A little while back I wrote about buying and installing LiPo Batteries as a means of upgrading my R/C plane, the HobbyZone Super Cub. Since then I’ve made a good deal of flights with the batteries and I can say without hesitation that I recommend them to any Super Cub owner with the desire to get into LiPo.
That being said, let’s examine some of the benefits upgrading your battery to LiPo affords the Super Cub owner.
- The batteries keep a full charge for months. When I was rotating between my 7 and 8-cell NimH batteries, I would have to “top them off” just before heading to the field. With the LiPos I simply charge them after flying and put them away until the next opportunity.
- The batteries power the plane MUCH longer. Someone recently asked me on this blog how long my LiPos last and I replied “about 40 minutes”. In all honesty that number is probably inflated as I have never actually timed a flight to be sure. But let me tell you, it sure feels like 40 minutes! I fly at about half throttle with the LiPos installed (which is plenty of juice for me) so your flight times may vary.
- The batteries are lighter than Nimh batts. Weight is everything in the world of R/C aircraft. The higher the mAH rating the longer the battery should last but for your Super cub you don’t need more than 1300 maH. 1500 would probably be fine but I’d prefer to keep the plane lighter with a 1300 rather than pack the extra reserve. Not to mention that a light flying weight is ideal when shooting aerial photography
- LiPos give you more power! Power in these terms is a combination of factors… I don’t nerd out on thrust calculations but with the right LiPo your motor will get fed more juice, and your plane will be lighter; both of which lead to more power. I can climb out at what seems like 60 degrees with the battery upgrade. That’s at least double the angle of climb I can achieve with the 8-cell NimH.
- Your batteries are more future proof. Of course not all planes are one size fits all when it comes to batteries but with a moderate amount of planning, you can ensure that the LiPos for your Super Cub will work in your next plane. I’m slowly accumulating parts for my next plane, an aileron trainer called the GWS E-Starter. Fortunately the 3S 11.1v 1200mAH 20C LiPo that I got for the Super Cub is a perfect fit for the E-Starter. That’s what I call stretching your dollar.
Well after all that, are the benefits worth the cost? I think that can only be answered on a case-by-case basis. Like I said at the start of this post, “I recommend them to any Super Cub owner with the desire to get into LiPo“. If you don’t want to mess with LiPo or you aren’t planning on adding more planes to your collection then you should probably just stick with an 8-cell upgrade. The cost of a new charger and the hassle of switching connectors wouldn’t seem worth it to me in that case.
However, for all you other Super Cub owners that ARE interested in LiPo (and that’s most likely whoever has read this far). Shop smart and you’ll be very happy with your upgrade.
Consider the following, I picked up my batteries on Ebay for about the same price I would pay for a HobbyZone 8-cell NimH. The charger I settled on was however on the pricey side (~$80). I paid a little extra for it because of the safety value… which, to me, was worth the cost.
Bottom line, do a little research and you (and maybe your dog) will be happy your new batteries and the extra zip they give your cub.
25 Comments
Thanks for the writeup Jason!
Missed it yesterday.. I didn’t get my eDVR settled, might not get a response and just crack it open & see.
Cool to see about the E-Starter. I’m also huming and hawing about my next plane. If the Typhoon2 was out, I’d probably get that.. foam is still the way to go as a second I think. >:) As much as I’d like some of the nice balsas.
What lipo charger did you get? Some of the guys in the club have a nice one, but can’t remember what the heck it is.
Still just running 3 of the 7 cell packs.
Was trying to see if I could roll it tonight, wasn’t able. I did fly inverted for a bit twice, but coming out of inverted was scary close to the ground. eheheh
Ciao.
PS: why the E-Starter? Going to look it up.. looks nice & foam.
Hey - just found the lipo charger you are using on yer site. It’s the same one that’s well reputed by some in the club who are heavy lipo users. One of them has two on the go at the field.
Nice unit! And now it does A123 batteries too. Too bad it only does up to 4 cells though. I wondered whether to get at least 5 support for future. Hmmm.
