Directions
Take the 8 Mile Road exit off of I-275 and go west 2.5 miles to Center Street. Go south on Center Street for a 1/2 mile and then west on Main Street.
The Northville Senior Community Center is located at 303 West Main Street.
There is free parking in the back of the building, off of Cady Street.

     I recently received a request to recommend an electronic speed control (ESC) from a long-time electric flyer. He's been an Ampeer reader for many, many years. His name is John Konstantakatos and he lives in Greece. We've had a long time, long distance relationship and enjoy exchanging Christmas cards every year. Here is what John asked.

Hello Ken,

     Please help. Please recommend an ESC for brushless, at 20A, (for airplane), that could be PNP, i.e. no need for programming.

     If this can be ordered from HobbyKing, it would be very convenient.

     Thank you.

Best regards,
John

My Response
Hi John,

     It is always a pleasure hearing from you! :-)

     As far as I know, the vast majority of today's ESCs are plug-and-play, PNP.

     Living in Greece, I can understand why you'd want to order from HobbyKing.

     I've not followed HobbyKing products for a long time, nor have I seen any reviews of their ESCs.

     It is my "guess" that their own brand should work well, as HobbyKingÕs parent company, HXT, is known for its ESCs. That statement is pure speculation.

     Personally, I always look for ESCs that ARE programmable, as I am still mostly using the LiFePO₄ A123 cells.

     Right now I am using the Cobra line of ESCs available through Innov8tive Designs here in the USA.

     They have been working well for me in both LiPo and A123 applications.

Thanks for asking,
Ken

     A123 cells are still available locally in Livonia, MI.

     The following information is copied from his email forward.

Tue Mar 27 2018
Amsterdam, The Netherlands / Austin, Texas, USA
March 27, 2018

     LithiumWerks announces that it has acquired the original A123 Systems manufacturing plants located in Changzhou, China. These plants were the first to introduce the revolutionary NanoPhosphate¨ technology in the form of cylindrical cells that have been used globally in a wide array of applications, especially in the industrial market.

     As part of the transaction, Lithium Werks has taken over the customer relationships in China, Europe and the United States as well as the operations, staff and product designs associated with the Changzhou business. LithiumWerks is also the new owner of the POWER. SAFETY. LIFE. trademark that characterized A123's product portfolio in its early years. The transaction was financed through the working capital of LithiumWerks.

     "We are confident that this acquisition helps propel LithiumWerks into a leadership position in the Lithium Iron Phosphate market globally," said Knut H. Nyl¾nde, LithiumWerks' Chairman. "A123 Systems is pleased to have concluded this agreement and is confident that our former customers in the industrial market are in great hands with LithiumWerks. A123 is sharpening its focus on world-class automotive applications ranging from mild-hybrids to fully electric vehicles," said Jeff Kessen, A123 Systems' VP of Corporate Strategy.

About LithiumWerks

     LithiumWerks is a fast growing global lithium ion battery company with production facilities in China and offices in the USA, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Norway. LithiumWerks provides cells, modules, and battery management systems into markets such as material handling, stationary energy storage, medical and commercial marine.

     A123 Systems is a global leader in providing complete energy storage solutions through advanced battery cells and systems primarily for transportation applications. Offering a full range of world-class products, A123 delivers superior performance, reliability and cost savings from concept through commercialization.

     StorTronics® is excited to announce the launch of our newest website.

     In March of 2018, LithiumWerks purchased the A123 Systems cylindrical cell division. Following this email, we have included the announcement for your reference.

     Since 2014, StorTronics® has been the only North American authorized cell distributor for A123 Systems and is now the sole authorized distributor of LithiumWerks cells in North America. We maintain a great selection of the 18650 and 26650 cell format with the LiFePO4 chemistry.

     StorTronics® is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company and has been an authorized pack assembler for A123 Systems, LithiumWerks, Saft in addition to other quality cell manufacturers. StorTronics® looks forward to supporting all your battery pack assembly and distribution needs.

     Thank you for doing business with StorTronics®!

     Visit our website or call us today at (248) 912-1200 to discuss your power requirements and/or assembling needs.

     Saturday, August 24 was a beautiful, late summer day at the C.A.R.D.'s flying field near Grand Ledge, MI.

     The flying field was in beautiful shape. The weather was a bit cool, for the end of August. It was quite a bit windier than the "guessers" had predicted, and that did play into which planes were flown that.

EFO Vice-President, Richard Utkan, with one of his planes

     Many of our "flying buddies" from around the state showed up for the event, and it was great getting together and sharing what we'd been doing all summer, or at least since the Mid-Am in July.

Keith's Planes

     Keith Shaw flew several of his great scale planes during the noontime demo period, while the rest of us chowed down on pizza and pop, which was provided to the pilots as part of their entrance fee.

Denny Sumner checks out Robert Throne's Plane

     After we landed, several folks came over and asked what it was we were flying.

     This a wonderful, low-key event that you should plan on attending next year. The flying field is remarkable, the C.A.R.D.s' members are warm and welcoming, the event is well run and it is just a load of FUN!!!

Ken's Planes Plane

Keith Shaw flying Dick Flemming's plane with Robert Throne looking on. Plane

Ken,

     Talked to the guy at INNOV8TIVE Designs about what he recommends for the big Stik 40 with a weight of 5 lb. to 5.5 lb. He recommended a Cobra C-3520/14 brushless motor with a KV of 700, Cobra 60A ESC with 6A switching BEC, an APC 12x6E prop, and 5S 18.5V LiPo battery 18.5v.

     My question is what battery type: how many mAh and what C rating should I use. I will be flying just normal maneuvers, no 3D.

Thanks,
Rich

Hi Rich,

     I use a Cobra 3525/12 with a 12x8 prop in a similar plane. I use a 6S A123 2300mAh pack for 6.5 minutes of good flight time. A 5S LiPo, of 4000mAh should give you all the flight time and performance you might like as you describe you flight desire to me.

     I double checked the performance data for the motor you purchased.

     Lucien's test shows an APC 12x6E pulling 38.56A, and that too indicates that a 5S 4000mAh LiPo pack should serve you well. Any C-rating from 10 up would work without stressing it.

     I don't fly with too many LiPo packs, but I do have both Revolectrix and Hyperion that are several years old and working very well.

Hope this helps,
Ken

Hey Ken,

     Wow thanks for the fast info. Your the BEST.

Rich

Hi Rich,

     I forgot to include a photo of my Sig 4-Star Forty that I wanted to share with you.

     I also forgot to mention that when I do a glow to electric conversion, I like to get the heaviest motor that I can that will give me the performance that I want. Why? It is much easier to get the CG right with a heavier motor. Even the weight of the batteries is usually not enough to get the CG at the correct location without adding weight.

     For some further reading on that topic, you might want to check out our Electric Flyers only Website at www.theampeer.org.

     The Ampeer is the electric flight newsletter that I've been publishing since March 1988.

     There are also several useful articles on the Website.

Later,
Ken

Hi Ken,

     Ok so I have one lead (which I think is the ESC lead) that comes out of the speed controller, does that plug into the throttle on the receiver and that also gives the 5.5 volts all the rest of the servos in the receiver? Maybe you missed the air flow question in my last email.

Thanks,
Rich

Hi Rich,

     Just home the Skymasters' electric fly-in in Lake Orion, MI. It's 58 miles round trip.

     You just need to get air over the ESC. What you have in the firewall should be fine. You should have approximately twice the square inches for the outlet hole, on the bottom of the fuselage, in a handy location.

Later,
Ken

Ken,

     Thanks for All the info. It's getting closer to completion.

Rich
PS hope you had good time at the fly-in.