Gyro on top=bad

[trireme]

Range checks ok! Any reason you think it wont work well? Lots of other wireless products shorten there antenna lengths with coils, and figure eights, and such. I believe the main worry would be not to twist the wires together, since it would ruin the diversity feature of the specktrum. I was afraid it would get sucked into the main gears, and I have been flying with it coiled for about 6 months, not issues, but I am novice, and only let it get maybe 50 feet away right now.

[kgfly]

My understanding is that the length is fairly critical and by coiling it up you are presenting a shorter effective length, but I could be wrong. I would suggest you send a copy of the photo to Spektrum Support and ask their opinion.

[kgfly]

OK so I asked an RF/microwave expert to take a look at your photo and comment on the coiled antennae and he said:


Yep - Not a good idea....

Main reason is that coiling the antenna wire will detune it. Coiling the wire adds a small amount of inductance but more importantly it creates capacitance between the windings (especially as you go higher in frequency).

The effective length of the antenna is changed and it will also affect the antenna's radiation pattern as well.

The added capacitance and inductance will affect tuning and it will definitely affect 2.4GHz more than lower frequencies as the small capacitance and inductance values have more effect on higher frequencies.

Again, I am not suprised it still works OK at close range and it may work OK for any range you need for a T450, but it may not. Get a friend with a cell phone to help you with a long range test. Place the heli at least 1m off the ground on a non-metalic object (ie not the roof of your car) at one side of a the flying field. Now go for a walk with the Tx to the far side of the field. Use the phone to check with your friend that all the control surfaces are still moving smoothly. If it passes that test at a distance in excess of say 200m then you really should be fine.

[trireme]

Nice idea for a test, I will give it a try.

EDIT: It passed the test fine, at about 2000 ft. But I did get a response from Horizon Hobby as well, and they agreed that is would be a problem.

"Yes it will compromise the range in a big way. The antenna needs to be as far out and straight as possible, not coiled."

Thanks for catching this for me, I guess I have to tape it to the frame!

[n2750w]

Im doing a new build and was wondering, is it ok to mount gyro on front plate under battery?? As opposed to under tail boom in back..

[freeflyn2001]

Is there any specific way to set the gyro same direction as when it is on top or do you have to spin 180 degrees

[trireme]

Is there any specific way to set the gyro same direction as when it is on top or do you have to spin 180 degrees

I am not sure I am getting you. But if the Gyro is upside down, you will need to reverse the gyro.

[freeflyn2001]

I am no expert but from what i have been told the gyro operates best when toward the tail, but will operate where you just said, just not as good

[j bomb]

The gyro should work fine in any location as long as it's mounted on a plane that's square to the mainshaft, many nitro helis have the gyro mounting plate up front. Some gyros have a reversing switch on them, and others have to be flipped over to reverse the direction.

[hornetman]

Hi I'm new here but I mounted my gyro in the nose under the battery and was wondering also if that will cause any problems. I was thinking maybe have to turn the sensitivity down a little because of the longer distance to tail rotor. It's the aircraft mechanic coming out in me. being in the nose it is going to see yawing a little quicker. just looking for some thoughts on this. If I'm thinking right or not.
Mike

[helibalou]

Hi I'm new here but I mounted my gyro in the nose under the battery and was wondering also if that will cause any problems. I was thinking maybe have to turn the sensitivity down a little because of the longer distance to tail rotor. It's the aircraft mechanic coming out in me. being in the nose it is going to see yawing a little quicker. just looking for some thoughts on this. If I'm thinking right or not.
Mike

I have my gyro in the same place and have had no problems..

[TheBum]

The location of the gyro will have no impact on how quickly it detects yawing. The gyro is looking for changes strictly on the rotational axis. The amount of angular change when yawing is the same everywhere on the bird; if this were not the case, it would mean that the heli's frame is bending as it turns.

[rdlohr]

The location of the gyro will have no impact on how quickly it detects yawing. The gyro is looking for changes strictly on the rotational axis. The amount of angular change when yawing is the same everywhere on the bird; if this were not the case, it would mean that the heli's frame is bending as it turns.
As was said, the gyro works equally well anywhere on the heli from a control point of view. The issue is protection for the gyro and electrical interference. If your gyro is in close proximity to the ESC or the motor, electrical noise can interfere with it. Also, when you crash, guess which end of the heli usually takes the hardest hit when in FF, you guessed it, the front.

Hope it works out for you.
Rick

[ignis]

rdlohr, I've just ordered one of these (http://www.readyheli.com/RDLohr_s_SE_Gyro_Mount_p/gyro_mount.htm) from readyheli. the question I know I should have asked before ordering is: will this mount fit t-rex 450se v2?

