RC Helicopter Head Speed Calculator | Estimate Main Rotor RPM

The RC Helicopter Head Speed Calculator is a useful tool used by remote control (RC) helicopter enthusiasts to determine the rotational speed of their main rotor blades. Head speed plays an integral role in helicopter performance and stability; by accurately calculating it, pilots can optimize their settings for optimal performance and handling characteristics.

RC Helicopter Head Speed Calculator – Instantly Estimate Main Rotor RPM

Motor KV Rating (RPM/V) Motor's KV rating (RPM per Volt)

Battery Voltage (V) Fully charged voltage (e.g. 6S LiPo = 25.2V, 12S = 50.4V)

Main Gear Ratio Main gear ratio (main gear teeth ÷ pinion teeth)

Drivetrain Efficiency (%) Typical range: 80–90%

Throttle Percentage (%) Actual throttle used in flight (usually 70–100%)

Example Presets: 700 Class 12S, 1200KV, 10.0 Ratio, 85% Eff, 85% Thr 550 Class 6S, 1600KV, 8.7 Ratio, 85% Eff, 80% Thr 500 Class 6S, 1800KV, 9.5 Ratio, 80% Eff, 90% Thr 450 Class 3S, 3200KV, 11.0 Ratio, 80% Eff, 100% Thr 800 Class 14S, 530KV, 12.0 Ratio, 90% Eff, 75% Thr

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Head Speed (RPM) = (Pinion Teeth x Main Gear Teeth x Battery Voltage x Motor KV) / 7056

Where:

• Pinion Teeth: the number of teeth on the pinion gear
• Main Gear Teeth: the number of teeth on the main gear
• Battery Voltage: the voltage of the battery powering the helicopter
• Motor KV: the KV rating of the motor

To calculate the head speed of an RC helicopter, follow these steps:

1. Determine the number of teeth on the pinion gear and main gear. This information is usually provided by the manufacturer or can be counted manually.
2. Determine the voltage of the battery powering the helicopter. This information is usually printed on the battery or can be measured with a voltmeter.
3. Determine the KV rating of the motor. This information is usually provided by the manufacturer or can be measured with a tachometer.
4. Plug the values into the formula and solve for the head speed in RPM.

Here’s an example calculation using the formula:

Suppose we have an RC helicopter with a pinion gear with 12 teeth and a main gear with 96 teeth. The battery powering the helicopter is 11.1 volts, and the motor has a KV rating of 1000. What is the head speed of the helicopter?

Head Speed (RPM) = (12 x 96 x 11.1 x 1000) / 7056

Head Speed (RPM) = 1906.95 RPM

So the head speed of the helicopter is approximately 1906.95 RPM.

In conclusion, the RC helicopter head speed calculator is an invaluable resource for helicopter enthusiasts to calculate their helicopter’s head speed – an important parameter that affects performance and stability. The formula used to calculate this value relies on the number of teeth on pinion and main gears, battery voltage, and motor KV rating; it can easily be solved using this straightforward equation.

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