550 Pilot's lounge

[havasuphoto]

Question; on another forum, a member said that I MUST connect a wire from the throttle something on my receiver on the aircraft, to the throttle something on the ESC, power up the remote, move the throttle to full-hear a beep, and then move the throttle down and hear 2 beeps.
What happens if I don't do this?

I really don't want to take the top off and go plugging in wires I know nothing about-to something else I know nothing about......

I'm going from 3S to 4S, and 1400KV motors down to 770KV motors with a bigger stator.....

 

[ladykate]

If you are using the same ESC and they were calibrated before (which they likely were) then you don't have to. If you put in new ESCs then you need to calibrate them. Calibration is in the instruction manual but generally follow what was said. There are YouTube videos on it, too.

Again, if you have been using those ESCs then it is likely you don't have to do that.

 

[havasuphoto]

If you are using the same ESC and they were calibrated before (which they likely were) then you don't have to. If you put in new ESCs then you need to calibrate them. Calibration is in the instruction manual but generally follow what was said. There are YouTube videos on it, too.

Again, if you have been using those ESCs then it is likely you don't have to do that.

That's what I thought....only thing changed was the engines.
Got all 6 installed, on the laptop now about to do engine test-cross your fingers.

 

[havasuphoto]

OK-so everything works fine...but;
I have T-motors. The prop shafts are threaded except for the last 3/8". Props are 3/8" thick-so as measured with the washer in place, that leaves me exactly 1 thread with which to tighten the props. I have all 6 engines as self-tightening.
Sooooo....put the Gemfans on and ran them at idle-makes lots of wind, cool. However, after a few starts and stops, I hand checked the props-and each one could be easily moved on the shaft. I had tightened each props with a wrench-about 1 turn, I'm guessing. You can see on the prop shaft the point at where the nut galled the non-threaded shaft-so it's not like I could have gotten them any tighter.
So, I have a problem. I'm using the washer, on top of the prop.

I checked T-motors website, and they have a "short shaft" prop adapter that is threaded all the way to the base. But-get this....the total length is 12mm, and, the total length of the prop, washer and nut, is 15mm....!!!!!

So-anyone run T-motors? Anyone have these M6 shafts that have 3/8" of no thread How can I solve this problem?
If the hub of the prop compresses just 2mm, I'm outta threads. Basically-I don't feel I have enough threads to get the props tight. I don't have the adapters for the E-Graup props yet-but the hub is identical to the Gemfan at 1/4"-and also leave exactly 1 thread\ to tighten.
There is no other shafts from T-motors....the short one is too short.

Also-I can't use Nylock nuts, because 3 of the shafts are reversed threads-and I can't find reversed thread nylocks on this Planet.

 

[OI Photography]

OK-so everything works fine...but;
I have T-motors. The prop shafts are threaded except for the last 1/4". Props are 1/4" thick-so as measured with the washer in place, that leaves me exactly 2 thread with which to tighten the props. I have all 6 engines as self-tightening.
Sooooo....put the Gemfans on and ran them at idle-makes lots of wind, cool. However, after a few starts and stops, I hand checked the props-and each one could be easily moved on the shaft. I had tightened each props with a wrench-about 1 turn, I'm guessing. You can see on the prop shaft the point at where the nut galled the non-threaded shaft-so it's not like I could have gotten them any tighter.
So, I have a problem. I'm using the washer, on top of the prop.

I checked T-motors website, and they have a "short shaft" prop adapter that is threaded all the way to the base. But-get this....the total length is 12mm, and, the total length of the prop, washer and nut, is 15mm....!!!!!

So-anyone run T-motors? Anyone have these M6 shafts that have 1/4" of no thread How can I solve this problem?
If the hub of the prop compresses just 2mm, I'm outta threads. Basically-I don't feel I have enough threads to get the props tight. I don't have the adapters for the E-Graup props yet-but the hub is identical to the Gemfan at 1/4"-and also leave exactly 2 threads to tighten.
There is no other shafts from T-motors....the short one is too short.

Something about that still isn't adding up to me. In the picture below, the threads look like they go all the way down to the top of the washer, and the nut sitting there should thread all the way down to that. Can you take a pic of where the nut is running out of thread?

 

[havasuphoto]

Just measured again-and I was wrong-the thread start at 3/8th of an inch!! That precisely where the top of the washer sits on top of the prop.
I measure the old smaller 4mm prop adapter, and it's 10mm, so a bit less than 1/4 of an inch.

