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WOT4 EP Battery Sizes


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I’m interested in a WOT4 EP, there are a couple of things I would need to sort out, but the answer to one question may cool my interest.

 

The recommended battery is a 4S 4500mAh - why such a big capacity, is that for longer flight times or is the weight needed to balance it.

 

The reason I ask if that I have some 4S 3300mAh and it would be great if I could use those but buying a set of 4S 4500mAh would be a turn off.

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A 4s 3300 might require some extra lead in the nose. Also, if you fly "with enthusiasm" you might find flight times are limited.  propCalc estimates 6 minutes mixed flying with 15% battery reserve assuming you use the recommended motor drawing a max of 49A on a 12x7 prop. For comparison I get about 5 mins from a 3000mAh battery in a souped up Riot drawing 38A if I throw it around or about 8 minutes just pottering about. 

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I assume you mean an electrified Balsa Wot 4 - the one that can be either glow or electric powered.  I did my own thing with the electric installation and it balances perfectly with a 4S 4AH although in its original state I added a few grams on the tail for around 8 minutes (more than enough for me).  After I remodelled it a couple of months back and made a new fuselage it flies OK with the same packs without tail weight.  I think with a smaller battery you'll need some extra nose-weight - obviously duration will be less, how much less depends on your enthusiasm.  I use 4S 4AH LiPos in other models so it wasn't an issue for me.

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1 hour ago, Nigel Heather said:

Thanks for all the help.  Pretty much as I feared, I’d have to spend £200 on new batteries to fly one so I won’t bother.

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Crikey! How many batteries do you think you'll need?  It'll fly fine on your 4S 3.3AH LiPos just not for quite as long - and you get extra landing practice 🙂   In fact it may even fly better because it could be lighter as you'll be able to add any extra balancing weight further forward so its moment effect will be greater.

 

Mike:  I doubt if there's space for 2 3.3AH LiPos.  It's not that roomy, though my home-made fuselage allows a bit more room compared to the original.

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I have the ARTF Wot 4 electric conversion pack fitted to my Wot 4. I started with  4s 3600 packs and then then moved to 4s 4000 packs. The 4000 packs are quite snug though. Probably best to check the width of the batteries you are going to buy. If you already have 3300 lipos I reckon they would be fine for 5 to 6 minute flights unless you are hoping around on full throttle. 

 

http://www.ripmax.com/Item.aspx?ItemID=A-CF002/ELP

Edited by Richieg66
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11 hours ago, Nigel Heather said:

I’d have to spend £200 on new batteries to fly one

 

Or spend it on a Chargebox and only ever buy one LiPo for any  plane you own from that point onwards. Have as many flights as you want. The only limitation is the size of the Li-ion pack inside the Chargebox, so just make it slightly bigger than you'll ever need.

 

I've found it to be a much better way of going about electric flight and it would mean that you wouldn't get put off like this any more.

 

It's the whole reason why I did it!

 

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3300 mah will be fine . I built a Wot4 for a club mate . He supplied the ESC motor and 3300 mah 4s battery. I modified the fuz so battery hatch was behind the U/C mounting plate and battery slid up and forward into what was the tank bay to obtain a correct CG . Flew perfectly well giving decent flight times with loads of power. Using the throttle as an on / off switch is why many get short flights. 

Too big a battery give a little longer flights but is generally counter productive making the model sluggish or hard to ballance

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4 hours ago, Engine Doctor said:

3300 mah will be fine . I built a Wot4 for a club mate . He supplied the ESC motor and 3300 mah 4s battery. I modified the fuz so battery hatch was behind the U/C mounting plate and battery slid up and forward into what was the tank bay to obtain a correct CG . Flew perfectly well giving decent flight times with loads of power. Using the throttle as an on / off switch is why many get short flights. 

Too big a battery give a little longer flights but is generally counter productive making the model sluggish or hard to balance

 

Absolutely.  My Hobbyking Gloster Gladiator came with a couple of 4S 2200mAH LiPos and the maiden flight was almost 10 minutes because it wouldn't come down, even with the throttle shut (clumsy me had been trimming the throttle rather than the elevator - I wondered why it still climbed a bit even after trimming!).  I needn't have worried, there was still plenty left after I landed.  I had been thinking of flying it with 4AH 4S packs, which will go in easily, but I think the extra weight would spoil its performance.  I'm sure the Wot4 will be fine on 3.3AH 4S LiPos

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 28/06/2024 at 11:53, GrumpyGnome said:

I don't think the OPs issue is having to charge a limited number of LiPos, it's not having any suitable LiPos.... unless I have misunderstood

Yes, exactly this.  I already have four 4S 3300mAh and it would be nice to be able to reuse them.

 

If the answer were "no, they are too light, you need 4500mAh batteries" then I would need to purchase them which is where my estimate of an extra £200 came from.

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