Voltage Step Down

[Whirly-Girl]

From the Duralite website:

INSTALLATION

There are two ways this step down can be installed;
a) Connect the step down directly to your tail servo lead. This method will supply 5.3 volts to your tail servo while the rest of your helicopter operates at 6 volts including the gyro.
b) Plug the step down into your receiver and then into your gyro. This method will supply 5.3 volts to your gyro and tail servo while the rest of your helicopter operates at 6 volts.

----------------------------------------------------

So, how are you guys installing this and why?

I'm running a 7.4V TBM Li-Ion battery, regulated by a DL 6.0V regulator and obviously I bought the 5.3V step down to run to my gyro/tail - which btw is a GY401/9254 combo.

Jeanette

[DavidH]

Most are installing the step down between the servo and the gyro. If the step down is installed between the reciever and the gyro with the GY 502, 601, 611. Six volts still gets to the servo thru the aux lead from the gyro. Both leads of the above gyros have power leads that supply voltage to gyro.
The GY 401 you can plug the step down between the receiver and gyro and it will supply .7 less volts to the servo and gyro.

With the GY 502, 601/611, you need to use the step down between the gyro and the servo.
I don't know how the other gyros manage there power. The above is how Futaba manages the power.

David

[Whirly-Girl]

How do you test it to make sure it is dropping the voltage down 7/10?

[WillJames]

Only way I know of to tell is a volt meter, you can use your voltage tester if you have the Duralite one.

[Whirly-Girl]

Yes, I do have the Duralite load voltage test, but it wasn't giving me a readout throught the step down. I tested the regulator (as I do before installing all my regulators b/c my husband once received one DOA). Anyway, the regulator tests fine putting out its 6.0 V. I was just wondering where you guys were hooking up the voltage meter for the reading, i.e. - after the RX, then after it passes through the gyro too? (I was going to run the step down to the gyro.)

Jeanette

[DavidH]

If you use a volt meter that does not put a load on the circuit. The regulator will show more voltage being put out than it is rated. The regulator needs a load on it for it to put out the correct voltage. For example if it is a 6 volt regulator and is checked with a standard volt meter. The output may be 7 volts. Then when a load is applied it show 6 volts. I believe it takes a load of about 250 mah for the regulator to output the set voltage.

The step down regulator is just basically a resistor that steps the voltage down .7 volt from the supplied voltage. I would check the voltage from the step down at the end that the servo will plug into. You would need a male to male connector to being able to check it with female plug that is normally on the volt meter that is used to check the battery.

David

[RTDillon]

The 401 has 3 leads. Putting the regulator on channel 4 (Futaba) will regulate the voltage to the gyro and servo. The gain lead (Yellow) does not have any power conductors. IF you connect the regulator to the output lead of the gyro, you will regulate the voltage to the servo only. :D

[Whirly-Girl]

As for checking to see if it is properly stepping down my voltage, I plugged the step down into my receiver (Rud channel), powered the system and took a voltmeter reading of 5.76V - no load of course. My husband said if I really want to we could make a male to male connector in order to plug my Duralite tester on and put a load on it, but I figure it is doing its job since I got a reading lower than 6.0V.

Time to wrap up some wiring and go fly!

Jeanette