Kontronik Rondo 480

sf_247 · May 26, 2001, 03:31 PM

Are you sure it is a Rondo 480, not a 400?
Yes, it can only handle 18 amps.
What type of motor are you using? Is it a Speed 480 BB Race from Hobby-Lobby, or is it just a regular 480? What markings are on the motor. It would be hard to pull above 18 amps on a 480, but not a hot 480 like a "Rocket" or "Race" version.
Give us the model name/number and we can tell you if you are exceeding the current.

Shawn
Eflightpower.com

wiley · May 26, 2001, 03:51 PM

you could use a 6x3 folder and you should be ok, with good performance. i use this setup with a 14t promax, with rondo 400 on 7 to 10 cells. also another rondo 400 was in my A-4 with a MF480 and 10 cells. rondos are excellent controls, next one for you to get is a sun 1000 ($25 icare) which i have now in the A-4.
sun 4000 35 amp, is an excelllent value as well. check out icare for good prices. also you can heat the blades on any plastic prop and add pitch. try tinkering around.

John E · May 26, 2001, 03:55 PM

Lew,

I wonder if the Kontronik 480 is the same motor as the ordinary Speed 480 (#6304), or if it really is the old Speed 480 Race.

I do suspect it is the ordinary Speed 480, in which case, it works exceptionally well on a 6x4, and pulls slightly more current than a Speed 400 6 volt on that size of prop.

The Speed 480BB Race draws around 20 amps with a 6x3, and the Speed 480 Race appears to be only slightly milder than that.

I would change down to a 6x4 and try it again.

The Rondo 480 has a very large component in the middle of the board - it looks like a voltage regulator. The 400 has only small components around the circumference of the board.

Perhaps someone can be of more help

Regards, John

bhchan · May 26, 2001, 04:27 PM

The Rondo 400 and 480 are the same animal, except the 480 has two wire solder to the board to reach the 480 terminals. I bought both and I con not figure out the difference of teh two except the wires. And I pay 7 DM for the 2 pieces of 5 mm long bus wires!! I will not buy the Rondo 480 anymore, buy the 400.

Brian

R101 · May 26, 2001, 04:44 PM

Shawn,

The motor is a Speed 480 Race No.6330

John,

Yes the Rondo has the large component (mosfet?) in the middle of the board
I’ll change down to a 6x4 when I can get hold of one and try again

Brian

According to the blurb which came with the motor/esc, the 480 Rondo esc is good for 18A and the 400 15A

Thanks all

Lew

John E · May 26, 2001, 06:19 PM

Lew,

If both the 400 and 480 have the large component in the middle, then they have clearly changed the design. The 400 that I had in my hands last year only had small components around the circumference, but the 480 that I held in my hand this year had a large component in the middle.

I think you might possibly be lucky and have the Speed 480 Race down at 18 amps with a 6x3, but I would be very surprised if it was below 20 amps with a 6x4, whatever, good luck

Regards, John

fisher · May 26, 2001, 11:39 PM

Doesn't the race have ball bearings,and the speed just have bushings?
-fish

R101 · May 27, 2001, 01:59 AM

Anyone using the Kontronik Rondo 480 Race (sp480 with speed controller attached)?
I bought one recently and find that it cannot handle 7 cells with a 6.5”x4” (Graupner) prop without going into the “hunt...stop” mode which signifies that the current limitaion has been exceeded.
Unfortunately at the present time I have no meter to measure the actual current drain, but the box says 18A at 8.4v.
On closer inspection of the esc I notice that Rondo400 is stamped on the PCB.

Lew

John E · May 27, 2001, 03:48 AM

Hi Fish,

There is a "standard" Speed 480, the 6304 with bushings and a quite mild wind that works well on direct drive with a 6x4. The Speed 480 BB Race (6327) is the hot one with ball bearings and adjustable timing. There is also another Speed 480 (6330) that looks like the 6304 Speed 480 with fixed forward timing and bushings, but has a hotter wind. The last Speed 480 that I know of is the 6304L, which is a 6304 with reverse rotation for use in pushers. http://www.hobby-lobby.com/speed280.htm

Hope that sheds some light on it!

The Kontronik Rondo is advertised here with a "480 race motor", but I suspect that the motor supplied is the equivalent of the 6304 Speed 480 to keep the current under the 18 amp limit and simply called a "race" motor to differentiate it from the lower performance long can 400s. I could be wrong on the motor used.

Regards, John

PeterBlackman · May 27, 2001, 06:06 AM

Hi Guys,
I have a Kontronic "Speed 400 mit Rondo" that I bought from Hollien last month and that definately has a large mosfet in the middle.

...Pete

bhchan · May 27, 2001, 06:59 PM

The "large mosfet" in the middle is the voltage regulator for the bec output, there are three surface mounted chip is the fet for turning on the motor and brake.

Brian

ChuckHHill · May 30, 2001, 04:09 PM

If the motor is one of the hotter wind Graupner 480s, or equivilent, you may have to use an APC 5.7x3 or 6x2 to get the amp draw down under 18 amps.

