Official Freewing 90mm F-4 Phantom II Thread

[Hugh Wiedman]

They other question I have recently thought about is regarding the BEC/UBEC. Will I need to replace the stock 8A that comes with most freewing ESCs? I know I am probably over thinking things. I seem to have gotten my thought process scrambled reading posts, watching videos, and listening/reading all the horror stories with the high voltage packs.

The stock BEC that comes with the ESC will be fine. The only Freewing aircraft I bypassed the stock BEC/UBEC on was the Mig 29 and ended up putting a Castle 20 Amp BEC in, only because I upgraded the elevator servos with ProModelers and installed the Trust Vectoring nozzles which added an additional 4 servos. The Mig flies on HiV batteries as well, which the 2 stock ESC's handled with no reprogramming.

I have to say regarding the HiV batteries, I was skeptical at first but now I use them exclusively in every aircraft I have, from Freewing/Flightline (jets/props), anything from Horizon Hobby/Hangar Nine or FMS as well as all my Extreme Flight 3D planes, and I have not a single horror story to tell. SMC just made some 8S HiV packs that I use in my 8S Eurofighter and it's a lot easier than dealing with 2 4S packs, saves some weight as well. With the SMC HiV packs, not only are they high volt but the chemistry Danny has worked out results in High Life Cycles, much better than your average cell. He prides himself on labeling the actual C of the battery at what it really is, unlike everyone else. You can check out the actual testing and ratings on his batteries and all the others major brands in the RC Group thread done by MCSGUY labeled "Battery Load Test Comparisons" and Danny's thread called "SMC Lipos for Flight" where he will answer any question you have. He also has some of the best customer service I've ever seen. His batteries have the highest actual C and lowest weight at a price that is very competitive. He just came out with the HiV 5900's that are slightly lower in C than the HiV 5300's or 6200's (2 of my favorite packs) but at a weight that is the same as the 5300 (740gr) which give my EDF's almost the same flight time as I get on the 6200's with 75 less gr. In the Mig that takes 2 packs, I'm now using 2 5900's instead of 2 5300's without adding any weight. Sorry to go on about SMC, I'm just completely sold on them. I've only had 1 have the IR of a cell deteriorate yet Danny replaced it even after 1 year!!

I think the most important consideration if you're going to use HiV batteries though is your charger. I have 2 Prodigy 610 Quad chargers that allows me to charge 8 HiV packs at once, however, it only charges to 4.3 volts per cell. I top them off to 4.35 v per cell with my Progressive 4010 Dual "Professional" case charger (and also take that one to field), which is a wonderful piece of equipment but damn expensive. It was given to me by a friend who had 2 given to him, so without this charger, I most likely would not have gotten into HiV batteries and I clearly wouldn't have spent almost $1000 on that charger on my own, so I got lucky. With that machine, you can program your storage level and charging final cell voltage and rate with ease as well as charge up to a 10S.

[rlcamden]

First just plug in a fully charged HiV and count the number of beeps from the ESC to make sure it beeps 6 times. If so, you're good to go. If not, then the ESC believes it is a 7S and the low voltage safeguard will kick in too early (with about 50-60% of battery left). It does this by first pulsing the throttle and eventually will cut off completely (saving your battery but destroying your plane ) I have 2 of the early F-4's, one the ESC gives me 6 beeps (it's good to go), the other did not. Same thing with 2 early F-18's. My old Avanti/Stinger90/F16/A-10/Corsair/Spitfire/B-24/Mig 29 and Eurofighter all worked without re-programming, so it's not 100% either way.

I then had a buddy who really knows electronics reprogram the ESC to get rid of the low voltage cutoff all together . With that one, the ESC does not beep at all when you first plug it in with a fully charged HiV (but beeps 6 times with a battery that is at a maximum of 4.28 v per cell), but you can drain the battery to 0 without the ESC cutting off early. If you have that issue of not getting the correct beeps, let me know and I'll have him give you a rundown on what he did, but I do remember he first got the online manual for the particular Freewing ESC and just followed directions (something I'm not very good at, according to my CO). I'm thinking the newer ESC's all handle the HiV's. The Castle ESC's I have are easily programmed for HiV with their Castle Link and following instructions on their website. My buddy has reprogrammed several Freewing ESC's (as that's all we use now are the HiV batteries) with the exception of a Freewing 8S ESC in his F22, which for some reason it couldn't be done. The 8S ESC in my Eurofighter handled HiV just fine.

