Everything You Wanted To Know About Electric Powered Flight
#151
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 28

ok, after readint this I have one request, can you give me a list of crtitical parts and how they work in in order..and if my oder is correct below?
so, this is how they work?
your battery connects to the ESC, the ESC then goes to the motor, which converts the power to mechanical tourqe that turns the prop.
so, the ESC controls how much power gets from the battery to the motor? now, were do the radio parts come in? how do the fit into this equation?
is possible to get a digram on a plane with all the parts in place so I can get a visual image of how this all works together?
so, this is how they work?
your battery connects to the ESC, the ESC then goes to the motor, which converts the power to mechanical tourqe that turns the prop.
so, the ESC controls how much power gets from the battery to the motor? now, were do the radio parts come in? how do the fit into this equation?
is possible to get a digram on a plane with all the parts in place so I can get a visual image of how this all works together?
#156
#157

Look at this, it'll help so much,, I'll find a diagram someplace, bubsteve
Getting Started
Getting Started
#161
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 28

I need a new hobby and this is it man! but I am thinking until I totally understand it and can get some parts, either second /third..fourth hand I will stick to building static models and get help from you guys on those.
#162

Here is a diagram that might help clarify. In this diagram the ESC (electronic speed control) also functions as a BEC (battery eliminator circuit) which provides the power for the radio receiver, and the servos via the receiver. In this configuration the ESC supplies power to the receiver and the receiver supplies the throttle command signal to the ESC. The receiver supplies both power and channel position command signals to each of the servos.
Last edited by MustangMan; 12-25-2010 at 05:20 AM. Reason: Updated diagram.
#163
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 28

Here is a diagram that might help clarify. In this diagram the ESC (electronic speed control) also functions as a BEC (battery eliminator circuit) which provides the power for the radio receiver, and the servos via the receiver. In this configuration the ESC supplies power to the receiver and the receiver supplies the throttle command signal to the ESC. The receiver supplies both power and channel position command signals to each of the servos.
#165

As BUBSTEVE said, they move the flight control surfaces, and optionally wheel retracts, candy-drop hatch release, pilot's head, camera shutter, etc. I suppose you could use one to turn a light switch on and off but there are better (lighter weight and more reliable) ways of doing that.
#166
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 28

A servo is a small motor with gears and some electronics. It takes power and a "position" command signal from the receiver and rotates its output shaft to correspond to the commanded position.
As BUBSTEVE said, they move the flight control surfaces, and optionally wheel retracts, candy-drop hatch release, pilot's head, camera shutter, etc. I suppose you could use one to turn a light switch on and off but there are better (lighter weight and more reliable) ways of doing that.
As BUBSTEVE said, they move the flight control surfaces, and optionally wheel retracts, candy-drop hatch release, pilot's head, camera shutter, etc. I suppose you could use one to turn a light switch on and off but there are better (lighter weight and more reliable) ways of doing that.
#167

A "basic" radio system would have 3, 4, or 5 channels. More advanced radios have 6, 7, 8, or more channels.
#168
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 28

You need a "channel" in both the transmitter and the receiver for each separate control. The minimum complement of flight controls is 3. Typically throttle, rudder, and elevator on a "conventional" airframe, or throttle and two elevons on a flying wing style airframe. 4 channels is probably more common and adds ailerons to the first 3 on a conventional airframe. Flaps and retractable gear add 2 more.
A "basic" radio system would have 3, 4, or 5 channels. More advanced radios have 6, 7, 8, or more channels.
A "basic" radio system would have 3, 4, or 5 channels. More advanced radios have 6, 7, 8, or more channels.
#170
#171
Community Moderator
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NY, USA
Posts: 5,870

The reason servos, receivers are not mentioned in the chapters of the book is because they are not unique to electric flight. They are also used in glow, gas, diesel aircraft, helicopters and gliders. they are also used in cars and boats regardless of power systems.
#173

