3GX failure survey

[mtymyk]

I picked one up off a freind when the new 550 V2s came out, installed it on my 550 V1, and flew 75 flights with it , my first fbl experience, and never had a single hiccup... now I just picked up a 600pro and will be using the 3GX with a WR Super Bec, not the 2 in 1

[Luxo]

I am using 550E V2 3GX with CC BEC PRO, two sattelite receivers connected directly to 3GX, TM1000 for telemetry hooked up on voltage and battery temp, voltage set to 5.5V, binded in DSM2 11ms with DX8.
No issues at all, flies like a charm. About 30 flights.

[photography_k]

I'm also beginning to think my problem is power /heat related. Both my failures were on 100 degree days. The 450 pro V2 comes with a 2a built in BEC. I will be installing a CC 10a BEC. I haven't read about anyone having similar problems with their 450 pro V2. I've sent a couple emails to Align and am waiting a reply/ suggestion. I will write an update as soon as I have one.

[dct]

Originally Posted by photography_k

I'm also beginning to think my problem is power /heat related. Both my failures were on 100 degree days. The 450 pro V2 comes with a 2a built in BEC. I will be installing a CC 10a BEC. I haven't read about anyone having similar problems with their 450 pro V2. I've sent a couple emails to Align and am waiting a reply/ suggestion. I will write an update as soon as I have one.

Question , did you update to V1.1 ? And did you take the time to setup failsafe on your 3gx??

[photography_k]

My 3GX was on V1.1 but I did not change any failsafe settings. What are the benefits of the failsafe feature?

[dct]

Originally Posted by photography_k

My 3GX was on V1.1 but I did not change any failsafe settings. What are the benefits of the failsafe feature?

Well there are more then one type of fail safe to choose from..
But the one I'm running,,, will keep my setting!!!!!!! And the motor will stop...!
There is one that will keep your setting and what ever you set your motor to run at...!!
Seems like a good idea not to have your setting change....! I don't know about the motor not running... ??

[jamesb72]

In the 550 3GX instructions it says for hold last position (except throttle which goes to bind position) unplug bind plug after binding (with power still on), and 3GX will initialise. To set all failsafe positions leave bind plug in and wait for sat lights to go solid.

I guess this only works on v1.1 software as I think it was one of the things they added.



I need to double check this works on mine, as I unplugged bind plug, but I'm pretty sure the sat lights were on solid (certainly didn't do it within 5 seconds) but the 3gx didn't initialise until after I pulled the bind plug, so a bit contradictory, also don't forget to use a high enough throttle to avoid soft start (if your ESC resets soft start on zero throttle like Castles) - nice thing about DX8 is you can bind with throttle hold up which I have set above the soft start point.

I guess if your doing the failsafe positions, you need to set zero pitch and no cyclic too ??

[dct]

I really don't think I want my motor running?? So,, I have 0 throttle on mine.. I'm thinking about the motor going to full speed sitting on a bench very bad!!!

[jamesb72]

Problem with zero throttle will be if you hvae a radio hold in flight, and 3GX goes to failsafe, and radio link recovers a second later, if soft start cuts in you may still crash if your not quick enough/good enough to auto - if your above the soft start point motor will still stop in failsafe, but if you get radio link back the esc will spool up quickly so you can catch it.

I guess if your an expert it isn't an issue as you could auto from any situation with zero notice, but I'm not

[Inverse]

Originally Posted by HeliSat

I think we need to use some common sense here and a professional approach to problem solve this issue. I find it difficult to take any of these trolls seriously when they spend more time complaining than problem solving.

So because someone's new whizz-bang FBL unit decided to do a hard reset, lose all it's settings and deposit their expensive new heli upside down in the dirt, this makes them a complaining troll?

[jamesb72]

It probably does if they are just bragging about vbar/beastx units which are fitted to all their heli's in .sig and have just come onto 3gx forum to troll

[dct]

Originally Posted by jamesb72

Problem with zero throttle will be if you hvae a radio hold in flight, and 3GX goes to failsafe, and radio link recovers a second later, if soft start cuts in you may still crash if your not quick enough/good enough to auto - if your above the soft start point motor will still stop in failsafe, but if you get radio link back the esc will spool up quickly so you can catch it.

I guess if your an expert it isn't an issue as you could auto from any situation with zero notice, but I'm not

I didn't think it would stop with like half throttle and that is what I think you would have to have to not be in soft start on electric setup??
Have you tested this at half stick throttle???

[jamesb72]

Originally Posted by dct

I didn't think it would stop with like half throttle and that is what I think you would have to have to not be in soft start on electric setup??

