Radio/Servo Recommendations - GREAT PLANES Reactor ARF .61-.91 SPORT BIPLANE Instruction Manual

Following are the items illustrated in the instruction
manual for equipping your Reactor .60 biplane with an
electric motor:
POWER SYSTEM
❏
Great Planes ElectriFly
electric motor (GPMG4740)
❏
Great Planes ElectriFly Brushless Motor Mount for large
motors (GPMG1260)
❏
Great Planes ElectriFly Silver Series 60A Brushless ESC
(GPMM1850)
❏
(4) 3mm x 10mm socket-head cap screws (DUBQ3227)
❏
(4) 3mm or #4 fl at washers (DUBQ3307)
❏
(4) 3mm or #4 lock washers (DUBQ3285)
❏
APC 15 x 8E propeller (APCQ4013)
❏
APC 15 x 6E propeller (APCQ1505)
BATTERY
A 3200mAh "6S" (6-cell, 22.2V) 20C LiPo (Lithium Polymer)
battery is recommended. However, 6S batteries are not readily
available, so two 3S (3-cell, 11.1V) batteries connected in
series (via a Y-connector) are required to make one fl ight
pack. This means two batteries will be required for the each
"fl ight pack" desired. Also note the "20C" requirement which
means that the batteries must be able to deliver current at a
rate that is at least 20 times its rated capacity. This enables
the motor to draw enough current to suitably fl y the plane.
The required battery adapter to convert two 3S packs into a 6S
pack is the Great Planes U.S. Deans
❏
Great Planes ElectriFly
battery (GPMP0623)
❏
Great Planes U.S. Deans 2 to 1 Series adapter
(GPMM3143)
❏
Great Planes adhesive-backed Velcro
batteries) is also required (GPMQ4480)
BATTERY CHARGING SETUP
A battery charger suitable for charging LiPo batteries is also
required. The Great Planes PolyCharge4 DC LiPo charger
can charge up to four 3S LiPo batteries simultaneously.
The PolyCharge4 is powered by a 12V source such as an
automobile battery. But if charging from a 110V wall outlet is
preferred, a 110V-powered 12V power supply (for powering
the battery charger) will be required.
™ ™
RimFire .80 (50-55-500kV)
®
2 to 1 Series adapter.
™ 3200mAh 11.1V (3S), 20C LiPo
® (for mounting the
Another critically important component of the motor battery
charging system is a cell balancer. LiPo battery technology is
so powerful that each, individual cell within the battery pack
should be charged equally—or balanced. Otherwise, capacity,
power and the overall battery life will be diminished. (1) Great
Planes ElectriFly Equinox LiPo Cell Balancer for each battery
to be charged simultaneously is recommended.
Finally, propeller selection has a noticeable effect on how the
Reactor performs. During fl ight testing we learned that an
APC 15 x 8E propeller was the best all-around propeller for
performance and sport fl ying, but if fl ying mostly 3D maneuvers
(specifi cally hovering), an APC 15 x 6E is recommended.
Here are the part/order numbers for all of the charging
items suggested:
❏
Great Planes PolyCharge4
(GPMM3015)
❏
Hobbico 12V Power Supply (HCAP0250)
❏
Great Planes ElectriFly Equinox
(GPMM3160)
IMPORTANT: Before experimenting with different battery
combinations and connecting multiple battery packs with
adapter plugs, read the Battery Precautions on page 28.

Radio/Servo Recommendations

SERVO OPTIONS
With the exception of the throttle servo, the rest of the servos
used to fl y the Reactor .60 biplane require a minimum
torque rating of 50 oz.-in. [3.6 kg-cm], although the S3102
micro servos used for the ailerons should not be used for
the elevators or rudder. The cutouts in the fuselage for the
two elevator servos and the one rudder servo are sized for
sub-standard size servos (such as Futaba S9650s, optimum
for light weight and fl ight precision and illustrated in these
instructions). However, standard size servos (such as
S9001s) may also be used simply by enlarging the openings
with the included plywood template.
Because each elevator is operated by a separate servo, a
radio capable of servo mixing or a servo reverser (such as
the Futaba SR-10 Dual Servo Reverser, FUTM4150) will
be required. However, because the elevator servos are
"mirrored" on opposite sides of the fuselage (with the
exception of one servo positioned ahead of the other so they
do not interfere with each other in the narrow fuselage), a
"computer" radio capable of separately adjusting the servo's
endpoints is not required.
The mounting blocks for the four aileron servos fi t almost
any size servo from the S3102 mini servos (also optimum
for light weight and fl ight precision and illustrated in these
instructions) to standard-size servos (such as S9001s for
sport fl ying).
4
™
DC LiPo charger
™
LiPo Cell Balancer