HobbyZone's 480 brushed motor – how far can it be pushed? Prop tests give some indications.
NOTE: This article has been updated to extend the data by using a ThunderPower Extreme 2200 mah 11.1 volt Lipo with the stock HobbyZone ESC.
The Super Cub RTF ships with a brushed 480 motor that is apparently used in other HobbyZone RTFs. I tested one that came with the Super Cub with three props – the "stock" 10×8 that ships with the Super Cub, a GWS HD 10×8 and a GWS SF 11×8 – these three show a wide range of results. The first chart compares Thrust vs RPM:
The second chart compares Total Watts into the motor (I used a laboratory power supply) vs RPM:
The GWS SF 11×8 is power hungry compared to the others – extending the curves, I would think that it will top out at about 4000 rpm with a thrust of about 600 grams – assuming you have the battery to supply the required power and the ESC can tolerate the power load.
UPDATE: The GWS SF 11×8 with the 2200 Lipo topped out at 658 grams thrust, 151 total watts, 4578 rpm.
The stock 10×8 prop is a good fit for the Super Cub – extending the curves, I would think that the stock setup could top out at about 5000 rpm with the thrust hitting about 600 grams, but taking something like 130 watts to hit these numbers.
UPDATE: The stock 10×8 with the 2200 Lipo topped out at 624 grams thrust, 143 total watts, 5189 rpm.
Finally the GWS HD 10×6 shows a very interesting curve – much flatter than the other two. I suspect this prop could rev pretty high and the limit will be where the 480 tops out.
UPDATE: The GWS HD 10×6 with the 2200 Lipo topped out at 566 grams thrust, 105 total watts, 6569 rpm.
CONCLUSIONS
UPDATE: The Lipo pushed the motor and ESC pretty hard. Pushing 150 watts is about double the 8.4 volt NiMH pack. A thrust of 600 grams is about 21 ounces – this gives a thrust/weight ratio for the Super Cub of 0.84, greatly transforming the Super Cub's performance characteristics, although with higher stress levels.
A number of Super Cub owners are using a Lipo with the stock motor and ESC without problems, but it is clearly way over spec. I think running WOT for an extended period might not be the most prudent thing to do.
The stock 10×8 prop which for the HobbyZone 480 is a good fit (what did you expect?) for the Super Cub's 480 brushed motor, keeping rpms and power usage at tolerable levels for the ESC. Getting this combo to something like 5000 rpm at something like 120-130 watts should result in a significant and noticeable improvement in flying characteristics, although the increased load on the electronics is out of spec.
I personally like the GWS HD 10×6 as an alternative to the stock 10×8; although not as powerful, it's more efficient and lengthens flight times – a nice prop for high-flying photo missions.
The GWS SF 11×8 is much flatter and looks more like a "power" prop. Using the stock ESC and 8.4 volt battery, this prop will deliver about 10% more thrust for 10% more power compared to the stock 10×8 at WOT.
HobbyZone 480 Brushed Motor Prop Curves
HobbyZone's 480 brushed motor – how far can it be pushed? Prop tests give some indications.
NOTE: This article has been updated to extend the data by using a ThunderPower Extreme 2200 mah 11.1 volt Lipo with the stock HobbyZone ESC.
The Super Cub RTF ships with a brushed 480 motor that is apparently used in other HobbyZone RTFs. I tested one that came with the Super Cub with three props – the "stock" 10×8 that ships with the Super Cub, a GWS HD 10×8 and a GWS SF 11×8 – these three show a wide range of results. The first chart compares Thrust vs RPM:
The second chart compares Total Watts into the motor (I used a laboratory power supply) vs RPM:
The GWS SF 11×8 is power hungry compared to the others – extending the curves, I would think that it will top out at about 4000 rpm with a thrust of about 600 grams – assuming you have the battery to supply the required power and the ESC can tolerate the power load.
UPDATE: The GWS SF 11×8 with the 2200 Lipo topped out at 658 grams thrust, 151 total watts, 4578 rpm.
The stock 10×8 prop is a good fit for the Super Cub – extending the curves, I would think that the stock setup could top out at about 5000 rpm with the thrust hitting about 600 grams, but taking something like 130 watts to hit these numbers.
UPDATE: The stock 10×8 with the 2200 Lipo topped out at 624 grams thrust, 143 total watts, 5189 rpm.
Finally the GWS HD 10×6 shows a very interesting curve – much flatter than the other two. I suspect this prop could rev pretty high and the limit will be where the 480 tops out.
UPDATE: The GWS HD 10×6 with the 2200 Lipo topped out at 566 grams thrust, 105 total watts, 6569 rpm.
UPDATE: The Lipo pushed the motor and ESC pretty hard. Pushing 150 watts is about double the 8.4 volt NiMH pack. A thrust of 600 grams is about 21 ounces – this gives a thrust/weight ratio for the Super Cub of 0.84, greatly transforming the Super Cub's performance characteristics, although with higher stress levels.
A number of Super Cub owners are using a Lipo with the stock motor and ESC without problems, but it is clearly way over spec. I think running WOT for an extended period might not be the most prudent thing to do.
The stock 10×8 prop which for the HobbyZone 480 is a good fit (what did you expect?) for the Super Cub's 480 brushed motor, keeping rpms and power usage at tolerable levels for the ESC. Getting this combo to something like 5000 rpm at something like 120-130 watts should result in a significant and noticeable improvement in flying characteristics, although the increased load on the electronics is out of spec.
I personally like the GWS HD 10×6 as an alternative to the stock 10×8; although not as powerful, it's more efficient and lengthens flight times – a nice prop for high-flying photo missions.
The GWS SF 11×8 is much flatter and looks more like a "power" prop. Using the stock ESC and 8.4 volt battery, this prop will deliver about 10% more thrust for 10% more power compared to the stock 10×8 at WOT.