Winter / Focus / Fuel

[Doug Cronkhite]

Sure thing..

Motor: Hacker C50-14XL geared.
Controller: Jeti Hacker Master 77-3p.
Batteries: Thunder Power 10s3p (actually 2 x 5s3p wired in series)
Charger: Schulze ISL 6-330d x 2
Aircraft: ZN Line Supreme

Cost is unreasonable at this stage of the game. The motor and controller 
are actually not the bulk of the price. It's the batteries. Including 
everything (motor, controller, battery, chargers) I have roughly $2000 
invested. You could knock about $650 off that if you only buy 1 
10s3p battery pack. I already had the chargers so you're looking at 
another $380 to buy a pair. I'm also developing my own mounting setup for 
the airplane (which ZN will manufacture as an option). Landing gear is 
also being designed to handle the 22x12 APC-E prop. 1st rev will be 
aluminum but a carbon gear is in the works as well.  

As far as weight goes, I'll have to get out the scale for exact numbers, 
but the installed weight is about 8 ounces more than a comparable glow 
installation (this is using Jason's airplane as a reference as I'm still 
building mine). Judging by the component weights of my kit and hardware, I 
think I'll be at 9.5 pounds before paint/covering so 10.5 pounds should 
be VERY workable, but keep in mind I'm looking at every gram that goes 
into the airplane to keep it as light as possible. 

OK.. so the disadvantages at this moment are costs, lack of completely off 
the shelf components, and the volatility of the LiPo batteries if they're 
mistreated (fire and explosion). There is also the unknown of just how 
many charge/discharge cycles these batteries can take at these current 
levels (roughly 65 amps max). These are all things I'm willing to 
risk/endure however.

The advantages to me however MORE than overcome the problems.

1) lack of vibration
2) perfect throttle response
3) zero weight change/shift through the flight
4) low noise
5) no lean/rich runs
6) no flameouts

Last and most importantly is the available practice sites for me. We have 
an electric only field here in San Diego which is 10 minutes away and 
rarely used if ever in the afternoons giving me all the flying time I will 
need. 

-Doug



On Wed, 3 Dec 2003, JOddino wrote:

> Hey Doug,
> Could you describe your complete set-up, plane, motor, batteries, etc., with
> weight and cost.  This sure sounds like the way to go if the costs are not
> too unreasonable.
> I agree 300 flights a year seems to be plenty even when you can fly all year
> long.  I remember how I couldn't wait to retire so I could fly everyday.
> Now I can but I don't go out more than 2 or 3 times a week and some weeks
> not at all.
> Jim
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Doug Cronkhite" <seefo at san.rr.com>
> To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 8:52 AM
> Subject: Re: Winter / Focus / Fuel
> 
> 
> >
> > Hopefully none. I have 2 10s3p li-po's on the way (big hit to the wallet
> > there)..
> >
> > My chargers are Schulze.. they'll likely outlast me.
> >
> > -Doug
> >
> > On Wed, 3 Dec 2003, Wayne Galligan wrote:
> >
> > > How many li-po battery packs or charghers will you be going through?
> > >
> > > WG
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > From: "Doug Cronkhite" <seefo at san.rr.com>
> > > To: <discussion at nsrca.org>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2003 10:20 AM
> > > Subject: RE: Winter / Focus / Fuel
> > >
> > >
> > > > On Wed, 3 Dec 2003, Atwood, Mark wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > That begs an  interesting question.
> > > > >
> > > > > How much fuel do people burn in a calendar year?
> > > > >
> > > > > I'd be interested to hear responses and where you're from (or maybe
> more
> > > specifically, how many months that fuel is spread over.
> > > > >
> > > > > In a competitive year (the last three not withstanding) I was
> burning
> > > 40-50 gal over 3.5 - 4 months (late May - Mid Sept.)
> > > > >
> > > > > -Mark
> > > >
> > > > Hmmm..
> > > >
> > > > I'm in San Diego.. will be flying all year round.. I don't think I'll
> burn
> > > > a single gallon of fuel this year :-P
> > > >
> > > > -Doug
> > > >
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