New JetCat Reliability?
10-12-2018, 07:51 PM
#1
New JetCat Reliability?
Hello folks, I've got a few projects coming up and I'd like to hear everyone's experience with the new JetCat turbines.
I've been quite happy with my kingtech's, but I'm also liking the new JetCat offerings: E.G., barometric pressure monitoring, battery recharging, etc..
I have 3 propane start JetCat's that I trust my life with. And the service I had with my P200 was unbelievably fantastic.
How are your JetCat's running out there? Lets hear it!
I've been quite happy with my kingtech's, but I'm also liking the new JetCat offerings: E.G., barometric pressure monitoring, battery recharging, etc..
I have 3 propane start JetCat's that I trust my life with. And the service I had with my P200 was unbelievably fantastic.
How are your JetCat's running out there? Lets hear it!
10-12-2018, 11:10 PM
#2
The 160Rxi-B is just a turned down 180, so potentially even more bullet proof. The P-220Rxi-B seems to have its bugs sorted, the P-300Pro comes from the P-300 and is used by the military/industrial sector, so its performing well.
Biggest thing for me is the stuff most people miss, I’ve flown a lot of other turbines and although reliability is great through most brands these days, the idle thrust on many is really high and power only at the top end of the throttle stick.
Obviously it depends on model, heavier loaded models don’t notice the high idle thrust so much and the clean low drag models don’t suffer so much when the throttle is opened, but fly a draggy scale type and although you hear the turbine spool up if you watch the airframe it takes an age to get going. JetCat I describe as big block power, like the difference in a big V 8 and small turbo 4 cylinder producing the same power figure.
Most of the issues I saw were with the pump ( motor quality) and the brushless motors have removed that.
Dave
Biggest thing for me is the stuff most people miss, I’ve flown a lot of other turbines and although reliability is great through most brands these days, the idle thrust on many is really high and power only at the top end of the throttle stick.
Obviously it depends on model, heavier loaded models don’t notice the high idle thrust so much and the clean low drag models don’t suffer so much when the throttle is opened, but fly a draggy scale type and although you hear the turbine spool up if you watch the airframe it takes an age to get going. JetCat I describe as big block power, like the difference in a big V 8 and small turbo 4 cylinder producing the same power figure.
Most of the issues I saw were with the pump ( motor quality) and the brushless motors have removed that.
Dave
10-13-2018, 03:58 AM
#3
Hello folks, I've got a few projects coming up and I'd like to hear everyone's experience with the new JetCat turbines.
I've been quite happy with my kingtech's, but I'm also liking the new JetCat offerings: E.G., barometric pressure monitoring, battery recharging, etc..
I have 3 propane start JetCat's that I trust my life with. And the service I had with my P200 was unbelievably fantastic.
How are your JetCat's running out there? Lets hear it!
I've been quite happy with my kingtech's, but I'm also liking the new JetCat offerings: E.G., barometric pressure monitoring, battery recharging, etc..
I have 3 propane start JetCat's that I trust my life with. And the service I had with my P200 was unbelievably fantastic.
How are your JetCat's running out there? Lets hear it!
I've been running two P-140RXi's on my MIBO A-10 for a year and a half and really like them. Even dialed down to about 25lbs thrust each, it's more than enough for scale (plus) performance and I know from previous experience it will fly just fine one engine (even if one quits on takeoff). The other thing I really like about JetCat's in a twin is the ability to start the engines independently via built-in ECU programming. Trim UP starts the first and throttle UP/DOWN starts the second. Also, George is a great resource for information or service if you need it. I think they would be a good choice for your MIBO A-10 if you decide to go with JetCat.
Craig
10-13-2018, 04:40 PM
#5
How about weird flameouts, hot starts, etc... It just seems that I’ve seen/read about more of that with some recent JetCat offerings.
George gave me top notch service with my P200. I’m still impressed with how they returned a pretty much new P200!
Craig, how many hours on your Jetcat’s do you think, and what’s the reason you know that a single 140 was able to fly your mibo? Ie why the flameout?
George gave me top notch service with my P200. I’m still impressed with how they returned a pretty much new P200!
Craig, how many hours on your Jetcat’s do you think, and what’s the reason you know that a single 140 was able to fly your mibo? Ie why the flameout?
Last edited by ravill; 10-13-2018 at 05:43 PM.
10-13-2018, 08:14 PM
#6
Hi Ravill, I think you remember the issues with first batch of 180 RX or 140 RX turbines. I had one 180 and it was a disaster. But those are gone and the later batches and the new turbines are running fine.
Behzad
Behzad
10-14-2018, 02:44 AM
#8
The takeoff flameout happened years ago when I still had my old propane start P-120's installed, dialed down to 24lbs thrust. One shutdown at liftoff due to a "watchdog" fault, which is a static discharge condition. A little rudder correction and it flew just fine. There was this one other time with the 120's when I took off with both running but one stayed at idle due to operator error. I had failed to confirm both were responding to the throttle after manual starts. Again, the hog flew just fine but it's a mistake I vowed not to make again.
