Projects Align 550PRO DFC

cml001

cml001

Well-Known Member
Ok fellas.... Im gonna start a new build, get'n a bigger bird and grow'n my hanger. Ive talked myself out of a Synergy and am goin with the Align. Due to the expense I think this one will fit my budget(hehehehe) better. I do have issues of preference as well as several unknowns with the fact this is my first "BIG" bird... The servos will stay.. hopefully. Align servos on my 450PRO DFC were crap and I went MKS.. love them, but Im banking on these stock servos to hold up. Im either gonna replace the 520 blades with either the Align 550 or Blade 556 blades. soooo.. . I figured id ask the experts here who have similar helis.... here we go

1) FLYBARLESS UNIT: I have been(and only ever) using the AR7200BX and am very happy with it.. easy to set up and solid on the 450... but.. I have read and read and read about the iKon. I am very interested in it.. the auto level.. well I think that would be awesome. Plus the gov in the fbl unit I hear is better than from the ESC. I would like feedback from experienced users of either.. but particularly that of those with use of both units. pros/cons, qwerks... all the goodies of each.

2) ESC: I have read enough to not want the Talon 90 on a heli. Im gonna stick it back for another plane project I have in mind for the near future(DHC-2 Beaver).. well distant near future.. not a much vibration in a plane so it may be better in it.... anyhow kontronics are stupidly expensive and outta range... so Im thinking CC Edge 100 or the CC Edge 80HV. I do plan on running 6S 5000-5500mAh. so that puts both as possibilities but if I wanted to run 2 6S(12S setup) 3300-3700mAh... the Edge 100 wouldn't work or would be stressed and hot, right?

3) BEC or REGULATOR w RX BATTERY: I really don't know why Im submitting this as an issue.. Im all for the Align RCE-6X w Pulse Rx pk to run the flybarless and servos. I cant seem to want to run the CC BEC PRO for some reason.. separate power for the control system seems right to me. However, any ideas on this are more than welcome.

Well I guess that's it... its gonna take some time to bank for the remaining pieces of this project due to... expense.. this much fun isn't suppose to be cheap I suppose. but with the help of RCH and its members Im sure it will rock. Thanks in advance for all of your help guys.

ooohh... I hear stories all the time about guys get'n batteries cheap.. 6S lipos for under $75 bucks... where is my ?... all the ones I see are like $120-$200.. kkkk im out...
 
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Tony

Tony

Staff member
they are getting the batteries from hobbyking or hobbypartz more than likely. Pretty cheap, and if you stick with higher C ratings, they work pretty well. I would rather go with Pulse batteries for a bird like this though.

The flybarless unit, you can't go wrong with the BX or Ikon. If you want to try out the Ikon, do it. If you don't like it, there are a million people out there that will trade you straight across for the BX. Since they are about the same price. it's worth it to test it out. I have an ikon on my 600, but I'm still setting it up. Just have not had the time to sit down and play with it.
 
cml001

cml001

Well-Known Member
Yeah I typed in Blade 556... Meant Rail 556.. I dig Rails.. Have them on my 450... 5 of my 8 3s pks r Pulse.. I like them.. But boy, 6S pks r expensive as... Keep the language clean now... There a button for obscenities?
 
Tony

Tony

Staff member
lmao.

One thing to remember about batteries though, if you take care of them, they will be around for quite a while. Yes, they do wear out, but if you always storage charge the packs, and don't over discharge them, it will be money well spent.
 
cml001

cml001

Well-Known Member
Yeah.. I'd like to stay on Pulse power if I can.. I've even started to buy them for the 130X. Honestly in my planes the E-flite battery's were pretty good too.. Have 3 of them for the Blade SR and several for the mSRX... I think 2 Tenergy batteries... Kool in a plane but not so much in the heli... Pulse.. Definitely. No suggestions on the ESC? My calculations seem right to match the 730MX 850kV motor? Tony u seem to have all the formulas down pat.. Which would u get?
 
Tony

Tony

Staff member
Get a 100a or 120a ESC. You don't need the HV ESC, so save that money and put it into batteries. That motor is rated at 115a max power, which means you will more than likely be pulling about 80 amps at all times with this setup. I would go for the 100a.
 
