Guy's,

I went out this morning to do a quick test flight with the Excitation after doing a flap tweak and had an unusual experience. After release of the stooge the ship moved off and brushed the grass which slowed the motor momenterally but then it picked up and off we went. Once in the air as I did an inside loop the motor slowed then came back on the down side of the loop and remained solid for the rest of the short test flight (level flight). Since the flap tweak was still not quite there I gave them another tweak and went for a second flight. This time I flattened the grass under the stooge board so it didn't drop the ship off the end so steep. Ship took off normal but at the end of the first lap the motor slowed momentarily and the picked up I did a loop with no problem (flap tweak still off a little). After a third tweak on the flaps I took off again an again after first lap (about 5 secs into flight) the motor slowed then picked up, finally it really slowed and the ship landed with the motor just barely turning, I walked over and shut off the main power switch. Once I got home I did a quick check on the battery voltage and it measured 9.2V at the battery terminals (I though Dean once indicated we lose a volt through the ESC?).

Question - I'm not sure if I fully charged this battery after the weekend flying session so I might have been down to start with. It seems to me that it was hitting the low voltage limit (I set this at 2.8 volts which for the 3s2p A123 would be 8.4V at the ESC) if the pack was low and it did hit the low voltage limit is this the signal that the CC45 would give? Second - if I had started with a full charge could the prop strike have cause that big of a current spike that it would discharge most of the battery thus leading to the low voltage warning? Last could this have been an over current situation? I don't think this is the case since this is the same setup I used for a similar size & weight test ship and had no problems with it - any thoughts?

Best,      Dennis

Alan,

Thanks for the input, it sounds like that's what happened I will check the CC45 setting tonight. On the last flight it slowed just as you discribed. Thanks again.

Best,   Dennis

Larry,
Some of the male gold bullet connectors do spin around so that is "normal"--these are the ones that have the expansion "springs" that make the contacts to the inside of the female connector.

Is your second flight right after the first. I'm wondering if the ESC is too warm---I sort of doubt that though. Are you using a Castle Creations Phoenix?? (I think I remember you were). Could you give us an equipment rundown?

If it is heat, then you need to get the ESC into the breeze.

well that is a puzzle. Maybe someone else has an idea. It does sound like heat if it starts up after a short wait, but a Phoenix 45 should have plenty of capability.

Also nice looking plane!

I guess I didn't catch that you were using the same battery for the second flight.

Since my battery is "just enough" for one pattern flight, I don't intentionally (at least!  ) fly it twice. Even a short 3 minute flight would be too long to do twice (my flying time is 5min, 10 s, leaving me with 20% nominal charge left in the pack). Maybe I have flown two 2 minute flights when I was tuning things up. But I have 4 batteries and that seemed easier to support the initial efforts.

Actually now I have put two packs into storage (=charged to the 50% level and put in the fridge). I want to run the other two at max use to see how long they last under my abuse. This has been a tough summer--even though we have our club field at work (I know everyone sympathizes) the weather has been pretty crummy this summer. However this week I have been able to fly 2 flights a day over 4 days--had to mow the field on Wednesday! Usually 2 flights a day maxes me out--I get demonstrably worse on the 3rd flight and downright dangerous on the fourth. That's why I don't fly a practice flight at a contest. I hate to admit it, but my ability runs downhill (a very short hill to start with!) very fast. It is nice with electric that I don't need a "needle" flight!