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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Dick Pacini on February 07, 2013, 03:51:59 PM
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I am not involved with electrics (yet) but I think someone should design an electric motor with a beam mount that would be a drop in for popular glow engines.
Building a plane from scratch or bashing a kit doesn't present much of a problem, but an existing model would be easily converted if the existing beam mounts could be used. It might make electric flight even more popular.
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I am not involved with electrics (yet) but I think someone should design an electric motor with a beam mount that would be a drop in for popular glow engines.
Building a plane from scratch or bashing a kit doesn't present much of a problem, but an existing model would be easily converted if the existing beam mounts could be used. It might make electric flight even more popular.
I have already done that, see Lee Concannons post on his Banshee
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Hi Dick
The fundamental problem is that outrunners are too big to fit between existing beam mounts. Its a question of installing a firewall into a structure that is designed to carry beams.
Conversions of IC powered profiles to electric is pretty straight forward: a couple alum angles bolted through the existing beams and the battery where the tank went - works OK for most.
Conversions of IC powered full fuse is a PAIN. The basic problem is removing the beams and rebuilding the nose to carry a firewall. Then back into the battery compartment and the beams are still in the way. Hopefully it was build with a long cowl and at least you can get access to the battery - even it is on the WRONG side of the airplane. After a few conversions I'd say it just aint worth it.
I have been contemplating converting one of my NOS 30 birds, it would almost be better to lop off the nose and graft a new one on - have not yet convinced myself it is worth it...
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The problem I see with a drop in mount for electric to existing profile planes is you are left with a plane that has all the bad baggage that's there to handle an IC engine. This includes much unneeded strength and weight, remember electric motors do not have the vibration that IC engines have.
The first thing I do when I convert an IC plane to electric is start taking out weight wherever possible, maple beam mounts, 1/8" plywood doublers, solid wood tail feathers and flaps and a solid wood fuselage. Every ounce I take out equates to battery/motor savings which equates to more weight savings. It's not that a simple motor mount can't be made to allow an easy drop in, it's just not a good idea. Why use electric if you are not going to take advantage of all it has to offer?
Andy