[NSRCA-discussion] Electric/IC ...was Arming Plug/Receptacle Problem

[James Oddino]

I've been at this longer than most and have known from the beginning  
that the propulsion system is the key to winning in Pattern  
competition.  It can also be the most frustrating due to constantly  
changing conditions.  I found that the gas engines with spark ignition  
were a lot more consistent than glow and that reduced the  
frustration.  I have more recently convinced myself that electric is  
the least frustrating.  A few folks have gone back to glow after  
playing with electric to get more power for windy conditions.  We are  
now getting close to getting more than enough out of electric systems  
(3 to 4 HP?) and when that happens we won't have these discussions  
anymore.  However, before that happens, the rules will probably be  
changed to favor IC.

Jim


On Feb 9, 2009, at 12:39 PM, Jerry Voth wrote:

> I've been lurking for a long time and after reading all the things  
> that one needs to do to successfully fly electric, it makes one  
> wonder how things would be if electrics were the norm from the  
> beginning of powered R/C models. It might go like this;
>
> Hey guys, I just bought this little IC engine and I tried it on one  
> of my Pattern models and it works really well. "Look what it will do;
> 1. It has just as much power as our electric motors.
> 2. The only batteries you need are for the flight pack, glow igniter  
> and the electric starter if you don't like to flip by hand.
> 3. All you have to do is pump fuel into the tank, spin the engine  
> with the starter and fly.The tail gets a little oily, but what the  
> heck, it's fairly easy to clean up.(Switching the radio on first is  
> a given.)
> 4. You don't have to haul a generator or an extra car battery around  
> to charge motor batteries."
>
> Please don't take this the wrong way. It is tongue in cheek and just  
> an observation. I also have too much time on my hands these days.
>
> JJV
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jay Marshall"  
> <lightfoot at sc.rr.com>
> To: "'General pattern discussion'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 1:50 PM
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Plug/Receptacle Problem
>
>
>> A 100 ohm resistor may be enough to charge the caps and make the ESC
>> "active". Bad idea...
>>
>> Jay Marshall
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
>> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ron  
>> Van Putte
>> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 1:14 PM
>> To: General pattern discussion
>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Arming Plug/Receptacle Problem
>>
>> Good.  I will try it.  What wattage 100 ohm resistor?  Let's see,
>> doesn't sustained power equal voltage squared, divided by the
>> resistance?  If so, 42 squared, divided by 100 is 17.64 watts.
>> That's probably overkill, since the current surge is transitory.  How
>> about a 100 ohm, 10 watt resistor?
>>
>> Just thought of something:  With the 100 ohm resistor across the
>> arming plug receptacle, won't the ESC be on whenever the batteries
>> are plugged into the circuit?
>>
>> BTW, what about Castle Creation's statement that the "spark is your
>> friend'?
>>
>> Ron
>>
>> On Feb 9, 2009, at 11:55 AM, James Oddino wrote:
>>
>>> Put a 100 ohm resistor across the arming plug receptacle.  Then the
>>> capacitors in the ESC will charge without a spark as you connect
>>> the batteries.  When you connect the arming plug, no spark.
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>>
>>> On Feb 9, 2009, at 8:08 AM, Ron Van Putte wrote:
>>>
>>>> I have a problem which I am sure many other E-powered airplane
>>>> owners have that I'd like to solve.  I use an arming plug to
>>>> connect the two 5S Lipo packs to the ESC.  On initial contact of
>>>> the arming plug with the receptacle, there's a big spark thrown.
>>>> Eventually the contacts on the arming plug and receptacle get
>>>> burned to the point where the electrical contact is very bad.
>>>> Yesterday I had to land my airplane deadstick because (I think)
>>>> the ESC saw what it thought was low voltage out of the battery
>>>> that was actually due to the burned arming plug/receptacle
>>>> contacts.  BTW, I am using high-amp Anderson Power Pole
>>>> connectors, which are probably more susceptible to having the
>>>> contacts burned than would Deans Ultra connectors.
>>>>
>>>> I have thought about putting a BIG capacitor in parallel with the
>>>> arming plug, that would damp the initial current surge which
>>>> causes the spark.  The capacitor could be removed before flight.
>>>> However, I'm wondering if there's a more elegant solution.
>>>>
>>>> Ron Van Putte
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>>
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