View Full Version : Cold throttle
When I fly my mini max in the cold I lose most of my throttle range. About the first 3/4 of my throttle on my radio does nothing, only near the end of the throw does anything happen. It's pretty much either full power or nothing. It only does it in the cold, near or below freezing.
I have a hitec focus 3 fm radio, hitec feather receiver, hitec hs-50 servos, great planes c-5 motor control.
I don't think it's my nicads. Could it be the reciever? Maybe the motor? Any ideas?
thx
rcski
12-21-2001, 05:27 PM
Hi Gary. I also doubt if its your nicds. My guess would be its your reciever. The little recievers for park flyers havent got alot of range to them in the first place. Ive flown big planes in the winter and never had problems. I know the new pizo Gyros are sensitive to cold and hot.. If possible I would experiment next time it acts up. If you can get at the reciever easy enough try warming it up quick with your hand, or fingers, than give it another try and see if it improves. Thats my best advice. I know the cold will lessen the run time on battaries but you should notice a gradual lose. not the lose you seem to have. Good Luck
Dave Robelen
12-21-2001, 05:37 PM
Hi Gary,
I am fond of putting my gear in the freezer a piece at a time when somthing like this becomes an issue. Say, put the transmitter in and keep the flight pack at room temp, and then put the flight pack in with the tranny warm. By freezing one item at a time you can isolate the troublemaker.
Regards, Dave Robelen
rcski
12-21-2001, 05:43 PM
Hey Dave your good. I knew if I'd give a reply others would jump in. Thats a pretty good idea. I'll have to remember that. Take care.
Hmm, good ideas indeed, I'll try the freezer. Of course, I would have thought of this eventually...honest. ;)
BrokenChild
01-06-2002, 08:29 AM
Its been a while since I've seen an intelligent person such as yourself. The freezing diffrent things at a time is a really good idea. I havent seen anyone mention it in a LONG time...
broken
Jason Nowell
01-10-2002, 04:19 PM
Gary,
This is probably not your problem, but it might be something to check out just in case. I have a Focus 3 FM also with the throttle on the back of the transmitter. I also use C-5 ESC's which must be armed.
In the past, I have set my transmitter down to plug in my flight battery and accidentally moved the throttle up when i set it down. The C-5 sets it's "off" position based on what the transmitter is telling it when you power up the flight pack. Then when you go to full throttle, it arms the motor and sets the full power setting. If your throttle stick was not in the "off" position when you plugged your flight battery in, it will cause the same result with a C-5 ESC. just something to think about.
I use C-5's in almost all of my park flyers and frequently fly in very cold weather. I have never experienced your problem except for the few times I plugged the aircraft in with my throttle up a little.
Good luck,
Jason
Hmm, that's an interesting possibility too. I think it might still be the cold but you never know. I'll remember this next time I go out. Thanks.
Turns out it's my ESC that is having problems in the cold weather, because when I used another ESC with the same receiver, all was fine. Hmm.