U-Can-Do .60 Electric Conversion Info???

[Saddlebum]

I'm seriously considering converting a Great Planes U-Can-Do 60 to electric.

Has anyone here done that?

...The Bum

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...?article_id=44

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by Saddlebum

I'm seriously considering converting a Great Planes U-Can-Do 60 to electric.

Has anyone here done that?

...The Bum

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...?article_id=44

If you're planning on 3D, hovering and so on, you should consider high performance power packages.

It's been my experience that the Hacker motors will do what they say they will. Something on the order of a Hacker A50-12L and a 6S Lipo. Or a Hacker A50-16L and an 8S Lipo. Danged expensive, and other motors are available that will also perform.

Don't understand the attached. They indicate flying weight as 7.5 pounds dry. Does that include radio, servos, engine, receiver battery?

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

If you're planning on 3D, hovering and so on, you should consider high performance power packages.

It's been my experience that the Hacker motors will do what they say they will. Something on the order of a Hacker A50-12L and a 6S Lipo. Or a Hacker A50-16L and an 8S Lipo. Danged expensive, and other motors are available that will also perform.

Don't understand the attached. They indicate flying weight as 7.5 pounds dry. Does that include radio, servos, engine, receiver battery?

I have an orphaned Hacker A50-14S that I plan to use.

Weight specs by manufacturers are often, if not always absent of details about how they have been calculated but in this case, I believe it to wet and ready to fly. That would make sense for this size pattern plane.

...The Bum

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by Saddlebum

I have an orphaned Hacker A50-14S that I plan to use.

Weight specs by manufacturers are often, if not always absent of details about how they have been calculated but in this case, I believe it to wet and ready to fly. That would make sense for this size pattern plane.

...The Bum

That Hacker A50-14S will make this plane go well, but it might be a little on the small side if you're into 3D and hovering. It's got about the same amount of horses as a decent four stroke 70 glow engine.

I've got two A50-12S and one A50-16S motors. The '12S motors turn a 14X10 APC-E prop at 7950 RPM on a 6S2P A123 pack. The '16S motor turns a 16X12 prop at 5950 RPM. Both are running around a kilowatt. After landing, these motors are running about 10-15 degrees F above ambient, as measured with a digital thermocouple temperature gauge, accurate to a few degrees.

One of the A50-12S motors is in an 8 pound model with 65 inch wingspan, and 850 square inch area. It won't hover, but will do endless loops, and just about any other type of acrobatic routine, including a vertical figure "8".

[dumpsterjay]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

If you're planning on 3D, hovering and so on, you should consider high performance power packages.


{Don't understand the attached. They indicate flying weight as 7.5 pounds dry. Does that include radio, servos, engine, receiver battery?}

When a dry weight is given, It means AUW without fuel.

J

[kenchiroalpha]

Hi Bum
Heres some e conversions
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1238783
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1405174
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=426089
Some conversion info
http://www.electrifly.com/powersyste...nversions.html
Hope this is of use to you
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by dumpsterjay

When a dry weight is given, It means AUW without fuel.

J

That's what I thought. But when you add up the provided weights for the fuse and wing, its exactly 7.5 pounds.

So how do they allow for varied weights for the engine, radio and stuff??

My Giant scale Goldberg Electra 330 indicates a flying weight of 13-14 pounds. But it weighs 13.5 pounds with the radio and servos. But, that is without the ENGINE or fuel! I've found this on several models over the years.

(For us electric guys, just wish the model suppliers would provide the bare weight of their model, without radio, engine, and so on )

[Old Fart]

What type of flying are you intending? You posted this in the Pattern section, I'd think the Hacker would be good for that. I can tell you from experience that the UCanDo isn't really a 3D bird.

[dumpsterjay]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

That's what I thought. But when you add up the provided weights for the fuse and wing, its exactly 7.5 pounds.

So how do they allow for varied weights for the engine, radio and stuff??

My Giant scale Goldberg Electra 330 indicates a flying weight of 13-14 pounds. But it weighs 13.5 pounds with the radio and servos. But, that is without the ENGINE or fuel! I've found this on several models over the years.

