OK BT, time for some show and tell.

[Solitaire]

I'm just going to copy and paste from the other thread. And apologies for the attempted hijack. Lost my mind again.

• Have you checked the temps of the Zippies compared to the Hyperion after flight? The Hyperion should be cooler due to the higher C rating.
  
  
• What's the charging time at 5 amps?
  
  
• Any CG problem with the heavier pack? The 25C Zippies seem to be just the right weight at 20+ grams less.
  

[BTCat]

May 21, 2009 19:08:58 GMT -6 Solitaire said:

I'm just going to copy and paste from the other thread. And apologies for the attempted hijack. Lost my mind again.

• Have you checked the temps of the Zippies compared to the Hyperion after flight? The Hyperion should be cooler due to the higher C rating.
  
  
• What's the charging time at 5 amps?
  
  
• Any CG problem with the heavier pack? The 25C Zippies seem to be just the right weight at 20+ grams less.
  

You know, Sol, I am a plug and play and play and play type. I have been meaning to document some of this stuff but I'm having too much fun. I have a little info and I'll gather some more.

For those just joining us, I have 2 new Zippy Lightmax 2200 mah 25c Lipos and one new Hyperion G3 2200 mah 35c. I have been playing with them for about a week. The Hyperion has an advertised charge rate of 5c and the Zippy's are the standard 1c. I have a 5 amp T6 charger

Sol, the Hyperion is charging in about 25 to 35 minutes on balance (based on my memory ;D). I haven't timed it on rapid recharge. The Zippys are taking about an hour. My charger will shove the full 2.2 amps in the Zippys, but it only shows about 4.5 amps for the Hyperion.

As far as tempuratures, (this is only by touch), both seem to be just a little warm. I will take an infrared next time and shot them after flight and try to record voltages for comparison. I did notice my ESC gets hotter with the Hyperion. I understand this can be because of the more continuouis amp discharge rather than the tapering off normally seen in Lipos. I'll shoot the ESC next time, also.

CG does not seem to be an issue. Both make the EXI nose heavy, but I haven't noticed any control problems besides the problem thumbs on the sticks.

I'll document more after I get finished playing next time.

[Solitaire]

Thanks BT.

Appreciate the info and I didn't mean to sound pushy on this. I knew I could count on an honest evaluation from you.

We kinda stuck our neck out on these Hyperions and I just wanted to gather as much info as I could to offer the members a viable alternative in a power source.

So, play away. Post up what you find when you think of it.
And trust me, I envy your play time.

[lowbudget]

does the t6 have a built in timer - my AC6 does ;D = VIC

[BTCat]

May 21, 2009 21:27:38 GMT -6 Solitaire said:

Thanks BT.

Appreciate the info and I didn't mean to sound pushy on this. I knew I could count on an honest evaluation from you.

We kinda stuck our neck out on these Hyperions and I just wanted to gather as much info as I could to offer the members a viable alternative in a power source.

So, play away. Post up what you find when you think of it.
And trust me, I envy your play time.

Don't mind doing it at all. Pushy? You can't be pushy. You're a Canadian! ;D ;D ;D Just got to get my lazy azz to pay more attention to details. More to come....

Low, the T6 does have a timer. I think it displays and programs just like the AC6. I don't know how accurate it really is, though.

[BTCat]

Okay, I tried to put this in chart or spreadsheet form and couldn't figure out how to post it. So I will just summarize.

I ran all three batteries today - Hyperion, and both Zippys. I flew all three for 6 minutes each. The Hyperion was first, then the Zippys. The starting voltage for all was 12.6. Ending voltage was 11.54 for the Hyperion and one Zippy. 11.59 for the other. Virtually the same.

Ambient temperature outside was 80 Fahrenheit. Temperatures were as follows with the order being Battery/ESC/Motor.
Hyperion 93/110/105;
Zippy 1 105/117/111;
Zippy 2 100/118/108.

Considering I had some cool down time between flights, it does look like the Hyperion was slightly cooler.

I'll check again next time and try to push my times out to the 8 or 9 minute range. Next up: Charging times

[BTCat]

Now for charge times with my 5 amp charger. I charged all three batteries in balance mode and I documented the time to get to around 12.58 volts and the time to full balanced. There is quite a difference. My charger never will push 5 amps. Top seems to be 4.4

Hyperion: Top Rate - 4.4a; Time to 12.58v - 17.5 min; Time to balanced - 28:17; Total mah - 1118

Zippy 1: Top Rate - 2.2a; Time to 12.58v - 27.0 min; Time to balanced - 32.5; Total mah 977

Zippy 2: Top Rate - 2.2a; Time to 12.58v - 30.0 min; Time to balanced - 38.5; Total mah 1109

I'll try rapid charge next time and then straight charge w/o balancing. If a person had a 10a charger, he could fly all day on two Hyperions. In fact, it would allow just enough time for cool down and cycling the batteries between the heli and the charger. Sweeeeet!

