Joe Westrich

My Feedback: (95)

I need some assistance. I have an 8.5lb 160in ws glider and I want to put a motor system in the nose. I am fine doing the cuting and the motification but I have no real electrics knowledge.


What I want to know is....what motor, esc, battery and folding prop to buy based on the weight and ws of my model. Specific information would be helpful especially about the folding prop.

Also, I don't need the best stuff but I know it will cost me a couple hundred bucks or more.

thanks

Bfan479

My Feedback: (46)

Yes it will cost you a few bucks. I've been doing my pre build threads and have picked up a lot of good info. I would go to Hobby Lobby and search out AXI motors. They have a motor size table where you select the type of plane you have and the weight. It will give you a good idea what will work on your plane. Also I found some good EP motor info and some general info on the subject at [link]http://www.rc-electric-aircraft-info.com[/link] There's a lot of good info there and Hobby Lobby also has a tech section on electric motors and there componants.

Joe Westrich

My Feedback: (95)

Thanks, I will check it out

Flyfalcons

Joe how big of a nose are do you have to mount the motor? I am running an Axi 4120-18 motor in my 157" Discus glider with a 6S lipo and 14x9.5 folding prop. It produces 1200 watts of power and is plenty to haul the thing up at a very good climb rate. I would say to look for a power source in the 1000 watt range for your glider. Yes it is expensive but the performance is awesome.

Joe Westrich

My Feedback: (95)

Another guy recommended the same motor but a 4s battery. I added the cost up with battery and it's over $500. I am building this for someone else so I don't know if his budget will ok this set-up. From the pictures you posted , it looks like I have the same glider as you, red tips and all.

Have you found the glider too big to hand launch?

Flyfalcons

No way would I hand launch that thing unless it's off a slope with a good breeze.

evan-RCU

You are correct about the price. There are more expensive set ups too, I was going to throw in a suggested Neu/ castle ESC and BEC/ LiPo set up but figured it would be way out of your price range.

You may be able to use chinese knock offs and get a cheaper price tag but I wouldn't recommend it as you really do get what you pay for and I would consider the Axi as the minimum.

This is not a cheap project, your person you are building this for should realize this...

goliathman

My Feedback: (3)

I think you would be suprised how easy it is to launch a large glider with a hot motor set up.

MTT

My Feedback: (8)

I fly a 4m ( 157 " ) Valenta Thermik XL with a Kontronik drive 502 ( FUN 500-27 motor with 5.2:1 gearbox ) driving a 18x9 folding prop. Power is provided by a 4s2p 4100 mAh pack.
AUW is approx 10.5 lbs.

This setup is powerful enough to make handlaunches a non-issue, and to clinb to approx 700 ft ( measured by picolario ) in about 60 sec.
I can do 3 60 sec climbs on one charge.

According to Motocalc, this setup produces 800W.

Before installing it in the Valenta, I used this same seup in a Multplex Alpina 4001 ( also 4m span ), slighlty heavier at 11 lbs, also with no problems.

Joe Westrich

My Feedback: (95)

It looks like you are only a couple miles away from me. Do you fly at GCRCC?

MTT

My Feedback: (8)

You're right !

Hadn't noticed your location...
To answer your question :
No, I don't fly at the GCRCC, but with the Cincinnati Soaring Society ( http://www.cincinnatisoaring.org/ ), recently renamed Cincinnati Saoring and Electric, and we fly at the VOA park on Cox/Tylersville Rd.
A few of us, who also fly scale sailplanes, used to go out to GCRCC for aerotow, since the activity at the VOA is restricted to sailplanes and electrics only, no IC engines allowed, but we haven't done that for quite a while now, unfortunately...

Michael

BTW, the electric setup I use, is available at towerhobbies : http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXGCX0&P=7 Unfortunately, like everything else from Europe these days, not cheap....
For a spinner/yoke I recommend these clamp-on type yokes, available from Shredair (www.shredair.com) : http://www.shredair.com/spinners.html
Folding prop blades in various different sizes are available from Hobby-Lobby ( www.hobby-lobby.com ) : http://www.hobby-lobby.com/freuden.htm