I’ve been busy!

I completely overhauled the tutorials. No screen was left untouched. The biggest new addition is a detailed step-by-step example of optimizing a power system. This tutorial is almost as long as all the other tutorials combined, and it doubled the size of the tutorial flash file to 2MB. My goal was to answer every question that might come up during the optimization process. Check it out and let me know what you think.

All the work on the tutorials really helped me step back and think about how the PowerEnergy per unit of time. Common units include the watt and horsepower. System Optimizer is typically used. The result is a brand new feature, the EZ Optimizer, which dramatically simplifies the process of optimizing a power system. There are only two questions to answer: maximum propeller diameter and maximum number of series battery cells. Every other input to the optimizer is completely automated but still fully customizable.

There are several other new features, too many to list all of them here:

• An exciting new feature is the ability to compare two components side-by-side in a single graph. Not sure which of two motors to buy? Compare them on the same graph. The differences can be very dramatic.
• While writing the tutorials, it became obvious that more complex scenarios required an “or” capability between filter conditions. Done.
• You can now have multiple motors within the same power system. This is fully supported by the optimizers.
• To make it easy to work with another website member, I added the ability to load another user’s components (this is easier to do than to explain).
• In the process, I added the account names to the component names (i.e., “Sig Kadet Senior [mike]”). It is now much easier to find a component.
• The database has grown to 6,395 components with 4,112 of those preloaded by me. There are now 1,236 model airplanes and 1,383 motors.

Do you run a website? The calculator is now an easily installable web widget. Grab it and put it on one of your web pages at no charge. If you sell R/C products, I’d be happy to put together a custom component database just for you.

Wanna know more about me and the calculator? Listen to my interview by the guys over at All Things That Fly (http://www.allthingsthatfly.com/). I’ve gotten a lot of compliments on this one.

Help!

It seems like almost every day we get a new website member that emails me something along the lines of “This is great! I wish I had known about it earlier!” If you like the calculator, please help me get the word out. I don’t have a very big advertising budget, so every little bit helps.

Design Contest Update

Just hours after the model airplane design contest announcement, we got our first entry. And it’s a good one! But c’mon folks. With almost 2,000 registered members, I know there are a lot of other great designs out there. You’ve got through the end of October to enter your design. For more information, go to the forum.

To sweeten the pot, I’m adding a bunch of stuff to the prize. The complete list is now:

• Blue Wonder outrunner 1700Kv, 24gr
• Speed control 10amp, 9gr
• LiPo battery pack 500mAh 2S1P, 20C, 34gr
• Micro servos 11 inch-oz, 5gr (2x)
• 1 year subscription to RCadvisor.com
• #1 aluminum Knife Handle with #11 blade
• Excel #11 blades (100x)
• Excel Retractable Utility Knife
• Slow Flyer 8x3.8 propeller
• Extra motor shaft
• Radial motor mount
• Prop saver
• 2mm gold connectors for motor (3x pairs)
• Deans connectors for battery (1 pair)
• Nitrile disposable gloves, large (100x)
• 28 compartment organizer
• Stainless steel shop scissors
• #1 comfort-grip knife handle, 5x #11 blades
• Single edge razor blades (100x)
• Disposable epoxy brushes (36x)
• Free shipping (at least $15 value)

This brings the retail value to over $175. If you prefer cash, you can now hope to score $75. To be honest, I paid more than $75 for the stuff. But if you’d really prefer the cash, that’s fine.

Vote in the contest! All it takes is about a minute of your time. If you have more to say, please feel free to add a comment to the corresponding airplane design thread.