, 2010 3:01:30 GMT -5
Cheers folks. I'll pick up four 2650s and maybe a couple of 3000s for experimentation purposes.
Jerry, that's an ingenious method for checking lipo fitting! I like the modified battery tray.
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 28, 2010 12:15:53 GMT -5
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Post by Jerrymac on Oct 29, 2010 1:08:25 GMT -5
Hey Chip, I didn't really have a lot of time to check all of your parts links, but, those cyclic servos look to be mini servos. If so, you will need to use adapter plates as the frame is made for full size servos. My 425 kit came with adapter plates included, although I didn't need them.
If I remember right, I think Ivan (9sec240) used that motor in his 425 build, and then stretched it to run 500mm blades using the same motor.
The Align 60A esc might be at it's limit. The motor description "recommends" a 70A, although I didn't see the motor's max amp draw listed. It is rated at 1500 watts, which at 22.2 volts would be around 68 amps.
I don't know anything about that gyro, so can't comment on it.
Keep us updated on the build. I enjoy reading and following along on the "build" threads.
And, yeah, almost forgot, Good luck with the build.
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 29, 2010 2:18:37 GMT -5
Thanks Jerry. I'm not sure if the servos need the adapter plates or not. Buzzflyer here in the UK supply their Gaui 425 RTF with the same servos. I have the adapter plates though!
Looks like I have messed up with the motor. I should have looked closer at the motor specs. Gggrrr. Maybe I'll look out for a higher spec ESC and sell this one. I can't afford anything like a Castle Creations at the moment.
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 29, 2010 4:48:15 GMT -5
I've done a bit more digging on the Align RCE-BL60G ESC and it could be up to the task. The stock motor with this ESC is the Align 500L: 500L - www.align.com.tw/shop/product_info.php?products_id=2171●Max continuous current: 4S 45A/55A(30sec) 6S 35A/45A(30sec) ●Max output power:650W/800W(30sec) Pretty tame compared to the more demanding Turnigy motor. But the more powerful Align 500M motor is supplied with the same ESC and by all accounts the ESC copes just fine. Many T500 owners upgraded to this motor and used it with the stock 60A ESC. Align themselves supply the 500M with this ESC. Spikes of 80A have been reported and the ESC coped. The specs look very similar to the Turnigy H3126. 500M - www.align.com.tw/shop/product_info.php?products_id=3050●Max continuous current:60A/70A(30sec) ●Max output power:1260W/1470W(30sec) Keeping a flat 100% throttle curve will help so as not to tax the ESC. That could require a fair amount of tweaking. I'll just see how it goes but a better ESC is on my wishlist.
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Post by dunkonu23 on Oct 29, 2010 12:54:01 GMT -5
Personally, I'd go with full sized servos, but that's just me. I have this thing for wanting to buy once. Should you decide to stretch your 425 in the future, it will limit the cost at that time. I think you'll do just fine with the Align ESC. I've got two of them and never had problem one with either of them. On the other hand, I've had one Castle ICE 75 go bad in flight.... that was NOT pretty. Scott
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 29, 2010 14:31:56 GMT -5
Cheers Scott. Too late I ordered them yesterday ;D If I stretch the 425 why can't I continue to use the MKS servos? I'd still be using the same frame Torque values: 4.8V: 3.8KG, 6V: 4.7KG. Personally, I'd go with full sized servos, but that's just me. I have this thing for wanting to buy once. Should you decide to stretch your 425 in the future, it will limit the cost at that time. I think you'll do just fine with the Align ESC. I've got two of them and never had problem one with either of them. On the other hand, I've had one Castle ICE 75 go bad in flight.... that was NOT pretty. Scott
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 29, 2010 14:52:44 GMT -5
I don't know if anyone has seen this before. It's a Gaui 425 supplied by Buzzflyer here in the UK. The build is pretty similar to mine. Same MKS servos. Don't you just hate 9 year olds!
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Post by dunkonu23 on Oct 29, 2010 17:28:19 GMT -5
I would be worried about the stress on the servos if you stretch the helicopter. They'll probably work just fine, but I just worry about stuff like that.
Scott
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 29, 2010 17:47:53 GMT -5
I guess it's the old saying how long is a piece of string. Flying style and various other factors come into play. I'll just keep practicing autos in Phoenix ;D I would be worried about the stress on the servos if you stretch the helicopter. They'll probably work just fine, but I just worry about stuff like that. Scott
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Post by dunkonu23 on Oct 29, 2010 19:27:04 GMT -5
That's what I do! Phoenix, Phoenix, Phoenix. I swear, I'm gonna be a much better pilot next season!
Scott
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Post by Jerrymac on Oct 30, 2010 0:47:12 GMT -5
Hehe, didn't mean to scare you about the esc. I didn't say that it wouldn't work, just that it might be at it's limit with hard flying. For all around sport flying, I don't think you will need to worry though, as the motor will not be pulling it's max current draw.
I am going to use a Z30-1100kv motor in my "500" build, which has a max amp rating of 60A, but it will be paired to an Align 75A esc. I just like having that little extra 'cushion', that's all.
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 30, 2010 2:12:40 GMT -5
Initially I did have images in my head of the Gaui nose diving into the ground in a ball of flames ;D But those flames were doused after reading that it's a pretty capable ESC from Align. Ahh, if only money were no object. Hehe, didn't mean to scare you about the esc. I didn't say that it wouldn't work, just that it might be at it's limit with hard flying. For all around sport flying, I don't think you will need to worry though, as the motor will not be pulling it's max current draw. I am going to use a Z30-1100kv motor in my "500" build, which has a max amp rating of 60A, but it will be paired to an Align 75A esc. I just like having that little extra 'cushion', that's all.
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Post by chipbutty on Oct 30, 2010 3:14:46 GMT -5
No updates on the build as I'm waiting on parts so I stuck the decals on the canopy. Gaui's decals are less than inspiring! I was hoping I'd get the red decals but I got the German flag inspired decals with the 425.
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Post by dunkonu23 on Oct 30, 2010 11:41:55 GMT -5
Still, a nice job on the canopy. There are Fusuno canopies that will fit the frame and the Gaui FG canopy will fit. That's only if you want a replacement. You'll do well.
Scott
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Post by chipbutty on Nov 5, 2010 5:39:42 GMT -5
My parts have been held by customs and they've charged me £3.45 VAT and a £13.50 clearance fee! That's the first time I've had to pay import duties when ordering from HK. All being well I should have the parts by Tuesday.
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Post by Jerrymac on Nov 6, 2010 0:13:37 GMT -5
Well, that can be frustrating. I am glad we don't have a VAT here in the states, but, that could change soon as I recently read that the govt has been kicking around the idea. Don't know what your weather is like there at this time of the year, but for many of us in the northern part of the U.S. the flying season is about over for the winter. Check out the "anti-crash foam" thread in the off topic section for a look at last winter's weather for many of us.
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