Interesting development in electrics

[steven yampolsky]

Scientists demonstrated ability to create batteries by spraying layers of materials making up the battery onto a surface. Imagine being able to spray on batteries onto wing.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/06/30/paint-on-batteries-demonstrated

[FLOYD CARTER]

What is really needed is to reduce both weight and cost of batteries.  Right now, the cost is about $100 per pound! 
On a typical 600 sq.in. stunter, the battery penalty is at least one pound, and up....

Floyd

[Tim Wescott]

This is going to cause the same problem as radiators on wings did in the 1920's.  It takes your vulnerable bits and puts them out on the surface, ready to be scuffed, punctured, etc.

[PerttiMe]

Better spray them on the inside then.

    

[Randy Powell]

Better yet, China announced that it was going to substantially reduce their export of rare earths. Since most of the lithium in the world is in China and to a lesser extent Russia (with a large deposit in Afghanistan that the Chinese control), the cost of batteries is likely to go up. A lot. Great, dependence on foreign oil or dependence on foreign lithium. 

 

[Randy Cuberly]

Better yet, China announced that it was going to substantially reduce their export of rare earths. Since most of the lithium in the world is in China and to a lesser extent Russia (with a large deposit in Afghanistan that the Chinese control), the cost of batteries is likely to go up. A lot. Great, dependence on foreign oil or dependence on foreign lithium. 

 

HHMMmmmmmmmm...
Did IC engines just get a boost???
Doesn't break my heart!  I'm still sctatching my head and trying to figure out how to cram all that expensive stuff into a reasonably stiff fuselage front end that's 10 inches long.   Glad I've got a lot of IC engines.
I've also managed to get a cheap ($150.00) engine to run competitively with the expensive ones.  It weighs a little more but runs with the best...no pipe however.  But then the electrics don't have a pipe either do they? 

Randy C.

[Steve Helmick]

Isn't most (or all?) of the nitromethane also made in China?  Steve

[Randy Powell]

That's my understanding, Steve. Guess we better start making the stuff ourselves. Oh, wait, that might make someone mad.

[bob branch]

Floyd
Your numbers are way out of date. 3 years ago I did a weight and balance comparison with a piped PA .51 with magnesium head, backplate, and thrust washer and a carbon fiber pipe compared with a more powerful electric system. The electric system THEN was 2 ounces lighter and the cg was 1 inch further aft. Competitive batteries are much cheaper today, easily under $50 per battery. Yes, you can pay more. But you can find all the info you need in the All Amped Up Forum to set up a top class stunter for a lot less money and weight than you can in glow.  Not trying to dis anybody, just trying to post the facts.

bob branch

[linheart smith]

I agree with Bob.  There is little weight penalty with electric using this last generation of batteries.  Compared with a fully gassed PA ship,  it's Electric brother will come in the same or couple oz lighter on takeoff.  Given the fact that 4-6 ounces of fuel burn off during flight a gas ship will have some weight advantage upon landing. 

As more and more Electrics are purpose built,  the structures will become lighter due the lack of vibration. 

Linheart

[Douglas Ames]

That's my understanding, Steve. Guess we better start making the stuff ourselves. Oh, wait, that might make someone mad.

I think our last US plant blewup!

[Randy Cuberly]

Isn't most (or all?) of the nitromethane also made in China?   Steve

So?  Who needs nitro methane?

My Belko's run great on Methanol and oil.

Some nitro is manufactured in Korea!

Randy Cuberly

[Bill Little]

Since we are getting off topic...............

I got a quart of nitro from High Performance Fuels in Texas.  Won't be long that I will have to order some more.   Good price, great service!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

[RandySmith]

Since we are getting off topic...............

I got a quart of nitro from High Performance Fuels in Texas.  Won't be long that I will have to order some more.   Good price, great service!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

how much?

[Bill Little]

how much?

The site is down right now so I can't check the prices......

Bill

[john e. holliday]

Don't be surprised if the price has gone thru the roof.   Of course paint is different.  I went and picked up a quart of primer for the P-47.  The guy looked at me and asked how long I have the can I was holding.  Price was four times what I paid for the first can.   

[Paul Taylor]

how much?

$25 for a QT.

[bob branch]

But the good news is a quart of nitro will last for years in electric flying!

bob branch 

[john e. holliday]

Not if you use it to remove CA glue. 

[bob branch]

I knew there had to be a use for the stuff other than in John Force's family car. 

bob branch