P

pvolcko

Well-Known Member
I fly both 7200BX and Ikon. 7200BX is easier on the setup, doesn't require a computer, and just works. Ikon has the bonus of having a solid internal governor, flight mode/bank selection, a great computer only setup program, and tweakability beyond what the 7200BX has.

If you want to try the in-FBL governor and are interested in the Ikon, I say go for it. If you go with a CC Edge ESC they have a rpm output on them now, so all you'll need is an adapter cable to go from servo connector to the type used by the ikon gov input (Servo to JST adapter (ARW-JST) - HeliDirect -- Best Customer Services, Fast Shipping, Great). IF you go with an alternate ESC without RPM output available, then pick up a hobbywoing rpm sensor too (RPM Sensor (RPM-Sensor) - HeliDirect -- Best Customer Services, Fast Shipping, Great Selections and).

My personal preference at this point is for the Ikon. The self-level is an interesting feature, but I never use it. PErhaps when I get to trying some more difficult maneuvers I'll start using it as a recovery/safety, but in general I practice stuff up high and away and bring it in as I get more comfortable with it. So the self-level isn't of a whole lot of use to be so far. I prefer the Ikon because of the built in governor, which is better than using the already pretty good CC ESC built-in governor. Also, with stock/basic settings it feels, to me, more locked in in hover and various types of flight, but the advanced mode offers a great deal of adjustment beyond basic settings, opening up a world of parameters to be able to lock in your model as best as it can be. The 7200BX does have some advanced configuration available if you use the USB connector and a computer, but you have to pay extra for the connector and I don't know if I've ever seen the software you have to use. It's almost an afterthought with the 7200BX, not the case with the Ikon.

As for batteries. I've been using a mix of Pulse and EP Buddy glacier packs lately. I have bought Hobbyking Turnigy packs before and they are pretty good if you take good care of them and don't push them too hard. They are great if you're lying sport and light 3D. I'd stay away from the nanotech turnigy 6S packs. I have one and it suffers badly in the colder weather. The normal turnigy packs, though, hold up pretty well regardless of the weather I've flown in (0 - 100 F). Pulse and glaciers will hold up better to high current demand of moderate to heavy 3D (or really bad, still learning, making mistakes and saving it with lots of collective mild 3D).
 
Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
I don't know much, at all, about the flybarless units. I've been flying my Trex 500 (flybarred) for two years now and I'm just now getting into flybarless (Trex 600e Pro DFC and soon a Trex 450 Pro DFC). I do have the Ikon on my 600 and, although I've not flown the heli yet, I love the setup and I like that I can make super simple adjustments via the programming. I like the "bank selection" option and the self level feature. I think I'm really going to enjoy the Ikon. I have an AR7200bx tucked away for a future project and there will be a 3GX on my 450 Pro. I don't know anything about the 3GX but I am definitely eager and excited to learn about it.

As for the lipo's....although there are many "more experienced" heli pilots here than me, here is my two cents, based on my experience. I run the Turnigy 6S 3000mah 20-30C and Turnigy Nano Tech 6S 3000mah 25-50C lipos on my 500. The Turnigy batteries run about $40 and the Nano Techs are just a few dollars more. I do like the Nano Tech's just a bit more because I can charge them at a higher C rating, and I do that every now and then. The regular Turnigy lipos only get charged at a 1C rating and takes about an hour to charge after a flight and takes about 30-35 minutes to charge from the "storage charge".

I do have another 6S lipo for my 500. I got it when I bought my helicopter and this was before I knew about Hobby King and Hobby Partz. It's an Outrage 6S 3000mah 75C lipo. Cost me $110. Until I get more skilled, I'll not be buying another Outrage battery. The two Turnigy batteries and the two Nano Techs that I have haven't let me down yet.

Good luck with your choices. I think you have a lot of "food for thought." That's something that I really like about this hobby...there are so many choices and so many options.
 
cml001

cml001

Well-Known Member
Yeah, tons of choices... Some don't mesh well with others tho... That's y experience counts... Thanks goodness for this forum... It keeps most mistakes at bay... Thanks for the info guys.. Keep'n come'n!
 
cml001

cml001

Well-Known Member
Got my RCE-B6X in today along with a couple other things I've opted for.. Metal replacements have shipped and should be her in a by next week... I want to start the build.. But I'm trying for patience as I really want this set up "my" way and not have to tear down and rebuild stuff later... I have no patience so this is a test of will power.. So far I'm winning! Couple more weeks and the build shall begin!
 
