The prop on my eGull spins rather freely when the motor is not being
driven. This seems to be a change from the last motor I had, which produced
noticeable electromagnetic "friction" at all times. While trailering the
Quark home last fall, I noticed the prop would spin up at anything past 20
mph. After I turn on the key switch, I hear a bit of noise from the motor
when I move the prop, but I don't get much resistance. There is no mention
in the Zero manual of a way to lock the motor (like the P position in cars).
Two questions:
does that mean there is a way to allow the prop to spin freely while aloft?
and, what happens out on the field, where the Quark is tied down outside a
good part of the year? Am I putting hours on the prop and motor when the
wind blows hard enough?
I think I need to get more serious about immobilizing my prop. Sorry if
this has been discussed before. What is the best method to immobilize the
prop? How do you keep strain off the spinner? How do I make it obvious /
foolproof?
Thanks!
Martin & the Quark
prop lock?
-
earthstaraircraft
Re: prop lock?
Hi Martin
I tye the prop while trayloring for fear of getting a ticket for a spinning propeller. If it spins freely it is not likely to be a problem for motor or propellor.
If you take a thin rope, tye a loop in one end, lasso the gap in the cowl to spinner, than pull tight down toward tail boom, rap a half hitch around the outer third of the blade and pull down to the tail boom and back up through the half hitch and snugly tie off two more half hitches to hold the tension. It will keep the prop quiet.
Yea it is very important to remember to remove it before flight, you could bring the tail of the rope forward and tie it to your door knob.As a reminder.
Happy Flying,
Mark
Sent from our iPhone
I tye the prop while trayloring for fear of getting a ticket for a spinning propeller. If it spins freely it is not likely to be a problem for motor or propellor.
If you take a thin rope, tye a loop in one end, lasso the gap in the cowl to spinner, than pull tight down toward tail boom, rap a half hitch around the outer third of the blade and pull down to the tail boom and back up through the half hitch and snugly tie off two more half hitches to hold the tension. It will keep the prop quiet.
Yea it is very important to remember to remove it before flight, you could bring the tail of the rope forward and tie it to your door knob.As a reminder.
Happy Flying,
Mark
Sent from our iPhone
-
tgulldave
Re: prop lock?
Martin have you turned the motor off while in flight? I thought it would
charge the battery. If so, wouldn't it be possible to increase the torque
required to exceed prop torque available? I've felt higher torque with
increased load while spinning a generator, but unclear on the concept.
charge the battery. If so, wouldn't it be possible to increase the torque
required to exceed prop torque available? I've felt higher torque with
increased load while spinning a generator, but unclear on the concept.
-
mkoxxy
Re: prop lock?
Dave, no, I have not turned off all power while aloft. What happens on the
motorcycle? Does it just coast? When the controller is not powered, I don't
think it can step in and limit rpm, so hypothetically one could overspin
the prop on steep descents. Not sure when one would ever do this
voluntarily, but it could happen if you need to shut down all power for
some reason.
With power on and motor enabled, the motor would normally regen and not let
the prop spin up too fast, but in Sport mode, I think there is no regen.
However, I would think the controller would intervene before the motor
reaches its max allowable rpm.
Mark, thanks, I'll get some nice braided rope, just thin enough to fit in
the gap before the spinner. I'll send a photo once I have a good setup.
motorcycle? Does it just coast? When the controller is not powered, I don't
think it can step in and limit rpm, so hypothetically one could overspin
the prop on steep descents. Not sure when one would ever do this
voluntarily, but it could happen if you need to shut down all power for
some reason.
With power on and motor enabled, the motor would normally regen and not let
the prop spin up too fast, but in Sport mode, I think there is no regen.
However, I would think the controller would intervene before the motor
reaches its max allowable rpm.
Mark, thanks, I'll get some nice braided rope, just thin enough to fit in
the gap before the spinner. I'll send a photo once I have a good setup.
-
tgulldave
Re: prop lock?
I wasn't being very clear. Let me try again. For now, disregard the fact
that one motor spins easier or harder than another.
*Assumption 1*. regeneration puts a torque load on the prop.* Assumption 2*
a higher (re)generation load requires more torque to generate that amount
of power.
I've sat on a bicycle generator pedaling to make light bulb light. When
another light bulb is switched on i have to pedal harder to light both
bulbs. I'm fairly certain that the added load required more torque.I was
pedaling roughly the same speed.
Let's say that we can develop a circuit that simulates a 1000W load on your
motor (possibly 10-100W light bulbs). Now if we put that circuit on your
motor/prop when it's being towed down the road. If the torque required to
generate 1000W is greater than the torque generated by your prop at Xmph
your prop should not rotate ? Maybe?
I don't know anything about this subject. I suspect that a simulated load
is more complicated than a pure resistance load like10 light bulbs. I'm
just throwing this out there in case you can use it somehow.
that one motor spins easier or harder than another.
*Assumption 1*. regeneration puts a torque load on the prop.* Assumption 2*
a higher (re)generation load requires more torque to generate that amount
of power.
I've sat on a bicycle generator pedaling to make light bulb light. When
another light bulb is switched on i have to pedal harder to light both
bulbs. I'm fairly certain that the added load required more torque.I was
pedaling roughly the same speed.
Let's say that we can develop a circuit that simulates a 1000W load on your
motor (possibly 10-100W light bulbs). Now if we put that circuit on your
motor/prop when it's being towed down the road. If the torque required to
generate 1000W is greater than the torque generated by your prop at Xmph
your prop should not rotate ? Maybe?
I don't know anything about this subject. I suspect that a simulated load
is more complicated than a pure resistance load like10 light bulbs. I'm
just throwing this out there in case you can use it somehow.
-
rahulchoudhary73
Re: prop lock?
isn’t the battery the load in (re)generator mode? Seems it’s just the controller that is disconnected during trailering, it already has a generator mode circuitry that seems dynamic enough to intuitively step in on-the-fly during braking and back to motor mode when we step off the brake. (Bruce Markle knows all about these things)
Myth 1 adult human generates power in the order of 100Ws; as reflected from the bicycle bulb or gym equipment or human powered (flying, boating) machines. The human body can generate ~10KW. So said a veteran SEAL from 1960s. (must be the KWe (electrical) conversion factor which is a function of the type of motorgenerator and magnetic field intensity therein. more than just the current top of the shelf N52 magnet type, the geometrical arrangement of magnets that significantly increase intensities)
2cents, R
Myth 1 adult human generates power in the order of 100Ws; as reflected from the bicycle bulb or gym equipment or human powered (flying, boating) machines. The human body can generate ~10KW. So said a veteran SEAL from 1960s. (must be the KWe (electrical) conversion factor which is a function of the type of motorgenerator and magnetic field intensity therein. more than just the current top of the shelf N52 magnet type, the geometrical arrangement of magnets that significantly increase intensities)
2cents, R