Cheers.
Hey Fishy, glad you enjoyed the article. Keep me up to date on your camera woes, I’m interested in the outcome.
To be honest, I wish the E-Starter didn’t look like it did because I’d like something that looks different from the plane I already have. In spite of that ‘annoyance’, the reason I’m still really high on the E-Starter is because I met a guy at the field who has one and the thing flew amazingly. Not only that but he’s an experienced pilot but says he’ll never be without his E-Starter; it’s his favorite plane.
This plane also gets great reviews by the forum crowds and is heavily ‘mod-able’. Here are some links:
Hey hey,
So, out of impatience I cracked the eDVR open… and low & behold the lens is threaded and spinning freely! Argh!
Easy enough fixed. I got it focused.. however, for what focal length! DOH!
Can you do me a big favor and tell me if it’s in focus just really far away? Or? I’ve got it focused say for 10′ away, but I still come out OK at 1′. What I did to focus is set it up as a web cam so I can see it as I adjust it. Works well.
Once I set it, I’ll have to put a drop of glue or something (nailpolish?) to secure the lens. Dumb Dumb Dumb!
I can’t find the link you gave me (maybe it was on a post, vs. email) where you see the inside shot - if I recall correctly he had a drop of glue or something on the lens to hold it in place.
Hey also, I did look into the E-Starter, yer right it’s a nice unit for a trainer and such! You better hop on buying one though, as it might be discontinued? My LHS had one with motor but can’t get anymore particularly the really cheap no-motor version. I’d buy two! They were like 26$CAN..
I would have got a E-Starter, electronics and a DX7 kit.. but they didn’t have an inexpensive motor, and ESC. Only Eflite stuff, etc. Too much for this little guy.
Talk to you soon!
Hey Fishy, If you end up needing that pic still let me know and I can send it Your 10′ focus sounds about right when I compare it to my camera.
I’ll have to check on the status of the E-Starter, I just check the web page of my LHS and they removed the product!? I hope I can still get my hands on one because I’ve got a motor and ESC sitting here just wating for a home.
You’re looking at a DX7 huh? I’d love to get one but I’ll probably go with the DX6 to save $$…
Once I read your post about converting the SuperCub to 3 cell lipo with the stock motor I raced home and tried it right away. . . WOW . . . (Note: I am a reserved flyer when it comes to the Cub, I love to take it out to relax, my other planes are a SuperFly wing and EPP StreetFighter and a Multiplex Electric Easy Glider)
I flew it at half throttle for 10 min (very windy day) to determine the approx. power consumption and it used 800mah, so twenty minutes on a calm day should not be a problem.
The battery I had at home was a 3 cell 1500mah Absolute Power ( http://www.absoluterc.com/shopexd.asp?id=106 ) and it saved me 6 grams over the 7 cell 1500mah after market NiMh that I was using.
Great idea I will not go back to the NiMh.
PS. YES, there is PLENTY of POWER ! to spare but I do not want to burn out my electronics so I will not be running FULL throttle for any extended period of time, in fact I did not even get past 3/4 throttle this flight
Thanks
Glad to hear you’re happy with the results! It sounds like I probably fly in a similar fashion to you.. slightly over 1/2 throttle.
Flying slowly is nice but it’s great to have the power in reserve :). Every time I bump it up to full throttle part of me cringes expecting some part of the electronics to give out.. so like you I don’t leave it up there very long.
Is this the first major mod you’ve done to your cub? How is your motor holding up? I think I may need a replacement at this point… it seems a bit sluggish.
Hey Jason!
How many flights do you have on your cub to notice the motor’s getting sluggish? I’ve got about 50 flights on mine.
Mind you it’s bound to go quicker I guess with MORE POWER!! woo!!
I’m still running lamo 7cell NiMH ..
BUT - I have converted the beast over to my DX7 stuff!! woo!! Finished balancing her just now for tomorrow morn’s re-maiden.
I got an old ESC from a club member to drop in there.. brushed & non-lipo..
