nikko skywatcher

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andy_germany

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hello,

please excuse my writing in englisch. It`s hard for me to read dutch, but the forum is very good and informative, so I try and it goes on.

My question is once more to the nikko heli. I saw in another thread some tuning methods.

I buyed one for my son (<--make believe :-)) for starting in helicopters. No we are very disappointed, because it isn`t possible to lift this vehicle up.
After 30 seconds the power is off.
I checked the accu-loader because I thought there is the problem and send the Heli to Nikko service.
They say its all ok, swapped safetely the akku and loader and told me flying is ok.
The parts are new, but I can`t lift off. The same error appears, 30 seconds and no more power.

I think the loading current (measured about 500 mA) is too small for Power loading. I tried loading by a modelling-friend with 3C (1,05 A) in a special loader and so I could speed up about three minutes.

In this case, the accu was warm like told in Nikko`s handbook, loading with original loader (12V or battery) it is always cold.


My Question to all skywatcher owner: How long can you speed up before the accu breaks down, and have ever lift you lift off?

Can anybody test the loading current for me?

I know it is actually a toy and the next is a hummingbird (I learned this in this forum), but at this time the heli is more groundwatcher than skywatcher.

Can you tell me your experiences?

greetings andy
 
oh,oh, my first posting and in the false forum. sorry
thank you paul for the translator, it helps very well.

one more question: Do you think the DVD video is a marketing trick? I`m wondering because i see the flying contest and the top is 25 seconds. In Nikko-video all looks very easy and long lasting.

Like I told: loading the akku with 3C (1050mA) special loader the rotortime at maxium was about 3 min. I think this would be acceptable.

But the new loader I get from nikko has the same performance than the older one (which I thought it was defect).

I measured the loading current on 12Vplug and there are only 500mA when LED lights and akku is loading, after that it goes down to 150 mA seems to be standby.
When I get the accu out of the box the standby is about 85mA.
The accu isn`t warm like told in the manual.

Could it be a serial-defect of the loaders?

Getting the heli back from service, there was a new Rotor mounted (look original picture and service picture at nikko`s spare part site).
The original is rounded, the new is no round.
The backrotor was modified too.

What is your meaning?

greetings Andy
 
Hi Andy,

The top is 34 sec allready, in the contest.

Yes the batteries are very marginal. The problem is that there isn’t much headroom left for better batteries. Batteries with more capacity are too heavy and flying on Lithium polymers (3 cells) gives a voltage that’s way to high (and 2cells gives a way to low voltage)
You could modify the Skywatcher like my 4 channel Skywatcher (see the treath Jorrit mentioned), but this is gonna cost at least 150€ to get it controllable flying. And even then the flying time is only 1,5 minutes non stop (with 8 cell Nimh)

So what could you do to make the Skywatcher cheap flyable:
1: Add one NiMh cel from the original Nikko battery to the other Original Nikko battery (serial mounted). So you get a new 8 cell 350 NiMh pack. Be sure that the cel voltages are equal before you solder the cell! This wil give you a good powerboost to get the Skywatcher in the air. You can charge the 8 cell battery with the original charger. Just leave the cap off.

2: Loos the weight!, dump all the excessive weight from the Skywatcher. The Skywatcher is way to heavy then the motor is designed for. So, try to lose some weight, there are lots of parts on the Skywatcher than can be removed. Or go even flying without the canopy. (you can make a cheap lightweight canopy from paper ;) )

Couple of tips:
- Don’t adjust too much nick, just al little bit.
- If the Skywatcher want to dive, quickly steer the roll stick
- Start from your hands. This will give the Skywatcher a direction to fly and it already gained some height.
- Charge just before flying. The battery looses his punch if you leave them for a while.

Good luck! Cheers, Michel
 
Hello Satoer,

the godfather ;-) of skywatcher-flying helps me!!
Thank you very much for your tips.

You`re right 150€ is a lot of money for that heli-upgrade, but the other tips are very helpful too.
I`ll test this and give a report to the board.

As I buyed the heli I thought:"oh flying heli is easy and nice and flying in the house is simple.........buuh"
But now to jump over the first step is very hard, but it makes fun and to see that friendly people are around makes it very good. It seems to become my new hobby.

Best regards

andy

Ownership: 1 Ground-Watcher, 1 € in the piggybank for a real microheli.
 
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