evdreamer

JPEE,

I was busy working on my meter this morning before work. I had a few bugs that I had to work out. I got all of those fixed and I am finally in a position to start measuring mAh. It will probably take a couple of days to write the code for that.

That is cool you got to fly a lot today.

Nick

JPEE

Nick,
When you complete your meter will I measure static mah or mah under use? Wow a few days of writing code, sounds a bit tough?

JPEE

evdreamer

JPEE,

It will be just like a charger in that it will accumulate each mAh as time goes on. Yeah, it is challenging, but fun.

Nick

rotarydoc

Hey guys,

JPEE,

Glad to hear that the rebuild was a success, less the tail bobbing thing....hopefully, you can pin that down with the tailboom swap.

Hopefully, you can wind down the kitchen project this coming week...I know that will be a relief!

Glad all the helis came back to earth safely this time out...

Nick,

Your latest project sounds challenging, but interesting and fun at the same time...hope you can get all the wrinkles ironed out soon with it...

Yeah, I would think the full size plane could have done something to avoid the accident in the video...the whole thing seems kinda strange, and disorganized to me...


I just got back from flying. I got to MHA a little late, and flew the 500 two packs, and 3 or 4 tanks in the SDX...

I took the last of the weights out of the paddles today, which increased the roll rate considerably...now it rolls much more like the 500...alot quicker.

I managed some inverted hovering with the SDX....a friend of mine, Rob (not the same one as the plane field Rob) took some still pics...I'll see if I can get him to send me some so I can post them. I forgot to ask him before I left.

All went well, and all the helis came back in one piece.

Not much else new here. I saw Jusin at Harbor Freight the other day, purely by chance. He went to IRCHA....said he got in 4 flights total...was nervous as heck, he said there were people lined up behind him in golf carts, waiting to fly, and they were all watching him...lol...

He said there were some very powerful Trex 700e's there, with multiple external capacitors mounted on the ESC's...I am guessing as reserve or "boost" power...he said they had crazy power, the blade pop was like none other he's ever heard...

Glenn

evdreamer

Glenn,

I learned something about my amplifer on this project to measure the current. It was the same one used on my power panel that I was having problems with. I still don't know why it wasn't working in the way I had it setup, but I found another setup that it works with. I will take some pics when I am done with the project.

It sounds like Hirobo did their homework on the SDX making it really stable for beginners and quick for 3D.

I would be nervous flying in front of thousands of people too.

That is cool you got to fly also.

I had a band manager contact me to see if I knew anyone that had a heli that could do aerial photography. I didn't ask how much he was going to pay, since my helis aren't setup for that. It would be cool to get paid for that.

Nick

rotarydoc

Nick,

Glad the watt meter project is going well, and it sounds like you are learning alot from it as well.

I'd like to see the pics when you get done....

Yeah, Hirobo did a great job with the SDX. It is basically an older model, the Sceadu .50 and made it more aggressive for 3D. Apparenly the Sceadu flew very well, and had great hovering abilities, just lacked 3D type performance. They wanted to keep those characteristics, and add the extra performance without hurting the original stability and nice flying attributes.

It has alot more adjustability in the linkages to make it even more aggressive, I think like your Velocity does....but I'm not quite that far yet...

I get nervous flying in front of 2 people at MHA...lol...

You should check into that aerial photography.....it might pay better than you think...

I was in my LHS and a guy was looking at helis, for just that purpose, he owned a construction company....but didn't have a clue how to fly a heli..

Just a thought...

How's work and school been?

Glenn

evdreamer

Glenn,

The last two days I was in at work, something major would always go wrong. Hopefully I will have a normal day tomorrow. I am working on a TV at school. A kid in my class worked on it before and I got it disassembled with a bag full of screws. I know none of the IC's have power, but the power supply is working. So I am waiting on a schematic if I can get one. I got shocked a few times on a couple of TV's. Once on the 120V line and a couple of times on a 40,000V transformer. I cut myself pretty good trying to remove my finger on my last shock. Then I saw a couple of pretty cool shorts. One caused a fire and the other had a pretty big spark.