BUT - I am going to order a E-Flite Mini Pulse XT PNP tomorrow morning too I think.
Damn it!
Hey Fishy, wow you’ve been a busy man getting those electronics switched out already! It’s hard to say but I’ve probably got about 75 flights on my Cub already (although that sounds like a lot to me :/).
BTW, I looked into what you were telling me about the E-Starter NPS non-availability and it looks like you’re right… there is a temporary dis-continuation.
But a guy needs to feed his fix right? Well, I purchased an E-Flite Ultimate FX bipe w/400 motor combo today.. Can’t beat the price and the wife voted for a bipe. 
Great choice if you end up getting the Mini Pulse XT!!! That’s a beautiful plane and it flies great too (a regular at my field shows it off a lot). You may know this already but Horizon sells an ARF version for $99 which might be a better deal for you.
Sweeeeet!!
That’s a super nice kit too.. I just had that open looking at it at the LHS. E-Flite puts together such lovely planes and kits! I want that one too.. well definitely a ultimate bipe! The Great Planes one is nice too. You won’t be disappointed at that kit.. It looks good in the box.
Ok, so I have 62 flights on the cub now..
The new spreadspectrum gear worked out very nicely! No more gliching & crap. I flew it full out more, which I’ve typically not done to preserve batt, and avoid the annoying “always climb” biz. Well with the CG tweaked and all that it was nice. I want more of course!
I’m still a bit leary of a balsa plane next as I’m still very much learning.. but hey. I would have also ordered that combo you did too, as I thought it was a steal! But it turns out that it’s “regularish” here too and not a bad price. The place you ordered it from won’t ship to Canada, so I checked one of my sites;
http://www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=EFL2175COM
It’s interesting that’s only 5$ more than the brushed gear box version.. !?!? Hang on, I’m not sure it comes with a motor at all.. odd.
So many planes, so many planes.
I just need to pick some and get busy!
On the list is a nice aileron trainer, a bipe, and some war birds! Then I’ll maybe get some 3D craziness in later.
Did I mention I pulled out my Sophisticated lady from the attic this weekend? Built it like 20yrs ago.. 75mhz frequency, etc. heheh
I’m going to electrify that of course! With modern Spektrum gear and servos, I can probably add a battery and motor and still be damn close to stock weight! hehe. Nice 78″ wingspan on that. Been a while!
Need to order a lipo charger (effectively the new one like yers) and some batteries so I can be ready for the MiniPulseXT.
Take it easy.
Well I’m happy to know that it looks good in the box! I just hope I never have to see how it looks in a plastic bag :/ btw.. that combo I bought IS backordered so I’ll have to wait a bit before I get it.
The resurrection of that big bird of your would be quite a site to see. If you end up pulling it off you’ll have to shoot some video of the re-maiden.
Sounds like your Cub is growing up fast.. Are you planning on eventually doing an aileron or brushless upgrade? I’ll probably keep mine stock for the most part so I can train friends and family on it if they are so inclined.
Hey Jason!
Just ordered the 4A version of your lipo charger & some adapters.
I’ll definitely update you with 78″ glider puppy once I get going on that. I think I’ll order some parts (and batteries) from United for it, and everything else to keep costs down. For the MiniPulseXT I’ll probably buy the first one near by to get going out of impatience.
Though at a third the cost I should try to be patient? 
As tempting as it is to go brushless, lipo, ailerons on the cub, I think I’d also like to focus on a different plane (or two, or three hehe) instead and leave it as it is. I must say though, it is tempting at a minimum to get a new cheap ESC that does brushleD and lipo so I can drop a 1300-1500 mah lipo in it that I’d be getting for the big glider and the E-Flite Ultimate BIPE like yours.
And ditch the NiMH..
What you dropping into yours for lipo? (both planes?)
Take it easy!
Fishysan! Nice work ordering that charger… I’m going back and forth about ordering the DX7 you have. I originally wanted the DX6 (to save money) while meeting my needs but I’m worried I might regret not stepping it up initially.