Sorry, I was meaning with something like the castle ESC's which with auto mode ticked will only start motor around 13-17% throttle position, below that motor will stop, but Soft start only cuts in below 5% or so - so a throttle hold of 15% or so will stop motor but not cut into soft start.

I know the Align ESC will only go into soft start after 12?? seconds of low throttle so a brief hold wouldn't be an issue for that, and by then you've either started to auto or crashed anyway.

I guess other ESC's have a mixture of the above, so may not be needed.

[HeliSat]

Trex 500
Align 3GX
RJX FBL head
Stock ESC (built-in BEC)
Stock Motor
2350mAh Zippy Batteries
Align CF blades
14t pinion

I devoted a whole day throwing around the Trex 500 with the newly installed 3GX unit. Overall it performed very well. There were a few moments when there were some unexpected flight characteristics .. but it was very gusty so hard to determine whether it was the wind or 3GX. Next weekend I will play around with the custom configs to refine the flight characteristics.

I was unable to get the 3GX to fail in-flight (I was trying my best to make it fail ). Even with deliberate head-bogging hard 3D, and extended flight times (until the battery voltage drooped) ---- No 3GX in-flight failures.

There were two occurrences upon power-up, the swash plate did not initialize level, and the swash movement was very notchy (not smooth etc). To resolve this, I just disconnected the main battery and then connected it again -- resolved -- very odd issue.

I believe this product has a lot of potential and it priced very competitively, but will wait till it the 3GX has matured before I purchase any further 3GX units. I just picked up a new V-Bar for my Trex700e -- I am not willing to risk my larger helis (and myself) with the 3GX unit at this stage.

[MJ878]

I cant knock the 3GX - mines on rails in a 450 pro and im nearly satisfied to place on some larger Heli's.

I had a couple of early "mishaps" but had i have followed the directions i wouldn't have -
ONLY EVER USE 2 SAT'S if using JR/Spektrum - V1.1 may be better - but in V1.0 a loss of signal resulted in a gyro recalibration - interesting to say the least - never did it again with 2 Satellites


Early high speed porpoising issues were easy enough to dial out on the PC but cant be via the gain dials

Rarely the pre-comp on the tail seems to be mildly inconsistent - but hardly problematic.

I prefer the feel of the 3GX to my Vbars - but maybe because the Vbars in all honesty were a little easier to set up and i fine tuned them less, but some of the threads showing settings should shorten the tuning process for people now.

[raitheslacker]

Originally Posted by Luxo

I am using 550E V2 3GX with CC BEC PRO, two sattelite receivers connected directly to 3GX, TM1000 for telemetry hooked up on voltage and battery temp, voltage set to 5.5V, binded in DSM2 11ms with DX8.
No issues at all, flies like a charm. About 30 flights.

What port did you connect the tm1000 to?

[JasonA]

I fly v1.2 with ATX (Airtronics) SD-10g on a 500e and a simple RX600. Not a single reset or glitch in flight, however we're solid down to 2.8 volts unlike some other mfgs.

But (there's always a BUT)... and I've said this in other 3GX threads, the Align SW looks like a child's project and leaves us guessing.

The competition is soooo refined and smooth.

But no, not a single reset with Airtronics.

[Cullen Colapietro]

I have over 20 flights now on 3 different helis w/ 3GX an thankfully, no failures.

[HeliSat]

I have upgraded all mine to v1.2 now. Still no issues to date. Very happy with the feel of v1.2

Just setup my trex700e with the 3gx. Using my existing Turnigy 15A BEC and 2200mAh 2S lipo, I am virtually able to stall all the servos by exerting force on the swash & rudder -- without causing any brown-outs. The wires on this BEC are much thicker than the stock Align BEC. I have been using this BEC for nearly 2 years - good price, and it's rock solid. It comes with two power connectors, so one is connected to the BATT port, the other to the BIND port.

Going by Futaba specifications, each hi-torque servo (generally) pulls 1.6A when stalled. Therefore your worst case will be 6.4amps for 4 servos + FBL current consumption. Another thing to consider .. each connector is only rated to 5A, therefore I recommend having 2 plugs connected from the BEC -- this will reduce the electrical resistance from BEC to 3GX.

[JBP550]

Did anybody find a solution to the reset problem. I was hovering my 550 fbl and also had a reset in mid air as I was about to land the heli. Tail swing around and the heli fell over as it hits the ground. The helli almost swing right into me.When testing the heli the aileron swash movement was reversed. This happened after 3 min in flight.I think Align must please just tell us what condition can cause the 3gx to change settings. I simmulate a low battery condition and manage a continious reboot but could not manage to reset the 3gx unit settings.
Power: 1600mah 2s Lipo
Align 6A regulator
Spectrum DX2 7ch Receiver