That looks great! Have you already posted the details of your setup (sorry--memory cells are going, going, gone....)?

The Ringmaster Fly-A-Thon results are posted in other forums but the overall # of flights were 249 in four different countries. Jim Swearingen, my daughter Beth and I flew at "Hobby Hideaway" in central Illinois. We made 15 flights with seven different Ringmasters (two of which were my electrics).

John Cralley

Dennis,

The motor is a HexTronik 42-40 but it is now called TURNIGY AerodriveXp.

https://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=2100&Product_Name=TR_42-40A_1050kv_35A_Brushless_Outrunner

MODEL: Turnigy -TR42-40
Max Efficiency: 30A
Max Load: 35A
Kv: 1050
Weight: 125gr
Pull: 800-1200gr
Porp Size: 10x6 or 9x5
Voltage 5-15v
No Load Curr: 3A
Size: 42x40mm 5mm shaft

The ESC is a HiModel FLY 40 AMP with BEC:

http://www.himodel.com/electric/HiModel_FLY_Seires_40A_Brushless_Speed_Controller_Type_FLY-40A_BEC.html

Type: FLY-40A BEC
· Weight: 36.5 g / 1.3 oz ( with connectors )
· Size: 70 x 25.7 x 8.7 mm / 2.7 x 1.0x 0.34 in
· Constant Current:40A
· Max Current: 50A (for ten seconds)
· FET: 18
· BEC: Yes
· PWM: 8 KHz
· Input: 2 to 3 cells Li-Po, or 6 to 10 Ni-MH/Ni-Cd

Note this is rated for 3 cells but I am using it for 4S and having no problems. It does get warm but not HOT.

The battery is a 20C 4S 2200 Li-poly (Hextronik) and or a Rhino 20C 4S 2150 mah:

https://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7364&Product_Name=Rhino_2150mAh_4S1P_20C_Lipoly_Pack

The timer is a Will Hubin FM-1

The prop is an APC 10-7

I get 46 oz static thrust from this setup and about 3 min flight time when the timer is cranked to full throttle.

I use this combination for sport flying as at age 76 my reactions are not that great. I do plan to try the "Beginner Pattern" at the 3rd annual Ringmaster Roundup in Houston, TX Memorial Day weekend. By then I should have a new (LIGHTER) ringmaster setup with governer mode ESC to fly.

As you can see I have gone CHEAP (Alan and others will not approve) but this is a workable combination for me right now. There is a park two blocks from my house and I can "sneak" over early in the morning and get in a few flights with no complaints so far. Ten to 12 inches of snow has me in building mode for now.

John,
I have no problem with cheap, sometimes it is a lot of fun to see what you can actually use.

The only problem is sometimes you can be burned (hopefully not literally! )

Alan,  So far no burns but I have managed to cremate an ESC (30 Amp) and to kill a battery (left it plugged in overnight -- dead, dead, dead)!! LOL

And cheers to all -- No more Rod Blago as Governor just ESCs with governor!!!!

John,

Thanks for the information I find it interesting that there are lots of options in ECL. A couple additional questions, do you know the rpm the motor is running at and how much mah do you normally pull from the 2200mah pack for the 3min flight time? Also what line length are you using. I am starting a new project in the "35" size and am looking to use one of the lighter motors with a 2200mah pack to have a power package weight in the range of 12oz, that would compare to a "wet" FP35 with fuel and tank weight. Your setup is interesting I have looked at some battery 4s1p, 2200mah packs that weight in at around 8oz that are reasonably priced (I think the key to good battery performance is using a very high quality charger and pulling only about 80% out of the pack at 8-10C, seems even the cheap pack work with this) combine with a 4.4 oz motor and I in the ball park.

Best,           Dennis

John,
I have been using the Phoenix 35--have 2 of them. Actually that is due to my "cheapness". It has often been on sale for quite reasonable prices ($60 as I recall) while the Phoenix 45 always has been over $100 (AFAIK). Even now with the Enobler, I only occasionally peak at 35A in the overhead maneuvers. Most normal flying (with a 4s battery) is at the 20A level.

This is a bit off topic but Jim Swearingen and I went out to Hobby Hideaway (Central Illinois) and put on a couple of Feb. flights. The temperature was in the low thirties with a brisk west wind. We are going for flying at least once a month this year. There was some snow and Jim flew with a plane equipped with skis. I flew one of my electric Ringmasters with three inch foamy wheels.

I have a new Castle Creations 45 ESC and was using a 4S 2200 mah battery with a Hubin FM-1 timer. When I fired up the RM the motor spooled up slowly (the way it was setup to do) and just before I was ready to wave a launch it started to oscillate. That is it would drop RPM and then jump back up to speed then repeat this cycle. Since I was determined to fly I waved for a launch and flew a couple of laps in the oscillating mode. Then it kicked into full RPM and flew perfectly for the remainder of the flight.  The ESC was set for governor mode high and the timer for 70% throttle. I have no idea what was going on and really wish I had an Eagle Tree system monitoring my setup but that will have to wait for a birthday!!! I can only guess that something was getting "hot" and cooled off after a couple of laps in the cold air.

This is a bit off topic but Jim Swearingen and I went out to Hobby Hideaway (Central Illinois) and put on a couple of Feb. flights. The temperature was in the low thirties with a brisk west wind. We are going for flying at least once a month this year. There was some snow and Jim flew with a plane equipped with skis. I flew one of my electric Ringmasters with three inch foamy wheels.

I have a new Castle Creations 45 ESC and was using a 4S 2200 mah battery with a Hubin FM-1 timer. When I fired up the RM the motor spooled up slowly (the way it was setup to do) and just before I was ready to wave a launch it started to oscillate. That is it would drop RPM and then jump back up to speed then repeat this cycle. Since I was determined to fly I waved for a launch and flew a couple of laps in the oscillating mode. Then it kicked into full RPM and flew perfectly for the remainder of the flight.  The ESC was set for governor mode high and the timer for 70% throttle. I have no idea what was going on and really wish I had an Eagle Tree system monitoring my setup but that will have to wait for a birthday!!! I can only guess that something was getting "hot" and cooled off after a couple of laps in the cold air.

My first thought would be that the batteries were cold - resulting in a voltage drop that the ESC took as discharged batteries, so it went into cutoff - eventually the batteries warmed up  and the voltage held above the cutoff point .. maybe.

Mike A

Hi John,
The other possibility is that the governor was set with too high of a gain, and was oscillating around the desired RPM.
Bench tests are a good idea ... do them at the same RPM as you expect in real life, but with a smaller prop to limit the current. Typically ground currents in governor mode are 130% to 140% of the in-flight current.
later,
Dean