Data logging

[Dogpatch]

Ice Ice Baby. What wonderful information to digest. So-- how does one pick a flat line starting point to go GOV mode in normal--suck it up and hit throttle hold Off? I don't exactly comprende the throttle ms. values. But motor output and throttle and rpm demo mode all point toward Sixty couple--? Spin it for a bit and see what it says?
I'm only asking because the batteries are probably only about a month away -just before the second 100 Ice is due, if ever- and most of the snow is gone- and we put a 75 Ice and a Scorpion 1600 on my buddy's 500 and squiggly lines on a graph is all we have for now. We now know we need 50 Ices for the 450's.
And my beautiful wife said" You plugged your thing into the computer? Those squiggly lines are pretty, I like the Kawasaki green one." I said nothing.
I'm just collecting data.

[missle]

Could you simplify your question(s)?

[Dogpatch]

How do you pick a starting point --flat throttle curve- in the radio to use GOV mode on the Ice? Pick a # and spin it up for a minute and then read the RPM that it gave?
Or how does the throttle ms.# equate to a throttle curve number?

[Rob43]

If this is what you're asking, the numbers mean nothing, except that if you notice, Castle says "for values between..." for each flight mode. The head speed is set by the program. The value assigned to each flight mode, say, in my case, stunt 1, for example, at 75%, is only a value which tells the ESC that I am asking it to target the head speed I set for stunt 1 in the Castle program. It won't matter if it's 51%, 65% or 99%. It's sort of a value which works like a switch. The program sees the value set for the flight mode switch, and realizes to target the head speed number (say 2150 rpm, for example) that you set for it in the program. Does this answer your question, or do I also misunderstand what you're asking. On the ICE ESC's...you no longer have to test fly to set head speed values. Just tell the program your main and pinion gearing, (and if you'd like to log the data correctly, the number of poles in your motor) and it will do the rest. Only thing you must do that I don't feel the instructions describe well, is to calibrate the transmitter throttle stick to the ESC, so it knows excactly what is 0 and 100%. See the Finless instructions for that specific procedure. It's pretty good. Find it here: http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=finless/castle&filename=castle85hvpart1.wmv

[Dogpatch]

Rob- thank you. I am right there. (this close) I have all the numbers and speeds and I am not sure how to tell the DX7 to run the thing at X RPM. Headspeed.
Just did the flat throttle lines in N ST1 and 2- and got data. Adjust from there--right?

[Winfred]

Maybe this will help.

[Rob43]

One more comment is you're not telling the Tx what head speed you want, you're instead telling the Castle Link program what headspeed you want. The flat curves you enter into your DX7 are simply the values that tell the ESC what headspeed you want. On my DX7SE, I have a flat curve for each flight mode:

Norm: 25,25,25,25,25
St1: 75,75,75,75,75
ST2: 100,100,100,100,100

When the esc sees the 25% value from the flight mode switch in Norm, it knows what you really want is the headspeed you entered into the first box in Castle Set RPM Gov mode for Norm. Likewise, when it sees 75%, it knows what you really want is the target headspeed value entered into the second box in Castle Set RPM Gov mode, and of course, finally, same goes for 100%. It will target the value you entered into the third box.

Hopefully, that also helps.

[Dogpatch]

Great. I didn't understand that the ESC actually sets the speed and not the TX. It really couldn't be easier. Now--why does the Castle program change the set RPM value by a few digits-- like enter 2150 and after set and read it might say 2154? Maybe just rounding math for the gear ratio?

[barzaun]

Great. I didn't understand that the ESC actually sets the speed and not the TX. It really couldn't be easier. Now--why does the Castle program change the set RPM value by a few digits-- like enter 2150 and after set and read it might say 2154? Maybe just rounding math for the gear ratio?

I believe it's a bit more complicated than that, as number of cells, motor poles and KV have to be considered as well, but , essentially yes, some approximations are done by the software. Don't worry about getting slightly different numbers than what you entered.

[Rob43]

It does work, though...no bout a doubt it. The head speed holds and transitions nicely between flight modes for different speeds. I know I've enjoyed mine.

[Dogpatch]

So-- the flight mode switch actually becomes a head speed selector switch, right? So there really is no longer a need for the Normal Pitch curve to only go negative a degree or two? Pick a speed, throttle hold off and spool up at midstick and have at it? No chance for that sinking feeling going inverted accidentally still in Normal? No landing in Idle 1 and pulling the stick down and getting that awful sucking? No picking up the TX and bumping the left stick and whacking blades by accident? And throttle hold is kind of the Go/No Go switch? This seems like a brilliant concept. I guess it could be done with fixed endpoints as long as the slow spoolup can be controlled-- but I am pretty sure my 450 needs something like this as well. So I have to learn to land and Not pull the stick down- just hit Hold.
Thanks guys. Sometimes I'm a slow learner and sometimes I'm just slow.

[marcosp]

I still have my normal throttle curve down to cero. What's funny is that the Gov stays active up to a quite low point in the curve so when you land and pull the stick down it keeps rpm and then suddenly cuts throttle at a quite big negative pitch. I've started pulling Hold after landing the last couple of weekends for a softer cut.
Marcos

[Rob43]

I think you're getting it. I have identical pitch curves for flight modes so I don't get a change in pitch when I switch to Norm. It makes for a gentle powered landing easy. You can hit throttle hold to land too. WHatever you prefer. I know I like it. A lower head speed in normal simply makes handling close to the ground a touch less exciting and smoother. If you like, though, you can indeed reduce how much negative pitch you get below mid stick to make for less of a chance of a slam down if needed. I like identical curves for setup simplicity. I hate trying to set pitch on the bench and finding the throttle hold setting affecting the pitch.

Best wishes,
Rob