Nick

Aframomum

My Feedback: (10)

Hi guys,

Lot's going on I see.

JPEE,

I am very happy to hear that you got your 500 back together and most importantly, your flights went flawlessly. Hope the boom swap will take care of that tail bob.

Seems like the house is nearing completion. How are you doing 'roughing it'?

Glenn,

How's that roll rate now that you got the weights off the Velocity? Scary I bet. 3 or 4 tankfuls, that's like, what 24 - 30 minutes of flight time isn't it? Gee, kinda puts my 5 minutes to shame!

I never asked but what made you and Nick chose the heli's you got, meaning why didn't you go for a trex nitro over the SDX and Velocity? Just curious.

Nick,

Any job that involves shock treatment and I might as well just be a patient in a psych ward, Yikes man!

I think the aerial photography would be a great idea. Definitely look into that if your interested.

Well guys, we are heading to SeaWorld for the day. Going to make this a family day - get some flying day points to use later.

Have a good weekend,

Mark

evdreamer

Mark,

My head binds at the cyclic rates that I want on my 600, so I knew the Nitro would do the same. The Velocity head doesn't bind at all. Then I like the tail design on the Velocity better than the 600 Nitro. I also read that the two piece engine mount on the Nitro could break the frames in a crash. I also like that the clutch housing has holes for govenor magnets on the Velocity instead of on the fan for the Nitro. The Velocity was also cheaper than the Nitro. I also read that the Nitro needed a lot of upgrades. I would probably have had better luck with a 600 Nitro than my Velocity.

Have fun at SeaWorld.

Nick

JPEE

Closed

rotarydoc

Hey guys,

Looks like rain outside today any minute now...so it's a day off from flying today...

Nick,

Hope you have smoother work days ahead...trust me, I know how problem days can be at work...seems like when it rains, it pours sometimes...hang in there!

Sounds like your learning can be a "shocking" experience sometimes! I mostly work on 12v stuff, so there is no real issues. The ignition systems, however are another story...I got zapped real good one time, way back in the day by a GM high energy ignition system...I never forgot it...my right fingers, wrist elbow and shoulder were sore for hours afterwards...[X(] I have alot of respect for auto ignition systems now....lol..

We don't have any Hybrid cars yet at Mazda (well, WE don't, Mazda makes them, mostly in the California market). When I was at Mazda school, we touched on them, in case we had any come into the shop...

The instructor was explaining the special tools for servicing the Hybrid Tribute (Escape in disguise)...and one of them was a long, fiberglass pole with a handle on the end...

He went on to explain it's use....it's for moving your fellow technician off the vehicle in case he gets shocked by the 360 volts DC that is present....so you don't get shocked touching him. He went on to say, only half joking, that the tool is for preventing stinking up the shop from burning flesh, since your buddy is already dead....[X(][X(]

From what I understand, emergency workers (EMT's) have to have special training on Hybrid cars as well...for rescue from high voltage electrical systems...


Mark,

The roll rate increase was dramatic on the actual rolls, yet the heli is still very stable in a hover, and forward flight. Thumbs up to Hirobo on that one...

There were many reasons for choosing the SDX, none of which is because I didn't like the Trex 600n...

I read many postive reviews...in fact, I have never read a negative one on the SDX to date...it's not perfect, of course, the cooling system, for example is marginal...but most people praise the excellent flight characteristics of it with high regard....

The price was right; it was on par with a stripped fiberglass, belt tail Trex, but I could not find one of those anywhere...in all honesty, by the time I was done, it probably cost more than a Trex Super Combo....but my original intention was to use the old electronics and stuff from the Raptor, which once I started the build, seemed less and less realistic....why put 10 year old stuff in a brand new heli??

Hirobo quality and reputation...no offense to Align, but Hirobo has been doing RC helis MUCH longer than Align, and they have an outstanding reputation for quality and nice flying helis.

