I am contemplating using a Castle Talon 35 amp ESC in place of a Castle Edge lite 50 amp ESC. There is an ounce of weight difference between these ESC's. The motor is a Cobra 2820 which when run with a 4 cell battery, can (or is rated to) pull a maximum of 40 amps continuous. However, we aren't running these setups at full power continuously. Obviously the load changes with different maneuvers. Using the APC 11x5.5 prop, I would anticipate a flight RPM of around 9500rpm, which is less than 70% of the full throttle RPM capability of the 970KV motor on a 4s battery. (14.8v x 970kv =14,356 rpm potential.)
Would I be courting disaster to run the 35amp ESC, or would it be totally adequate?
My newly converted e-Gieseke Nobler weighs 44.5oz with the ThunderPower 4S/2800 battery and Hubin FM9 timer. A swap to the Talon 35 ESC would drop an ounce off the nose. After I gather some flight data, I may be able to move to a smaller 4s/2200 battery. With a lighter battery and ESC combo, there is the potential to save around 2 to 2.5oz. To bring the RTF weight down to around 42oz (battery installed) would be ideal, as it was flying great at 39.5oz(dry) with a Brodak 40.
Talon 35 amp rating info:*RC HOBBY APPLICATION RATING: 35 amps for the duration of a single 4,000 mAh battery pack with the ESC in contact with a 5 mph airflow of 25C (77F) or cooler air. Controller temperature must never exceed 100C (212F). Exceeding current or temperature ratings may damage components and may shorten the life of the ESC. Always verify system current draw at full-throttle. Decrease load or increase airflow to decrease the ESC’s operating temperature.