Electric Flight

The power system basics

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Electric vs. Nitro, Equivalents

OS Max, nitro engine
OS Max .10LA OS Max .15LA OS Max .25LA OS Max .40LA OS Max .46LA OS Max .65LA

HP
.27HP @ 17000 .41HP @ 17000 .6HP @ 15000 1.0HP @ 16000 1.2HP @ 16000 1.7HP @ 16000

Weight
3.95oz 4.87oz 6.9oz 9.5oz 9.6oz 18oz

Nitro Propeller
7x4 - 7x5 7x5 - 8x5 9x5 - 10x5 10x6.5, 10.5x6 11x5 11x6 -11x7 12x7 - 13x8

Watts (746w/hp)
200 watt (.27HPx 746) 300 watt (.41HPx 746) 450 watt (.6HPx 746) 750 watt (1HPx 746) 900 watt (1.2HPx 746) 1275 watt (1.7HPx 746)

OS Max .25FX OS Max .61FX OS Max .91FX OS Max 1.60FX

.84HP @18000 1.9HP @ 16000 2.8HP @ 15000 3.7HP @ 9000

8.8oz 19.4oz 19.3oz 32.6oz

9x5 - 10x5 12x6 - 13x7 13x8 - 13x9 16x10-14, 18x10-12

630 watt (.84HPx 746) 1425 watt (1.9HPx 746) 2100 watt (2.8HPx 746) 2775 watt (3.7HPx 746)

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Terminology
Examples
n n n

(or whats that mean?)

Watts = volts * current

7.4v * 10amps = 74watts 11.1v * 25amps = 277watts 22v * 50amps = 1110watts

1 horse power = 746watts

February 2009 Wayne Rademacher

Terminology

(or whats that mean?)

Kv = The number of rpms a motor will spin for

every volt applied to motor.
Examples n 980Kv motor connected to a 3 cell (11.1v) battery will spin 10878rpm (unloaded) n 1400Kv x 11.1v = 15540rpm (unloaded) n 1400Kv x 7.4v = 10360rpm (unloaded)
February 2009 Wayne Rademacher

Basic electronics - formulas

Ohms law Triangle

E
Volts

Power Triangle

P
Watts

E=I*R I=E/R R= E / I

I
Current

R
Resistance

P=I*E I=P/E E=P/I

I
Current

E
Volts

Place thump over the element you wish to solve. ( i.e. cover I = E / R )

E = Voltage (sometimes "V" is used instead of "E", and measured in "volts") I = Current (measured in "amperes") R = Resistance (measured in "ohms") P = Power (measured in "watts")

Example 1
25amp motor on 3-cells (I)25A*(E)11.1v = (P)277w motor

Example 2
60watt light bulb draws .5A or 500mA (P)60w / (E)120v = (I).5amp draw

Example 3
60watt light bulb has 240 ohms of resistance. (E)120v / (I).5A = (R)240 ohms

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Inrunner vs. Outrunner

Inrunner and Outrunner are the two types of brushless RC motors.
Outrunner - brushless motor has the permanent magnets on the outside of the electromagnets. You can see in the picture that the outer hub holding the permanent magnets has the output shaft attached in the center. Inrunner - The permanent magnets of inrunner brushless motors are positioned on the inside of the electromagnets. Inrunner brushless motors are setup very similar to old school canned motors, except the permanent magnets and electromagnets are in opposite positions.

Outrunner type motor

The outside spins i.e. outrunner

Inrunner motor

Outrunner Brushless Model Aircraft Motors Outrunner RC motors spin much slower and provide much more torque than inrunner motors. The greatest benefit of an outrunner motor is the fact that a gearbox is not needed. This makes the airplane literally silent! Outrunner motors are much easier to mount. Outrunner brushless RC motors are slightly less efficient than inrunner motors. This shouldn't be a huge factor when making your decision between the two. Inrunner Brushless Model Aircraft Motors The faster a motor spins, the more efficient it is. Inrunner motors turn very fast and are more efficient than outrunner motors. Inrunner brushless RC motors require a reducing gearbox between the motor and propeller. For this reason, the output speed and torque of the propeller can easily be "tweaked" to facilitate different flying characteristics by using different size gears. The downside is added parts that can and do fail. The gears get stripped, and the gearbox shafts are easily bent. It can also be an obstacle when mounting the gearbox motor combination neatly, especially under a cowling.