Yeah I agree with what you said about leaving the Cub mostly stock although I am happy I went LIPO because I don’t have to worry about separate batteries. I have two 20C 1250mah batts for the Cub which I’ll try out in the bipe (if it ever ships). Hopefully I can get away with those and still have a decent flight time. I originally went with that size because I heard it was a good setup for building a light E-Starter. Hopefully one day I can do get to that project as well. I must confess, I’m already a bit jealous of your MiniPulse…
LOL well I officially did order the pulse now! Hopefully I don’t turn it into firewood first go round.
I’m jealous of your bipe order two! It’s on my list. 
You should get it from here in CAN - though you’re dollar’s weak right now.. (good for me and my upcoming FMA orders and United orders! hehe)
http://www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=EFL2175COM
Just dunno about shipping $$. FMA shipped me the charger and interface doodads for like 10$ which was sweeeet.
I think those lipos will go very well in the bipe I think - that’s where I’m also leaning. You’ve got two. Don’t forget you’ll probably get more time in the air than you want in one flight (for something so intense) and you can have the other one charging. You also don’t drain lipos like the NiMH right, so maybe it will take half the time we are used to at 1C? Make sense?
I know $$ is always a concern, but if you are going to get the radio and such, put money there first? Wouldn’t you want the advanced programming of the DX7 over the DX6 or 6ch FASST? There’s a number of small things too that are missing that are a shame, like integrated timer/stopwatch for flights, etc.
I should get a friends “comparison” list between the FASST 6ch and DX7 - he went with the 7 in the end.
Ciao!
I think you’re right about the DX7… I should just step it up and get a radio that I won’t outgrow anytime soon. If you get a hold of your friends list and it seems appropriate I’d be happy to post it as a separate entry.
Redrockethobbies just contacted me and said the bipe combo I ordered has been discontinued.
Part of me is sad but part of me now wants to run down to the LHS and buy something else… I guess we’re in a similar situation now with patience 
D’oh re: combo - that’s too bad!
Can’t you get it somewhere else? It’s in stock on some sites.
Confirmed it is discontinued with my LHS too. But a mailorder place up here has it. Guy at LHS said it’s a nice plane, good for learning, etc. looks great, but it’s not a perfect 3D plane and has some quirks you have to learn when knifing, etc.
I hear ya on the itch! I have to wait another week+ to get my MiniPulse.
Good plan on the DX7.. I think you’ll be happy. I’m a noob but some vets in my club have them and like them.
Ciao!
Still want the bipe?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220125737147
Hmmm That IS tempting.. really only $7 more than I was paying in total from RedRocket. I’m going to try to find it elsewhere first - hopefully some place I can drive to because now I’m really impatient for some reason :/
Thanks for the tip Fishysan, I went ahead and ordered it from that guy on Ebay since it was still only $7 more than what I was originally going to pay. Unfortunately, he got back to me today and told me that he didn’t have any in stock and had to order it but of course he can’t because it’s discontinued.
Well I guess I won’t be getting that plane right away. I’m headed out of town for a week so any purchases will have to wait until I get back. Take it easy.
Ahh that’s too bad!
Well they managed to botch my order of that plane also.. grmm. My account some how got corrupted, yeah. So no idea what the situation is yet. I should find out shortly if it’s still there in my name (was on hold).
Cheers.
What else do you need in order to convert to LiPo in a super cub?
The only thing you need to do is pull the jumper located on the ESC. This jumper sets the power-cutoff to a higher voltage thus protecting the LIPO from over-draining. See pics of the jumper here.
Can you giveme a component list for the change to Lipo? Did you have to change the controller etc? costs? Want to use the super cub as a locator for downed r/c planes
No need to change the controller or any electronics. All you need is to remove the jumper which controls the voltage cutoff. The only cost is going to be your battery and LIPO charger.
I should of got this info before I bought my batteries for my cub. just got them yesturday infact. Now i need a new charger to charge a 14mha battery. Ive only had the cub in the air a little bit. most every time ended in a damaged plane. it is slowly getting better.