Single BalancePro HD Pack Examples

BalancePro HD packs can be used in a 2s to 6s application with a single Discharge Protection Module (DPM). The DPM connects in between the battery pack and the ESC to monitor each cell during flight. This protects the weakest cell during discharge and also provides a 30 to 60 second (switch selectable) warning before the pack is depleted by pulsing the throttle signal to the motor.

BalancePro HD by Greg Covey

The 3.0lb, 50" span Fun World EP by World Models was fitted with a 3-cell 3.2AH BalancePro HD pack and Discharge Protection Module that monitors each cell during flight to provide an early warning to the pilot before the pack is depleted.

The BalancePro HD 6s Charger can safely recharged the pack in the plane in as little as 20 minutes.

Fun World EP Setup:

• AXI 2826/10
• Jeti 40-amp ESC
• APC 13x8 e-prop
• BalancePro HD 3s Kokam 3.2AH pack

Hangar 9 P-40 Warhawk by Matt Kirsch

The 9lb, P-40 Warhawk by Hangar 9 was fitted with a 6-cell 3.2AH BalancePro HD pack and Discharge Protection Module for maximum safety by Matt Kirsch..

He says the pack barely lights up the 35C temperature sensor on the pack with ZERO airflow through the fuselage. The plane has plenty of power to fly scale.

P-40 Warhawk Setup:

• BalancePro HD 6S 3200mAh pack
• AXi 4130/16 motor
• Graupner 15x8 glow propeller
• Castle Creations Phoenix 80 ESC

Dual BalancePro HD Pack Examples

Two BalancePro HD packs can be used in series for up to 12s applications. This works nicely with the new Castle Creations Phoenix HV series of brushless controllers. Two DPMs can be daisy-chained together to provide individual cell safety while powering glow to electric conversions and giant-scale models up to 7h.p.

Icepoint 2-Meter Pattern Plane by Greg Covey

The 10.6lb Ultra R/C Icepoint used two 4-cell BalancePro HD packs in series. The packs are mounted to the BalancePro HD 6s Discharge Protection Module (DPM) instead of directly to the ESC. The ESC control line is then routed through the DPMs to control the motor shutoff.

Ultra R/C Icepoint Setup:

• Actro 40-4 motor
• Jeti 77-amp Opto ESC
• APC 16x10 e-prop
• Two BalancePro HD 4s Kokam 3.2AH packs

Hangar 9 Futana 90 by Devin McGrath

The 10lb Funtana 90 e-conversion uses a 4-cell BalancePro HD pack and a 6-cell BalancePro HD pack in series. The two packs are mounted to the BalancePro HD 6s Discharge Protection Modules (DPMs) that are wired in series and then routed to the ESC. Devin also uses an FMA FS8 receiver with a co-pilot installed for True Failsafe Operation. Thrust-to-weight ratio is 2:1

Hangar 9 Funtana 90 Setup:

• AXI 5320/28 motor
• Jeti 90-amp Opto ESC
• APC 20x11 e-prop
• Two BalancePro HD Kokam 3.2AH packs in series

LiPo packs power Scale Masters winner

Beautiful Chinese Turboprop Tu-4 AEW built by George Maiorana and flown by Dave Pinegar won first place in Team Scale at the 2003 U.S. Scale Masters meet. It's not surprising that this aircraft also received the Engineering Achievement award at the meet.

The aircraft is powered with four MaxN32-13Y brushless DC geared motors and corresponding controllers. Motors drive 13 x 9 four-blade carbon fiber props. Four 4s3p packs of Kokam 1500HC cells supplied power. Each pack delivered 27 to 30A.

Originally set up with NiMH batteries, the Tu-4 weighed 29 pounds 2 ounces. Weight and flight time limits of the NiMH packs kept the craft to about a 150 foot ceiling. Not only did LiPo packs reduce the weight to 26 pounds 2 ounces (a savings of 3 pounds), they doubled flight time.

George Maiorana reports: "WOW says it all! Everything went excellent with the 4s3p 1500HC packs. The plane wowed Dave [Pinegar, the pilot], myself and everyone with its performance. Dave never had to use full throttle. 7.5 minute flights took the packs to 15.4V with plenty to spare. Took 3.5 hours to recharge at that level (1/3 C). Without the LiPo packs, we would not have been able to compete with the plane. The flight schedule would have been too long for the NiMH 3000."