Only the shaft spins

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Basic Electric Motor Selection

Motor watts required per pound of airplane weight.
n n n

100w/lbs = trainer\sport (minimum) 150w/lbs = 3D aerobatics 250+w/lbs = extreme

Examples
n n n n

16oz Sport airplane = 100w 24oz Pylon Racer = 300w 4lb Trainer = 400w 8lb Sport plane = 800 1200w

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Battery Selection
C discharge rating
n

Battery C rating = The max amount of current a battery can deliver. (1C is 1 times the batteries rated current.) n Examples n 1300ma (1.3A) 12C battery can deliver (1.3A x 12) 15.6A n 2100ma (2.1A) 15C battery can deliver (2.1A x 15) 31.5A n 2100ma (2.1A) 20C battery can deliver (2.1A x 20) 42A

Balancer
n n

LiPo-Balancers eliminate the problem of cell imbalance, allowing your LiPo packs to reach their maximum life span. Traditional LiPo chargers simply terminate the charge when one cell goes above 4.25 Volts. This gradually reduces pack capacity because the imbalance slowly increases with each cycle. LiPo Balancers allow the charging process to continue until ALL cells have reached 4.20V while still protecting each cell from overvoltage.

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Propeller Selection
Propellers can be selected two ways:
n

Use the factory recommended propeller for your motor.

n

Incorrectly sized propellers can draw too many amps an burnout your motor.

Use amp meter to determine current and rpms for your motor.
n

Do not exceed recommended current.

Pitch Speed = (RPM x Pitch)/1056

Example:
n

AXI 2208-26, 3cell battery, 7x4 prop (15762rpm x 4)/1056 = 59mph* *losses will reduce this number

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Typical Naming Scheme

n

Typical motor numbering schemes

n

AXI 2208/26, 1420Kv

RPMs per volt
26 turns of wire

Thickness

22mm diameter 8mm thick

n

Scorpion S-2208-30, 1293Kv

RPMs per volt
30 turns of wire

22mm diameter 8mm thick

n

E-Flight Power 15, 950Kv

Diameter RPMs per volt

Equivalent to a .15cc

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

AXI 2208-26
Tiny, but BIG power for SPEED 300 to 400 class airplanes Small and very robust but light weight (45g, 1.6 oz with 14cm long heavy-duty silicone cabling) brushless motor with rotating case suitable for all models of 300-400 size which will surprise You with very high power it can deliver. Hardened steel shaft is 3.2mm and is supported by two large ball bearings which ensures great mechanical stability. Thanks to Model Motors for using the newest materials these motors achieve in their weight category extremely high efficiency and high load possibility. A new future in AXI design is a provision for radial mounting.
n n n n n n n n n n n n n

2208-26 Factory Specifications: Voltage Range 2-3xLi-Poly Max. Efficiency Current 5-9A 7.4V x 9A = 67w RPM per volt 1420Kv Max. 11.1v x 9A = 100w Efficiency 82% Max. loading 11A / 60 s No load Current / 8V 6 A 11.1v x 1420Kv = 15762rpm Internal resistance 155mohm Dimensions 27.7x26 mm Shaft Diameter 3.17 mm 100w / lbs Motor weight 45g PerfectJ Recommended model weight - 7 to 17.8 oz Propeller range: n 2xLi-Poly prop 8"x4.5 n 3xLi-Poly prop 7"x4 7x4 pitch speed n 10 cells prop 8,5"x5" (15762rpm x 4)/1056 = 59mph*

