I am in the process of assembling my new electric Barnstormer and have found something that is worse than doing hinging - wiring!!! What a pain in the As* this is. Fitting these components into the nose is the preverbal 5 lbs of sh*t into a 1 lb bag. I am at the point where the motor, ESC, Timer and ON/OFF switch is in but getting the battery and connector to fit is like a nightmare in a spaghetti factory. During the build I thought I had it fairly well laid out but when you really start hooking it up space seems to get very small. I hope I can get this last step done soon so I can get it in the air.

Best,    DennisT

I feel your pain.  I'm on my second slime-to-electric conversion.  I thought this would be just fine because I'm doing the conversion before the fuse is done.  But -- noooooooo!

The next one is going to be an inch wider at least, or I'm going to build a box with the entire electric system assembled, then decide how wide the fuselage will be.

That is the only way to go! 

It certainly fits the definition of a Blivit.  Those damn wires are an inch too short or an inch too long or both. The connectors don't bend, and it is always on the wrong side.  The battery only fits backwards and won't reach the ESC and the timer is so deep in the bowels that you can't get to the connectors to program it.  And all of those air vents and scoops are so blocked that you might as well just cover them.  Then one day you get the last of it to fit, close the cowl and it was all worth it and even better, you still have hinging to look forward to!

Ken

Apparently the workers confused the wiring with spaggetti , on the early 74 SS Duke. 750's . Tho it mightve been the lunch .

It's no worse than trying to fit and plumb a fuel tank and worry if the finish is fuel proof!   

Just when you get it all nice and fit the battery manufacturer will quit making the lipo you built the plane around.

OK, finally got the wirers, switch, battery, esc and timer to fit and be replaced in the field. Needed to add a hole through the firewall former. This allows the wires to loop back and through the hole and the battery sits flat with two Velcro straps with an additional Velco pad on the floor plate to secure for-aft movement of the pack. With this arrangement I can even get an 5S 1800mah pack if needed but the 5S-1600 seems to be enough and is about 1/2oz lighter.

Now got to get the rest of the stuff installed.

Best,    DennisT

A guy at the club meeting yesterday was upset that his LIPO battery caught fire while charging it and could have burned down his garage.  He was previously a glow engine guy.   I suggested that may be a reason to not leave glow.   You never know when the battery is going to catch fire.  I have seen 2 vehicles burned up because the battery caught fire and he was using the car battery to power the charger.  I have seen 1 plane catch the woods on fire from a crash and 1 plane catch fire in the air. 

Fitting the parts in the fuselage should be least of your worries.

Rusty

A guy at the club meeting yesterday was upset that his LIPO battery caught fire while charging it and could have burned down his garage.  He was previously a glow engine guy.   I suggested that may be a reason to not leave glow.   You never know when the battery is going to catch fire.  I have seen 2 vehicles burned up because the battery caught fire and he was using the car battery to power the charger.  I have seen 1 plane catch the woods on fire from a crash and 1 plane catch fire in the air. 

Fitting the parts in the fuselage should be least of your worries.

Rusty

Makes me want to rush out and buy an electric car with 500 lbs of batteries!