10-25-2018, 02:10 PM
#11
I run a mix of the old (P-180, P-60, P-160) v.6 turbines and new version10 turbines (P-100, P-180RX and a P-180NX). I am getting more comfortable with v10 installs and the firmware.
I have maybe 10 flights with the P-180NX, so far so good, it does indeed charge the ECU battery. I have not run with the barotuner enabled, I will try it soon enough. I have not tried the P-100 yet in fact I am not sure what I bought it for now, I think a Reaction54. I am thinking a P-220rxi for my next one but I cant decide.
I have also been using the new JetCat USA for repairs for the first time, so far so good. THey have a nice trouble ticket system now you can get status on your repair, it is pretty clean.
I have maybe 10 flights with the P-180NX, so far so good, it does indeed charge the ECU battery. I have not run with the barotuner enabled, I will try it soon enough. I have not tried the P-100 yet in fact I am not sure what I bought it for now, I think a Reaction54. I am thinking a P-220rxi for my next one but I cant decide.
I have also been using the new JetCat USA for repairs for the first time, so far so good. THey have a nice trouble ticket system now you can get status on your repair, it is pretty clean.
10-25-2018, 10:50 PM
#12
I just read somewhere the Kingtech K30 would not run on diesel as the start procedure was too sensitive. Don't know if that is true as the engine is not even out yet...
10-26-2018, 05:35 AM
#15
Vin
The generator will charge a 3s Li-Po, the std system without BMS just charges the ECU pack and it stops at 90% so balancing is not so important. I’m 10 months with my 220Rxi and I’m yet to charge the ECU pack and I check the balance periodically and the pack is still balanced.
The output is enough to fill the pack back to the starting point in a seven minute flight, before you shut the turbine down.
The generator will charge a 3s Li-Po, the std system without BMS just charges the ECU pack and it stops at 90% so balancing is not so important. I’m 10 months with my 220Rxi and I’m yet to charge the ECU pack and I check the balance periodically and the pack is still balanced.
The output is enough to fill the pack back to the starting point in a seven minute flight, before you shut the turbine down.
10-26-2018, 08:48 AM
#16
Vin
The generator will charge a 3s Li-Po, the std system without BMS just charges the ECU pack and it stops at 90% so balancing is not so important. I’m 10 months with my 220Rxi and I’m yet to charge the ECU pack and I check the balance periodically and the pack is still balanced.
The output is enough to fill the pack back to the starting point in a seven minute flight, before you shut the turbine down.
The generator will charge a 3s Li-Po, the std system without BMS just charges the ECU pack and it stops at 90% so balancing is not so important. I’m 10 months with my 220Rxi and I’m yet to charge the ECU pack and I check the balance periodically and the pack is still balanced.
The output is enough to fill the pack back to the starting point in a seven minute flight, before you shut the turbine down.
10-26-2018, 01:27 PM
#18
Yes I charge a 3 cell, 2500 mah A123 LiFe.
If you want to balance it you need another little box, half the footprint of a business card. Unfortunately, I cannot figure out what type of balance connector jetcat uses so I just use regular servo type connectors, in this case with 4 terminals.
The box will also supply current on 2 each 12v busses to charge receiver batteries, but you need a battery with a built in charger (powerbox). I have them but have not flown them. These batteries are LiPo so relatively light even with the charger built in and relatively safe from fires and such as you cant hook them up wrong.
The best part of the P-180NX is the beautiful smooth brushless starter. With magnetic coupling tot he turbine core, very clever.
10-26-2018, 01:34 PM
#19
The balancer is a Graupner type - so I just ran a graupner 3 cell LiFe for the ECU and used the BMS to output to 2 powerbox RX batteries through the charge jack (which gives a balanced charge). As I understand it by using the BMS with the ECU balance lead plugged into it it then gives the ECU pack a balanced charge.
10-26-2018, 11:08 PM
#22
The balance lead plug type is called EH
The P-140 was discontinued as they had three turbines the same size and weight, two of them 180. Since a lot of people bought 180’s to be future proof on the next model they decided to drop the 140, reduce the rpm on the 180Rxi-B to a 160+ turbine, and reduce the price to near the 140 original price.
So next step models that needed a little more than 140N like the 2.6m Viper Jets etc were more affordable without the cost of the NX turbine with charging. The great thing is the turned down 180 is less stressed and actually produces a little more than 160N :-)
Win win
The P-140 was discontinued as they had three turbines the same size and weight, two of them 180. Since a lot of people bought 180’s to be future proof on the next model they decided to drop the 140, reduce the rpm on the 180Rxi-B to a 160+ turbine, and reduce the price to near the 140 original price.
So next step models that needed a little more than 140N like the 2.6m Viper Jets etc were more affordable without the cost of the NX turbine with charging. The great thing is the turned down 180 is less stressed and actually produces a little more than 160N :-)
Win win
10-27-2018, 08:41 AM
#24
I have a friend with a P-120 with 127 hours and its only been back 3 times. I know of several turbines with over 50 hours and these are not with major rebuilds, just bearings generally
