Comments for RCadvisor.com http://rcadvisor.com UAV and Model Airplane Design, Building and Flying Fri, 18 May 2012 04:19:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on Real Review: Turnigy 7 in 1 Mega Meter by Carlos http://rcadvisor.com/turnigy-7-1-mega-meter-review#comment-574 Carlos Fri, 18 May 2012 04:19:26 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=1346#comment-574 Have you tried to use the tachometer? I forgot to mention in the video, but my old tachometer (Great Planes?) had no trouble taking a propeller reading in my workshop. I was a bit disappointed by the device. But like you, I also thought it was a solid value. Did not give much thought to the IR readings. I get those from my charger, so I don't plan to use the function, anyway. I mainly bought it for the wattmeter, and I have no complaints there. Thanks for the feedback! Have you tried to use the tachometer? I forgot to mention in the video, but my old tachometer (Great Planes?) had no trouble taking a propeller reading in my workshop.

I was a bit disappointed by the device. But like you, I also thought it was a solid value. Did not give much thought to the IR readings. I get those from my charger, so I don’t plan to use the function, anyway. I mainly bought it for the wattmeter, and I have no complaints there.

Thanks for the feedback!

]]> Comment on Real Review: Turnigy 7 in 1 Mega Meter by John http://rcadvisor.com/turnigy-7-1-mega-meter-review#comment-573 John Fri, 18 May 2012 04:10:02 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=1346#comment-573 Carlos, nice practical review. I checked it against a known accurate EmeterII and it was pretty reasonable. Overall decent all-in-one device to have in the field box. A couple of things: 1) I agree that the thrust function is hardly sensible. 2) More importantly the IR measurement is useless and misleading. Here's what I wrote on the HK site. Well designed clever meter. The bullet connectors are smart since you add your own preferred battery connectors and can swap the IN and OUT easily for load and charge tests. Seems pretty accurate on current and as a wattmeter which is the big test. The other measurements are easy to do accurately. Uses a 1.0 mOhm sense resistor for current which is a lot more in-circuit resistance than the 0.2mOhm of the Emeter and similar quality Wattmeters. Combines pretty much everything anyone would need and the screen is fairly readable (better than the PowerLog which is similar in functionality). The thrust measurement seems useless as it ignores propellor pitch on the grounds that it does not affect static thrust - really. Maybe I missed something here. The IR measurement is hopeless. Uses a roughly 0.5Amps load and two wire method which is useless for modern LiPos. I got readings varying from 104mOhm to 41 mOhm per cell on a 4S 3700 mAh battery as I watched. The actual IR per cell is between 3.96 mOhm and 4.20 measured with an ESR/IR meter!! Might be OK for comparative cell measurement but certainly not for correct IR values. Overall excellent value - just don't use it for IR. Carlos, nice practical review. I checked it against a known accurate EmeterII and it was pretty reasonable. Overall decent all-in-one device to have in the field box. A couple of things:
1) I agree that the thrust function is hardly sensible.
2) More importantly the IR measurement is useless and misleading.

Here’s what I wrote on the HK site.

Well designed clever meter. The bullet connectors are smart since you add your own preferred battery connectors and can swap the IN and OUT easily for load and charge tests. Seems pretty accurate on current and as a wattmeter which is the big test. The other measurements are easy to do accurately. Uses a 1.0 mOhm sense resistor for current which is a lot more in-circuit resistance than the 0.2mOhm of the Emeter and similar quality Wattmeters. Combines pretty much everything anyone would need and the screen is fairly readable (better than the PowerLog which is similar in functionality). The thrust measurement seems useless as it ignores propellor pitch on the grounds that it does not affect static thrust – really. Maybe I missed something here. The IR measurement is hopeless. Uses a roughly 0.5Amps load and two wire method which is useless for modern LiPos. I got readings varying from 104mOhm to 41 mOhm per cell on a 4S 3700 mAh battery as I watched. The actual IR per cell is between 3.96 mOhm and 4.20 measured with an ESR/IR meter!! Might be OK for comparative cell measurement but certainly not for correct IR values. Overall excellent value – just don’t use it for IR.

