Introduction
Electric flight is exciting and challenging. The choices are much more complex
than with liquid-fueled power plants. Electric motors are far more versatile,
but with this comes a confusing array of choices of propellers, gearboxes,
batteries, etc. The energy-to-weight ratio of batteries is far less than that of
liquid fuels. Careful selection of each component of the power system is vital.
ElectriCalc is the most powerful tool available for electric flight. It allows
you to quickly evaluate your options and provides you assurance of success.
ElectriCalc's main screen provides all the information you need to evaluate the performance of your
system. As you change parameters, all data is automatically updated before your
eyes. You can perform "What if?" scenarios to your heart's content. You will
quickly learn how components interact. ElectriCalc's other screens provide powerful
tools for working with the databases , printing , using graphs as design tools, and analyzing and evaluating large amounts of data.
All databases are in ASCII format that can be edited with any text editor, and
new data can be easily entered, deleted, and edited both in the program and
externally. It is hoped that the open architecture of the databases will
encourage sharing of data. You can get the latest databases, contribute data, or ask
questions at the ElectriCalc web site .
If you're one of those guys who never reads the directions and just pushes
buttons, go ahead. However, we would strongly recommend reading either the manual or the help program (by using the "browse" buttons at the
top of the screen), or using the tutorial.
Enjoy !
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CAREFULLY :
This program is not intended to put a man on the moon or otherwise provide a
near-perfect simulation of any system. There are simply too many variables to
account for. Motor and battery parameters change with temperature and that
temperature is a function of how well it is cooled in the plane as well as the
motor construction. Props often have a pitch significantly different from that
advertised. The list goes on, but hopefully you get the picture. Also, the
numbers in this program do not come with a guarantee. As long as you keep things in
perspective, this program will help you to make good choices on system
components. You'll be picking close to the right prop the first time. However,
please don't use this program to conclude that motor A is better than motor B based
only on a small difference in performance numbers in this program. This
program will not tell you how much current/power a motor can handle or how durable
the motor is. The program does not care if the motor is turning �too fast� in your setup. Likewise with power dissipation. Read the manufacturers specs.
Talk to others. Use common sense.