Misc. accessories
How starts with this hobby won't have more things in the beginning then a model, transmitter, battery and a charger. With time, there will come more things you need and yore thinking that you need. Necessary equipment, little helper ot everything else I'm using will be introduced here.
The electronic (receiver, servos etc.) in a model must be powered. Depending of the size of the model, either a battery or the BEC from an ESC will be used. A battery has the ungood side effect that it can become defective. So when you arrive at a certain model size, there will be used two batteries in parallel for safety reasons. To realize this, a battery switch is needed, because to solder batteries just in parallel would inluence each other.
In my Salto, der preowner only put in one battery which was to dangerous for me, thats why I'm using there now this switch from Jeti.This one does NOT have a voltage converter, so the output voltage equals the input voltage, there is only an intelligent electronic built in, which switches between the two batteries and select that one who has the higher voltage. So if you loose one battery completely, there is no danger for the model. As increased safety, it uses a magnetic switch instead of a standard mechanical one. This is important, because during take off it can come to vibrations which could harm a mechanical switch, so in this way, this thing is increasing the safety very much.
In my Salto, der preowner only put in one battery which was to dangerous for me, thats why I'm using there now this switch from Jeti.This one does NOT have a voltage converter, so the output voltage equals the input voltage, there is only an intelligent electronic built in, which switches between the two batteries and select that one who has the higher voltage. So if you loose one battery completely, there is no danger for the model. As increased safety, it uses a magnetic switch instead of a standard mechanical one. This is important, because during take off it can come to vibrations which could harm a mechanical switch, so in this way, this thing is increasing the safety very much.
You wanna get serious with electric engines? Then a wattmeter can't be missed. The one I use is quite cheap and works reliable in the range of 0-60V and 0-100A. It display the real time ampere, watt, voltage and used Ah. Also you can meassure the power of an internal BEC from an ESC. Just let the throttle at 0% and start to moveing the rudders. if your transmitter has a "servo test" function, even better, because with that, you can move all servos at the same time. But don't forget that the wattmeter shows the amperage at the voltage from the battery, so don't forget to calculate it back at BEC voltage.
I've soldered the bigest used gold plugs directly to the wattmeter, if I need to meassure something with smaller plugs, I use a self soldered adapter.
As small addition, the wattmeter can also show the single cell voltage and balance a battery.
A real must have device that i can only recommend!
I've soldered the bigest used gold plugs directly to the wattmeter, if I need to meassure something with smaller plugs, I use a self soldered adapter.
As small addition, the wattmeter can also show the single cell voltage and balance a battery.
A real must have device that i can only recommend!
Name: China Keycam 808 #16 V2
Manufacturer: ?
Sold by: Ebay
Search term: 808 16 V2 (worldwide)
Price: 30€
Manufacturer: ?
Sold by: Ebay
Search term: 808 16 V2 (worldwide)
Price: 30€
The 808 cameras have become very good known. I bought the 808 #16 in version 2 with the b lense which records in 720p and I'm just enthusiastic. Most of the videos here have been done with that camera, to see samples you onle have to browse her a little bit around. Also I can recommend the homepage from Chuck Lohr who knows a lot about that cameras.
If you don't have already a telemetry system, this LiPo peeper can be a real helper. it can be used from two to eight cells and the alarm limit can be adjusted.
I only use it in my helicopter because with planes it also works very good to fly with the timer. I've adjusted it to an alarm limit of 3,4V per cell and if he starts to peep when I'm using more then 3/4 pitch, I know that it is time to land. Interestingly, it is most time sold out at HK, so it is worth to start a search on ebay, there it is only a little bit more expensive.
I only use it in my helicopter because with planes it also works very good to fly with the timer. I've adjusted it to an alarm limit of 3,4V per cell and if he starts to peep when I'm using more then 3/4 pitch, I know that it is time to land. Interestingly, it is most time sold out at HK, so it is worth to start a search on ebay, there it is only a little bit more expensive.
This, so called, voltage protector is nothing else then an usual capacitator, but for what is it needed? A capacitator is nothing else then a very small battery that can be charged and discharged unbelieveable fast, because of that, it decreases current peaks. If a servo starts to move, it needs very short a much igher amount of current as it would need when it then is in motion. In an extreme example, this can leas to a lack of voltage which can cause the receiver to shut off. This additional needed amount of current can the capacitator deliver and prevent a so called brwon out of the receiver. A not so well known piece, but very helpful. Especially on 3D planes.
A servotester is more useful then it may appear at first sight. You can not only test if a servo even works, you can also center it for mounting, you can let it run over a long time to check if it works flawless, and with this one, you can also check four servos at the same time and check if they are running synchron. The LED Servo Tester works, but with some servos he has a jitter problem. I still have him in use, but because of the jitter, I would next time test another one.
A classical rpm gauge which works very well, also on a higher distance to the prop. The battery don't last very long, but still worth the 10€. Should not be missing in a model hobby box.
Name: Battery level display
Manufacturer: TowerPro
Sold by: Ebay
Search term: Towerpro Battery Level Displayer (worldwide)
Price: 3€
Manufacturer: TowerPro
Sold by: Ebay
Search term: Towerpro Battery Level Displayer (worldwide)
Price: 3€
One of the most useful things when you are operating a model with NiMh battery. The display is very small and light weight and is connected directly on a free port of the receiver. With a small switch can be choosen between four or five cells. The gauge is working very exactley and latest from the half you shuld start to think about charging your battery. For me a non-missable gadget.
The RX3S is maybe the cheapest available stabilisation system for fixed wing on the market. I'm using it in my Piper and I', very satisfied with it. It eleminates guts and wind while you are not even recognizing it. Especially while towing it is a big help. Also it can be switched of with a seperate channel. With the older version, there were some problems with some digital servos, HK responded to that published an overhauled version. if you want to get deeper into that, you also can flash it with other firmware on your own to optimize it even more. But also in the original version it is a secret tip for the money!
Chargers who are designed for using with more then some toy batteries are running to 90% on 12V. The background is, that in the days before LiPos came up and become cheap, the batteries where mostly charged only on the field with a car battery. Also most power terminals on the flying fields have 12V. But at home, you usualy never have a 12V power plug, so you need this power supply to convert your power plug voltage to 12V. I have the PS35 in use since a few years without any problems. On 12V it can deliver 35A which equals a theorethical power of 420W. Ich calculate also the efficency of the power supply and the charger, you get round about 340W pure charge power, this is enough to charge a 6S battery with 14A. This should be more then enough for home use.
Name: Infrared thermometer
Manufacturer: Unknown
Sold by: Ebay
Search term: Laser thermometer (worldwide)
Price: 10€
Manufacturer: Unknown
Sold by: Ebay
Search term: Laser thermometer (worldwide)
Price: 10€
Whats the temperature of the LiPo after the flight? How hot does the ESC become after three minutes full throttle? Is the nitro engine set up correct so that it won't overheat? All toether good questions you only can guess. If you are longer in the hobby, you get a good feeling, but not certitude. back in the days, infrared thermometers have been unaffordable, but because of eBay and direct imports from China, this changed. The devices became cheap and work reliable. Of course they don't have the exactness of a calibrated one for 200€, but a few degrees up or down won't as important in that use...