A question on voltage for GY401

[drzoidberg]

Hi,

I am setting up Raptor 50 and have a question regarding the electronics.

I am running 3 x Hitec 6975 for cyclic, Futaba S3151 for throttle and aFutaba GY401/S9254 combo for the tail.
I would like to run a 6 volt RX battery pack but have some issues with recommended voltages. The cyclic servos and the throttle servo should be fine on the 6 volt pack but the 401 and tail servo need to be 4.8v only.

On my T600e I run a similar setup except the gyro is a GY611 which is capable of 6 volts. I then run an align step down voltage regulator from the gyro to the tail servo. This setup works fine.

My question for you is, since the 401 needs to be run at 4.8 volts (or thereabouts) can I simply put an align step down voltage regulator from the Rx to the gyro? Thus running both the gyro and tail servo at the regulated voltage.

[ChasHeliCop]

I thought the 401 was rated for 6 v.

Futaba:

Voltage- use only with a 4.8V battery. (if you use it with a
higher voltage battery it needs to be regulated to 6V)

I just run the step down between the servo and gyro

[forjer]

I've got the one lead of the 401 plugged into a Spektrum VR5203 regulator with the gain plugged into the Rx. This regulates to a constant 5.2V. I would think a step down regulator would do the job too, you just wouldn't have consistent power to your tail. Most pilots would never know the difference.

[BarracudaHockey]

The gyro can take 6v or a 5 cell pack, the servo is whats sensitive and I wouldn't run it more than 5.4 or so (a fully charged 4 cell pack which is what the 4.8v rating really means)

There are some that will tell you 6v is fine but on a high frame rate device like a 401 and the very narrow dead band cranking that servo up to 6v gives you, I personally wouldn't try it.

[DavidH]

I know of more than a few pilots that have used the GY401 with 9253 or 54 servo on unregulated 6 volt (5 cell) nicad or nimh, They have not had a servo or gyro problem.
Personally I don't think you would have problem using the GY401/9254 on an unregulated 5 cell nicad or nimh battery pack.

David

[mikebilyk]

i spent 3.99 and went the safe route.

http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=335488

[drzoidberg]

Thanks guys,

I have opted for the safe route also and purchased step down voltage regulator for the tail servo. I plan to put it inline between the gyro and the tail servo.

Thanks for all you help and advice.

Cheers