[NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries

Chad Northeast chad at f3acanada.org
Fri Mar 31 15:42:15 AKST 2006


I am still looking for one of these gearbox thingy's to put my grease in :)

Maybe I should buy a Hacker so I have something to do at the field other 
than fly ;-)

Chad

Verne Koester wrote:

>It's that thing attached to the front of a Hacker that sets the power 
>standard for all others to try and match.....   ;>)
>
>Verne Koester
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Chad Northeast" <chad at f3acanada.org>
>To: "NSRCA Mailing List" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2006 7:58 PM
>Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Falcon F3A batteries
>
>
>  
>
>>Gearbox...what the h&% is a gearbox ;-)
>>
>>Robert Mairs wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>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
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>>>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>>>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>                  
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>                
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>              
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>            
>>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>--
>>>>>No virus found in this incoming message.
>>>>>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>>>>>Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.3/298 - Release Date: 3/30/2006
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
>>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>
>>    
>>
>
>_______________________________________________
>NSRCA-discussion mailing list
>NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>
>  
>


More information about the NSRCA-discussion mailing list