Finally, we got some flyable weather. The ship is 33oz with a BadAss 2320 820kV motor on a Thunder Power 5S - 1350mah ProLite pack. ESC is a Castle Creation 35A Talon, timer ZTron. I run an APCE P - 8 1/2x6 3/4 prop (cut down and pitched up APCE P 9x6) at 9650 rpm, on 60' FINS 40G 45LB Test (C to C) Spectra lines, 4.75 sec lap time. This setup save about 1 3/4oz over the commonly use 1800 - 2200 packs.
The FINS 40G Spectra lines are very low drag and saved 4% battery capacity compared to 0.012" stainless steel cable that would be used with this size/wt shipI took the S1 Electric Ringmaster out and tested the FINS 40G, 45LB Test (0.009" diameter) Spectra lines. The objective was to see if using thinner, lighter Spectra lines would reduce drag and use less mah from the pack giving a little more head room in the TP 5S - 1350mah pack. Short answer is we have a winner!!
The I did a first test was the 0.012" stainless steel cable lines (my baseline) vs. PowerPro Maxcuatro 40 LB Test, 0.010" diameter lines. For the SS cable lap time was 4.7; PPMax lap time was 4.8 sec. On the PPMax the plane felt very solid and I didn't notice any real difference in the maneuver's, estimated pull was about 7 lbs. At the end of the test the battery voltage on SS Cable was 18.4V the PPMax was 17.6V, just above cutoff.
Yesterday, the test was with the FINS 40G lines, prepared like the PPMax, double surgeons knot (per the posted video Mike Stinson) using the Larks Head to secure the line clip. Pull tested the lines and all was good to go. Switch on - off we go. Ship felt really good and solid, speed felt right, control response was solid, no sponginess or delay, even when I purposely banged a hard corner just to see. Lap time was 4.69 sec right on top of the lap time for the 0.012" stainless steel braided cable (4.7 sec). After the flight comes the real data to see if there is any benefit. Pack is TP 5S - 1350mah, end voltage 18.5V, mah put back on recharge 1093. This left 257 mah in the pack 19%. That is ~4% more reserve that with the 0.012" SS cable so by my tests I have achieved my gold of reducing the amp draw and allows good battery life with this setup.
Best, DennisT