Chuck Hill

May 27, 2001, 01:59 AM	#8
R101 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 426	Kontronik Rondo 480 Anyone using the Kontronik Rondo 480 Race (sp480 with speed controller attached)? I bought one recently and find that it cannot handle 7 cells with a 6.5”x4” (Graupner) prop without going into the “hunt...stop” mode which signifies that the current limitaion has been exceeded. Unfortunately at the present time I have no meter to measure the actual current drain, but the box says 18A at 8.4v. On closer inspection of the esc I notice that Rondo400 is stamped on the PCB. Lew

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Kontronik Fun 480-33 KPG25 gearbox removal	Ben Diss	Power Systems	10	Jun 27, 2006 10:06 AM
Jet for Kontronik Fun 480-28?	Hammer	Electric Ducted Fan Jet Talk	9	May 09, 2002 10:31 PM
Kontronik Fun 480-55 Startup Problems	Neil Stainton	Electric Plane Talk	8	Apr 12, 2002 05:48 AM
Rondo 480 ESC Problem	GaryK	Electric Plane Talk	2	Nov 12, 2001 02:51 PM
480 7.2 Race and Kontronik Rondo	Andrew Gilchrist	Electric Plane Talk	0	Sep 08, 2001 05:37 PM

May 26, 2001, 03:31 PM	#1
sf_247 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 848	Are you sure it is a Rondo 480, not a 400? Yes, it can only handle 18 amps. What type of motor are you using? Is it a Speed 480 BB Race from Hobby-Lobby, or is it just a regular 480? What markings are on the motor. It would be hard to pull above 18 amps on a 480, but not a hot 480 like a "Rocket" or "Race" version. Give us the model name/number and we can tell you if you are exceeding the current. Shawn Eflightpower.com

May 26, 2001, 03:51 PM	#2
wiley Registered User Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: owosso, mich Posts: 407	you could use a 6x3 folder and you should be ok, with good performance. i use this setup with a 14t promax, with rondo 400 on 7 to 10 cells. also another rondo 400 was in my A-4 with a MF480 and 10 cells. rondos are excellent controls, next one for you to get is a sun 1000 ($25 icare) which i have now in the A-4. sun 4000 35 amp, is an excelllent value as well. check out icare for good prices. also you can heat the blades on any plastic prop and add pitch. try tinkering around.

May 26, 2001, 03:55 PM	#3
John E Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 2,075	Lew, I wonder if the Kontronik 480 is the same motor as the ordinary Speed 480 (#6304), or if it really is the old Speed 480 Race. I do suspect it is the ordinary Speed 480, in which case, it works exceptionally well on a 6x4, and pulls slightly more current than a Speed 400 6 volt on that size of prop. The Speed 480BB Race draws around 20 amps with a 6x3, and the Speed 480 Race appears to be only slightly milder than that. I would change down to a 6x4 and try it again. The Rondo 480 has a very large component in the middle of the board - it looks like a voltage regulator. The 400 has only small components around the circumference of the board. Perhaps someone can be of more help Regards, John

May 26, 2001, 04:27 PM	#4
bhchan Electric Airplane Junkie Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Mateo, Ca , USA Posts: 4,403	The Rondo 400 and 480 are the same animal, except the 480 has two wire solder to the board to reach the 480 terminals. I bought both and I con not figure out the difference of teh two except the wires. And I pay 7 DM for the 2 pieces of 5 mm long bus wires!! I will not buy the Rondo 480 anymore, buy the 400. Brian

May 26, 2001, 04:44 PM	#5
R101 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Scotland Posts: 426	Shawn, The motor is a Speed 480 Race No.6330 John, Yes the Rondo has the large component (mosfet?) in the middle of the board I’ll change down to a 6x4 when I can get hold of one and try again Brian According to the blurb which came with the motor/esc, the 480 Rondo esc is good for 18A and the 400 15A Thanks all Lew

May 26, 2001, 06:19 PM	#6
John E Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 2,075	Lew, If both the 400 and 480 have the large component in the middle, then they have clearly changed the design. The 400 that I had in my hands last year only had small components around the circumference, but the 480 that I held in my hand this year had a large component in the middle. I think you might possibly be lucky and have the Speed 480 Race down at 18 amps with a 6x3, but I would be very surprised if it was below 20 amps with a 6x4, whatever, good luck Regards, John

May 26, 2001, 11:39 PM	#7
fisher Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 284	Doesn't the race have ball bearings,and the speed just have bushings? -fish

May 27, 2001, 03:48 AM	#9
John E Registered User Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 2,075	Hi Fish, There is a "standard" Speed 480, the 6304 with bushings and a quite mild wind that works well on direct drive with a 6x4. The Speed 480 BB Race (6327) is the hot one with ball bearings and adjustable timing. There is also another Speed 480 (6330) that looks like the 6304 Speed 480 with fixed forward timing and bushings, but has a hotter wind. The last Speed 480 that I know of is the 6304L, which is a 6304 with reverse rotation for use in pushers. http://www.hobby-lobby.com/speed280.htm Hope that sheds some light on it! The Kontronik Rondo is advertised here with a "480 race motor", but I suspect that the motor supplied is the equivalent of the 6304 Speed 480 to keep the current under the 18 amp limit and simply called a "race" motor to differentiate it from the lower performance long can 400s. I could be wrong on the motor used. Regards, John

May 27, 2001, 06:06 AM	#10
PeterBlackman Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Trowbridge, United Kingdom. Posts: 65	Hi Guys, I have a Kontronic "Speed 400 mit Rondo" that I bought from Hollien last month and that definately has a large mosfet in the middle. ...Pete

May 27, 2001, 06:59 PM	#11
bhchan Electric Airplane Junkie Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: San Mateo, Ca , USA Posts: 4,403	The "large mosfet" in the middle is the voltage regulator for the bec output, there are three surface mounted chip is the fet for turning on the motor and brake. Brian

May 30, 2001, 04:09 PM	#12
ChuckHHill Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Concord, CA, USA Posts: 327	If the motor is one of the hotter wind Graupner 480s, or equivilent, you may have to use an APC 5.7x3 or 6x2 to get the amp draw down under 18 amps. Chuck Hill