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Discussion
e-flight calculators, motor- and prop-databases (compilation)
I will compile the calculators mentioned in this thread, in this first message.
Please post broken/old/dead links so I can fix/remove them. Contents
T.b.d. Some useful and I hope instructive insights first, before you start plugging numbers in some unfamiliar software. To gain some feeling/insight, and to get rid of a few possible misconceptions.
2. Motor- and prop-databases, prop-tools and -theory
3. Motor- and calculator-theory The math behind it all. Finally
Vriendelijke groeten Ron • Without a watt-meter you are in the dark ... until something starts to glow • • e-flight calculators • watt-meters • diy motor tips&tricks • Cumulus MFC • |
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Last edited by Ron van Sommeren; May 31, 2023 at 05:32 AM.
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Here is another one for thrust/rpm: http://www.gobrushless.com/testing/t...calculator.php
and another estimator: http://www.adamone.rchomepage.com/calc_motor.htm |
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Brand dedicated Motor Calc
Hi
In the serie you have MM_Calc (see Ron post #1) on electrofly You have the cousins in any order 1) Scorpion Calc http://www.scorpionsystem.com/downloads/ here v3.97 (24 nov 2021) : https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=736782 SC v4 beta with plane wizard : https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1388429 2) Dualsky Calc v3.26 04 feb 2017 https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...0#post12693433 3) MotrolFly Calc 2.36 http://www.subsonicplanes.com april 2009 4) ARC Calc https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...819392&page=25 post #373 pg 25 5) Aero-nuts Calc http://www.aero-nuts.com seems out of service in 2018 6) Himax Calc v2.35 http://www.maxxprod.com/ All 6 are on rep. websites and/or RC-Groups + electrofly I update regularly Scorpion Calc Louis (the author) |
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Last edited by Fourdan; Dec 27, 2022 at 06:47 AM.
Reason: SC version 3.97
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Here's my spreadsheet (have EDF version too); its helped me with these and others:
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Prof. Drela has recently released a windows version of QPORP, his motor/prop analysis software. I've found it much better at predictions and efficiency calcs, since it uses a much more advanced prop model (not just thrust coefficients). Here's an exerpt of the manual:
QPROP is an analysis program for predicting the performance of propeller-motor combinations. Its intent is to provide an alternative to the existing prop/motor simulation programs, which use relatively simple propeller models, and assume a brushed DC motor type. QPROP has a relatively sophisticated and accurate prop aerodynamic model, and a general motor model which can be implemented via a user-supplied subroutine if necessary. It's a little more complex than motocalc, but pretty simple to use once you climb the learning curve. http://web.mit.edu/drela/Public/web/qprop/ |
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Eagle Tree Spreadsheet
i rigged up this spreadsheet for use with my eagle tree micro logger (with temp and rpm expanders):
Excel Spreadsheet (freeware) Example Spreadsheet (freeware) it supports quick & simple copy/paste operation directly from the eagle tree software, and outputs thrust, efficiency, kV, Io, Rm, max efficiency, max power, pitch speed... pretty much everything. for kicks i included standard deviations for every number. it is based on rod badcock's spreadsheet (see post #1), and includes a few other calculations based on these equations. keep in mind it's in beta stage at the moment, and i'm not 100% sure if it'll work with pre o2k3 excel. the example sheet shows what it looks like with all the data entered from a bench test i did on a custom bluewonder. just like badcock's spreadsheet, both of these spreadsheets include macros, so you may have to modify your security settings for them to work properly. kev [edit: i just found an error in the spreadsheet which will cause it to be inaccurate if the logger is set to record temperature in farenheit. it works perfectly with the logger set to celcius. i'm working on a temperature unit selector, but until i update use celsius please.] |
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Last edited by Truglodite; Jul 15, 2008 at 04:25 AM.
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Nice converter program:
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Last edited by BlazerB52; Jan 24, 2008 at 09:17 PM.
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www.RCadvisor.com - new free model airplane calculator
My new free online calculator (www.RCadvisor.com):
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Last edited by creyes123; Sep 09, 2008 at 08:50 PM.
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My calculator (www.RCAdvisor.com) includes the estimated Climb Rate. The Climb Angle seemed less useful. I don't provide feet/minute (easy to add), but I have MPH and feet/second among other units.
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Measuring motor power output using a calibrated dummy prop:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show....php?t=1077012 Vriendelijke groeten Ron |
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Last edited by Ron van Sommeren; Oct 15, 2009 at 03:16 PM.
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I'm in the process of moving all my "freeware", including MotorXLT2 and TurnCalculator3, to my blog for easier maintenance. Here's the link:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/show...44#post8108089 Note that I recently updated MotorXLT2 with my latest version, which includes calculations based on up to 4-props and no-load. This makes the calculations much more accurate. I also made the no-load page more "printer/screen grab" friendly, for easy posting of test results. Unfortunately, I still haven't got around to making a temperature unit selector, so you'll have to record temps in Celsius. A general tip to those who benchmark: Just like any other motor constant calculator, when setting up a series of tests you need to avoid using 2 props that are nearly identical (with respect to RPM, A, and V). Use of similar props often leads to inaccurate calculations of Rm, Kv, and Io. An example of this would be the apc5x5e and apc5.5x4.5e. While they fly very differently, both will give nearly identical RPM and current on the bench, which will confuse a motor calculator. Cheers, Kev |
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Quote:
Should read "measuring motor power output using a calibrated dummy prop". |
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What cracks me up about a lot of these calculators is they only have very expensive brands of components in the database.
Its like an advertisement. Nowadays things are great for the consumer, i've found some amazing good deals on very well engineered power systems, at about 1/10 the cost of hackers, scorpions, etc...certainly in the same performance ballpark at least. |
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@rotagen
it is not a matter of expensive or cheap motors - it's a matter of motor data availability, and this availability is the general problem of cheap motors.... feel free sending PM with motor data (Kv, Internal Resistance Ri, Idle Current Io, Power or Current Limit, Housing length and weight) of cheap motors. Cheers eJets http://www.s4a.ch/eflight/motorcalc_e.htm http://www.s4a.ch/eflight/fancalc_e.htm |
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