Jason Merkle
Senior Heliman
Location: Champaign, IL
| The stock connector supplied on the JR NEA ESC is what many refer to as the "Tamiya" or "Kyosho" plug. I believe they are made by Molex.
Honestly, they are not very good plugs. They rob power by producing a large loss. Ive even seen these connectors get hot, melt and catch airplanes on fire!
They will work, but I recomend getting rid of them. I suggest using Deans Ultraplugs. The plugs are MUCH higher quality, smaller and lighter, and they exhibit none to very little loss of power. Here's what they look like, and can be found at most RC shops - they are usually found in the RC car sections, but now most airplane guys use them as well:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bi...p?&I=LXKX39&P=7
If you can solder, I HIGHLY recomend them. When soldering them, it takes practice to get it right. Use good solder, like this:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bi...p?&I=LXKX34&P=7
Then, use a "3rd hand" to help position them while you solder. Its simply a base with an alligator clip on either side to help hold things in place. You can find them at Harbor Freight, Home Depot, Radio Shack, hobby shops, etc. Here's a GREAT article on how to use the 3rd hand to help solder Deans connectors in place:
http://www.rccaraction.com/rc/artic..._installnlc.asp
Also shown in the article are the Astro Flight Zero Loss and Sermos connectors. These also work well, but can be harder to find, more expensive (Astro), and more difficult to install.
By the way - you dont need an exotic soldering iron to do the job. BUT, I do suggest staying away from the types that simply plug into the wall with no base. Radio Shack has a great 20/40 watt station for $22:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.a...%5Fid=64%2D2184
Anything with a higher output wattage will work even better (Such as Unger or Weller).
As for batteries, the best packs for the JR Voyager E using the stock motor and ESC are 8 cell packs. The ESC says it can only handle 7 cells, but I and hundreds of others have flown the stock motor and ESC for thousands of flights with NO problems. 8 cells offers a LOT more power over 7 cells and make the heli fly a LOT better. Later on, if you convert to a more powerful and higher quality brushless power system, youll need to use 8 cells for the best performance. Its best to buy the packs now that youll be using in the future.
For the longest flight times, the newer 2600-3300 mah NiMh packs work best. Sanyo, Panasonic and Gold Peak all make good cells. However, you MUST have a charger that is capable of charging NiMH cells! Did you buy a charger yet? If not, that is a VERY important decision to make. Let me know if you havent chosen one and I can make a bumber of suggestions from $50-$250.
I suggest buying your packs here:
http://www.eflightpacks.com
Tony offers TOP NOTCH service. He answers emails quickly and ships promptly. Plus his prices are very competitive.
If you already have a charger, but it can not charge NiMhs, I suggest this pack:
http://www.eflightpacks.com/content...?item=E8-CP2400
If you do have a NiMh compatible charger or will be getting one capable of charging NiMhs (And I HIGHLY suggest you do!), these are the best pre-built packs you can get right now for duration:
http://www.eflightpacks.com/images/...E8-HRSC2600.jpg
or
http://www.eflightpacks.com/images/...-HHR3000SCU.jpg
While you would think the 3000 cells would offer a lot more flight time than the 2600s, its not 100% true. The newer 2600s are actually a more effecient cell that offers the same flight times as 3000s, with a tad more power and at a lower cost. Either will be EXCELLENT though!
Tony can also pre-solder your battery packs with the Deans Ultraplugs for a small fee. That way when they arrive, you can use them after you put a male Deans plug onto your charger and ESC. Or if you decide not to use the Deans plugs, Tony can also install the Tamiya/Kyosho plug for a small fee (just a few dollars).
Hope this wasnt an overload of info, but after owning 4 Voyagers flown with stock motors to brushless, stock to fully upgraded, I like to help others get off on the right foot by helping them get the best equipment they can from the start. For more info on the Voyager E, join our Yahoogroups mailing list. ANYTHING you want to know about the Voyager can be found on the Yahoogroups.com database, or simply post a question to the list. There are a few hundred members on the list, most of which own and fly Voyagers!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JRVoyagerE/
Good luck!
Jason |