(For us electric guys, just wish the model suppliers would provide the bare weight of their model, without radio, engine, and so on )

That's one of the reasons that I don't buy glow planes and try to convert them to electric. The Glow plane is built much heavier to survive the viberation of the glow/Gas engine.

To make a plane that was designed for glow, suitable for electric, you probably need to lighten the plane considerably.

Planes that are designed strickly for electric are built much lighter, as they don't have to survive in the harsh invironment that a glow engine subjects the airframe too.

The published weight for any airplane is what the designer has determined to be the desired weight for that plane. But as we all know, sometimes getting that weight is hard to do. On my large pattern planes, I sometimes go over the desired weight. The planes still fly ok at the increased weight.

Now, On my 3D planes, I use every means available to me to shave as much weight off off the AUW as I can. (Read this to mean that the plane can get very expensive)

After over 40 yrs in Nitro powered planes, I switched over to strictly electric powered planes in the early 90's and planes that are designed for electric power is all that I ever fly.

If I ever came across a glow powered plane that I thought that I "just" had to have, I would spend the time that would be required to convert it over to electric power.

J

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

What type of flying are you intending? You posted this in the Pattern section, I'd think the Hacker would be good for that. I can tell you from experience that the UCanDo isn't really a 3D bird.

I'd like to fly Sport Pattern. It's my understanding that 3D and Pattern are two distinctly different flying styles. I have both in my Club and they look much different to me.

...The Bum

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by dumpsterjay

That's one of the reasons that I don't buy glow planes and try to convert them to electric. The Glow plane is built much heavier to survive the viberation of the glow/Gas engine.

To make a plane that was designed for glow, suitable for electric, you probably need to lighten the plane considerably.

Planes that are designed strickly for electric are built much lighter, as they don't have to survive in the harsh invironment that a glow engine subjects the airframe too.

The published weight for any airplane is what the designer has determined to be the desired weight for that plane. But as we all know, sometimes getting that weight is hard to do. On my large pattern planes, I sometimes go over the desired weight. The planes still fly ok at the increased weight.

Now, On my 3D planes, I use every means available to me to shave as much weight off off the AUW as I can. (Read this to mean that the plane can get very expensive)

After over 40 yrs in Nitro powered planes, I switched over to strictly electric powered planes in the early 90's and planes that are designed for electric power is all that I ever fly.

If I ever came across a glow powered plane that I thought that I "just" had to have, I would spend the time that would be required to convert it over to electric power.

J

I'm starting to think there is wisdom in not trying to convert a glow plane. There has to be any number of 60 sized pattern planes out there deisgned for electric, right?

Hopefully around $200.

...The Bum

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by kenchiroalpha

Hi Bum
Heres some e conversions
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1238783
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1405174
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=426089
Some conversion info
http://www.electrifly.com/powersyste...nversions.html
Hope this is of use to you
Take care dear friend
Yours Hank

GREAT links Hank, Thanks. I tried searching RCgroups myself but with little luck. Is there a secret?

...The Bum

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by dumpsterjay

That's one of the reasons that I don't buy glow planes and try to convert them to electric. The Glow plane is built much heavier to survive the viberation of the glow/Gas engine.

To make a plane that was designed for glow, suitable for electric, you probably need to lighten the plane considerably.

I've got a Showtime 50 that's been electrified with a Hacker A50-16S, 16x12 APC-E prop, 6S2P A123 cells. Total weight is 8 pounds.

Another club member has the same Showtime 50 as a 70 FS glow powered model. Their performance is very similar, with a "Slight edge" for the electric version.

As others have indicated, it's difficult to find a larger sized model that has been specifically designed as an electric powered model.

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

I've got a Showtime 50 that's been electrified with a Hacker A50-16S, 16x12 APC-E prop, 6S2P A123 cells. Total weight is 8 pounds.

Another club member has the same Showtime 50 as a 70 FS glow powered model. Their performance is very similar, with a "Slight edge" for the electric version.

As others have indicated, it's difficult to find a larger sized model that has been specifically designed as an electric powered model.

The Showtime looks like a great solution to my quest, Denny. With a Hacker A50-14S and a 5S it ought to be "tame" enough to do good aerobatics but too tame to do 3D... and that is just what I want.

Sound good to you?

