Newbies needing help - You can call if you need too

[RcSuperSales-Net]

Throughout the 2 1/2 years I have been running www.RcSuperSales.net; (http://www.RcSuperSales.net;) starting from the ground floor up with absolutely nothing but ambition and a desire to get involved in Rc Helicopters and see others succeed; I have acquired a little bit of knowledge along the way in how to fly, build, troubleshoot, and help others decide what works best for their heli needs.

I have seen newbies come into this hobby and blow $500 on a Blade CP Pro with the fully blinged out everything only to be left feeling unhapy with where their heli endeavors have have gotten too, frustrated with their helicopter and ready to quit altogehter. I have helped guide people along the way and help them get the best heli for their budget, and for what they would like to achieve. I have spent hundreds and more likely thousands of hours on the phone just helping people and talking with them not caring about making a sale or even if the customer had bought all their stuff from somewhere else. To me this is more than a hobby, it is a passion.

I say all this not to brag or toot my own horn because believe me I am not an expert, no one really is IMHO, everyone is constantly learning in this Hobby and in the world of Aviation in general. There are just those who have been more successfull in it. Practice does make perfect. Anyways I say this because I want to see people succeed in this hobby.

I fly Full scale helis as well as RC and I love everything about aviation regardless of its size. I want to see YOU, the New Guy, succeed in this hobby and have a ton of fun in the process.

I know that sometimes it can be frustrating as a newbie in this hobby to understand a lot of the things discussed on the forums. Emails, IM, PM's and other electronic forms of communication can only go so far. Sometimes it helps just talking with someone either face to face or over the phone. If you are one of those people and just need someone to answer a question about the best heli for your budget, need a custom package put together or have a troubling question you cannnot figure out no matter what you have found on the forums, please feel free to contact me personally during my business hours. I advise you to use the Search feature on Rc Groups to find an answer to your question first, before posting the question or contacting me. Most of the time you will find your question has been asked before and there is already an answer awaiting. But if you have exhausted all other efforts and need to take it to the next level, please pick up the phone and give me a call or shoot me an email.

Well that about sums it up and I wish the best of luck to all you new people in this hobby and welcome aboard to the Wide Wonderful World of Rotory Aircraft!

If you call during business hours and I do not pick up please leave me a message. I have a crazy schedule and am not always around but I do return all of my phone calls and emails.

Happy and Safe Flying to you all!

Kyle Allred
President/Owner
Rc Super Sales
www.RcSuperSales.net (http://www.RcSuperSales.net)

[Skarn]

I can vouch for Kyle....I have done business with him since 2006 and he is a stand up guy!

Skarn

[RcSuperSales-Net]

Thanks for the kind words Skarn. I have made my share of mistakes along the way and I am sure I have pissed a person or two off along the way. You can't please everyone I guess.

Kyle

[osterizer]

I would only be pissed because I haven't anything to complain about :). You've done fine by me, and the CSRC power supply is still the best price/capacity deal I've found yet!

Best to ya, Kyle.

[DNO1BULL]

Got started on this hobby when i bought my son a mcx last x-mas. Then I bought myself a simulator, thought i was doing ok on that, so I got a B400. Well after several attemts to get off the ground (ajusting trims) I finally got it up , hovered for a few seconds when it drifted backwards & hard left. Well after replacing the blades, main shaft, I looked into what would make the b400 more stable. From what Jazz & the b400 said , I need new servo's, tail (JR DS290g) & main(hs65mg) & a new gyro (gy401)
Reading all the beginner threads Jazz got going, I'm wondering if I should take a step back into a fp. Already have a dx6i so is there anything out there thats bnf? Or am I going to get stuck with another receiver?
Thanks,
Nick

[RcSuperSales-Net]

Well after several attempts to get off the ground (adjusting trims I finally got it up, hovered for a few seconds when it drifted backwards & hard left. Well after replacing the blades, main shaft, I looked into what would make the b400 more stable. From what Jazz & the b400 said , I need new servo's, tail (JR DS290g) & main(hs65mg) & a new gyro (gy401)
Reading all the beginner threads Jazz got going, I'm wondering if I should take a step back into a fp. Already have a dx6i so is there anything out there thats bnf? Or am I going to get stuck with another receiver?
Thanks,
Nick

Hi Nick,

What is your skill level flying? Sounds like you are fairly new. Have you practiced on the sim or anything. I would not even attempt to fly the Heli unless you absolutely know what you are doing.