]]> Comment on Questions for John McGinnis, Synergy Designer by Carlos http://rcadvisor.com/questions-john-mcginnis-synergy-designer#comment-572 Carlos Thu, 17 May 2012 21:28:35 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=1288#comment-572 Welcome! Welcome!

]]> Comment on Questions for John McGinnis, Synergy Designer by Neal La France http://rcadvisor.com/questions-john-mcginnis-synergy-designer#comment-571 Neal La France Thu, 17 May 2012 21:25:52 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=1288#comment-571 Looking for all information regarding RC Model planes. Looking for all information regarding RC Model planes.

]]> Comment on FAA UAV and RC Aircraft Rule Changes by Carlos http://rcadvisor.com/faa-uav-rc-aircraft-rule-changes#comment-570 Carlos Thu, 17 May 2012 20:23:48 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=379#comment-570 The value of the Ardupilot units is hard to beat. Every other one that I have experience with costs more than $500. Way more. I used Ardupilot once and it got the job done. It's just not very fancy. Look carefully at the feature set to make sure it will meet your needs. The value of the Ardupilot units is hard to beat. Every other one that I have experience with costs more than $500. Way more.

I used Ardupilot once and it got the job done. It’s just not very fancy. Look carefully at the feature set to make sure it will meet your needs.

]]> Comment on Tip: Finding Cheap Carbon Fiber Rods by Carlos http://rcadvisor.com/finding-cheap-carbon-fiber-rods#comment-569 Carlos Thu, 17 May 2012 20:09:44 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=1339#comment-569 You are quite welcome. It took me years to come up with those sources! You are quite welcome. It took me years to come up with those sources!

]]> Comment on FAA UAV and RC Aircraft Rule Changes by ggtronic http://rcadvisor.com/faa-uav-rc-aircraft-rule-changes#comment-568 ggtronic Thu, 17 May 2012 18:58:45 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=379#comment-568 nice article thanks ! i want to try an autopilot module and test it in visual range ... just for fun.. what would be your choice ? kits like Ardupilot... OSD with way point navigation ? any good flight controler lower than 500$ ? https://store.diydrones.com/APM_2_0_Kit_p/br-ardupilotmega-03.htm this one look nice but not avalaible ... thanks for any advice nice article thanks ! i want to try an autopilot module and test it in
visual range … just for fun.. what would be your choice ? kits like Ardupilot… OSD with way point navigation ? any good flight controler lower than 500$ ? https://store.diydrones.com/APM_2_0_Kit_p/br-ardupilotmega-03.htm this one look nice but not avalaible … thanks for any advice

]]> Comment on Tip: Finding Cheap Carbon Fiber Rods by ggtronic http://rcadvisor.com/finding-cheap-carbon-fiber-rods#comment-567 ggtronic Thu, 17 May 2012 18:51:28 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=1339#comment-567 good links...Thanks ! good links…Thanks !

]]> Comment on Getting Started Flying RC Model Airplanes by Carlos http://rcadvisor.com/getting-started-flying-rc-model-airplanes#comment-565 Carlos Wed, 16 May 2012 18:14:52 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=611#comment-565 I found another excellent trainer: the E-FliteRC Apprentice. Here is a link to the version that comes with a transmitter: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019M5BLG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=75-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0019M5BLG" rel="nofollow">Apprentice 15e RTF with DX5e Radio</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=75-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0019M5BLG" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> I found another excellent trainer: the E-FliteRC Apprentice. Here is a link to the version that comes with a transmitter:

Apprentice 15e RTF with DX5e Radio

]]> Comment on Pilot, Builder, or Designer? by Carlos http://rcadvisor.com/pilot-builder-designer#comment-564 Carlos Tue, 15 May 2012 13:22:01 +0000 http://rcadvisor.com/?p=1280#comment-564 I have to admit, I enjoy the building while I'm doing it. Like you say, building is the means to see my designs take to the air. I have to admit, I enjoy the building while I’m doing it. Like you say, building is the means to see my designs take to the air.

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