Predator Rigger Motor selection

[Dr. Jet]

I love that plane.
Isn't that a sportsman class plane.??

Tom (Owner/Pilot) is my A&P mechanic and lets me turn wrenches on Phantom (the Bipe).

It's not called Sportsman Class, the photo explains the real class.

[j.m.]

[j.m.]

Got going on the boat...

Her's some pics of my BEUTIFUL home made hardware. (well, not quite. I still need to polish it)

[j.m.]

more pics:

[j.m.]

even more:

[Just for Fun]

J.M. One of the Boaters near here ran a Glow (nitro) rigger with two turn fins several years ago around an M course. He put pivots(hindge joints) on the fins so that the outside fin folded up alowing the rigger to slide abit but, the inside fin folded down and held the boat in the turn. Hope this explains it correctly.

[j.m.]

i was thinking about doing something like this, but i thought the hinges would be too complicated.

Is a graupner 40mm prop too much for a feigao 540 7S on 6 cells?

[Scott T]

I'd start down in the 32 mm range - 432 then 632.

[j.m.]

problem is, I have a 3/16 prop shaft.

The smallest I could find was a X438. Or an x637.

I could chop the graupner 40mm down to 32mm. That wouldn't be a problem.

[j.m.]

I just purchased a 36-60-07L 3500Kv inrunner from hobby city in the hopes that it will be able to push my little rigger along at a descent clip.

Any prop suggestions?

I'm thinking 6 pitch because the Kv isn't that high, but I have no idea as to the diameter I should use. I have a 3/16 prop shaft.

I'm hoping that a graupner K 40mm chopped down to ~35mm?
(don't want to spend $35 on a prop till I find the perfect size.)

[Simon.O.]

I'll jump in here seeing as it is about predator motors.
My rigger is similar in size. I initially set it up to run on a 23t can with a wire to a 431 prop and 6 ni cells. It was a hoot.

I now have a 36-36-4000kv BL Inrunner. it is a cheapo no name motor.
It runs through a 60A speedy that is similar to the super simple ones found on e-bay etc.

As for performance it is a little better than a brushed can but not a massive difference.

I will keep this motor for now and wait for a 540S 8S, 36-50-4400kv as I believe that will make a huge difference.

I am also inclined to give Lipo a whirl........woohoo Simon is moving into the 21st century

Overall my research tells me that rpm in a rigger is king, torque is needed too and a 36mm long can is too short and will not deliver the power.

My guess is that 3500 L will be fine on 2S, 3S should be wild.....let us know.

[j.m.]

I know that 3s would give this hull some INSANE power, but for now, I'm just going to be using "regular" batteries. My faithfull old gp3300's. They have been ejected from my buggies and have slid across all sorts of things too many times to count.

(dang battery holders!)

I'm mostly just hoping that this boat will take kindly to the small amount of chop in the sound side of the ICW where I will be this weekend.

(and i'm hoping that all my parts will make it here on time for me to bring the boat)

[j.m.]

Alright boys.

I've run it.

And it did NOT excite me at all.

I have decided that a 5406L (4000Kv) on 2s lipo will bring the boat up to MUCH higher speeds.

I will also be upping it to a 100 amp speedo.

Does anybody know what prop would work well with this setup?

I am thinking a 1938? Or a 640? Maybe a 940?

[Simon.O.]

I run a 540 6S which is 4400kv I believe.
I run it with a 100A speedy in the rigger as my 60A thermals a lot.
I drive a 431 prop for fun and a 531 for real fun, these are the plastic Octuras.

For power I have a good set of IB 4200 cells and these are unreal with this setup
I also use a well thrashed set of 4000mAh Camelion cells to tame the bugger down when it is choppy on the pond. My old GP33's are for my land based vehicles now.

I have read it before and now know a few things for myself.
Riggers are amp hogs out of the hole.
BL motors can be amp hogs in any case.
BL motors need GOOD cells.
BL motors in riggers with good cells are FUN !!

My 5c worth..............5c NZ is worth about......bugger all US $$ anyway.

[Ub Hauled]

Simon, as a foot note,
the 540/6s has around 6000kv... it varies a bit depending on the brand of the motor...
100amps speedo is a must with these kinda motors, they have no torque and will need
all the amps the batteries and ESC can put out.
Did you post a video of your brushless rigger yet?