[NSRCA-discussion] E-power

Wed Apr 18 12:00:52 AKDT 2007

after all the years of flying glo, I still end up equating the electric  
stuff to glo.  I equate the mistake of flying a pack that is not charged to  a 
SERIOUSLY lean run on a glo motor.  If you catch it early enough maybe  you won't 
cook the motor or the battery.

Other items that can be equated to glo
    - charging = fueling up
    - AC, deep cycle 12V battery or generator =  fuel jug (and the spare in 
your car and all the fuel at home)
    - glo driver = hmmm haven't found a match  unless you use a shorting plug
    - starter = hmmmm haven't found a match unless  the ESC arming beep counts
    - fuel tubing  = 14 gauge silicone wire
    - fuel  tank = battery 
    - fuel filter = clean AC or DC power
    - Velcro straps = velcro straps   to  hold anything to anything glo or 
electric
    - soft mount = uhhhh still working on that
    - muffler = uhhhh still working on that unless the  larger exhaust 
opening in the bottom of an electric counts
    - header = those 3 wires from the ESC to the  motor

I am sure there are more, but it time for lunch.....

Don

In a message dated 4/18/2007 12:34:38 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
trexlesh at msn.com writes:

Yep,  Don is right on the money...  I hate to admit it, simply  because he 
can use it against me at a later date....
I kind of like my system of using the colors, but I'm thinking now that  I'll 
do away with the Red bands...
When I charge, I'll place a Green band on the pack before putting it in  the 
case...    I'll just check the voltage
with the "Really Expensive"  voltmeter  I bought especially for  that 
purpose, BEFORE I put the pack in the plane...
Funny how it takes only one potentially EXPENSIVE mistake to wake a guy  
up!!!!
What it boils down to is simply the fact that you can have all these  
foolproof systems, but if you don't adhere to
the discipline of using them, these things WILL happen.

Rex

----- Original Message ----- 
From: _Dave Reaville_ (mailto:dkrev at shaw.ca)  
To: _NSRCA Mailing List_ (mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org)  
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 10:40  AM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion]  E-power

Hi Rex et al

Yep sadly this has happen to me as well. Hard  lesson when you have a World 
Class, multi- FAI Canadian Champion on the  sticks trying out your plane and 
you inadvertently load up a set of used  packs. ARGHHH! (Lets just say it wasn't 
one of my best weeks of RC memories  and leave it at that.)  Totally 
preventable.

You need a system that provides checks & balances  to ensure that you don't 
find yourself in this situation as it's hard  on batteries, planes and nerves 
:-). For a time I was using a method (from  Chad Northeast) that had the leads 
wrapped together to indicate a charged  set. Once unwrapped for use in the 
plane they are left that way until they  are recharged.  This method works well 
for 10S setups and those  running separate 5S packs that had both leads at the 
same end. It did work  well for me but I have since gone to the new FP F3A 
pack's that,  through weight reduction design, has the leads at opposite ends of 
the  pack. 

I agree with Don A. that the voltage check is the only  real assured way to 
confirm pack state. You have to come up with  a routine that confirms the 
voltage prior to flight. I  wrote a K-Factor article years ago on the CATT process 
I  use before takeoff. Controls,  Antenna, Trims, Timer  helps me negate any 
"issues" with these items once airborne. So I now  need to come up with 
something that includes the battery state.

As my canopy is the last thing to go on (switch is  inside for that ultra 
clean look :-) maybe something simple like ABC  for Aircraft - (wing attachment 
bolts?),  Batteries (both the RX and main pack voltage  check) before Canopy... 
I don't know for sure but  something like that as we humans need all the help 
we can get. 

Food for thought,

Dave

  ----- Original Message ----- 

From:  _Rex  LESHER_ (mailto:trexlesh at msn.com)  
To: _NSRCA Mailing List_ (mailto:nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org)   
Sent: Tuesday, April 17, 2007 8:02  PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion]  E-power

Been there, done that...  Most of us have, and won't admit it..  lol
I finally got two colors of bands to place around the packs...   Green and 
Red.  When I get done charging, I place a Green
band on the battery.  After I fly, I place a Red band around the  pack...  I 
was thinking about how clever I was...  Right  up
until I flew a pack the other day that didn't seem to have much  power.  It 
had a Green band on it!!!  Green means go,  right?
Some dumby got lazy and didn't follow procedure....   New  Rule!!!   "ALWAYS 
CHECK VOLTAGE BEFORE FLIGHT, NO MATTER  WHAT."
I still use the color bands, but now the voltage gets checked  anyway!  With 
multiple packs, it's easy to get confused  which  pack is
which.  Especially when you are preheating the packs in cold  weather!  I got 
out of the habit of checking the pack voltage because  I'm using
the TP1010 charger, which displays voltage...   Bad habit,  if you're not 
taking it off the charger and putting it in the plane.
Just for you Don, MINE DEFINITELY TOOK MORE THAN 5200+.  All I  will say is 
that the 5300's have more than 5300!
I'm just wondering which pack you did that to?  lmao

Rex

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