[NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries

Fri Mar 31 11:36:31 AKST 2006

I don't know what they use.  When I sent my motor in one time, I asked them 
to include some grease.  They will give you a small pouch, didn't have to 
pay for it, which will last quite a while.
Bob

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard Strickland" <richard.s at allied-callaway.com>
To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Cc: <oorland55 at netzero.net>
Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries

> I'm glad you commented on it.  The set-up has about 90 flights on it-I
> happened to turn the prop the other day and thought 'Man, that seems kind 
> of
> loud-but they said 300 flights or so...'  I rebuilt engines on a too 
> regular
> basis-I figured it wasn't really that big a deal and their statements to
> send it back were for those without the inclination or 'mechanical 
> sympathy'
> to accomplish it-but at the stated 300 flights, you could send them in 
> once
> a year.   Any idea what the grease is?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Richard
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]  On Behalf Of Robert 
> Mairs
> Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 2:03 PM
> To: NSRCA Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>
> It's fairly easy to do.  Sending them in to be done was fairly tedious 
> since
> the amount of flying we do you'll be sending them in every 2-3 weeks.  I 
> was
> showed how to do it at one of our contests last year.  Had Hacker send me
> some grease, loosen the set screw, twist off the gear box, clean, relube,
> tighten the gear box, tighten the set screw.  Hacker states it nulls the
> warranty.  I imagine if you have trouble resulting from this, you'll have
> to pay for it.  After 40 flights I'd be thinking about getting it done
> though.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Strickland" <richard.s at allied-callaway.com>
> To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 10:16 AM
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>
>
>> Are you doing it yourself? Big deal? No?
>>
>> Richard
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
>> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]  On Behalf Of Robert
>> Mairs
>> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 6:13 PM
>> To: NSRCA Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>
>> 300 flights your not gonna have a gear box left.  They're recommending 50
>> now.  Last one seemed a little dry at 50 to me, so I'm going 40 now.
>> Bob
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Richard Strickland" <richard.s at allied-callaway.com>
>> To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 6:02 PM
>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>
>>
>>>I would put the wings on and batteries in at the car, lug it, another set
>>>of
>>> batts, and the transmitter out to the flightline, fly, remove that set,
>>> put
>>> in the second, run the first set to the car to charge, fly, remove the
>>> second set, put in the third, run the second set to the car, bitch that
>>> the
>>> first set wasn't quite done, fly, take the third set out, run to the 
>>> car,
>>> exchange the first set for the second set, install the first again and
>>> fly,
>>> take the airplane and trans back to the car, remove wings, load and go
>>> home.
>>> Several times from the time I left work and the time I got home was 
>>> right
>>> at
>>> 2 hours total and the field is roughly 20 mins away to and from.  4 flts
>>> in
>>> about an hour and 15 mins. with 3 sets at 1C charge rate.  5 flts would
>>> start to stretch things out.  I left the scene about the time balancing
>>> started to hit stride.  At 1.5 C you could get 5-6 in 2hours or so.  No
>>> field box, tools, fuel, starter, paper towels and Windex, extra trips to
>>> the
>>> car to get going; no clean up and hauling it all back to the car.   Of
>>> course, there were more social evenings that took more time-but if I was
>>> 'on
>>> a mission' to practice with limited time, the guys understood.  BTW, the
>>> Hackers and Master controllers did just fine temperature wise.  Things
>>> seemed so reliable in that department that I had asked Hacker how long 
>>> b4
>>> I
>>> have to do some service on the motor and gearbox-they said to send it
>>> back
>>> about every 300 flts and they'd clean and regrease the gear-set, replace
>>> if
>>> needed(15.00), and the motor would run almost indefinitely.  With the
>>> exception of installing the wings, it's like flying foamies-you do the
>>> same
>>> stuff-just a little bigger.  Speaking of Chip, I noticed he processed 5
>>> sets
>>> at the Worlds'.  Man, that's livin'!   A small red Honda may be in my
>>> future....
>>>
>>> Richard
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
>>> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]  On Behalf Of J.Oddino
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 3:47 PM
>>> To: NSRCA Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>>
>>> Richard, can you explain why you got so many more flights in a given
>>> amount
>>> of field time.  Less tinkering or what?  I've heard Chip make similar
>>> comments.
>>>
>>> Jim O
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Richard Strickland" <richard.s at allied-callaway.com>
>>> To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 10:17 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>>
>>>
>>>> There is a World of difference between a sport flyer and a pattern guy.
>>>> Again, once I got programmed in what it took to practice and the
>>> relatively
>>>> small amount of time it took, I was able to go out and get 35-50 
>>>> flights
>>>> a
>>>> week-I 'found' 1 1/2 to 2 hours more often as opposed to the 3-4 it 
>>>> used
>>> to
>>>> take and practiced more.  At that rate, when a guy gives you a 6 mo.
>>>> guarantee-he'd better know the score-and what you expect in service
>>>> turn-around.  Unlike a sport guy who flies 3-8 or so flights a weekend
>>> where
>>>> a 6 mo. guarantee would be reasonable.  I think many of the folks who
>>>> are
>>> in
>>>> the battery business go from their experience as sport flyers and not
>>> fairly
>>>> serious pattern fiends where practice-practice-practice is such a large
>>>> component of probable success.
>>>>