This is how I look at it from a Pilot's perspective. I would never go out and have tried to attempt to fly a full scale helicopter unless I had instruction on what to do. This is the most common mistake new people make in this hobby. They fly a Coaxial or fly nothing at all then go out and try to fly a Collective Pitch helicopter. I am not saying this is your course of action you took I just mean it is a common theme.

You really need to know how to fly before you fly. Since most of us don't receive instruction in the form of someone standing there talking us through things it is somewhat harder to do it on our own. So the key to what we have to do is read the threads, and most importantly IMO is sim time.

I cannot reiterate enough how critical a Simulator is. We are lucky enough to have them in this day and age of this hobby so we need to utilize one. Since you already have the DX6i I highly recommend getting this cord: http://store.rcsupersales.net/servlet/-strse-2656/USB-GWS-SIMULATOR-CORD/Detail?sfs=8252bdd5 then downloading http://www.rcflightsim.com/ for $40. That is the best $50 you will spend in this hobby hands down.

I have been using Clearview for 1 1/2 years now and without a Flight Sim I would not have progressed to the level I am at now in such a short period of time and with the least amount of crashes. I am by no means a very good pilot but I am proficient. I unfortunately don’t get a lot of time to fly. I hardly ever crash and that is because I train like I do on the full scale and I always fly within my limits. In full scale you cannot afford to crash even one time. It can happen obviously and you have to train for that situation but it isn't something you go out thinking, well I will fly my best today and I may crash. I know some people tend to think that in this hobby and that is fine. Whatever floats your boat. I don't have the time to spend fixing helis so I go out with the mentality that I will not crash and I train to not crash. Of course I still may crash but I make it a point not to crash and fly that way every single time. TRAIN on that sim and you will get better.

You need to train on the sim to the point where you re comfortable flying the maneuvers then do it for real. All in small steps. Once you have mastered one thing move on to the next. It is a constant progression. I hope that help a little bit with your flying skills and the path you can take to the most success in the shortest amount of time and spending the least amount of time. We will all crash it is part of the hobby because we constantly push ourselves and in that regard is obviously vastly different than flying a full scale aircraft. I realize that as well and take that into account.

THE OTHER, probably one of the most important things I see people make the mistake is not having their heli’s set up correctly. I just flew a buddy’s helicopter yesterday and it scared the hell outta me because it did not respond correctly to my inputs. It was not set up correctly. You have to have that heli set up correctly. I am super anal with my setups but you have to be with a helicopter. If you are not it just won’t fly correctly. If your blades aren’t balanced, tracking and everything exactly how it should be the heli will not fly correctly. Ask any Veteran in this hobby and they will tell you the same thing. SETUP IS CRUCIAL. So with the B400 before you even fly it I would go through everything with a fine tooth comb and make sure everything is perfect. If it isn’t then fix it. You need the proper tools to do the job and that is part of the initial investment in the hobby.

AS far as getting better servos and what not they will make a difference for sure. Do you absolutely NEED all that stuff. In the short NO. But having better electronics and radio gear will make a difference in how your heli fly’s and responds. I would say if what you have now works then stick with it till you get past the hovering point. Unless you just have money burning a hole in your pocket. I would recommend the following setup for a Blade 400.

Cyclic Servos - http://store.rcsupersales.net/servlet/-strse-4535/HYPERION-ATLAS-DS-09/Detail?sfs=8252bdd5

Tail Servo - http://store.rcsupersales.net/servlet/-strse-4534/HYPERION-ATLAS-DS-09/Detail?sfs=8252bdd5

Gyro - http://store.rcsupersales.net/servlet/-strse-197/Logictech-2100T-High-Performance/Detail?sfs=8252bdd5

I really like the Logictech gyro, some people do not. Usually they are folks who have used the 401 before this and then don’t like the setup time of the Logictech compared to the 401. It does take more setup but has some better features than the 401 and IMO it is a fantastic gyro. The 401 is a great proven gyro and many people have them. They are nice and I would never argue differently. It really comes down to personal preference. I have two of the Logictech's and they are great. They are also very small.