That give me only 1 turn of the nut(fine thread) until I'm out of threads.

In that picture above-the thread start exactly at the top of the washer......
I've got to be missing something here. I've checked other motors online-and they all appear to have roughly 3/8" space with no threads....that's on the 28 and 32 series engines. On the smaller engines the thread start sooner.

I've measures with a depth gauge 3 times now........I know that 1 thread isn't enough.

Can you measure the non-threaded portion of your prop shaft? It should be almost exactly 3/8 of an inch.......

 

[havasuphoto]

Pictures;
little less than 3/8"


w/e-graup prop-threads don't start yet;


w/washer on top-exactly 1 turn of thread;

 

[discv]

So, the learning curve on my 450 build is levelling out- thanks to many of you guys.
Time to start collecting the items to migrate to 550.

But I have just realised that the 550 bottom board has no extension platforms. That screws my preferred layout.

Read all through this topic but not seen it mentioned. Is there a modification/alternative bottom plate?

 

[Uncle Meat]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gregorymcneal/2014/07/04/video-shows-drone-flying-through-fireworks/

 

[havasuphoto]

Anyone see an issue with me running with another M6 washer on top of the black washer, and using a drop of blue loctite?
I just don't trust these prop adapters-and I need more threads; that's the only solution I've come up with.

Also-T-motors makes a "short prop" adapter that's threaded all the way down. However, in searching the entire internet, I only found 1 place that gave what looks like the length of the shaft-12mm. Prop+washer+nut=15mm!!!

So-off to the hardware store for washers.

This kinda pisses me off. I spent the extra money to get 3 self-tightening prop adapters, just so I would have the piece of mind knowing a nut wouldn't back off and would actually tighten. But, if you're already out of threads, and it's still not "tight"....it's gonna cause a crash. I'm not taking that chance.

 

[havasuphoto]

I went to the hardware store and got 6 big flat M6 washers. I'll put 1 between the prop and the black washer, drop of blue loctite, and see how she's flies.
Washers;


But, on the prop end-there's a problem. How do you know when you just won't get a prop hub to balance?
When you get to this point-notice the large amount of CA on one side, and the lack of material remaining on the heavy side;


That is a prop that is going to be returned for replacement. It'd done!! Spent 2 hours on that 1 prop. Have 2 more that are pretty much just like it. Going to work a bit more on the other 2...but, I think all 3 CCW blades have hubs that are just too far out of balance.

There's a local Hobby Shop in Town, that carries APC Slow-fly props. But-they aren't open until next Tuesday!! So-no 12" prop testing for me, for the next week I would guess.
Hopefully the 6mm to 8mm E-graup prop adapters arrive Today-so I can start test hovering Tomorrow.

Here are the E-calc screen shots with my engines and battery-at AUW of 3200 grams;
11X5 E-graups;


12X3.8's


So you can see there is about 1gr/watt improvement when using the 12" props. Not sure how that will translate into flight time.

 

[FangsCPO]

Very impressive the research and work to get these birds flying in the most efficient manner. I honestly can't devote that much time to this since I have to split my time between playing in the air and playing on the ground. Here's one of my videos that I took at one of my recent racing events. Enjoy!



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRz0nYjs4Ik[/youtube]

 

[havasuphoto]

We used to have an nice R/C track here-but it got used for something else....

But-I'm very picky about the "sum of the parts".....that's why I will spend an hour, on just 1 prop balancing it.
Motors I have no clue on how to check the balance. I know you can put pieces of tape or C/A on the sides-but don't own a smartphone, so no "apps" for me...and no real way of checking them...
But props-I got that!! Spent a whole 13 minutes on Youtube learning how to do it....and, with the Topflite balancer, a big bottle of CA, accelerator, and sand-paper, I'm good to go

Really-it does make a big difference in vibration.
When I fired up my aircraft for the first time after the engine test-with 3 un-balanced 12" gemfans on, it was rocking side to side on the skids.....and those 3 were all exactly opposite each other. Now the blades were all balanced, but the hubs weren't. Just shows you how bad they were.

I messaged Readymade, and they're going to look into the batch they have now. If you look at my picture above-you can see how much material is at the top and bottom of the hole, and it's still heavy where there is almost no material-that tells me the hole is cast in the wrong spot.

Nice video BTW.

Can't fly right now.....we're in the middle of "Monsooon" season here...its 103 deg with 25% humidity!! Doesn't sound that bad-but when you're used to 5% humidity, it's muggy. Oh, and Thunderstorms in the area means the winds(which are about 12mph now), can go from zero to over 50mph, faster than you can land!!