Made in JAPAN. I am a Japanese quality freak. I think I became one from working on GM cars for years, and then halfway through my career, swithing to Japanese vehicles. If you had seen what I have over the years, you might see it the same way...

I was completly floored by the quality of the kit, from the super accurate fit of parts (like bearings that are a perfect press fit into a plastic arm, for example) to the attention to detail in the manual, to the quality inspection tag in each and every parts bag...

The Quark. I am still impressed to this day how that heli is built, and how it flies. Ask anyone that owns one...

I think that sums it up...lol...

Gotta go!

Glenn

JPEE

Nick,
I have been playing around with my Key Chain Cam this morning. I have been wanting to learn how to take a video and pull a frame amd make still photo of it....and I did and without any software purchases. Here are two picture from my last Apprentice video and grabbed these two frames and I have to work on the clearity a bit after resizing them but they are not bad, I think. Take a look and if this re-interests you I can tell you how to do it for about $10.00 for the camera and the software you already have in your computer probably.


Mark, I hope you thought about while on at Disney World and brought us each a little gift.......LOL For real, I hope you had fun with the family!

JPEE

evdreamer

Glenn,

I was reading that the Prius uses a boost converter to step up the battery Voltage to 500V. I think that would be kind of interesting to try out in a heli when the KV rating and the number of pinion teeth don't work out for the battery Voltage.

JPEE,

I think your pictures turned out pretty good.

Nick

rotarydoc

Nick,

Sounds like a new project for ya....any idea how the Prius boost converter works? I guess you'd have to downscale it a bit...500v on one of our motors might be tad too much, eh? [X(]

I wonder if it would instantly go up in smoke, or just rev so high it would explode? Just kidding of course, but it would be fun to see...

JPEE,

Your aerial pics look good...

Maybe you should go in business!

Glenn

evdreamer

Glenn,

Yeah, I know how a boost converter works. You can set the output Voltage to anything you want.

Nick

Aframomum

My Feedback: (10)

Hey guys,

Sea World was great. Hot. But great. I even got a chance to ride the Manta - a new rollercoaster that opened about a year ago. I don't know if you guys do coasters but this one was unique and thrilling. We didn't stay for any of the shows (Dolphin or Whale shows) but did get to see the penguins and dolphin tanks which was good. The only downside was the heat, so next time we go will probably be in Sept. when it cools down a bit. And our little guy had a great time also.

Glenn and Nick,

thanks for the rundown on the nitro heli decision. Gave me some things to think about.

Gotta run now for dinner,

Mark

evdreamer

Mark,

That is cool you enjoyed Sea World.

I can't ride roller coasters. My stomach can't handle it.

Nick

JPEE

Hey Guys,

Mark, so good to hear you and family had a wonderful time at the Park.


Nick, I am with you, if I even stand on the ground a look at a roller coaster I shutter to the bone and get chills!


JPEE

evdreamer

Guys,

I just got done testing some code for the mAh meter. I just plugged a known value in instead of measuring it to see how accurate it could be. I let it run for an hour and it was only 12mAh off. I am still missing a couple big pieces of code that I need to write before this can be finished. Then I will work on accuracy.

Nick

rotarydoc

Hey guys,

Mark,

Sounds like the outing with the family was alot of fun...too bad ya didn't get to see the whales or dolphins, maybe next time..

Count me out as well on the roller coasters....I used to hang off the sides of the cars when I was about 16...but no more...lol...funny how that stuff changes with age...

Actually, mine changed when I rode some harmless looking ride called "The Pirate"...it was this huge ship that swung back and forth, and at the ends when it was basically horizontal (and you are either looking straight up or straight down..lol) it just terrified me, especially when it went backwards...[X(]...it looked so innocent from the ground...

It was alot like this one, except mine didn't even do inverted....the wieghtless feeling when it's just hanging there horizontal is what did me in...my legs have never shaken that much before, or since!!! Pretty much ended my amusement park ride career!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAqsJ...eature=related

Nick,

Sounds like you are in the fine tuning stages of the meter....good luck with the code and calibration part...

Looks like rain any minute here, so not sure about flying tonight...