So there are always more options than one specific item for a helicopter. Some will say you HAVE to have this in order for your heli to fly right. That is ridiculous. With all the choices now there are many different brands that can work for one application.

Sorry for the long winded post but hopefully this will help some.

I also recommend perusing the other forums and reading up on stuff. Use the search feature on RCG to find the answer to a question as it probably has been asked before and is already posted somewhere. Good luck with everything and feel free to get a hold of me if you have any further questions.

Kyle
www.RcSuperSales.net

[DNO1BULL]

Thanks Kyle!
I have an FSOne & it has been very helpful, although not as fun as flying. You did not let me know if you thought if I shoud take a step back & fly an fs for a while. The b400 is a little bit intimidating or maybe its the fear of buying more parts. Don't mind working on it kind of an adventure. Please give me your thoughts.
Thanks,
Nick

[RcSuperSales-Net]

You mean the FP? FP's are fun to fly but they are almost more difficult than a Collective Pitch IMO. They are just real squirelly and a challenge to fly but they can take a beating. I would say stick with the B400, get it setup right, practice on the sim an dyou should be good to go. I started with a Collective Pitch and then flew a Coaxila and FP.

You should be all right ;) Good luck!

Kyle

[DNO1BULL]

Thanks

[grnbrg]

Got started on this hobby when i bought my son a mcx last x-mas. Then I bought myself a simulator, thought i was doing ok on that, so I got a B400. Well after several attemts to get off the ground (ajusting trims) I finally got it up , hovered for a few seconds when it drifted backwards & hard left. Well after replacing the blades, main shaft, I looked into what would make the b400 more stable. From what Jazz & the b400 said , I need new servo's, tail (JR DS290g) & main(hs65mg) & a new gyro (gy401)
Reading all the beginner threads Jazz got going, I'm wondering if I should take a step back into a fp. Already have a dx6i so is there anything out there thats bnf? Or am I going to get stuck with another receiver?
Thanks,
NickIt sounds like you might have had a servo failure that caused the crash, but it may also just be that you're new, and going through the pain of learning to fly that we all have gone through.

Kyle has given his recommendations for upgrades, and here are mine:

3xHXT 900 (http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=662) cyclic servos (3x$3.65)
1xGWS HPX Park (http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4696) tail servo ($12.35) (Or you could go with a fourth HXT900)
1x3A/5V HXT uBEC (http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3735) ($6.95)
2x15cm servo extensions (http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3905) (2x$0.90)Total cost: $32 + $5-$10 in shipping.

The HXT900 servos are "good enough" -- they are quite well respected, although the leads are slightly shorter than stock. The GWS tail servo will need to be mounted on the tail boom, not directly on the frame, but this is not difficult. And the uBEC will take a lot of the load off the stock ESC.

The stock gyro is picky about setup, but there is nothing wrong with it while you're learning to hover. A '401 will make it somewhat easier, but not $100 easier. :D

There are certainly many options when upgrading the '400, but I think this is a reasonable "bottom line" for required upgrades.

+1 on a perfect setup being among the most important things for a new pilot. Go find and watch the Finless Bob videos. They deal with TRex 450 heads, but the concepts are identical.


grnbrg.

PS: For the first few flights, get or make some "training gear" -- it will help guard against tip-overs.

[jasmine2501]

Thanks Kyle!
I have an FSOne & it has been very helpful, although not as fun as flying. You did not let me know if you thought if I shoud take a step back & fly an fs for a while. The b400 is a little bit intimidating or maybe its the fear of buying more parts. Don't mind working on it kind of an adventure. Please give me your thoughts.
Thanks,
Nick

We've been back and forth with a lot of PMs, so you know what I recommend. I'm glad you posted here because you're seeing some of the options I told you about. The stuff I suggested is probably the most expensive setup that is worthy of a Blade 400, and certainly not the only option, but I can't recommend things I haven't used myself.