I would also recommend before flying, charge up the HiV fully, put it in the jet and do a "simulated" flight on the bench to make sure the cutoff isn't affecting it. Drain it down to 3.7 per cell or lower then you won't have any concerns that it's good to go.

Thanks for the info. I will finally get a chance to bench test it this weekend and will let you know. On all of my new planes, I always reset the ESCs to default through the stick and beep method after I have assembled it. I then go in and set for Lipo, low timing, low cut-off, brake off, and normal start-up for a piece of mind, followed by the throttle calibration. I have received a few that had different settings from the factory. I guess for testing/programming before assembly/shipping. I recently bought the freewing programming card to make it easier, but some of my receivers are mounted in the airframes and not easily accessible.

They other question I have recently thought about is regarding the BEC/UBEC. Will I need to replace the stock 8A that comes with most freewing ESCs? I know I am probably over thinking things. I seem to have gotten my thought process scrambled reading posts, watching videos, and listening/reading all the horror stories with the high voltage packs.

[Elbee]

Odd I typed “have you” and it left off you. I went in twice and edited it to add you and it won’t add. Is the site editing pronouns?

Not on my watch.

Best, LB

[Evan D]

Odd I typed “have you” and it left off you. I went in twice and edited it to add you and it won’t add. Is the site editing pronouns?

[Evan D]

Have you put a wattmeter on it?

[bps]

Thanks I'll look into it. The F4 does come with a 130amp though.

[Evan D]

The new Eurofighter, 90mm uses a 120A reversing one. Works well and mine pulls 117A.

[bps]

I am interested in adding reverse thrust to my F4. We have a small flying field and getting it stopped is questionable. The only thing I can find is the Avian 130 amp esc but it has a 6 volt Bec. The Muti connection board is rated at 5.5 volts is my understanding? Any options out there would be most helpful in my case. Thanks!

[Hugh Wiedman]

Can you use the Freewing program card to get rid of the low voltage cutoff?

I'm not sure about that.

[Coconut]

Can you use the Freewing program card to get rid of the low voltage cutoff?

[Hugh Wiedman]

Can you let me have email address Alphonso? Would love to try these out.

orders@smc-racing.com

I'm now using the 5900's in my 90mm F-4/F16/F18/A-10/Mig-29/Avanti. Love 'em!!!

[locharrow]

Can you let me have email address Alphonso? Would love to try these out.

[Alphonso]

"Danny's new SMC HiV 5900's".......... Be great for the grass take offs....can't get them in the UK ......It's my birthday next year ......anyone ..

Danny can send to UK direct from factory, email him with your choice and required connector. Postage is really cheap but slow. He also gives 15% discount as he isn't importing into USA first.
I ordered 6 packs totalling 400 quid, postage was $70. With the discount, the added cost over his list price was only $9 extra and it included all taxes. They arrived at my door in Kent with no extra duty to pay. Another friend at our club has just done the same.

So yeh, . . . . . Happy birthday

[locharrow]

"Danny's new SMC HiV 5900's".......... Be great for the grass take offs....can't get them in the UK ......It's my birthday next year ......anyone ..

[Hugh Wiedman]

I too just ordered the 5900s. Been flying my 90s on Admiral 6000 pros and my 80s on 5000. I decided to go 5900 due to the similar weight of the 5000s with the added mah of the 6000. This will be my first set of LIHVs. I have read about disabling the LVC and replacing the UBEC for a receiver pack. Is this something I will need to do, or are the LIHVs just plug and go?

First just plug in a fully charged HiV and count the number of beeps from the ESC to make sure it beeps 6 times. If so, you're good to go. If not, then the ESC believes it is a 7S and the low voltage safeguard will kick in too early (with about 50-60% of battery left). It does this by first pulsing the throttle and eventually will cut off completely (saving your battery but destroying your plane ) I have 2 of the early F-4's, one the ESC gives me 6 beeps (it's good to go), the other did not. Same thing with 2 early F-18's. My old Avanti/Stinger90/F16/A-10/Corsair/Spitfire/B-24/Mig 29 and Eurofighter all worked without re-programming, so it's not 100% either way.

I then had a buddy who really knows electronics reprogram the ESC to get rid of the low voltage cutoff all together . With that one, the ESC does not beep at all when you first plug it in with a fully charged HiV (but beeps 6 times with a battery that is at a maximum of 4.28 v per cell), but you can drain the battery to 0 without the ESC cutting off early. If you have that issue of not getting the correct beeps, let me know and I'll have him give you a rundown on what he did, but I do remember he first got the online manual for the particular Freewing ESC and just followed directions (something I'm not very good at, according to my CO). I'm thinking the newer ESC's all handle the HiV's. The Castle ESC's I have are easily programmed for HiV with their Castle Link and following instructions on their website. My buddy has reprogrammed several Freewing ESC's (as that's all we use now are the HiV batteries) with the exception of a Freewing 8S ESC in his F22, which for some reason it couldn't be done. The 8S ESC in my Eurofighter handled HiV just fine.

