The truth (sorta) about the Etek3.

Uziel Gal · 11-26-2009, 11:24 AM

In relation to the first comment about balls flying better out of a PE marker, I'd have to question that. Don't get me wrong, Planet do make great markers, but if you have quality paint, a good barrel and good consistency, and the marker doesn't move around much as you fire, then any marker should be able to fire a ball straight. PE markers tend to have good consistency, and they have good stock barrels, but any marker with the same attributes can be as good.

The fact that the Etek3's manifold now feeds directly in to the rammer housing should mean that air flow is improved a little over the stock Etek and Etek2, which had to feed air through LP hoses and hose barbs. However, the air is still having to pass through the manifold from the solenoid to feed in to the rammer housing, and still has to pass back through the manifold to vent out of the solenoid, so the air flow path isn't as fast as it could be - the Ego9 for instance also has no QEVs, but the solenoid actually feeds the rammer directly (there is no manifold as such) so the air has virtually zero distance to travel either to feed the rammer or to vent afterwards. With the Ego9, there really would be no benefit to QEVs.

While the Etek/Etek2's cycling air flow is perhaps a little lower, with the addition of the Etek STAR frame, you could then add a QEV to one of the rammer housing's ports. This allowed the rammer to cycle faster in one direction (when opening the bolt), as the spent air behind the rammer could vent faster, as it would vent out of the QEV, rather than having to be forced back through the fittings and LP hose to be vented out of the solenoid.

If I am correct that the new manifold allows for better air flow to and from the solenoid, then in comparison to a stock Etek, the Etek3 should be an improvement. In comparison to an Etek with a QEV, you will gain slightly in the rammers forward cycle, but lose in the rearward cycle - I think the QEV equipped marker would most likely come out ahead overall.

Thing is though that the Etek3 - certainly the one that I have tested - was consistently able to fire 20bps, and that was average, not peak. Take in to account that I was shooting Reballs, that generally don't feed as well as normal paintballs, and I'm sure that that could have been higher. That's faster than anyone can genuinely pull a trigger in semi auto, and faster than the old or new PSP rules allow you to shoot in ramping. Couple that with the fact that a slower cycle rate will make for a smoother shot, and you really aren't losing out. You really don't need that extra 2bps or so that the addition of a QEV might bring.

Guy In Digi Camo · 11-26-2009, 08:28 PM

thanks for the info the quote was sort of a joking thing he said Ive had a chance to shoot some Geo's and Ego's and

I'm pretty much sold on it I just can't choose between the woodland digi or the urban digi

something tells me there will be some home mods to try to get a qev effect

shadoflame · 11-30-2009, 08:41 PM

hhhmmmm... where's the Gtek?

Uziel Gal · 12-01-2009, 12:40 AM

There isn't one at this point, and no indication as to whether there will be one. Not a topic that relates directly to the Etek3 anyway.

grizzlyboi5 · 12-26-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uziel Gal

The marker was officially unveiled today, so I would presume that they will start shipping out to stockists soon, if they haven't already. Given time, I would expect that all the major online paintball shops will have them, as well as all the normal Eclipse dealers.

great info mam

Buckfrenzy · 01-01-2010, 05:07 PM

Is the grip frame a similar thickness to an 07 or later Ego, or the 05-06 Ego?

This is pretty much my only concern keeping me from ordering one of these right now...

I had an 07 that I loved, and being that I don't play tournaments anymore, this marker looks like it might be perfect for my current needs....the only thing being that I hated the grip frame on the 06/05 Egos.

Uziel Gal · 01-01-2010, 06:10 PM

It's 2mm wider than the Ego7 frame.

Buckfrenzy · 01-01-2010, 07:41 PM

Awesome. Thanks for putting all this great information up on here for all of us to use.

Quaker · 01-02-2010, 02:04 AM

i am deffinatly getting this gun within the next month or two. it looks sweet. and easy to maintain, well sorta lol. idc its a planet eclipse which i know to be reliable. i just wonder what all i can upgrade to it. i know the cure bolt. and the obviouse feedneck, asa, board, and barrel <and i am getting a new barrel i think its too loud. not enough boring imo. but anything else im not thinking of? i mean the gun is sex for the money but allways good info to keep on hand when thinking of buying a gun.

darkcaptain (Banned) · 01-02-2010, 02:40 AM

the feedneck and asa are best to have on it,only upgrade would be new barrel,cure3 and zick2 kit

shadoflame · 01-02-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker

i am deffinatly getting this gun within the next month or two. it looks sweet. and easy to maintain, well sorta lol. idc its a planet eclipse which i know to be reliable. i just wonder what all i can upgrade to it. i know the cure bolt. and the obviouse feedneck, asa, board, and barrel <and i am getting a new barrel i think its too loud. not enough boring imo. but anything else im not thinking of? i mean the gun is sex for the money but allways good info to keep on hand when thinking of buying a gun.

how about looking foward to playing with it first.
feedneck is already clamping lever type, why up it?. asa is the 09 oops, plus it's on a T-rail, you got the best stock. board? maybe yes if you need more tuning parameters.
for the barrel, you mean porting, not boring.

i added on just the cure3+ bolt on mine. imo, it's needed to shoot brittle tourney paint in winter.

shadoflame · 01-02-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uziel Gal

It's 2mm wider than the Ego7 frame.

i knew it! something felt different..

Quaker · 01-02-2010, 04:51 PM

i wasnt saying i would upgrade all that stuff just throwin it up there. lol. and yea the board is already sick. i would just have to get a new barrel and trigger. i want a flatblade. only downside to getting this gun is that right now its a ***** to get you can only order it around here right now. popular demand i guesss

daredevilj11 · 01-09-2010, 12:21 PM

is the stock barrel even worth upgrading?

darkcaptain (Banned) · 01-09-2010, 01:10 PM

stock barrel is good but its loud,i replaced it with a ul.

<MyBallsHurt> · 03-29-2010, 10:19 PM

so can an etek 3 take a low pressure tank, i have a DXS 68/4500

Uziel Gal · 03-30-2010, 12:48 AM

Operating pressure is approximately 260psi, which gives a 190psi difference between the output pressure of a 450psi LP output tank, and the operating pressure of the marker. That's fractionally lower than I would like - 200psi - but should be fine. The smaller the difference, the more likely you would be to experience shoot down in rapid fire.

Planet recommend the use of HP output tanks with their markers, but as you have an LP output tank already, there is certainly no harm in trying an Etek3 with an LP output tank.

m33turmaker · 04-09-2010, 03:36 PM

great info

I'm Batman · 04-10-2010, 09:59 PM

Wow. Very good info here these days. Seems like the forums are getting better since the last time I was lurking a lot. I'll be heading to my less-than-local shop to trade in a few guns and get a stormtrooper Etek3.

ivJordaniv · 05-14-2010, 09:58 PM

One thing i dont like about my etek is that i have the lt and the stock board desnt go past 15.4 bps

calidrifter · 05-15-2010, 12:17 AM

Its the same board in the AM unless you get the Emortal upgrade.

I'm planning on getting the APE OLED board around the time it comes out.