I can't stress enough the importance of in-person help. All they said about setup there is super-important, and more than once, I've had someone show me an aircraft they thought was ready to go, and noticed something wrong that was obvious to me, and obvious to them too after I mentioned it. I had the same issue when I was new - showed somebody a plane and they pointed out several things making it harder to fly, and these helicopters are a lot more sensitive to setup issues, when compared with planes. So please try to find someone in-person to help you, but if you can't you really need to go over everything in a systematic manner - bottom-up, tail-forward, nose-back, some method of checking everything. I usually check bottom-up and then examine the tail - I do this after transporting the helicopter and after flying it. Every time. Every time.

[RcSuperSales-Net]

And the uBEC will take a lot of the load off the stock ESC.

PS: For the first few flights, get or make some "training gear" -- it will help guard against tip-overs.

Definitely a UBEC is the way to go. I never fly any of my helis without an External BEC. It is about the cheapest insurance policy you can have on your heli. I personally like the Castle Creations BEC as they are only $24.95 and top notch. I have tried my fair share of inexpensive or cheap items and while they work for the most part. I have found that for myself I just go with the best I can afford from now on so I don't have to upgrade later. Be careful on what you spend your money on as even though it may seem cheaper at the moment, in the long run it could end up costing you more. I know sometimes we just want to fly but I have saved up my cashola for long periods of time to get the better high quality stuff. But believe me I am an advocate of shopping for the middle of the road items. The nice thing about buying most of the "brand name" items is that they are typically backed up by a nice warranty and I have had to make good on those warranties along with my customers as well. So just keep that in mind. But there are a lot of high quality items that can be found fairly inexpensively.

Also just my personal opinion but Digital Servos are bar none hands down better than Analog. Once I delved into the world of Digital Servos there was no turning back. They are so precise and accurate. But the same holds true for both, not all analog, and not all digital servos are created equal so make sure and do some due diligence before buying. it will save you money in the long run. But oiverall Digitals IMO are the way to go. The difference when flying is immediately noticeable.

Kyle

[DNO1BULL]

I have always believed in buying in the upper end, usually not the big name brands because I don't like paying alot extra just for the name. Do it once right & you usually don't have to do it again. There is nothing I hate worse than fixing something that was done wrong or cheaped out on.

Being a newbe I don't know what is good & what is bad yet, it's deffinatly much cheaper to ask than to expderiment. I'm still finding out what all these different parts do, & I really need to thank you all again for your input & information. It has been more than helpful. Although it seems the more I learn the more questions I have.

Thanks,
Nick

[jasmine2501]

it seems the more I learn the more questions I have.

Welcome to the hobby, dude :D

[DNO1BULL]

Welcome to the hobby, dude :D

Well Jazz,
Abuddy of mine wants to buy my fsone, so I can get the g4.5. want to go to your flying school. Found a heli guy (Kirk)@ lhs & he got mine back in working order.
Question, how many fingers do you use on the controls? Kirk said hold it like a pencil, thumb & index finger.
Thanks,
Nick

[osterizer]

Also just my personal opinion but Digital Servos are bar none hands down better than Analog. Once I delved into the world of Digital Servos there was no turning back. They are so precise and accurate. But the same holds true for both, not all analog, and not all digital servos are created equal so make sure and do some due diligence before buying. it will save you money in the long run. But oiverall Digitals IMO are the way to go. The difference when flying is immediately noticeable.

There are still some good analogs, particularly on smaller planes where the stresses aren't as great. I really shouldn't say that, I guess, since most of my helis are digital :). Still, best being the enemy of the good, there's room out there for the HS65s and S3107s yet, when people are trying to keep costs down.

[jasmine2501]

Well Jazz,
Abuddy of mine wants to buy my fsone, so I can get the g4.5. want to go to your flying school. Found a heli guy (Kirk)@ lhs & he got mine back in working order.
Question, how many fingers do you use on the controls? Kirk said hold it like a pencil, thumb & index finger.
Thanks,
Nick

I use RealFlight G3.5 - and the G4.5 multi-player doesn't see my server... but I will upgrade eventually - have tried the demo and I like it.

I use a 'pinch grip' - but that does not mean it will be right for you. I highly suggest trying both ways on your simulator, and do it for at least a few days each. See what you like better - different people are going to be comfortable in different positions. I don't actually use the 'standard' pinch grip myself - for certain manuevers, I actually will let go with the thumb and for others, it's all thumb and no fingers. I have long fingers, but when I push the sticks in towards the center, I'm using more thumb and less fingers. Your personal style will develop over time, and don't let anyone tell you what to do - do what feels right to you.