I would also recommend before flying, charge up the HiV fully, put it in the jet and do a "simulated" flight on the bench to make sure the cutoff isn't affecting it. Drain it down to 3.7 per cell or lower then you won't have any concerns that it's good to go.

[rlcamden]

Been flying both my F-4's on the SMC HiV 6200's weight 814 gr. I have the 12 blade inrunner in all my 90mm's and get over 4 minutes on that battery. Couple days ago I picked up Danny's new SMC HiV 5900's, which weigh only 740gr. Balanced it out with those packs and took her up. Flew outstanding, a bit quicker, shorter off the grass and a "hair" more maneuverable. Timed out at 3:50 with 24% left on the pack, so I think I'm going to use those packs for a while. I also tried them in my F-18 (was using 6200) and my Mig 29 (which I was using the SMC HiV 5300's at 130 gr each-they have a slightly higher C and more punch on take-off than the 5900's). I need to fly everything more on the 5900's but after the first few flights on various EDF's, I think the 5900's are my new go to pack considering the C/Weight/mah.

I too just ordered the 5900s. Been flying my 90s on Admiral 6000 pros and my 80s on 5000. I decided to go 5900 due to the similar weight of the 5000s with the added mah of the 6000. This will be my first set of LIHVs. I have read about disabling the LVC and replacing the UBEC for a receiver pack. Is this something I will need to do, or are the LIHVs just plug and go?

[Hugh Wiedman]

Been flying both my F-4's on the SMC HiV 6200's weight 814 gr. I have the 12 blade inrunner in all my 90mm's and get over 4 minutes on that battery. Couple days ago I picked up Danny's new SMC HiV 5900's, which weigh only 740gr. Balanced it out with those packs and took her up. Flew outstanding, a bit quicker, shorter off the grass and a "hair" more maneuverable. Timed out at 3:50 with 24% left on the pack, so I think I'm going to use those packs for a while. I also tried them in my F-18 (was using 6200) and my Mig 29 (which I was using the SMC HiV 5300's at 130 gr each-they have a slightly higher C and more punch on take-off than the 5900's). I need to fly everything more on the 5900's but after the first few flights on various EDF's, I think the 5900's are my new go to pack considering the C/Weight/mah.

[DCORSAIR]

Got to say…..weather today was warm and black with thunder in the air. About 8 o’clock the wind dropped and as everything was in the car and ready I went out to the park. On the way over a black ominous cloud was drifting in but no rain and no people. Good flight as it got darker as the cloud arrived. Set up for landing, way out and watched it come in. First time the lights have really popped on approach, coming in dirty, nose up….f##k me I thought I was watching the real thing coming in. Just gets better and better.

Yes sir, I remember one time when I had my F-4, I was bringing it in on a nice evening with the sunsetting and got chills when seeing it on final approach, looks awesome on final, here is mine using no gyro either and sorry for the rest of the video, was my sons first time using his phone for a video, lol.

[jetpltrich]

Got to say…..weather today was warm and black with thunder in the air. About 8 o’clock the wind dropped and as everything was in the car and ready I went out to the park. On the way over a black ominous cloud was drifting in but no rain and no people. Good flight as it got darker as the cloud arrived. Set up for landing, way out and watched it come in. First time the lights have really popped on approach, coming in dirty, nose up….f##k me I thought I was watching the real thing coming in. Just gets better and better.

Love the lights! Flown many a time at dusk because it was the calmest time of the day. I won’t fly my EDF’s that don’t have lights at dusk. And yes, when the F-4 settles in on approach it gives me chills. It reminds me of my youth watching them come in on the ship.

Former Jet Pilot
SWA Capt. retired

[locharrow]

Got to say…..weather today was warm and black with thunder in the air. About 8 o’clock the wind dropped and as everything was in the car and ready I went out to the park. On the way over a black ominous cloud was drifting in but no rain and no people. Good flight as it got darker as the cloud arrived. Set up for landing, way out and watched it come in. First time the lights have really popped on approach, coming in dirty, nose up….f##k me I thought I was watching the real thing coming in. Just gets better and better.