Handley Page W8b Twin Transport by Don Srull

This model (published in Model Aviation, Sept. '88 ) began life as an electric scale free-flight model. Span is 30" and wing area is 240 sq. inches. Motors are 2 HiLine Mini-6 geared units. As a free-flight it weighed a bit over 6 ounces with a 3 x 275mAh NiCd battery. It was converted to RC originally using a 6 x 600mAh NiMH pack, which weighed 2.7 ounces, and got 10 minute flights. Gross weight had increased to over 8.5 ounces. Don then changed to a 2 cell Kokam 1100mAh battery which weighed 1.6 ounces. The resulting model weight was reduced over 1 ounce, performance picked up a bit, and flights of over 20 minutes are now possible.

Mig-15 by Don Srull

The Mig started out as an electric free-flight model using a homemade fan unit (published in Flying Models, Jan. '95). It has a 24" span and 150 sq. inches of wing area. As a free-flight model it weighed about 5 ounces. With RC added, and a 7 x 270mAh NiMH battery its gross weight was 6.9 ounces. It flew fine for 4 to 5 minutes. Don then installed a 2 x 1100mAh Kokam battery and saved about 10 grams. This change resulted in a slight boost in both power and performance, and now the plane turns in flights of 15 to 20 minutes.

Lincoln All-Purpose by Don Srull

This Lincoln was originally a rubber free-flight model, then converted to electric free-flight . The span is 42" and wing area 285 sq. in. It was finally modified for RC using a 280 geared motor and used a 7 x 280mAh NiMH battery weighing 1.6 ounces. Later, the flight battery was changed to a 2 x 1100mAh Kokam. Gross weight was reduced by about a half ounce to just under 10 ounces total. Flights of 25 to 30 minutes are possible.

Grumman Wildcat by Don Srull

The Grumman Wildcat has a span of 32" and an area of 165 sq. inches. Originally, this model weighed about 9 ounces with a GWS 180 Type A geared motor and an 8 x 270mAh NiMH battery. The battery was replaced with a 3 x 360mAh Kokam pack, which saved over an ounce of weight. In addition, performance is much improved and flights run between 10 and 20 minutes.

Graupner Extra 300S by Greg Covey

After trying NiCd and NiMH packs, Greg settled on two packs (a 4s3p and a 1s5p) of KOK 1200HC cells for this 66" wingspan aerobat. The packs supply 55A to a MaxCim 13D motor driving an APC 15x10 prop—plenty of power for knife edge flight. Final weight is 7.25 pounds. Greg's construction article includes power system evaluations and Kokam pack assembly information.

Wipa Firecat by Greg Covey

Greg initially set up his Firecat with a 10 cell 1700mAh NiCd pack powering an AXI 282010 Rotating Can Brushless motor, which provided plenty of power for any maneuver. He then replaced the NiCds with a 3s4p pack of Kokam 1200HC cells. The LiPo pack put out 36A, increasing the APC 11x7E prop speed by 200 RPM. Weight dropped by 5 ounces to 34.7 ounces, and flight times tripled compared to the NiCd pack. Photos in Greg's review show how he installed the LiPo packs.

Zagi Fixx by Greg Covey

To fine tune this flying wing, Greg experimented with three different motors driven by a 2s2p pack of Kokam 1020mAh cells. His final setup used an MPI EPU3738 motor with a 3.75:1 gear ratio and a GWS 8x6 prop. This combination drew 6.7A from the LiPo pack, and enabled Greg to use full throttle throughout entire flights. Ready-to-fly weight is 11.3 ounces.

Radical RC Verti-Go 3D by Bob Aberle

Harriers and great vertical performance make the Verti-Go an outstanding aerobat. The power system is a Hacker B-20 brushless motor, Jeti 6 Amp ESC and 3S 1500mAh LiPo pack. All up weight is 14 ounces. Says Bob, "Flight times well in excess of 30 minutes are possible since you do a lot of throttling with this type of vertical maneuver aircraft."

A Verti-Go with a similar power system flew at the 2003 Mid-America Electric Flies and was voted "Best Mini Electric."

SR Bantam Bipe by Bob Aberle

The 8 ounce SR Batteries Bantam Bipe flies with a GWS IPS-A motor and APC 9x4.7 Slo-Fly prop. Originally configured with a 7 cell 150mAh NiCd pack, the plane is now powered by a 2s 1020mAh Kokam pack. Bob's grandchildren, Allison and Hayden, are holding the plane before getting some stick time.

