HZ Champ flying times

[NJSwede]

What kind of flying times do you get on your Champs? Yesterday, I only got about 3-4 minutes per battery and even less on some. Luckily I have LOTS of batteries.

I suspect either the cold (30F) or the fact that there was some wind and I had to do a lot of wide open throttle keep her flying. But still... That's not a lot of battery time. Is this consistent with your experiences?

[SHADY]

In my experience, it is the cold keeping them from getting their full potential.
When I am flying in really cold I try to pre warm the batteries in my pocket or maybe a hand warmer.

In ideal conditions the stock battery can give my 8-10 minutes of flying and still land under power.

I have really come to like the larger 250mah batteries. Just a small cut out in front of the landing gear mount and the cg is spot on.
I have gotten 15-20 minutes of full fly time with those.

And with a micro Sukoi prop I can nearly fly it high enough to be out of sight. Although I extended my antenna on the brick when I put my l.e.d.'s in..

I am using a DX6i Tx as well.

[z-8]

Originally Posted by NJSwede

What kind of flying times do you get on your Champs? Yesterday, I only got about 3-4 minutes per battery and even less on some. Luckily I have LOTS of batteries.

I suspect either the cold (30F) or the fact that there was some wind and I had to do a lot of wide open throttle keep her flying. But still... That's not a lot of battery time. Is this consistent with your experiences?

It was probably the cold weather. I have quite a few stock 150 mAh batts, they last around 12 minutes if in good shape, maybe as long as 15 mins with mostly 45% cruise.

[jschall]

Originally Posted by NJSwede

What kind of flying times do you get on your Champs? Yesterday, I only got about 3-4 minutes per battery and even less on some. Luckily I have LOTS of batteries.

I suspect either the cold (30F) or the fact that there was some wind and I had to do a lot of wide open throttle keep her flying. But still... That's not a lot of battery time. Is this consistent with your experiences?

Try the thunder power 160mah batteries. They don't care about the cold.

[Rockin Robbins]

Is that true? I thought all lipo batteries shared the same chemistry and general characteristics.

[jschall]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Is that true? I thought all lipo batteries shared the same chemistry and general characteristics.

All I know is, I've had 1min flight times on the stock 120mah in 40F, and 8+min flight times in 40F with the TP cells.

[dkrhardy]

How old are those batteries? If the TP's are newer ..............
I vote for the temp being cold as the culprit. My batteries seem to have regained a lot since we have had warm weather ... low 40's, went to mid 70's.

[NJSwede]

You southerners should really be ashamed of yourselves writing something like that when the freezing winds are still howling up here!

[Glacier Girl]

Cold temps will definitely cause a lipo to lack power.
Disposable hand warmers, or the ones you toss in the microwave are even better for keeping them warm.

Make your own. That's what I did when I flew in the PA sub zero weather.
Get yourself some dried corn kernels or beans. Put em in a small cloth bag.
Toss em in the microwave for a minute or so, then throw it in a small foam cooler. Will keep em nice and toasty for a LONG time.

For Champs, a Styrofoam cup would be a good cooler for the lipos.
Put in the cells, add the bean bag on top, and flip the cup upside down.

I liked using corn. If I left em in the microwave too long I had popcorn.


My best time on a totally stock Champ with the stock lipo is 12 minutes.

Oh and it gets even warmer the further south you go Swede.
I've had the A/C on all week. Tomorrow is high of 81 and 1 to 3 mph winds.

[bdel]

Thanks for the info. Will try to keep them warm. Our winter won't let up. The warm days have been marred by rain, wind, and "warm" ain't warm enough.

[dkrhardy]

My fly times with the stock 160mAh and the bigger and heavier 500mAh batteries seems about the same.

NOTE TO SELF ..... I will not fly at my house ever again! I had my 1st crash with the Champ yesterday, it was also the 1st time I flew it in front of my house. Took off on the driveway, turned crosswind then downwind, wanted to turn a quick final and land on the driveway. Well, as I went between the houses I lost sight of it ... we have very tall and steep roof lines in our neighborhood ... so as it went out of sight, my mind's RADAR told me I needed a bit of alt to see it again as well as a sloooow right turn to get it back in sight. NOPE! Heard a thump, and found it nosed into my patio, which is covered! No battery! ?? Battery was on the roof of the patio. ?? Must have hit on the edge of the roof, inverted, so the battery was up there and the plane fluttered down onto the patio. NO DAMAGE! Lucky, but it took a while for the sinking feeling to go away.

[bdel]

I understand. I flew mine in a gym, but it is faster than I can fly. It survived, but will wait for better weather and a better place. Maybe I should try the field we fly at???

[z-8]

Originally Posted by bdel

I understand. I flew mine in a gym, but it is faster than I can fly. It survived, but will wait for better weather and a better place. Maybe I should try the field we fly at???

Try leaving a 1/2 inch of space between the front of the battery compartment and the front edge of the battery. With a little more aft CG, a stock Champ can fly full back stick near 50% throttle at just a few mph.

[NJSwede]

Originally Posted by dkrhardy

NOTE TO SELF ..... I will not fly at my house ever again! I had my 1st crash with the Champ yesterday, it was also the 1st time I flew it in front of my house.

Just confirmed that my backyard has too many trees in it. Also confirmed that the Champ survives head-on collisions pretty well. All in the name of science, of course!

[kenchiroalpha]

Hi
For best performance and cycle life, your battery packs should have a resting temperature no lower than 10 °C (50 °F) at the beginning of a Flight, or beginning of Charging. Keep the batteries inside your vehicle or a warmer of some kind on very cold days, to insure best performance and life. If you have any concerns about the temperature on cold days and you have Hyperion NET or DUO charger, you can use the TCS function set to 90% to help insure that the batteries do not suffer over-voltage condition due to the temperature
Take care
Yours Hank

[Andy_L]

anyone know if its possible to change the ESC programming on the Champ to STOP the prop in the air...so it doesn't freewheel at 0 throttle??

love my champ btw...15+ flights and no issues

[NJSwede]

Originally Posted by Andy_L

anyone know if its possible to change the ESC programming on the Champ to STOP the prop in the air...so it doesn't freewheel at 0 throttle??

love my champ btw...15+ flights and no issues

Not sure that's possible. The Champ's motor is brushed and the ESC is probably very basic.

[bdel]

Z8, Thanks for the advice. I'll try that-moving the battery about 1/2 inch aft. As the weather here (Cleveland, Ohio) improves, I'll be flying more. Took the champ to the school yard, and enjoyed it, but had to leave because my hands got too cold. By the way, school was on spring break.