R/C & Gear Installation
Everyone has their own favourite methods and layouts
when fitting the R/C and gear and the installations shown
here, and on the full-colour photosheets, are just a guide,
but have worked perfectly in all of our planes flown by C-
ARF factory staff, and many of our customers.
You have several choices of R/C system. You could keep it
simple, and use Dual receiver batteries and a Powerbox
sensor switch, which includes a regulator and battery-
backer, or you could go for a ‘full-house’ set-up using a
high-quality servo powerbus system for the ultimate in safe-
ty and security. It’s your choice, but the dual Nicad and
powerbus installation does give extra ‘peace of mind’ and
protects your investment, and therefore this is what C-ARF
recommend and have shown here.
The PowerBox power control unit is designed especially for
large models and provides dual battery inputs with hi-amp
connectors, multiple outputs for 6 channels/24 servos (no
‘Y’ leads needed), automatic voltage regulation and stabili-
ty, built-in servo amplifiers for those long servo cables, as
well as dual visual LED battery displays. It comes complete
with hi-current connectors and is fitted with anti-suppres-
sion chokes on all channels. The full ‘PowerBox’ range is
available from C-ARF as an option. Please visit our website
for more details.
Ignition Batteries
Both examples shown here used a 2400 (sub-C sized cells)
ignition Nicad. The 4-cell pack for the DA-100 was secured
inside the front of the motor dome with cable-ties, and the
5-cell pack for the 3W motor was fixed to the underside of
the motor baffle plate to move it as far forward as possible
- for correct Centre of Gravity. Small plywood strips were
glued to the balsa baffle to spread the load of the cable ties
(photo page 28). The battery cables plug into a multiplex
connector that is glued into the bottom of the motor dome,
for ease of removing the cowling. (photo P16)
Make sure that all batteries, and other heavy items, are
very securely fixed in the plane - remember how much they
will effectively weigh when subjected to 4 or 5 G’s!
Receiver Batteries
In the DA-100 powered example we used two 5-cell 2400
Nicads (sub-C size) for the Powerbox, one installed in the
motor dome and the other on the fuselage floor just behind
the rudder servo plate. Both were cable-tied to a 3mm ply-
wood plate, glued in with 30 minute epoxy and reinforced
with small pieces of the 1” wide fibreglass tape.
Composite-ARF Extra 300SX
(2.6m span)
techsupport@composite-arf.com
30
(below) Powerbox, Receiver and
switch location in the Extra 300SX.
(above) The Powerbox can be
screwed to the plate behind the
rudder servos if using a DA-100.
(below) NiCad packs can be fitted
to plywood plates on a thin rubber
sheet, and secured with cable-ties.