Micro-Pod by Bob Aberle

A single Kokam 145mAh cell powers Bob Aberle's original design. The plane weighs 1.2 ounces and has a geared KP-00 motor. Drawing 700mA, the motor discharges the LiPo cell at a 5C rate. Receiver is the DWE RFFS-100, driving two Mega magnetic actuators from E-Flight Design. Construction details are in the November 2003 RC Microflight.

Showflyer by Greg Covey

Graupner's Showflyer is a 60.5" wingspan 3D plane designed for low- to medium-speed flying, and is excellent at low-level aerobatics and torque rolls when equipped with a .60 size two stroke engine. Greg Covey discovered it works great with electric power, too! Greg built his with a MaxCim 13Y brushless motor, an MEC 6:1 (96T spur, 16T pinion) gearbox, an APC 20x11 e-prop, MaxCim Maxµ35-25BEC Controller with BEC and 24 cells of Sanyo CP1700SCR. Then he built a monster Kokam power source: two 4s5p packs made from 40 Kokam 1500HD cells. Delivering 60A continuous (8C) and 80A for short bursts, the packs added 3 ounces of weight but increased flight times by 400%. "An awesome tradeoff!" exclaims Greg.

Lancair by George Maiorana

Great Planes is the first to offer a scale ARF of the full-size Lancair homebuilt airplane. With an 80" wingspan, this model is designed to be powered by a .60 to .75 two stroke, but it's a great platform for electric power. George mounted a MaxCim 13Y brushless motor with 4.2:1 gearing and an APC 14x10E prop up front. Juice comes from two 4s4p Kokam 1500HD packs. Weight is 9 pounds 14 ounces (about the same as the "wet" version with a full tank of fuel).

Although the ARF comes in blue and white, George matched the red and white color scheme of a full-size Lancair. Dave Pinegar, the pilot, is shown with the model.

Lil' Souix by Bob Aberle

With 90 square inches of wing area, Lil' Sioux tops out at 3.8 ounces. It's equipped with an FMA M5 receiver, two FMA PS20 sub-micro servos, and two Kokam 340mAh high discharge cells held in place by four tiny magnets. Bob tells us "The plane flies like a dream." A construction article is in the works.

P47 by Matt Keennon

This scratch-built 9" wingspan balsa P47 fighter is designed to fly really fast. Matt replaced the original five 110 mAh NiMH cells with four 145mAh lithium polymer cells. The pack is set up in a 2s2p configuration that outputs 290mAh at a nominal 8 volts, and reduces weight from 44 grams (with NiMH cells) to 40 grams. Matt says, "This guy really hauls ass now. It's crazy fast, clocked at 56mph (2,800mph scale speed) after leveling off from a shallow dive. My hands still shake after every flight!" (More specs are in the September 2003 newsletter at the South Leicester Aeronutz web site.)

AT-6 Texan by Greg Covey

Manufactured by Fan-Tastic Models, this scale model flies with a GWS IPS DX-A motor. The plane is fitted with a Kokam 2S 340HSC pack for indoor venues. For outdoor flying, Greg recommends the Kokam 2S 1200mAh pack. Greg's full review is posted on RC Universe.

Beechcraft Staggerwing by Rob Mokry

Built from a Dumas walnut scale rubber-power kit, this electric conversion spans 17" and weighs 91grams. A Kokam 3s 140mAh pack powers the Astro Firefly with 4:1 gearing. A thread on RC Universe tracks construction.

Corsair by Johan van Tonder

This GWS Corsair is equipped with an AXI brushless motor swinging a 9x4.7 prop. 2S 1200mAh and 1500mAh LiPo packs provide 10 minute flights at full throttle. "The performance is WOW!!!" says Johan, a resident of Cape Town, South Africa.

T-6 by Dr. Heyward Macdonald

House of Balsa markets this scale 44" T-6 kit for .15 to .19 glow power. Heyward built the kit with electric power in mind, and managed to reduce weight to 32 ounces from the model's 40-48 ounce spec. The power train consists of a 2s2p 1200mAh LiPo pack, Jeti 18 ESC and AXI PM220820 motor. It's finished in Oracover, in the Navy Harvard color scheme.

"It flies right much like a T-6," comments Heyward. "It takes off in about 30 feet. Climb out is cautious, since it gets violent if it tip stalls. I have a bit of wash out in the wing, and like the full-sized T-6, it just needs some care. In quiet air, it sits in the air beautifully at about 60% throttle. Speed appears scale." Flights last about 10 minutes. He plans to upgrade to a 3s 2000mAh 15C pack to punch up the performance a bit.