X

xokia

Active Member
cml001 said:
Ok fellas.... Im gonna start a new build, get'n a bigger bird and grow'n my hanger. Ive talked myself out of a Synergy and am goin with the Align. Due to the expense I think this one will fit my budget(hehehehe) better. I do have issues of preference as well as several unknowns with the fact this is my first "BIG" bird... The servos will stay.. hopefully. Align servos on my 450PRO DFC were crap and I went MKS.. love them, but Im banking on these stock servos to hold up. Im either gonna replace the 520 blades with either the Align 550 or Blade 556 blades. soooo.. . I figured id ask the experts here who have similar helis.... here we go
Click to expand...
The align 520 blades are nice they spin nicely and don't stress things much. I prefer the Align 550 blades but will add more to this later in my reply.

cml001 said:
1) FLYBARLESS UNIT: I have been(and only ever) using the AR7200BX and am very happy with it.. easy to set up and solid on the 450... but.. I have read and read and read about the iKon. I am very interested in it.. the auto level.. well I think that would be awesome. Plus the gov in the fbl unit I hear is better than from the ESC. I would like feedback from experienced users of either.. but particularly that of those with use of both units. pros/cons, qwerks... all the goodies of each.
Click to expand...
It would be a toss up for me between those two controllers. You can't go wrong with the beastx and IMO has one of the best setups. Hands off hover with just the basic setup. The Ikon is also a great FBL controller I think bank select features are overrated and the SL is usable but not very useful for me. Rescue is worthless don't buy it as a rescue controller and you will be fine.

cml001 said:
2) ESC: I have read enough to not want the Talon 90 on a heli. Im gonna stick it back for another plane project I have in mind for the near future(DHC-2 Beaver).. well distant near future.. not a much vibration in a plane so it may be better in it.... anyhow kontronics are stupidly expensive and outta range... so Im thinking CC Edge 100 or the CC Edge 80HV. I do plan on running 6S 5000-5500mAh. so that puts both as possibilities but if I wanted to run 2 6S(12S setup) 3300-3700mAh... the Edge 100 wouldn't work or would be stressed and hot, right?
Click to expand...
If you are on a budget the Talon 90 works fine and you can save some money here. I would only fly the 520 blades with this setup. If you intend to fly hard and want the 550 blades I would either get the CC 130 or CC120HV. The 120 is a little more versatile is how I look at it. I can transfer it to a new heli later and go up to 12S. The 730MX I think would be a beast on 7S and if I ever get a charger that charges that high I may try it. I think the 130 allows you to go to 8S but they are similar priced so the 120 made more sense to me.

cml001 said:
3) BEC or REGULATOR w RX BATTERY: I really don't know why Im submitting this as an issue.. Im all for the Align RCE-6X w Pulse Rx pk to run the flybarless and servos. I cant seem to want to run the CC BEC PRO for some reason.. separate power for the control system seems right to me. However, any ideas on this are more than welcome.
Click to expand...
I used the CC BEC Pro and it has worked great for me.

cml001 said:
ooohh... I hear stories all the time about guys get'n batteries cheap.. 6S lipos for under $75 bucks... where is my ?... all the ones I see are like $120-$200.. kkkk im out...
Click to expand...
If you have the 730MX I wouldn't recommend anything below 60C batteries its power hungry and will consume everything you can throw at it. While the motor may be rated for 115 amps I have peaks much higher then that. The pulse 5500 65C 6S battery is the perfect battery for the 550. The A-spec batteries from hobby-King are decent as well but you will have to move the battery down the tray to get the COG right.
 
cml001

cml001

Well-Known Member
Prish-E-8 it Xokia.. Seems it's taking forever to gather the parts, bells, & whistles... I'll get there.. Thanks for the heads up tho.. Ill keep posting as I go... Oh, what flight time r u getting outta that 5500mah pk?
 
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