Update 8-12-20
I received 5 of these Metric servos for this original review, and then bought 4 more sets of 5 for other aircraft over time (BLS-2514H, BLS-3015H, and BLS-2512H)......
These servos have proven to be UNRELIABLE, and fail at various stages.
Something inside the servos on the mainboard ends up burning up. Another
noticeable fail is the gear slop they develop and the center-hunting. NOT GOOD....
Another factor with these servos and/or company, is that they totally dissapeared
off the radar... you can't find anyting on Metric Hobby or Ultiplus. FAIL!!!
Truly sad, as I had very high hopes for these....
So tired of Fly-By-Night China companies....
I received 5 of these Metric servos for this original review, and then bought 4 more sets of 5 for other aircraft over time (BLS-2514H, BLS-3015H, and BLS-2512H)......
These servos have proven to be UNRELIABLE, and fail at various stages.
Something inside the servos on the mainboard ends up burning up. Another
noticeable fail is the gear slop they develop and the center-hunting. NOT GOOD....
Another factor with these servos and/or company, is that they totally dissapeared
off the radar... you can't find anyting on Metric Hobby or Ultiplus. FAIL!!!
Truly sad, as I had very high hopes for these....
So tired of Fly-By-Night China companies....
(Reviewing and page building in progress 2-3-17 by Ken Shaffer)
I recieved five (5) of these servos for review earlier this year from BuddyRC, and I've been
putting them through the paces of 60cc aircraft flying.... I would like to thank all of BuddyRC
for presenting me with this opportunity, and hope we can continue growing in all aspects of model
aviation together!
As you can see in the following pictures, the BLS-2514H servos are packaged very well and neatly
in their plastic retail cases. Inside the box, I found a servo, mounting rubber grommets, grommet inserts, mounting
screws and they even come with their own aluminum servo arm that is approximately 1-1/8" long.
They come with a "JR" or "universal" style plug... same layout as "futaba", just without the little tab on the
signal wire side of the plug with the wires in the order of (negative / positive / signal)
putting them through the paces of 60cc aircraft flying.... I would like to thank all of BuddyRC
for presenting me with this opportunity, and hope we can continue growing in all aspects of model
aviation together!
As you can see in the following pictures, the BLS-2514H servos are packaged very well and neatly
in their plastic retail cases. Inside the box, I found a servo, mounting rubber grommets, grommet inserts, mounting
screws and they even come with their own aluminum servo arm that is approximately 1-1/8" long.
They come with a "JR" or "universal" style plug... same layout as "futaba", just without the little tab on the
signal wire side of the plug with the wires in the order of (negative / positive / signal)
A few more pictures of the servo strait out of the package:
These BLS2514H servos feature a robust aluminum top, lower, and side case. The mounting tabs
on the upper case are part of the aluminum upper case as well. (below you will see a scratch test to verify that
in fact, they are aluminum parts)
I decided to take one of the servos apart to see for myself the build quality and to get a look at the
gear train. All gears are metal, and the points where the gear shaft pins enter the body of the servo
have hardened bushings to prevent pin slop in the future. I was surprised to see the intermediate
"gear plate". This makes for a very strong and clean setup.
The final output gear or servo horn shaft has "Futaba" splines and uses Futaba Style servo arms perfectly!
The Servo plug wire lead length from casing to end is 11.5 inches
The following is a picture of the torque / speed specifications from the Ultiplus manual:
Metric Ultiplus Servo Brochure:
metric_ultiplus_servos_.pdf | |
File Size: | 2566 kb |
File Type: |
As of 7-16-2016, I now have 81 flights on my RedwingRC 89" Extra 330 powered by
a GP-61cc engine This is fitted with BLS-2514H servos on ailerons, elevators, and rudder,
for a total of five (5).
I am using a Futaba 10c FASST transmitter with a R617fs seven channel Futaba FASST reciever.
Also in with the electrical system is an RCexl Optokill and GP-61 engine ingition module for the engine.
a GP-61cc engine This is fitted with BLS-2514H servos on ailerons, elevators, and rudder,
for a total of five (5).
I am using a Futaba 10c FASST transmitter with a R617fs seven channel Futaba FASST reciever.
Also in with the electrical system is an RCexl Optokill and GP-61 engine ingition module for the engine.
When I first received the BLS-2514H servos I was planing on running them on 2s (7.2v) lipo
batteries, as the indicated voltage is 3.3v to 7.6v. With that said, I did try experimenting and
setting them up with the 2s lipo and they did some weird, bad things such as overshooting and hunting
badly for center position, along with getting really warm... Also, on the packaging, in defense
of the company, they don't state "High Voltage", so I was kind of wondering if I should even
try in the first place..... Luckilly I didn't "toast" any of these five servos trying this.... and to me,
that means that the electronics in them are for the most part "decently robust"! Lucky me!
After my little failed experiment with the Lipo batteries, I ended up using 2s LiFe battery
packs with these in the airframe. Currently installed since setting the plane up, I have
two (2) 2300 MAH 2s 6.6 volt BuddyRC packs in the plane powering the RX, servos, and ignition
for the GP-61cc engine in the Extra. I have plenty of servo control authority on 6.6v on all my
control surfaces, so that makes me happy.
So far after 81 fights, I am not getting any issues with centering, positioning and/or any noticeable
gear slop. I'm very impressed with these! Not one "hickup" to date.
