HC3SX on Trex450 setup basics (very basic)

[niewoo]

Hello - how exactly does the ESC wire to the HC3SX? The instructions seem contradictory here - does the ESC plug directly into the port labelled "Battery/Servo4" in the manual? This is what I understand from the line in the manual:

a) Battery connection / head 4 (in case no 4th head servo is used).


But then it goes onto say:

d) In case of supply from a BEC controller, route a parallel supply cable (e.g. Y cable) to either battery or programming connection of the FBL system. This connection must not possess a signal line, i.e. the third pole may have to be interrupted.


Which applies to the Trex450 ESC? The cable from the ESC does contain a signal line, i.e. for throttle.

Thanks,
Nick.

[dube1000]

Im not sure about the SX unit but I have the HC3a on my T600. If you are not using a seperate battery for your servos and are running the whole bird off the main battery then your ESC thorttle line ( 3 wire ) plugs in your reciever thorttle channel, no where else or you will have NO thorttle

[niewoo]

OK, I got confused by the drawings. It seems that the throttle can only be provided by the HC3SX when using an S.BUS type receiver? If using something like a Spektrum 6100, the connections are:

Rx to HC3SX inputs:

BATT/BIND: Not connected to HC3SX
Ch1: THRO: Not connected to HC3SX
Ch2: AILE: "aileron" connector on cable loom
Ch3: ELEV: "elevator" connector on cable loom
Ch4: RUDD: "tail" connector on cable loom
Ch5: GEAR: "tail gyro" connector on cable loom
Ch6: AUX2: "c.pitch" connector on cable loom
...: "head gyro" connector on cable loom is not connected

HC3SX output connections to Servos/ESC:

"head servo 1": left airleron servo
"head servo 2": right airleron servo
"head servo 3": elevator servo
"battery/head4": From ESC, through Y connector removing the throttle signal
"tail servo": tail servo

ESC to Rx:
Ch1: THRO: From ESC, through Y connector providing throttle signal only (no power)

Is this correct? Power is now provided to the Rx through the cable loom connectors?

Thanks,
Nick.

[Fairview]

I think your probably right with a receiver, but I think with just spectrum satellites you could run your esc through the gov/throttle output and that would also power the unit. Here is a link with some explanation http://helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=343550.

[niewoo]

I think I'm getting it. I don't use the AR6100 at all, but go and get one (or two) of the DSM2's (http://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=SPM9545) and these plug into the satellite ports on the HCS3X?

Any opinion if one DSM2 will be enough for the Trex450? There's not a lot of mounting space for extra receivers, although under the battery is free right now.

I think this is clearing up a lot of confusion on my end.

[Fairview]

Yes the dsm2 sats will work on the ports on each side of the unit. However, if you only use 1 sat your suppose to put it on the opposite side of the light. It says that I think in the help on the software, but you might want to double check that. As far as the number of sats to use each sat is equal to 1 6100 receiver. On my 450's that is all I have used, but there are some on here that like the extra signal strength and redundancy of two sats. On anything bigger than a 450 you would definitely want two sats.

[niewoo]

Ok, thanks much, this clears up a lot. And I have an excuse to go to the store tomorrow.

Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express

[niewoo]

The satellite made things go much easier. I ended up getting the SPM9645. Went through the programming steps and its now telling me to go out and fly!!! Now only question is if its mounted securely enough ...

[Fairview]

If you have the pro trex450 kde makes a flybarless gyro mount that is longer than the stock gyro mount that works pretty well. When you take it out to fly it for the first time I would be interested in knowing how well it flys. I still haven't completely finished the setup of mine. Too many projects.:arggg:

[niewoo]

Yes, I need to work on the Trex some more. So Blade450 gets to be guinea pig :rotf. I guess easier this way - just use as tail gyro first and disable all stabilization. Ok its dark now, so tomorrow.:thumbup:

[niewoo]

Well, tail is very solid on Blade450. I have gain at 75%. Will need to get setup on flybarless heli now to test out the rest. Right after I try rescue mode.

[Fairview]

I am really interested to see how the rescue mode works. If your tail is really solid on a b450 that is pretty good. I have the b400 and it is hard to get the tail really good.

[niewoo]

If you have the pro trex450 kde makes a flybarless gyro mount that is longer than the stock gyro mount that works pretty well.

No, this is the 450 sport. The KDE mount is specifically for the PRO from what I can tell as the frame around the anti-rotation bracket is different for both helis. I only seem to be able to a Microheli bracket (e.g. http://helidirect.com/microheli-adjustable-lower-gyro-mount-align-cf-frames-t-rex-45-p-1636.hdx) or one from www.rdlorh.com (http://www.rdlorh.com). Not clear either will hold this thing.

[niewoo]

I am really interested to see how the rescue mode works.