[RcSuperSales-Net]

I have always believed in buying in the upper end, usually not the big name brands because I don't like paying alot extra just for the name. Do it once right & you usually don't have to do it again. There is nothing I hate worse than fixing something that was done wrong or cheaped out on.

Being a newbe I don't know what is good & what is bad yet, it's deffinatly much cheaper to ask than to expderiment. I'm still finding out what all these different parts do, & I really need to thank you all again for your input & information. It has been more than helpful. Although it seems the more I learn the more questions I have.

Thanks,
Nick

I hear ya on that man. As far as the questions, it is never ending. I am still always asking questions. If youa ren't asking questions then you aren't learning. In this hobby I don't think you can ever know it all. Even talking to some of the veteran in the hobby, guys that have been flyign 20-30 years or more. Ask them and they to will tell you they are still learning new stuff. That is part of the fun. At least for me anyhow ;)

There are still some good analogs, particularly on smaller planes where the stresses aren't as great. I really shouldn't say that, I guess, since most of my helis are digital :). Still, best being the enemy of the good, there's room out there for the HS65s and S3107s yet, when people are trying to keep costs down.

No doubt there are. I still have HS 65's on my HDX 450 :D These Ino Lab servos are pretty darn good as well. For $20 these are some nice Analog servos - http://store.rcsupersales.net/servlet/-strse-4568/INO-dsh-LAB-BALL-BEARING-CARBON/Detail.

Your personal style will develop over time, and don't let anyone tell you what to do - do what feels right to you.

Amen to that. Do what feels comfortable for you. Whatever works for you then do it. I have a buddy who is Paralyzed and somewhat Paralyzed in his hands as well, and he fly's with the palms of his hands! :eek: Now that takes some skills.

Kyle

[Mike_Then]

In practicing on the simulator, I use my thumbs to control the heli and it seems to be fine for me. That's the way I've been using 2-stick radios since I've been into R/C. I tried using the pistol-grip radios when I was racing off-road buggies and trucks, but I always went back to a 2-stick radio. I was like the only guy who didn't use a pistol-grip radio, and everyone thought I was weird. Well, I won a lot so I guess it didn't matter much, did it? ;)

I can see why people use the "pinch" method as it seems to be quite precise, but like anything, it's a matter of preference.

[Skarn]

Well Jazz,
Abuddy of mine wants to buy my fsone, so I can get the g4.5. want to go to your flying school. Found a heli guy (Kirk)@ lhs & he got mine back in working order.
Question, how many fingers do you use on the controls? Kirk said hold it like a pencil, thumb & index finger.
Thanks,
Nick

How you hold the controller is purely personal preference. There are pro's that fly with thumbs only, pro's that pinch and pro's that use a combination.

I personally use thumbs and have no plans on changing.

Skarn

[Balr14]

I've tried changing from thumbs only to pinch and can't even get the heli off the ground.

[grnbrg]

Pinch here. Tried thumbs, and didn't like it.

Another thing to definitely try out is a neck strap. I tried holding the TX in my hands while controlling it for about 5 seconds when I first started and hated it. I feel I have more precise control when I don't have to worry about the weight of the TX.

On the other hand, the local LHS heli-ace (Who is apparently sponsored by Mini-Titan.) flies with his thumbs, and hand-holds his transmitter. :D

Try a few ways, and then pick what feels best to you.


grnbrg.

(My method is the One True Way, of course.) ;)

[DNO1BULL]

Well got my b400 running again. Went to the lhs, one of the guys that come in ther is really into heli's so i watched him fix it. Learned alot, but after we got it back together one of the servo's was just running. He pulled it out after playing with it for a while it was working fine. Hovered in the store & took her home. But today got it up, & again no matter what i did it vered back left. Replaced the spindle, flight tested it & that servo was running non stop! Why can't they put decent servo's in to begin with!

So i guess what I need to do is find some very good digital servo's that don't need any mods. to the heli to make them fit. So what foots this bill? Would like to replace the gyro, but not now. I don't want to have to deal with this problem again.