February 2009

*losses will reduce this number

Wayne Rademacher

E-Flight Power 15
Key Features Equivalent to a 15-size glow engine for sport and scale airplanes weighing 36- to 56-ounces (2.5 to 3.5lbs) Ideal for size 3D airplanes 32- to 40-ounces (2 2.5lbs) Ideal for models requiring up to 425 watts of power High torque, direct drive alternative to inrunner brushless motors External rotor design, 5mm shaft can easily be reversed for alternative motor installations High quality construction with ball bearings and hardened steel shaft Slotted 12-pole outrunner design Overview The Power 15 is designed to deliver clean and quiet power for 15-size sport and scale airplanes weighing 36- to 56-ounces (2.5 3.5lbs), 3D airplanes 32- to 40-ounces (2 2.5lbs), or models requiring up to 425 watts of power. Specification Type: Brushless Outrunner Motor Size: 15-size Bearings or Bushings: Ball Bearings Wire Gauge: 16 Recommended Prop Range: 10x613x6.5 RPM/Volt (Kv): 950 Voltage: 7.4 - 14.4V Resistance (Ri): .03 ohms Idle Current (Io): 2.00A @10V Continuous Current: 34A Maximum Burst Current: 42A (15 sec) Cells: 812 Ni-MH/Ni-Cd or 3-4S Li-Po Speed Control: 40-45A Brushless Weight: 152g (5.4 oz) Overall Diameter: 35mm (1.4 in) Shaft Diameter: 5mm (.20 in) Overall Length: 50mm (1.9 in) Electric Prop 10x6 to 13x6.5

Sport @100watts / lb 250-350 watts

3D @150watts / lb 300-375 watts

34A x 7.4v = 250W 34A x 11.1v = 377W 34A x 14.4v = 489W

950Kv x 7.4v = 7030 rpm 950Kv x 11.1v = 10545 rpm 950Kv x 14.4 = 13680 rpm

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Advanced Motor Formulas

Efficiency: Motor Efficiency = Pout/Pin, Pout = (Vin - Iin * Rm) * (Iin - Io) Motor Kv: Kv = RPM / (Vin - Vloss), Vloss = Iin * Rm Motor RPM: RPM = Kv * (V - Vloss), Vloss = Iin * Rm Watts: Watts = V * Iin, Alternately P=IR (P = I x I x Rm) Stalled Motor: Istall = Vin / Rm Torque constant: Torque constant: Kt=Kb x 1.345, Kb = Voltage constant (Volt/1000 RPM) Torque Loss: Torque = Kt * (Iin - Io) Termination: Wye = the number of winds you have performed, Delta = divide the number of turns by 1.73 Watts per Horsepower: 1 horsepower = 746 watts Kv-Rpm constant: Kv * turns = motor constant, (ex. Kv=1090 * 32T ~= 35000 so, 35000/28T ~= 1250Kv)
February 2009 Wayne Rademacher

Adv. Motor Formulas Acronyms

Acronyms:
Rm = Resistance value of the motor, derived from the guage of wire used. Pout = Power Out of the Motor expressed in Watts Pin = Power In of the Motor expressed in Watts Vin = Voltage Into the Motor Iin = Current Into the Motor

Io = Noload Current of the Motor, derived from running a motor WOT without a prop at varying voltages. Io can be expressed with an associated Voltage and should be. Kv = K value or voltage constant, the expressed value where the rpm can be surmised by a given voltage. For a 2000 Kv motor an input voltage of 10V would net 20000RPM. Istall = The load current of a motor which is purposely stalled, hence not turning. Kt = Torque constant (oz-In/A) Kb = Voltage constant (Volt/1000 RPM)

February 2009

Wayne Rademacher

Resources:
www.rcgroups.com
n

Excellent source of information.

www.innov8tivedesigns.com
n n

Scorpion motors / kits Scorpion Calc free motor calculation software

www.motocalc.com
n n

MotoCalc will tell you everything you need to know: Amps, Volts, Watts, RPM, Thrust, Rate of Climb, and much more! $39.00
Wayne Rademacher

February 2009