Having fun just letting go and having it hover by itself. I have it on goes-to-positive. With the "Horizon" mode enabled (as they call it) it holds the heli locked on horizontal. The tail rotor does push it left, so you do have to provide cyclic input occasionally to keep it in the same place. I haven't tried actually having it recover from inverted.

The only thing I haven't figure out is the relationship between the horizon mode and collective. In the recover-to-positive I think it only ensures to flip the heli non-inverted, but whether you continue to rapidly descend to the ground in case you're applying negative collective in idle-up mode is what I'm going to try next (with enough altitude :YeaBaby:). It certainly is that the collective stick input works un-altered in horizon mode, but I haven't actually tried switching into horizon mode while descending at a decent rate. I believe acro-with-pitch (or escape-to-sky) is the real SAVE ME mode. Of course you have to turn the bird right side up yourself afterwards :wow2: ...

One drawback is that the horizon mode is enabled by the channel typically assigned to gyro (at least on the DX6i). If you know how to reach this in an emergency - good for you.

[Fairview]

That sounds awesome. I think when I get mine done it will really help my flying knowing you have that bailout. I need to get mine done soon.

[niewoo]

It certainly is that goes-to-positive will only flip the bird the right way up. If you want to climb at the same time, you have to manually apply positive collective.

acro-with-pitch, while keeping the bird potentially inverted seems to be the one-button save-me mode.

I have to make some mods to the switch layout on my DX6i so that I can reach the gyro mode more easily as this is where the recovery maps to. Haven't had to use it yet in a real emergency (although came close a couple of times :shock:).

Overall - a more solid gyro than the stock blade-450 one at least. Still working on the gyro mounts for the Trex.

[niewoo]

One thing disconcerting though is an occasional "glitch" on the head servos. I haven't had this when flying - only when carrying so far. I don't know if this has anything to do with the stabilization algorithm, but I'm sure not used to helis moving on their own like this. Its rather quick and accounts for several degress of pitch and goes back to where it started from. I almost dropped the heli the first time it happened.

[Montana]

I noticed this today, too. Did you find out anything more about it?

One thing disconcerting though is an occasional "glitch" on the head servos. I haven't had this when flying - only when carrying so far. I don't know if this has anything to do with the stabilization algorithm, but I'm sure not used to helis moving on their own like this. Its rather quick and accounts for several degress of pitch and goes back to where it started from. I almost dropped the heli the first time it happened.

[Graviteesuks]

One thing disconcerting though is an occasional "glitch" on the head servos. I haven't had this when flying - only when carrying so far. I don't know if this has anything to do with the stabilization algorithm, but I'm sure not used to helis moving on their own like this. Its rather quick and accounts for several degress of pitch and goes back to where it started from. I almost dropped the heli the first time it happened.

It sounds like it was in the self level or rescue mode while carrying it. That would explain the sudden pitch and cyclic movements.

I always plug the battery in to initialize it after it's on the ground where I'm going to take off from and after landing, I always unplug the battery before picking it up. (I am currently using Microbeast but I will be installing an HC3 SX on my new Raptor e720 FBL when it arrives).

Not sure if that is the case in your situation but I think it was the case in a club member's 500 with an HC3 SX gyro. Just a guess that makes at least some sense. :dontknow Just a thought to consider. I haven't asked him for his thoughts on what happened to his when it done it. (He's not a very friendly guy).

[Joachim HC]

I think your probably right with a receiver, but I think with just spectrum satellites you could run your esc through the gov/throttle output and that would also power the unit. Here is a link with some explanation http://helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=343550.

Correct.

[Joachim HC]

One thing disconcerting though is an occasional "glitch" on the head servos. I haven't had this when flying - only when carrying so far. I don't know if this has anything to do with the stabilization algorithm, but I'm sure not used to helis moving on their own like this. Its rather quick and accounts for several degress of pitch and goes back to where it started from. I almost dropped the heli the first time it happened.

Yes, this may be the algorythms, as the heli (if not in flight) does things which are not expected by the electronics. No input signals, but movements. This may result in something you mentioned. But surely you did not have this issue in flight yet, correct?!

Cheers,
Joachim

[Joachim HC]

One more info to complete the power supply questions:
basically you can connect power supply to any of the servo sockets, as well as PC connection socket, and if using sats or S.Bus / sum signal receivers to the 2 sockets left of the PC connector. All these ports are internally connected in regards to + and ground.

If you use the cable loom and standard receiver with an electric heli, of course you need to plug the ESC into the main receiver's port for throttle. In this case, it is ok to power the unit via the cable looms power cables.
If there is an additional BEC available, it is always recommended to plug power directly into the HC for shortest supply ways to the servos.

Hope this helps a bit :-)

Joachim