>>>> Richard
>>>>
>>>>  -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
>>>> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org]  On Behalf Of Stuart
>>> Chale
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 11:27 AM
>>>> To: 'NSRCA Mailing List'
>>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>>>
>>>> George has been quick with email responses and very courteous, but it
>>>> doesn't seem like he has the answers either.  I can't find his original
>>>> email but he was unable to say that there are people with over 100
>>>> cycles
>>> on
>>>> a pack.  He is convinced that their technology is better than TP but
>>>> will
>>>> that translate into a longer life span?  It seems like we are being
>>>> asked
>>> to
>>>> test batteries for the manufacturers instead of them testing their
>>> products
>>>> under our conditions.
>>>>
>>>> Stuart
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
>>>> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Earl
>>>> Haury
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 10:58 AM
>>>> To: chad at f3acanada.org; NSRCA Mailing List
>>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>>>
>>>> Chad
>>>>
>>>> Your questions are probably best answered by Falcon
>>>> George at FalconBatteries.com . I think that you'll find George quite open
>>> with
>>>>
>>>> info, and I'd like to see your assessment of his answers.
>>>>
>>>> Earl
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Chad Northeast" <chadnortheast at shaw.ca>
>>>> To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 9:42 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> > Earl
>>>> >
>>>> > Does the Falcon warranty cover simply manufacturers defects...or will
>>> they
>>>>
>>>> > replace any abuse/over charged/overdischarge/cycled out pack?
>>>> >
>>>> > I can't honestly believe that a manufacturer will replace every pack
>>> that
>>>> > fails, or they will be out of business in a short period of time :)
>>>> > If
>>>> > that is the case I can buy 4 sets of packs and never again purchase
>>>> > another battery for as long as they will supply them regardless of
>>> usage.
>>>> >
>>>> > Just looking for some clarification on their warranty statement.
>>>> >
>>>> > Do you know who is making the cells?  Their other packs are APL I
>>>> > believe...wondering if they went to Enerland (like 
>>>> > Apogee/Tanic/Flight
>>>> > Power) did for the higher C cells.
>>>> >
>>>> > Chad
>>>> >
>>>> > ----- Original Message -----
>>>> > From: Grow Pattern <pattern4u at comcast.net>
>>>> > Date: Thursday, March 30, 2006 8:26 am
>>>> > Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>>> >
>>>> >> Earl,
>>>> >>         You raise a very interesting point, What is sponsored?
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I used to think it was either that you got paid to fly by a
>>>> >> manufacturer/supplier/business, or that you got your equipment
>>>> >> free. But
>>>> >> what if, for example, you got a discount on your OS 1.40 EFI ,or
>>>> >> free fuel
>>>> >> etc. Or another would be that you bought and built a plane but
>>>> >> your
>>>> >> batteries were post gratis.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> This could be harder to define than a pattern snap-roll. Hmmmm?
>>>> >>
>>>> >> To be clear to the potentially-paranoid-pattern-people",  I am
>>>> >> interested
>>>> >> for my own edification. (No hidden agenda). I do get asked my
>>>> >> opinion on
>>>> >> certain subjects and when I am not sure, I ask for my opinion :-)
>>>> >>
>>>> >> I would also add that many of the responses to the electric issues
>>>> >> that I
>>>> >> have raised have given me a much better and more balanced view
>>>> >> than the one
>>>> >> I had a few months ago.
>>>> >>
>>>> >> So, thanks in advance,
>>>> >>
>>>> >> Eric.
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> >> From: "Earl Haury" <ehaury at houston.rr.com>
>>>> >> To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>>>> >> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 8:04 AM
>>>> >> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>>> >>
>>>> >>
>>>> >> > Stuart
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > I'm using the first 4 packs sold. I've 48 cycles on one set 18
>>>> >> on the
>>>> >> > other.
>>>> >> > So far they've been fine, very little (if any) balancing
>>>> >> activity. Don't
>>>> >> > have any idea what the cycle life will be - only time will tell.
>>>> >> As the
>>>> >> > weather improves, opportunity for more flying will accelerate 
>>>> >> > cycle
>>>> >> > accumulation a bunch. I hope that there's no need to exercise 
>>>> >> > their
>>>> >> > warranty, but it's a nice feature.
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > Just so there's no misunderstanding - I gathered flight data to
>>>> >> help
>>>> >> > Falcon
>>>> >> > define the pack parameters and received a bit of a discount
>>>> >> (that local
>>>> >> > sales tax mitigated) for that work. Don't know if that's 
>>>> >> > considered
>>>> >> > "sponsored", but I'm using them because they work and Falcon
>>>> >> provides> excellent service. (I understand that they had some
>>>> >> website problems
>>>> >> > recently, if anyone has problems with it - a phone call will 
>>>> >> > work.)
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > Earl
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> > ----- Original Message -----
>>>> >> > From: "Stuart Chale" <schale at optonline.net>
>>>> >> > To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>>>> >> > Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 6:32 AM
>>>> >> > Subject: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >> Is anyone using the Falcon F3A cells advertised in the K-
>>>> >> Factor?  Is
>>>> >> >> there
>>>> >> >> any track record behind them?
>>>> >> >> Thanks,
>>>> >> >> Stuart
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >> _______________________________________________
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>>>> >> >> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>> >> >> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>> >> >>
>>>> >> >
>>>> >> >
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>>>> >> >
>>>> >>
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>>>>
>>>>
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