What does a ESC with govenor do for a E heli?

[Buzzkill]

What does a ESC with govenor do for a E heli? Just curious.My ESC has govenor mode. Do I need it on? Will it help? What does it do exactly?

[Anubis328]

govenor mode takes control of the throttle and makes the ESC maintain the headspeed. I'm using it on my Blade CP and T-Rex. My throttle curves are totally flat on both helis. For example... On my Blade, my throttle curve on normal, Stunt 1 and Stunt 2 are (35, 35, 35, 35, 35). (I'm using a CC Phoenix 25 in the Blade, and a 35 in the T-Rex)

When I power up my heli, my pitch stick's position doesn't matter, and I start with throttle hold off. This tells the ESC where the "On" position is, and I get a beep. Then I turn on the trottle hold and it tells the ESC where the "Off" position is, and I get two beeps. When I turn the throttle hold off again, the head starts spinning at a rate I set in the ESC, and I wait until it reaches a constant speed.

After the head spools, I start flying, and changing the pitch changes the drag on the motor, but my ESC senses this, and works to maintain a constant headspeed. I no longer have a true 'Normal Mode.' My heli is always in 3D.

When I land, I just hit throttle hold again, to shut the motor down, unplug, and that's that.

LONG STORY SHORT... Govenor mode takes the place of a throttle curve.

It works similar to the Heading Hold Gyro, but instead of holding a heading, it's working on your head speed.

[Buzzkill]

Cool thanks, I'm a noob I'll stay away from that for now!

[Anubis328]

I first went to it when flying the T-Rex. I started adding more and more negative pitch, and once I got comfortable with that, I swapped over to Gov. mode. You should make a habit of throwing the throttle hold switch whenever you know you're going in anyway, and I was using it to shut down the Blade since I bought it. (I just swapped over to brushless this month, so using Gov mode is new to that heli for me, but I love it so far.)

A lot of people that complain about it don't really set it up right. From what I've heard, CC speed controllers in gov mode don't handle changes in throttle input well. That means you cannot have a normal mode or any throttle curves. The radio should be set up with one speed, and it should be set the same for all points.

Trust me, once you get to a point when you can fly and land using stunt mode, you won't miss normal.

I was never much of a fan of landing with normal mode anyway, because as headspeed drops, you start giving away the responsiveness of the heli.

[carlo_the_wonder_frog]

You have to have a computer transmitter to do this, the stock unit doesn't let you program Th/Pit curves.

[Anubis328]

Good point Carlo... I didn't even think of that. If you're using CC equipment, it doesn't hurt to have a Castle Link either. It's much easier than running through the radio setup.

Buzzkill... I think I read on your other thread that you're using a Phoenix 10, and a Thunderbird 18 for your Blade... If you're running the Phoenix on the tail, you won't want to use govenor mode at all unless you convert it over to a variable pitch tail. Otherwise, the tail's esc, and the gyro, are going to kill each other. If you do end up with a collective tail, I would think the gyro would be incredible, but you'd be putting way too much money into a Blade.

I don't believe the CC Thunderbirds have any options other than motor direction, Auto LiPo, and maybe brake, so it won't be an option if you're using this on your main motor.

[Buzzkill]

YA,I wish I would have gotten a Pheonix 25 for the main. I'm thinking of getting a compy 300 and switching over my CPP electronics. I'm waiting on Ray to send word of the bird. I believe he is testing the thing out and has a few flights on it. As far as sinking money into the CPP I dont even want to tell youhow much I have into it. Last rough count is about $400 over stock. That being said Its been alot of fun and, I could have easily spent way more than that in a bar or something LOL. Atleast thats what I tell myself :wink:

[Anubis328]

I hear ya. I started with a CP, got a 1350 3 cell, G90 gyro, AR6100 receiver, 370 Brushless, Phoenix 25 ESC, put on the Bell Hiller, and went from a Futaba 6EX to a Spectrum DX7 (which I use for my T-Rex also). Plus I had to get an ARF kit after my first one was destroyed.