Thanks,Nick

[Hellraser]

Well got my b400 running again. Went to the lhs, one of the guys that come in ther is really into heli's so i watched him fix it. Learned alot, but after we got it back together one of the servo's was just running. He pulled it out after playing with it for a while it was working fine. Hovered in the store & took her home. But today got it up, & again no matter what i did it vered back left. Replaced the spindle, flight tested it & that servo was running non stop! Why can't they put decent servo's in to begin with!

So i guess what I need to do is find some very good digital servo's that don't need any mods. to the heli to make them fit. So what foots this bill? Would like to replace the gyro, but not now. I don't want to have to deal with this problem again.

Thanks,Nick

Are you sure its a servo problem when the lad flew it in the shop being experianced will have offset the veering left with aileron - veering left is normal - due to ground effect.

Radds shcool of rotory flight may help you http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html

Regards David

[grnbrg]

Well got my b400 running again. Went to the lhs, one of the guys that come in ther is really into heli's so i watched him fix it. Learned alot, but after we got it back together one of the servo's was just running. He pulled it out after playing with it for a while it was working fine. Hovered in the store & took her home. But today got it up, & again no matter what i did it vered back left. Replaced the spindle, flight tested it & that servo was running non stop! Why can't they put decent servo's in to begin with!

So i guess what I need to do is find some very good digital servo's that don't need any mods. to the heli to make them fit. So what foots this bill? Would like to replace the gyro, but not now. I don't want to have to deal with this problem again.The stock servos suck. As Hellraser said, it might be pilot error, but it's more than likely a bad servo. This thread started with a couple of replacement servo recommendations. :)

You might want to read GunnyGlow's review (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?p=10987842#post10987842) of the HXT900. His preferred servos are HS65s, and he tried a set of HXTs. Short version is that while he will continue with HS65s, the HXTs were perfectly usable for light 3D, and far better in terms of value.


grnbrg.

ETA: What does "running" mean? Light chatter, but no apparent movement? Or uncommanded movement?

[DNO1BULL]

It sounds like you might have had a servo failure that caused the crash, but it may also just be that you're new, and going through the pain of learning to fly that we all have gone through.

Kyle has given his recommendations for upgrades, and here are mine:

3xHXT 900 (http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=662) cyclic servos (3x$3.65)
1xGWS HPX Park (http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=4696) tail servo ($12.35) (Or you could go with a fourth HXT900)
1x3A/5V HXT uBEC (http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3735) ($6.95)
2x15cm servo extensions (http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=3905) (2x$0.90)Total cost: $32 + $5-$10 in shipping.

The HXT900 servos are "good enough" -- they are quite well respected, although the leads are slightly shorter than stock. The GWS tail servo will need to be mounted on the tail boom, not directly on the frame, but this is not difficult. And the uBEC will take a lot of the load off the stock ESC.

The stock gyro is picky about setup, but there is nothing wrong with it while you're learning to hover. A '401 will make it somewhat easier, but not $100 easier. :D

There are certainly many options when upgrading the '400, but I think this is a reasonable "bottom line" for required upgrades.

+1 on a perfect setup being among the most important things for a new pilot. Go find and watch the Finless Bob videos. They deal with TRex 450 heads, but the concepts are identical.


grnbrg.

PS: For the first few flights, get or make some "training gear" -- it will help guard against tip-overs.

What is an ESC, uBEC, & what do the do?

As far as my set up, I went with the gy401, hs65mg, & the jr ds290g. Still have to figure out how to set up the gy & dx6i.
Thanks, Nick

[Skarn]

What is an ESC, uBEC, & what do the do?

As far as my set up, I went with the gy401, hs65mg, & the jr ds290g. Still have to figure out how to set up the gy & dx6i.
Thanks, Nick

ESC = Electronic Speed Controller
BEC = Battery Eliminator Circuit

To set up your 401 and ccpm go over to helifreak in the Finless Tech Room area and watch all of his video's. He has one on GY-401 setup and also his ccpm1 and 2 video's are a must watch.

Good luck,
Skarn

[RcSuperSales-Net]

What is an ESC, uBEC, & what do the do?