One of the most positive things about these servos, is that I don't experience the "centering jiggle"
or "rudder quivering" that I seem to always have on some other brands of servos, where I have
to put the fuzzy velcro somewhere on the control surfaces to make it stop, or slow it down.
Another positive thing, to me, is that these servos are not loud, and don't sing or hum like some
other servos I have used in the past. They also do not "jump" when I turn the power on to the system.
On the ground, from new untill now, I notice when transitioning through the gimbal movement on the
transmitter, these servos appear and sound a little bit "steppy" as they go though their travel. This is something
that I haven't seen in other servos I have used, but doesn't effect performance. In flight you don't notice
it and the flying movement of the aircraft is "crisp and clean" with great centering/posistioning. The gear
train, when you power down the plane, doesn't let the surfaces of the aircraft "droop" down. The gears are
very tough and the geartrain is still very tight.
Aileron Control setup on the RedwingRC Extra 330:
(The servo arms are RedwingRC ARF carbon 2" arms that came with the Extra 330 bolted to RedwingRC/6-star
aluminum futaba spline servo wheels. Distance from aileron to control rod height is 1")
(The servo arms are RedwingRC ARF carbon 2" arms that came with the Extra 330 bolted to RedwingRC/6-star
aluminum futaba spline servo wheels. Distance from aileron to control rod height is 1")
7-20-16
After Eighty One flights on this servo, out of my right aileron control, I'm throwing it on my pull test jig
----This is Utilizing a 6.6 volt LiFe 1100mah 5C GForce battery pack (wow, look at the voltage sag at 6+ amps of draw!)
On the following I did four (4), three (3) second pulls:
After Eighty One flights on this servo, out of my right aileron control, I'm throwing it on my pull test jig
----This is Utilizing a 6.6 volt LiFe 1100mah 5C GForce battery pack (wow, look at the voltage sag at 6+ amps of draw!)
On the following I did four (4), three (3) second pulls:
Pull #1
33.98 lbs of pull with a 1 inch servo arm
7.01 Amps stalled @ 5.28 volts.
33.98 lbs of pull with a 1 inch servo arm
7.01 Amps stalled @ 5.28 volts.
Pull #2
33.24 lbs of pull with a 1 inch servo arm
6.82 Amps stalled @ 5.27 volts.
33.24 lbs of pull with a 1 inch servo arm
6.82 Amps stalled @ 5.27 volts.
Pull #3
33.44 lbs of pull with a 1 inch servo arm
6.74 Amps stalled @ 5.26 v
33.44 lbs of pull with a 1 inch servo arm
6.74 Amps stalled @ 5.26 v
Next one is "Ounces" mode on the scale for those people that are curious about oz.
(Pounds multiplied by 16 equals ounces)
(Pounds multiplied by 16 equals ounces)
Pull #4
534.8 oz. of pull with a 1 inch servo arm
6.80 Amps stalled @ 5.28 v
534.8 oz. of pull with a 1 inch servo arm
6.80 Amps stalled @ 5.28 v
Pull #5
(BACK TO POUNDS ON SCALE)
18.40 lbs of pull with a 2 inch servo arm
6.82 Amps stalled @ 5.35 volts.
8-6-16 Update:
I am now up to 94 flights with these servos and all is going pretty well.....
No troubles and all five (5) servos are functioning perfectly....
I am now up to 94 flights with these servos and all is going pretty well.....
No troubles and all five (5) servos are functioning perfectly....
Now, as you have probably noticed from the start date, up until now, I'm not one
for using a product a couple times, and saying it's good or bad... I like to actually use the
product and evaluate it over time, then do the report. Might be slower, but it's honest.
I feel it gives a much more accurate review of an item.
From what I have seen and experienced so far, I would definitely say these are "Pakratt Approved!"....
Believe me, I had a few doubts at first with these servos being that I've never even heard
of this brand before in the past, but they passed my bench testing, and I put these into a brand
new aircraft right from the build.
All the testing and flying of my aircraft that I have done with these BLS2514H Metric servos
has been amazing, trouble-free, and just a pleasure!!!!
I'm happy to say that the results are very astonishing so far, and I'm a happy pilot!
I will do periodic updates though time as these WILL continue to be used.
Side Note:
I have enjoyed using the BLS2514H (25 kg.cm or 347.3 oz/sq.in. @ 6.6v, 0.14s/60*)
servos so much, that in fact, On 7-17-16, I have just ordered another set of Metric servos
for another airframe. They are the BLS3015H (30 kg.cm or 416 oz/sq.in. @ 6.6v, 0.15s/60*) ...
from BuddyRC also, and I hope to be giving a review report on these as well after using/testing for a while....
You all know I can't resist reporting on the "techy" stuff....... (((I am confident these won't let me down either!)))
I have enjoyed using the BLS2514H (25 kg.cm or 347.3 oz/sq.in. @ 6.6v, 0.14s/60*)
servos so much, that in fact, On 7-17-16, I have just ordered another set of Metric servos
for another airframe. They are the BLS3015H (30 kg.cm or 416 oz/sq.in. @ 6.6v, 0.15s/60*) ...
from BuddyRC also, and I hope to be giving a review report on these as well after using/testing for a while....
You all know I can't resist reporting on the "techy" stuff....... (((I am confident these won't let me down either!)))
8-6-16 -- I have 7 flights on the new BLS 3015 servos and they are looking to be just as great as the BLS 2514 servos!