...The Bum

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by Saddlebum

The Showtime looks like a great solution to my quest, Denny. With a Hacker A50-14S and a 5S it ought to be "tame" enough to do good aerobatics but too tame to do 3D... and that is just what I want.

Sound good to you?

...The Bum

If you haven't got your model yet, you can't go wrong with the Showtime 50. There are four of them in our club, two electrics, two glows. And, one Showtime 90 with a big 4S Glow. IMHO,The electrics slightly outperform the glows, but the glows can fly for a longer period of time.

All of them fly very nicely with no bad habits. I've actually flown the model for 10 - 15 seconds with just enough power to keep the model in the air, while holding full UP elevator. The model has a lot of room for electric power, even for my 6S2P A123 pack. With the Hacker A50-16S motor, 16X12 APC-E prop and 6S2P A123's, it will climb out at 45 degrees, and keep going until its out of sight.

Loops, rolls, spins, vertical figure 8's, it does them all. And, with spoilerons, it also lands very well.

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

If you haven't got your model yet, you can't go wrong with the Showtime 50. There are four of them in our club, two electrics, two glows. And, one Showtime 90 with a big 4S Glow. IMHO,The electrics slightly outperform the glows, but the glows can fly for a longer period of time.

All of them fly very nicely with no bad habits. I've actually flown the model for 10 - 15 seconds with just enough power to keep the model in the air, while holding full UP elevator. The model has a lot of room for electric power, even for my 6S2P A123 pack. With the Hacker A50-16S motor, 16X12 APC-E prop and 6S2P A123's, it will climb out at 45 degrees, and keep going until its out of sight.

Loops, rolls, spins, vertical figure 8's, it does them all. And, with spoilerons, it also lands very well.

BEAUTIFUL! That's my choice then.

What prop would you recommend with my Hacker A50-14S on a 5S?

...The Bum

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by Saddlebum

BEAUTIFUL! That's my choice then.

What prop would you recommend with my Hacker A50-14S on a 5S?

...The Bum

Something on the order of an APC-E 15X10 or a 15X12 prop. Motocalc predicts the 15X12 prop will pull about 57 Amps at full power on a good quality 5S Lipo. That will turn the 15X12 at 6800 RPM, with a pitch speed of 78 Mph, and a rate of climb of about 2500 Feet per second. That gives you a wing loading of about 24 ounces per square foot with the Showtime 50, and about 140 watts per pound. At 1000 watts, and a motor weight of 13.9 ounces, thats 72 watts per ounce of motor weight, pretty safe. Motocalc predicts 87% efficiency on the Hacker motor, also pretty good.

Thrust is 140 ounces, on a plane that weighs about 120 ounces. But, I've found the motocalc thrust is about 20% high, probably because the prop blast is hitting the fuselage and cowl. Plus I did my tests on the ground, which might affect readings. (Not safe to do it any other way when the motor is mounted in the model. Can't fool around with a 1000 watt, one HP plus motor)

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Something on the order of an APC-E 15X10 or a 15X12 prop. Motocalc predicts the 15X12 prop will pull about 57 Amps at full power on a good quality 5S Lipo. That will turn the 15X12 at 6800 RPM, with a pitch speed of 78 Mph, and a rate of climb of about 2500 Feet per second. That gives you a wing loading of about 24 ounces per square foot with the Showtime 50, and about 140 watts per pound. At 1000 watts, and a motor weight of 13.9 ounces, thats 72 watts per ounce of motor weight, pretty safe. Motocalc predicts 87% efficiency on the Hacker motor, also pretty good.

Thrust is 140 ounces, on a plane that weighs about 120 ounces. But, I've found the motocalc thrust is about 20% high, probably because the prop blast is hitting the fuselage and cowl. Plus I did my tests on the ground, which might affect readings. (Not safe to do it any other way when the motor is mounted in the model. Can't fool around with a 1000 watt, one HP plus motor)

Denny, you're the best. Thank you very much!

...The Bum

[kyleservicetech]

Originally Posted by Saddlebum

Denny, you're the best. Thank you very much!

...The Bum

Thanks!

Let us know how it works out

[Saddlebum]

Originally Posted by kyleservicetech

Thanks!

Let us know how it works out

You bet I will. I placed the order this morning.

...The Bum