[rdlohr]

Sorry ignis, the V2 doesn't need a mount because Align caught on to what we wanted and changed the frame and boom block orientation to accommadate a 401 under the boom.

Rick

[jongalt26]

Whats the best method of securing the gyro to the underside of the V2?
Heavy duty sticky tape and a velcro strap was what I was thinking, but would velcro in lieu of the tape be better?
Thanks
J

Set the controls for the heart of the sun.

[TheBum]

Whats the best method of securing the gyro to the underside of the V2?
Heavy duty sticky tape and a velcro strap was what I was thinking, but would velcro in lieu of the tape be better?


For the actual attachment to the platform, you want to use some double-sided foam tape to absorb vibration. The GY401 comes with pieces that are probably 1/8" to 3/16" thick. Regular sticky tape is probably not sufficiently shock-absorbing. For securing it, I use a Velcro strap.

[jongalt26]

Awesome thank Bum!
J

[Finless]

The 3M white double sticky foam tape works great and is actually better than the Futaba foam tape as it doesn't split apart!

Bob

[BarnOwl]

I actually use a piece of industrial Velcro, dampening is just as good as foam and if you want to service the bird it is easy to take the gyro off. even though the Velcro sticks like hell I still use a strap around the gyro for extra security.
Taking off the gyro with strong adhesive foam tape is a lot harder then with the Velcro!

[TheBum]

The 3M white double sticky foam tape works great and is actually better than the Futaba foam tape as it doesn't split apart!

At least Futaba gives you plenty of it, probably for that very reason: I counted three pieces in my box. Once I go through those pieces, I'll probably go with something like the 3M foam tape (I've used it before for other things, so it was the stuff that stuck in my mind, pun somewhat intended).

[ignis]

Sorry ignis, the V2 doesn't need a mount because Align caught on to what we wanted and changed the frame and boom block orientation to accommadate a 401 under the boom.

Rick
oh well, it's not that big of a loss anyway, and I'll still have one just in case ;)

[Pando]

It's too bad that the top is a bad place to mount electrics. The AR7000 fits almost perfectly on top of the boom on a V2.
Guess I'll put it down the bottom now. Have to find a spot for the satellite reciever now.

[crashcorrigan]

Rick, you sent me your mount last week down the road to "Joisey". Sweet little mount. The only problem I have is, you said to not use the sticky tape provided with the Gyro. Bob suggests using 3M double sided sticky but my lhs doesn't carry it. Do they carry it in hardware stores or places like Home Depot or Loews? A little help on this one please. :) Also, I am assuming I will have to reverse the servo, is that correct?

[rdlohr]

Thanks for the nice words. Glad you like it!

You do have to reverse the direction switch on the gyro.

Use the sticky tape that came with the gyro between the mount and the gyro.

Use something less spongy between the mount and the heli.

Most people use Plumbers Goop. Here is the full set of mounting options I recommend:

There are 4 main approaches to mounting the Inverted Gyro Mount:
1) Glue the Inverted Gyro Mount in place. (SA, SE, XL & SuperFrame mounts)
Use Plumbers Goop to secure. Adhere to as many surfaces as possible to give the best grip. Avoid getting goop on the boom since you will want to adjust it periodically.

2) Screw it into the boom block through the bottom of the Inverted Gyro Mount. (SE mount only)
This method requires you to drill one hole through the boom block, and then tap the hole with a 3mm .50 pitch tap. Press the block into place and use it as a template to drill a #40 hole. Only drill through the first layer of metal which is only a few mm thick. Carefully tap the hole with a 3 mm .50 pitch tap. Use loctite on screw when installing. Make it snug but do not over tighten or you could break the bond between the inner block and the top block. You don’t want to strip the hole or damage the Inverted Gyro Mount.
I will drill the countersunk hole in the Inverted Gyro Mount and provide a 3mm stainless steel mounting screw if requested when ordering.

3) Screw into the Inverted Gyro Mount from both sides through the frame. (SE & SuperFrame mounts )
This method requires you drill a hole through your frames on each side. Screws will go through your frames into the small block on the Inverted Gyro Mount. Drill the frames first. Locate the new holes directly between the two existing holes. Use a bit that matches the other holes in the frame.
Press the mount into place, and then use the frame holes to drill smaller holes into the small block on the mount. Use a bit sized appropriately for your screws. Drill very slowly making sure to keep the drill perpendicular to the frame. Drill a separate hole for each side, rather than one hole clear through the block.

4) Stick on the Inverted Gyro Mount with double sided tape. (Mini Titan and all other mounts )
Use a thin 1/16”heavy duty double sided mounting tape like Scotch® Exterior Mounting Tape. Don’t use the 1/8” spongy type that comes with your gyro because it will make the gyro response a bit mushy.

Good Luck!
Rick