As far as my set up, I went with the gy401, hs65mg, & the jr ds290g. Still have to figure out how to set up the gy & dx6i.
Thanks, Nick

I highly recommend running a BEC on every single helicopter where you will be powering the receiver off the main pack. They are a nice insurance policy. I am not a fan of using the onboard built in BEC on the ESC.

Kyle
www.RcSuperSales.net

[rchelitalk]

Very nice Kyle. One can tell that you are a man that loves what he does and tries to help in anyway that he can. The world and the forums that are offered could use a few more people like you out here. Keep it up and you know where you can find me.

By the way I found the discount code you hide on your profile. :D Mind if I make a game of it at heli talk :confused:

Dave

[osterizer]

I highly recommend running a BEC on every single helicopter where you will be powering the receiver off the main pack. They are a nice insurance policy. I am not a fan of using the onboard built in BEC on the ESC.

Kyle
www.RcSuperSales.net

It's ok on smaller (325) helis, usually, but even then, a BEC is cheap and makes for one less thing to worry about.

[RcSuperSales-Net]

Very nice Kyle. One can tell that you are a man that loves what he does and tries to help in anyway that he can. The world and the forums that are offered could use a few more people like you out here. Keep it up and you know where you can find me.

By the way I found the discount code you hide on your profile. :D Mind if I make a game of it at heli talk :confused:

Dave

Much appreciated. As far as the code being hidden, well I put it right there underneath my name, so I made it out in the open for all to see ;) Thanks again for the kind words.
It's ok on smaller (325) helis, usually, but even then, a BEC is cheap and makes for one less thing to worry about.

Not sure what you mean ok? Do you mean typically running them on the larger helis vs. the smaller? Personally I would never fly a heli without a BEC, but that is just me. I like to know it takes the job of providing the volatge to the RX and leaving the ESC it's job of running the motor. Of course on larger helis it is sometimes best to just run a separate battery for the reciever and keep the power separate from the motor and the RX for reliability purposes. All depends on what you want to do.

Kyle
www.RcSuperSales.net

[osterizer]

Not sure what you mean ok? Do you mean typically running them on the larger helis vs. the smaller? Personally I would never fly a heli without a BEC, but that is just me. I like to know it takes the job of providing the volatge to the RX and leaving the ESC it's job of running the motor. Of course on larger helis it is sometimes best to just run a separate battery for the reciever and keep the power separate from the motor and the RX for reliability purposes. All depends on what you want to do.

Kyle
www.RcSuperSales.net

Nothing mysterious- the smaller helis usually run 3S or (really small) 2S packs, and they don't need a lot of power, so the internal BEC generally works OK. More than 3S or with a higher load, you have a good chance of getting into trouble. 4S and up you're generally required to use an external BEC. If you're using receivers that are sensitive to power like the Spektrum, then you have another reason to use a separate BEC.

We're ignoring the ESCs with switching BECs, BTW- Jeti, Hyperion, &c with those I wouldn't bother with an external BEC.

There are multiple opinions about separate receiver packs on larger helis, but I'm more comfortable with the separate pack on the expensive ones. There's an argument that it's more stuff to break, or you can forget to check the charge state, but we've been checking the receiver pack on glow planes all along, and it doesn't seem so dangerous to me :). I had an ESC melt down on my 600 (completely destroyed the wiring), but I still had control and landed, since the rx pack/regulator were separate. The Swift cost a third of the 600, and has a BEC from the motor battery. Poor cousin :D.

[RcSuperSales-Net]

Yeah I hear ya on the small guys.

Even with the switching though I feel more comfortable with a Separate BEC. Because even if the ESC with a Switchable BEC fry's then you may be SOL.

Yep running a separate battery on the higher end heli's with all that money on the line seems the most logical thing to me.

Thanks for dropping in here man! Always nice to have the Vets chime in.

Kyle
www.RcSuperSales.net

[osterizer]

Even with the switching though I feel more comfortable with a Separate BEC. Because even if the ESC with a Switchable BEC fry's then you may be SOL.

In the end, yeah, the BEC is simple enough that having it on its own seems safer. I've never blown a BEC, but I've gotten a couple ESCs to give up the smoke :).

We asked for the forum so we're kinda obligated to pitch in with it :D.