Spectrum Voltage Protector

Hi,

I read alot of horror story regarding DX7 lockout etc. It should be glitch free. But the actuall problem with it if the receiver voltage drop due to servo's took to much current (too much current it will drop the voltage )and the receiver will reboot / lockout.

But now they have solution for it by adding Capacitor 4700uF 10V to extra channel. The purpose is to stabilize voltage inside receiver.



Spektrum Voltage Protector



Key Features

• For DSM system
  
• Prevents voltage drops to receiver
  
• Plugs into any open channel slot
  

Overview


Spektrum's new Voltage Protector prevents a DSM™ receiver's voltage from dropping below the proper operating level in lower voltage applications such as 4-cell 1/12 carpet racers. Installation is as simple as plugging it into an open channel slot on the receiver unit.


This technique has been provven by RC cars using Spectrum before and it works for RC flyer.

Here are quote from Raptortechnique website..

Quote :

If you are running several high current servos and the battery is low then you can experience moments of control loss. The reason is the voltage could dip below 3.3 volts and reset the receiver. The older technology 72Mhz receivers will also reset at 3.3V but you are less likely to see a problem because they do not have to scan for two frequencies on boot up. The time it takes to lock in is nearly instant most of the time but I have seen it take as much as a couple of seconds. To help prevent this you can add a capacitor parallel to the power lines. It simply plugs into a spare channel on the receiver. If you do not have a spare plug like me then you could use a Y-harness. On mine I simply cut the wires coming from the power switch and soldered a 4700uf 10V capacitor to it.

A capacitor is not the ultimate answer to the power drop issue. Spektrum should have built this feature inside their receivers.. another way is to use a voltage regulator system or better yet, connect two switch harness and use two batteries for those high value aircrafts.

The last lockout i had was on my electric Mugi... and power to receiver is fed from the ESC which is regulated and stepped down from 11.1 to 4.8v running 2 micro 9g servo's. Can't explain the power dip issue as loading is very minimal. I'd say the Spektrum system has its own advantages as well as bugs. We just have to wait till they rule and iron them out. Until then, we depend on luck. Check the forums and there are literally thousands of posts regarding problems with the DX6/7 and now DSX9.

I now wait for Futaba to release their FASST module for my 14mz and see how these two compare. Until then, i will be testing hopefully the near coming DSX9 at the Local Hobby Shop (LHS)

I guess for some of us, we simply can't wait till they release the perfect one. We may just be the guinea pigs of the industry. Hehehehehehe

hi axenz,

do u knw the price tag for the voltage protector?? Mayb we can make our own since all you need is a capacitor and wire..

Gpyan

Hi,

Just want to share my experience.
I used to be encountered elevator lock-out on my plane when using AR6100 Rx.
Then I sent them back for software upgrade to v1.2 and so far, never encounter any lock-out anymore.

Cheers,
rkte

Hi Gpyan,

I'm not sure the price tag.

Here are the website..Capacitor

Anyway you can buy it at Local electronic shop... but the price mahal lah sikit.

It was cheaper at Little M shop. Before it was available at Little M shop. Mr Kee brought it alot from Thailand during race tin and race win popular at Brunei. We solder it to Relay for power punch start or Turbo set.

Try to check at Little M , could be still available hehehe

Hi Axenz,

Thank you for your tips.
I will try to find one from electronic shop and solder myself. Let see....

well.. dah ke mendangar bh sal lockout ani.. itah berijab ku kan main t rex 600 nitro ani.. kwnku brpa buah gugur kplnya.. bru lgi tu.. 2-3 x main..

Hi all,

Been flying my raptor Titan 50 for more than 6 gallons and still not encountered this problem. My flyings were solids... May be this is due to too many electronics installed in heli, a apart of Fully Digital Servos, like governor, monitoring systems and other gadgets that comsumes battery power during maneuvers like aerobatics and 3D or may be statics from electronics installed.


Check these links...........

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5588121/tm.htm


http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=61205

Dear Fellow RC'ers,

In fact i have been a victim of Spektrum Lockouts besides some others who have experienced this problem.

My first crash was with a JR AR9000 on a 90-size aircraft, running digitals on ailerons/elevator/rudder and standards for flaps/throttle. The first one i ruled out most probably due to power failure (i was using a 1400mah NIMH 5 cell battery) if not for interference. Maybe the cells had internal resistance issues, which NIMHs are known to happen.

The second crash was interesting.. this one on an AR7000.... same setup as above for servos but for this i'm using regulated Li-po 2200mah + 8A regulator. I had a redundant setup for this one i.e. backup Li-po + regulator in parallel so should rule out power supply issues and yet i had a lockout. Main receiver was located in center of fuselage and remote receiver on the canopy above oriented for full polarisation. This time i was pissed off since this is another big aircraft on gasoline on its maiden flight after 5mins of flawless flying then boom!

Now i cannot explain the second crash. We also had some friends running AR7000/AR6100 with Regulated li-po experiencing crashes. Only just last saturday morning, we had another loss of a 1.40size Bi-plane.... not very happy too.....

I finally got my TM14 and 6014 Futaba FAAST module. I've tested it on my TREX600 and so far so good. I will do more full range testing on airplanes.....

I think Spektrum users need not worry too much on helicopter applications due to the range of flying/ distances.... as compared to giant airplanes which are flown further and higher!

As for me, my 9x 2.4 will be mainly for low value aircrafts.... at least until i can confirm futaba FAAST reliability. So far in the forums, they have not had any complaints on futaba but sadly a lot of issues on Spektrum 2.4. I hope that is true for our use in Brunei.

BTW i dont know if u guys noticed... but i have been flying 2.4 Spektrum reliably for a good number of months.... half year at least.... never a lockout or crash. In fact for that first crash, my plane has been flown for a good 9-10 gallons/ gone throught one engine rebuild and an engine upgrade . But ever since DST upgraded to 3.5g we seem to be seeing more and more crashes. Could it be that they are using 1.2Ghz which might be harmonically affecting us..... Spektrum locks on 2 frequencies after a successful scan. Unlike Futaba FAAST it hops frequency every 100ms.

Any thoughts?

Hmmm...,
lets see........ how far good the spektrum.... I was using it over 10 months now....

Owen, btw, bila CH Hobbies funfly.... Nda sabar jua rasanya kan join klu ada kelapangan...

Any idea?

AZRC,

Its great that u have had good experiences with it... but so far not for us Bandarians... sadly...

i fly on average 12-14 days a month with at least 3-4 flights per day. That puts approx 40+ flights per month so we have such a high exposure rate compared if we are flying weekends only. This is particularly true for the spektrum users here... but some have not been lucky where they were shot down even as weekend flyers.

I've lost my confidence now with Spektrum and will only fly low value aircrafts i.e. below $600

It poses a safety risk when the aircraft is between 3-6kgs!!