Originally Posted by sscherin

Geoff.. WIll you be attending the IMAC contest in Richland, WA or Zillah?
I'd love to see that setup in person..

I plan on attending both of those contests this year. Hopefully I will see you there!

Originally Posted by Gerry B

I might have some shrink tube Kicking around for you

I did a search today and I found some 1/8 inch. Thanks for the offer.

Final Push

I got quite a bit done in the last couple of days. After I figured out where the batteries needed to be for balance I installed a tray for the A123 packs.


It took a little thinking to come up with a tray for the flight batteries. The hardest part was designing it to hold the 4 x 6S-5800 batteries securely but permit the tray to be adjustable. I think that my design is okay because no matter how hard I shake the tray the batteries do not move.

The bottom row of batteries include velcro and the top row uses grip tape (sandpaper) to create friction. I am using one 2 inch wide velcro strap. The tray will be fastened down using 6 bolts and blind nuts. I will be able to move holes to adjust the tray position.

I also added a plywood baffle under speed controller to force air through other holes that I drilled in the side and top of the firewall. I want to make sure that there is good airflow around the batteries.

All that is left is to install the wiring between the ESC and batteries and the Deans shunts (2).

Maiden this weekend?? Looks like perfect weather.........

Have you had a chance to weigh the plane yet with all the packs and everything installed? I'm really interested. Essentially you are 400mah short of running the exact same power system I have installed in my 40% cap.

Originally Posted by Scotte 540

Maiden this weekend?? Looks like perfect weather.........

It does not look like I will get it competed in time to fly this weekend. I also want to do some ground testing with different propellers before attempting the maiden.

Originally Posted by ibange

Have you had a chance to weigh the plane yet with all the packs and everything installed? I'm really interested. Essentially you are 400mah short of running the exact same power system I have installed in my 40% cap.

I see that we are about at the same level of completion with our projects!
I am looking forward to seeing how your 40% performs.

I am curious about the weight but I will wait until I have all the wiring installed before I check.

Looks great Geoff, Looking forward to the Maiden.

Originally Posted by jacob davis

Looks great Geoff, Looking forward to the Maiden.

Thanks.

Unfortunately I will be a way for a week so the completion of the wiring will have to wait.

Wiring For Power

I had a weeks vacation (out of town) but this week I did manage to get a couple of nights work on the wiring. I am pretty much committed to Deans connections so I replaced the bullet connectors on the Turnigy batteries. I realize that the Deans plugs may not handle as many amps but I am aiming for only about 75 Amps from each bank of batteries.

I am using Turnigy 10 gauge wire with two separate runs to the two connectors on the Jeti ESC. I am also using two external Deans shunts for arming.I used the existing hole for the switch to mount the shunt assembly. It was easier to solder the fuse side shunt connections first before mounting the assembly to the fuse.

I have a push switch for the anti-spark charging circuit.

The wiring is very short thanks to the close proximity of the batteries to the ESC.

Just a few things to tidy then I can program the ESC and run some motor tests. I am aiming to maiden two weekends from now.

Build Complete

I have run out of things to do!
Sunday I will do motor tests to measure thrust, RPM and amps.

Looking good, are you gonna maiden this one at burnaby lake?

Are you comming to the field tomorow btw?

Originally Posted by paintball_kidz

Looking good, are you gonna maiden this one at burnaby lake?
Are you comming to the field tomorow btw?

I am hoping to maiden next weekend at Chilliwack. Might ruffle a few feathers flying a 35% plane in a public park!

I am off to the Mini IMAC contest tomorrow in Bellingham. I would have liked to fly the Extra but I will fly my 33% Sukhoi instead.

Originally Posted by Geoff Dryer

I am hoping to maiden next weekend at Chilliwack. Might ruffle a few feathers flying a 35% plane in a public park!

I am off to the Mini IMAC contest tomorrow in Bellingham. I would have liked to fly the Extra but I will fly my 33% Sukhoi instead.

It would have to be next weekend.
Would like to have come out and watched.
I've had last weekend and this weekend off so I'm working for the next 2
Rick

Originally Posted by Geoff Dryer

Build Complete

I have run out of things to do!

Double & triple check everything!! Take some vid!!

Good Luck!!