The transmitter is the part of the radio that you hold in your hands and transmits the signal to the plane to tell it what you want to do. The receiver is in the plane and receives the signal from the transmitter and after decoding the signal, it sends the command to the servo to tell it where to go. The servo responds to your command telling the control surface where to go. This part has nothing to do with the electronics in the power system and us used to fly the plane. Depending on the power system used, you may have more electronics in the plane to run the motor. The ESC receives the signal just like a servo does and applies power to the motor and depending on how that signal is set determines how the motor reacts to that signal. The receiver sends this signal to the ESC and that in turn sets the speed of the motor.
You don't need to know how this electronics work to fly a plane, but you need to know what each part does and how to hook them up. The size of the servo is determined by the size of the plane. The bigger the plane, the bigger the servo needs to be. A small park flier can get away with using a 9g servo with an output of 15oz or so, but a 33% plane will require a much bigger servo or multiple servos with higher output requirements. The transmitter normally has two sticks that are used to control the plane and these sticks are moved by the thumbs or fingers to tell the controls how to move.
The best thing you can do is find someone that knows how to fly and get them to teach you so you don't go out and start crashing right away. It can get very expensive and time consuming to try and teach yourself how to fly. It can be done, but it is the hard way to do it and most people give up before they learn. Crashing is very depressing, not to mention expensive and most people that try on their own don't make it to the point where they can enjoy the hobby. Getting a flight instructor is the single most important thing you can do to assure success in this hobby. It's a ball to fly a model airplane and is very rewarding after you learn the basics. An instructor is the most important part of learning to fly. He can teach you everything you need to know and will help you to understand what you are doing and why it needs to be done.
The is a very rudimentary discussion on how a radio works and what it does in a plane. There is much more to learn, but it is very simple to learn with help from an instructor and the only easy way to learn. Most instructors are very interested is seeing you learn and will go out of their way to help a new person getting into the hobby. Most of them get as much fun out of helping a new guy as flying their own planes. Hope you learn to enjoy the hobby and learn how to build and install the equipment and do it right. There is a right way and a wrong way to do just about everything in life and if you learn the right way, you will get much more enjoyment out of whatever you are doing. Good luck and if you have any more questions, ask away.
Ed
You don't need to know how this electronics work to fly a plane, but you need to know what each part does and how to hook them up. The size of the servo is determined by the size of the plane. The bigger the plane, the bigger the servo needs to be. A small park flier can get away with using a 9g servo with an output of 15oz or so, but a 33% plane will require a much bigger servo or multiple servos with higher output requirements. The transmitter normally has two sticks that are used to control the plane and these sticks are moved by the thumbs or fingers to tell the controls how to move.
The best thing you can do is find someone that knows how to fly and get them to teach you so you don't go out and start crashing right away. It can get very expensive and time consuming to try and teach yourself how to fly. It can be done, but it is the hard way to do it and most people give up before they learn. Crashing is very depressing, not to mention expensive and most people that try on their own don't make it to the point where they can enjoy the hobby. Getting a flight instructor is the single most important thing you can do to assure success in this hobby. It's a ball to fly a model airplane and is very rewarding after you learn the basics. An instructor is the most important part of learning to fly. He can teach you everything you need to know and will help you to understand what you are doing and why it needs to be done.
The is a very rudimentary discussion on how a radio works and what it does in a plane. There is much more to learn, but it is very simple to learn with help from an instructor and the only easy way to learn. Most instructors are very interested is seeing you learn and will go out of their way to help a new person getting into the hobby. Most of them get as much fun out of helping a new guy as flying their own planes. Hope you learn to enjoy the hobby and learn how to build and install the equipment and do it right. There is a right way and a wrong way to do just about everything in life and if you learn the right way, you will get much more enjoyment out of whatever you are doing. Good luck and if you have any more questions, ask away.
Ed
#175
New Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Western NC
Posts: 1

I've just joined the group. Have been away from R/C for a few years after 10 years of flying glow. I've decided to go strictly electric this time. I want to thank you gentlemen for getting all this material together in one place. For me, it's like starting all over again and the "Every thing you wanted to know..." is priceless!
Bob in Western NC
Bob in Western NC