[BTCat]

One thing that makes me go My heli does seem to act a little differntly with the Hyperion. Specifically the tail. Not sure if it is anything or simply my cheapo Gyro.

UPDATE 5/23/09: The thing was rock solid today. Ran the Hyperion twice. Not a glitch. No Gyro issue.

[Solitaire]

Some interesting figures BT.
At 35C on the Hyperion, one would expect it to be a bit cooler.

Did you charge them all at the same rate...4.4a? If so, I wonder why the major difference in charge times?

Also interesting the charger will only put out max 4.4a which on the Zippies is exactly 2C.

Quite a difference in mAh back in on LiPo #2 at 977.
1100 would be about right since you ran them down to about half the usable voltage.

Good stuff, BT. I like stats. ;D

Afterthought on the tail issue with the Hyperion...maybe it's the extra weight and trouble with CG. Are you getting some bobbing?

[BTCat]

Sol, I modified my post above. I clarified the charge rate. I charged the Zippys at 1c (2.2a). I have not tried this charger on 12 volts, but I suspect my 4.4 amp limit may have something to to with the power adapter. Still a helluva lot better than the .8 I was using ;D

I double checked CG yesterday. There is not a noticeable difference between the two batteries. In fact, with my canopy on (plastic), the CG is close to perfect with either the Zippy or the Hyperion.

If weather cooperates, I'll gather some more today. You know, you need a real stick jammer to test these properly. Hopefully Doozer with publish his info.

[BTCat]

Today I ran all three batteries again. The two Zippys started at 12.60 volts. The Hyperion started at 12.64. My charger charges the Hyperion a little high for some reason. Ambient temperature outside was 70 Fahrenheit. Temperatures were as follows with the order being Battery/ESC/Motor. I arranged them in the order of use.

I tried for 8 or 9 minutes but overshot it with the first. The Zippy was still going strong after 10 minutes of FF, some side in and some tail in circles. Repeated this with the Hyperion. It was strong at the end, too. Didn’t get the full 10 minutes in on the last one. My 5 year old was with me and her patience was to an end.

Zippy 1 100/99/97; Flight Time 10 minutes; Final voltage 11.29
Hyperion 93/103/95; Flight Time 10 minutes; Final voltage 11.30
Zippy 2 97/106/96 Flight Time About 8 minutes; Final voltage 11.40

Now for charge times with my 5 amp charger. I charged all three batteries in FAST mode this time and I documented the time to full.

Hyperion: Top Rate - 4.4a; Time to Full – 25.5 min; Total mah – 1600? (I forgot to write it down)
Zippy 1: Top Rate - 2.2a; Time to Full – 48.5 min; Total mah – 1615
Zippy 2: Top Rate - 2.2a; Time to Full – 41.0 min; Total mah – 1394


So, the way I see it, if a person wanted to fly all day with the least amount of equipment/batteries, he would have two choices:
1. One 10amp charger and two Hyperions. or 2. Two chargers and three Zippy batteries.

Somebody do the math for me on that one. I'm going to take a nap and get ready to burn through my batteries again this evening ;D

[BTCat]

I flew 12 solid minutes on the Hyperion just to see what it would do. No stick jamming. Not much hovering. Mostly Forward. Fast Forward. Side in and tail in. I checked voltage when I landed and it was 11 volts. So how far do you think I could take this thing?

I checked temp. It was a cool 95 degrees with the ESC at about 105 and the motor about 97.

I'm "Driven Mis' Daisy" here. We need a stick jammer to test these out. But 12 minutes with a little room to spare? Not bad.

I'll press the Zippy and see if it will take me to 12.

[Solitaire]

A nap? All that flying today must have been strenuous. ;D
At least you didn't have to work.

Anyway, on your Math problem...
Doozer has the Hyperion Duo II charger. 10A with dual charging ports. $300 Add two Hyperion Lipos and you're at roughly $400. I'm sure there are cheaper 10A chargers, though.

Two AC6 Thunder chargers $100. Add three 2200mAh 25C Zippies and you're at $160. But 3 wouldn't be enough for non-stop flying at an hour per charge. Four would work with a little extra cooldown time in between.

I sure hope the Hyperions last as long as they say they do.

[Solitaire]

12 minutes is great. You could probably get another 2 mins of flight time and still be around 10.8/3.6 per cell. Not too shabby. Depends on where the fast drop-off point is on those things.

[BTCat]

May 23, 2009 20:23:30 GMT -6 Solitaire said:

12 minutes is great. You could probably get another 2 mins of flight time and still be around 10.8/3.6 per cell. Not too shabby. Depends on where the fast drop-off point is on those things.

While you are slaving tomorrow, I will dillegently search for that drop off ;D ;D ;D

Hmmm. I think I might be near that drop off. I checked the charger after posting this and it reports total charge was 2180 mah on a 2200 battery. Do you think it is near the edge