Multiple ESCs and start up - more complex?

[slikrx]

I read someone mentioning this in one of the CP threads, but I think it's big enough to warrant it own thread:

If you use a seperate speed controller for your tail motor, do they BOTH need to be initialized/armed? (ie you turn your throttle to 0% so that it will arm) before it will fly Do you need to do the same for the tail motor ESC?

Oh, and this brings up a second question/concern: I will be using a 2nd ESC for my tail, but where should I put it? If I put it at the back, near the tail boom, it will be close to my Rx & gyro, but if I put it up front, I'll have just that much longer wires. :dontknow

THANKS!!

[smw]

I am running Castle Creations Phoenix 25 for the main motor and Pixie 7P for the the dual tail motors. It is my understanding that you have to arm the Castle Creations ESC's. For me it consists of first arming the main ESC (collective down) then arming the tail (left Rudder). When the tail arms there is a slight movement of the tail rotor. If I let the rudder got to neutral, the tail rotor spins up. Spooling up requires a slant wise movement of the stick to neutral. I also programmed a switch for a Throttle Hold for the Tail ESC. When I was first posting about setting this up, I was told that a throttle hold would "confuse" the gyro. I use it to unplug the battery, otherwise when you set the transmitter down, the tail is still spinning like crazy.

I mounted the receiver and Phoenix 25 forward, the Pixie is strapped to the frame underneath the motor and the Gyro is mounted in the back. I needed stuff forward to offset the twin motor tail. The wiring is a real rat's nest which is secured with zip ties to keep it out of the main gear.

I have only had this setup for a couple of months and there has only been 1 outdoor flight. The rest of the time has been hovering in the garage. I am still learning on Heli's so I am definitly not an expert on them by any means. I went to this setup because I had burned out the brushed motor and had the receiver and speed controls already. I was also tired of adjusting that d*mn 4n1.

Setup:
Futaba 7CHP Transmitter
HDX300 Brushless Motor
Phoenix 25 ESC
Hitex Electron 6 Receiver
Dual Tail Motors (brushed)
Pixie 7P ESC (brushed tail)
Telebee Gyro (Head Lock)

I was going to add pictures but there is no Add Attachment button. Strange. I added a couple of pictures of the Blade in my personal gallery.

[Buzzkill]

I have to arm both my ESC's. I hold the left stick full left until the tail arms.

[Gino CP]

My setup:

Honeybee CP2
DX7 AR6100
Elf Hobby 4200kv
Elf esc
GWS ICS50 J tail esc
Telebee 6g gyro

Stuck the rx on the 4-in-1 shelf. The gyro is stuck behind the rears servos. At the moment the ICS50 J is just taped to the skid for testing. It is so tiny it can be stuck anywhere really.

Both escs must be at its lowest throttle position to arm. So no prblem arming the main esc. For the tail, I programmed a p mix so that I mix rudd with rudd at +75 with offset at -125 on throttle hold. This simply applies full left rudder on throtte hold. So tail esc is at minimum throttle.

To arm the heli, I put the tx on throttle hold. Then plug the battery. Once armed, I flip back to normal mode. Works fine.