Eagletree on EP550 : Change to Brushless sensor?

[Cralis]

I currently have the optical sensor for my HS on my EagleTree setup. I am soon to be ordering some spares from either ReadyHeli or Flying-Hobby - both of whom (can) stock the brushless sensor.

So, my question is, would it be advisable to swop to the brushless? Or stick with the optical? I heard the brushless is more accurate, but someone mentioned that if you auto, then you lose the HS on the EagleTree.

For me, right now, that's not a major problem - so is it worth the $14.99 change to the brushless sensor?

[Graeme67]

Cralis, I think the optical sensor is the most accurate because it is actually measuring the pulses directly off the main mast gear. It is not telling you what it "should" be from a calculation. The only problem I have had with the optical sensor is it won't read accurately when flying in the sunlight!! Well crazy problem to have I know.... could be solved by fitting night blades and only flying at night:roll:.

But I finally did find a way to get it to read reliably. I mounted the sensor inside the frame looking down onto the main mast gear. I used correction fluid - white out, to paint half the gear white. I then used black tape to block off the holes that let light into the frame around the sensor. This solved the problem for me. I have double checked it against a sky tach & it's spot on.

Cheers
Graeme

[mysticmead]

yep.. the brushless sensor won't show head speed during and auto...it also won't show you if the OWB is starting to slip....seeing the OWB slip in a graph before it becomes a problem to me is more important than seeing the head speed for autos.. but you get both with the optical sensor.. you don't get either with the brushless sensor

[mjdee14]

The brushless is just easier to hook up, but ou have to tell it your gear ration....and I agree....you will never no if you have a slipping OWB.

How do you tell with the optical.....look for a deterioration of headspeed or rapid drop?

[Drew816]

Graeme wrote:
But I finally did find a way to get it to read reliably. I mounted the sensor inside the frame looking down onto the main mast gear. I used correction fluid - white out, to paint half the gear white. I then used black tape to block off the holes that let light into the frame around the sensor. This solved the problem for me. I have double checked it against a sky tach & it's spot on.

I'm sure this would be hard to do, but any chance of posting pics of this setup? I'm having a hard time figuring out what exactly you did from this description BUT it sounds awesome and the way to go!

An EagleTree is on the must have list, no doubt!

Thanks and Happy Flying!

[Wazzer]

Eagle Tree FDR with the power panel is such a useful tool to have

I just love being able to read mAh there is absolutley no easier way to make sure you dont go over th 80% rule

[Wazzer]

Eagle Tree FDR with the power panel is such a useful tool to have

I just love being able to read mAh there is absolutley no easier way to make sure you dont go over the 80% rule

[Cralis]

Ditto.

;)

[papafoster]

Yes an Eagle Tree is a great tool if it worked !!!!, after all this time I have pondered the use of such an item so i bought one with all the sensors so I thought I'll just plug it into the power to get some basic info on the power usage and after the flying was over I will connect the rest of the sensors and get more info. So as I plugged it in to the power PHZZZZSSSSS lots of smoke the logger is toast, so this morning I called the supplier about the problem and she said they will replace it and said that they had a few faulty loggers in the system Here's what it look like after the short

Happy logging :YeaBaby:

[mjdee14]

Eagle Tree FDR with the power panel is such a useful tool to have

I just love being able to read mAh there is absolutley no easier way to make sure you dont go over the 80% rule

"But then again I repeat myself" say wazzer....

The only problem I find is as i fly harder the logger lets me know I have already Busted the 80/20 rule.....

Lipos never seem to start out at 100% and I have started to knock off a minute on each set of packs or else I will easily go to 90%.....but without the logger and panel....I would most likely ruin several hundred $$$ worth of lipos....

[Mikej]

I have a different approach to battery management - I use lipo monitors from Efliernz here on HF (and also on RCG) - cost about $25 and you can set them to whatever voltage you want. What I do is set the level and then periodically check against the levels of the cells when I have finished flying and how much I am putting back into the batteries - this way I can optimise my flight times to ensure that I don't over stress them.

Similar principle to using an Eagletree (which I plan to get soon) - but high visibility LEDs so I can see them as I fly past.

Mike.

[mysticmead]

ahhh... but the only problem with going with a voltage check is.... you can exceed 80% mah and not go low on voltage... also you can go low on voltage when pulling a high load and not exceed 80% mah

of course having something there to check voltage while in flight is a good thing too. hell, it's better than having nothing at all (which is what I have right now)

[Mikej]

ahhh... but the only problem with going with a voltage check is.... you can exceed 80% mah and not go low on voltage... also you can go low on voltage when pulling a high load and not exceed 80% mah

of course having something there to check voltage while in flight is a good thing too. hell, it's better than having nothing at all (which is what I have right now)

You might be right (don't know enough about this to argue :o ) - but there is most definitely a correlation between changing the setting on the lipo monitor and the amount of mAH that I put back in - and don't forget - you don't want to go below 3.3V anyway :fly:fly

[xodarap1]

I don't have a logger. I only use the HRPoly-X's (about $30US after shipping and only weighs 3.9g complete). I've tried other LED voltage warning products and nothing else can compare. The HRPOPOLY-X
http://www.customidea.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=102&osCsid=0q7fkr1edjjbbojkgk23ttrk06
actually has an audible tone that will increase as the voltage drop so you know at the moment you are in the maneuvers what she's pulling without having to fly by close or land to check. I only use it on one pack since it can't do 6s, but it works great and i have them on all my helis. It also has a green/red led on it, but i figure if i'm close enough to see that, i'm just burning juice hovering to check instead of flying around anyway... so i set the beep warning to go off early so i'm never going past 80% on the packs. The audible tone is plenty loud and the unit is easily adjustable to different warning levels in seconds, without tools, cables, software or other stuff.

[Mikej]

I have those on my smaller helis as they are tiny - but they only go up to 4S - how have you managed to work it on 6S or do you just have it on one lipo ? BTW - I have the HotSpot on my 500 as well, it improves the range a lot

[xodarap1]

At one point, I had two of them on (one on each lipo), but the beeping was too loud and both really weren't needed because you can hear it when the heli is way out there, so now i just run one of them on a lipo.