Glenn

JPEE

Hi Nick,

Sounds like your very close now. Once you nail that code I am sure it will come in accurate and measure as you have set t out to do.......best of luck on the completion.

Last Saturday when I flew the 500 and after the third flight the tail was really bobbing up and down. (back in time for a sec) To be dead honest here with you guys, after an earlier crash the boom had a slight bend in it. I chose to carefully bend it straight and true in the heli and "not" replace it. After last Saturdays flights she did very well overall in normal but the tail bobbing was a concern. Today I took the tail off and found the TT middle bearing was a knotchy as a country dirt road! So I replaced the bearing and the boom!

Also, after a crash a while ago one of my mixing arms got a little bent at the end where the ball is. I put it in a vise and carefully bent it back close to true and straight. Still not knowing why it crashed two weeks ago after the last rebuild I thought, I should replace the arms as well. SUPRISE SUPRISE............you cannot just buy the upper mixing arms (unless you buy plastic ones) no no no, Align makes you buy both upper and lower mixing arms for... da da da tah......$35.00! I dang near choaked at the counter today of the LHS. I was not going to use plastic so I bit the bullit. She is all done and once the temps come back to the reasonable range from the 100+ we are having daily I will set the tracking. This now puts my rebuild up to
$220.00. I am getting to the point of considering buying some used 500 helis just for parts and stripping them out after these last two crashes because over the last 60 days or so where you saw me stab the 500 in tail first and this last crash two weeks where she flee after I hit idle-up I am down nearly $500.00 and thats starting to hurt.[] I know we all say "if your not crashing your not learning" perhaps it's time for JPEE to be a high school summer school student! LMAO

Glenn, you asked how my liked thread gauge, I love it!

JPEE

evdreamer

JPEE,

Sorry you had to spend some more money on parts.

Nick

rotarydoc

JPEE,

Sorry for the high repair bills on the 500...hopefully it's all downhill from here, with alot fewer crashes...hopefully, just a "stage" or something...

The thread gauge looks nice, I'm glad it worked out well for ya...I'll have to put one on my wish list..

I'm going to try to get some flights in tonight...hopefully no football practice...

Glenn

JPEE

Thanks Glenn for the good wishes for no more crashes in the near future. We are going out to fly Friday and Sunday mornings at 6:00 a.m. before this killer heat takes us out. Should be 107 today and it feel like it now!

Remember what I told you about the thread finder, that offer still holds!

OBTW, I looked the EXI and HK 500 mixing arms and they sell them separately at like $8.52 and they are metal, kinda made me pause for a second. But I know forsure they are much softer, nope wasn't gonna give in, keep her all Align.

JPEE

Aframomum

My Feedback: (10)

Hi guys,

The wife was feeling a bit winded yesterday so I took over duties of watching our little one full time once I got home. I was going to get on the computer but he isn't one to be ignored while daddy plays on RCU, so had to forgo yesterday.

JPEE,

I have to say this summer hasn't been the kindest to you, I do believe your overdue for some good luck days ahead.

You brought up a good point on clone parts and whether you want to keep mostly Align or not. To me, metal is metal and that is because anything that looks questionable after a crash I generally replace. So this is where my saying metal is metal to me stems from, b/c if the heli is going to hit, its going to hit hard and not just a simple blade hit on the ground. So Align or clone, it's most likely going to get bent. But this is just my opinion on my 450, and if I have invested what you have put into your 500, I may reconsider.

Glenn,

Hope you get some flying time in this evening. Between the storms and football practice I'm sure it hasn't been easy.

Nick,

Have fun with your new meter. Sounds a bit complicated to me but something right up your alley.

Brought my parkflier Stryker with me this morning to the field I usually fly at before work but was told by a police officer that the land was private property and I would have to find somewhere else to fly. I almost laughed when he said that thinking the place looks like a huge drainage lot, who in the world would own it? But, I told him no problem and packed up. That's alright though since I will be starting evenings in a few weeks, I can fly at a field close to my house before going in at 2pm.

Mark