Heck, even at sunrise it's in the mid to upper 90's.....ugh!!

 

[FangsCPO]

We used to have an nice R/C track here-but it got used for something else....

But-I'm very picky about the "sum of the parts".....that's why I will spend an hour, on just 1 prop balancing it.
Motors I have no clue on how to check the balance. I know you can put pieces of tape or C/A on the sides-but don't own a smartphone, so no "apps" for me...and no real way of checking them...
But props-I got that!! Spent a whole 13 minutes on Youtube learning how to do it....and, with the Topflite balancer, a big bottle of CA, accelerator, and sand-paper, I'm good to go

Heck, even at sunrise it's in the mid to upper 90's.....ugh!!

Thanks! Here a video I found on YouTube on how to balance a motor. For the Phantom, I though it to be too much effort when I could just pay $29 and get a new one.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYqtwd4xXYo[/youtube]

**** you've got some pretty hot weather were you are at. Yikes!!

 

[havasuphoto]

Yea-that's a Dubro balancer. mine won't work like that.......
So, hopefully the T-motors live up to their expectations and are smooth as silk.

Yea-Lake Havasu City is one of the hottest places in the U.S. We'll be into the 120's next month.

 

[OI Photography]

I messaged Readymade, and they're going to look into the batch they have now.

Excellent! I got mine from them a few weeks ago so they might be from the same batch, I'll zip them a message today. Which one of them was it that replied to you?

Mine look pretty much like yours in the pic there, a lot of weight added to one side and a lot taken off the other, and still the hub is unbalanced. I took more material off the thick section on either side of the hub center (as I think that's where the issue is) rather than the round part itself, but still no joy.

I really wanted to try these because of the 3.8 pitch and because I love the carbon-nylon blend material they use.

 

[havasuphoto]

I messaged Readymade, and they're going to look into the batch they have now.

Excellent! I got mine from them a few weeks ago so they might be from the same batch, I'll zip them a message today. Which one of them was it that replied to you?

Mine look pretty much like yours in the pic there, a lot of weight added to one side and a lot taken off the other, and still the hub is unbalanced. I took more material off the thick section on either side of the hub center (as I think that's where the issue is) rather than the round part itself, but still no joy.

I really wanted to try these because of the 3.8 pitch and because I love the carbon-nylon blend material they use.

I opened a "ticket" in the support section...just filled out the form, and got a response about an hour later. I have no doubt now they have a bad batch.
Are the ones you can't balance CCW by any chance?
The 3 CW one's were pretty easy....one with just a piece of tape, but 2 required a bit of CA, tape, and sanding.
I to love the combination of materials....and how strong they feel, compared to say the APC's. But, OMG...trying to find 6 that will balance may prove a daunting challenge.

 

[havasuphoto]

Well, I'm dead in the water until Tuesday. E-graup prop adapters didn't arrive in the mail!! They were supposed to, and I asked the postal lady to double check..but I guess I won't have them until Tuesday afternoon.
And-I won't fly those Gemfans, at all. Also-our local hobby shop doesn't open until Tuesday, and my friend has already told me they have zero Pusher 12X3.8 props....so, this sucks!!

I charged up the 4S batteries-now I'm wondering if I should hook them back up to the charger and put them at 60% for "storage"......that's takes forever on my charger!!

 

[FangsCPO]

I've never used storage charge....even when not using my lipos for well over 2 months. As a matter of fact the batteries held their charge. That's been my experience.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[havasuphoto]

I've never used storage charge....even when not using my lipos for well over 2 months. As a matter of fact the batteries held their charge. That's been my experience.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

OK-I'll just leave them alone then. I never used storage on my Phantom 1 batteries.....just can't believe we live in such an R/C friendly city(lots of R/C stuff goes on here-especially in the Winter), and the one and only R/C shop is about 5 years behind the times, and out of stock on just about anything you would need for a multi-copter.

Just put the Go Pro and antenna back on the Phantom 2....guess I'll fly the hell out of that for awhile. Went a bit over a mile last week, did 360 degree's turns, no loss of video(have a Helical antenna now), or R/C(14SGH). Anything past a mile just makes me nervous.
Only problem this weekend is finding a place devoid of the populace....which even at Sunrise I don't think is going to happen. Probably wait til Monday.
As-my poor little Phantom 1 just sits....all lonely.