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Author Topic: Futaba 6EXA  (Read 11106 times)

BlazingPenguin

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Futaba 6EXA
« on: February 02, 2007, 03:13:02 pm »
Anyone have any ideas on how to set up Futaba Tx mixer for use with a twin screw boat?
The manuals great on flapearons..elvevons...all sorts of 'vons'! But I want use the free mixing channel for twin screws/ throttle & rudder...
Any ideas? ???
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DickyD

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2007, 03:31:32 pm »
Have you checked out the gubbins on the home page http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Common/Electrics/Images/setupsA4JPG.jpg

Richard ;)
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2007, 04:06:14 pm »
The 6EXA built in mixer facilities don't seem to be much good for marine use as the channels mixed are intended for aircraft applications. You may therefore need to have a separate mixer in the boat or use the TX undercarriage switch to toggle between independent and grouped stick motor control, again using a RX controlled switch on the boat. See this thread for more information. http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=214.0
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John W E

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2007, 04:30:23 pm »
hi Blazing pingu - I have the Futaba T6EXA transmitter set up as you describe for mixing motors and rudder - I am sure others on this forum have the same set up.

Bear in mind, its not 100% mix.  I would say about 95% mix between rudders and props.

The way I sat and figured it out (how to set it all up) I sat with 4 servos on the bench and experimented with different setups.  No doubt you will find this will be the easiest way for you rather than try and explain.

Hope this helps.

Aye
JOHN E
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Scottie

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2007, 04:32:51 pm »
Quote from: BlazingPenguin on February 02, 2007, 03:13:02 pm
Anyone have any ideas on how to set up Futaba Tx mixer for use with a twin screw boat?
The manuals great on flapearons..elvevons...all sorts of 'vons'! But I want use the free mixing channel for twin screws/ throttle & rudder...
Any ideas? ???

I've done this with the 6exa but it isn't as good as I thought it would be. I used flapperon mixing and added the program mix to include the rudder. It does work but throttle travel is limited to about 50% stick travel in forward and reverse.

Give a go with servos connected and see how it works for you.

Scottie
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John W E

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2007, 05:02:00 pm »
hi there all, a slight deviation from the topic - but an enquiry to all the lads who have a Futaba 6EXA

When I got mine I just had the standard battery pack in the transmitter a 9.6 volt - 700 mAh - and my question is:=

how long is your running time/transmitting time on your transmitters?

Because, with this battery pack in mine - I am lucky if I manage to get an hour's sailing time with it.  Ive discharged it, and re-charged the battery pack several times.   However, its still the same   :-\

Aye
John E
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2007, 05:54:50 pm »
Bluebird
My radios are all last century stuff so I could still use NiCads, although I'm changing over to NiMH cells because of their higher capacity and their lack of memory. With all the computing power of sets  like yours I'd have thought that higher capacity Tx and Rx pack would be advisable. Try this link - 2.4 Ah has to be good sense at this price.
http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/small_packs.html
Suit yourself.
Aye
FLJ
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Ghost in the shell

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2007, 06:50:49 pm »


ditch the factory pack and get a sanyo 2300mah ni-mh :) the original pack is a pile of ^^^^!
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chromedome

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2007, 07:05:20 pm »
Bluebird...likewise i cant get 1 hour out of the TX...will take...Ghosts advice and get a new pack

 chromedome
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Ghost in the shell

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2007, 07:31:40 pm »
my pack lasted 2 days before it was replaced, going flat on me after 20 mins! yes twenty minutes! was not good, i now have an 1800mah pack in it from westbourne models, and its getting 7 hours from each charge :)
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BlazingPenguin

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2007, 07:40:02 pm »
Firmly label me 'THICK' please?
I have the manual and I can roughly equate the flaps on the wings with in my case two ESC's, but thats two channels, the throttle alone is a channel itself thats mixing three channels and I think two are allowed?
Im trying to  set up for a twin screw boat, that at will mix left/right with throttle as in an 'on-board' mixer...perhaps it cant be done.

My TX battery was ok for up to 4 hrs from new, but rapidly fell away. I replaced the supplied batts with higher amperage units and soldered up a new pack, only drama was the lack of space for a wire connection, the original having a metal tag.
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2007, 08:11:47 pm »
Quote
Firmly label me 'THICK' please?

In that case I'm thick as well! I couldn't figure out a way to use the TX on board mixer satisfactorily with a conventional control setup either. The restrictions on which channels can be mixed seem to prevent this - as previous posts have indicated.
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John W E

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2007, 08:34:38 pm »
Hi All,

 ;D Call me thick as well - Ive mixed the channels - but how the hell did I do that.  Sitting with manual in hand and model on bench going back through the procedure of how I did it!  What I do know is...when I move the throttle stick forward, the two motors engage in forward/reverse As soon as I move the Aileron Elevator control stick up, or down, it takes control of the starboard motors either slowing them down, or reversing them.  The control of the rudder of the model is on the same Aileron Elevator control stick only side-to-side.  This does not have any effect on the speed of the motors, on side-to-side movement.

How the hell did I programme this - if I go missing for 4-5 days dont worry  ;D Ive just joined the loony gang.

Aye
John
e
BLUEBIRD


LOOKS LIKE A NEW SET OF BATTERIES FOR ME TRANSMITTER TAKING ALL YOUR GOOD ADVICE.
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Scottie

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2007, 08:36:11 pm »
Allow me to clarify and correct my previous post - I used 'elevon' mixing not 'flaperon'

My intent was to use a single stick (right stick) to control two motors and the rudder.
To do this, the esc's were connected to 'elevator' and 'aileron' channels while the rudder was left on the 'rudder' channel.
Activate the in-built 'Elevon' mix function and then set up the programmable mix to add the rudder as a slave to the 'aileron' channel.
The drawback (as previously metioned) is that the elevon mix function does not give full servo travel in either full forward or full reverse.

If you're still confused let me know and I'll document it in much greater detail.

Scottie
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Ghost in the shell

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2007, 11:01:04 pm »
mixing, yeesh, when i went to mix the engines, i went for a V tail mixer as the exa will not mix on the left stick
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justboatonic

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #15 on: February 03, 2007, 12:03:14 am »
Oh dear, that urban myth again! Nicads do not have a memory effect in our useage. Manufacturers have only ever replicated a memory effect under very very strict operating conditions.

What most modellers take as memory effect is in fact cells in a pack that are in different states of capacity which have not been regularly discharged.
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FullLeatherJacket

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #16 on: February 03, 2007, 11:18:15 am »
Justboatonic
No-one is suggesting that a cell would be capable of retaining information, and I quite take your point that it is difficult to replicate this effect in a single cell. It only seems to happen in packs. Nevertheless perhaps you'd allow modellers to call it "memory effect" anyway; it's a term which is easy to remember and everyone knows what you mean, even if offends the cognoscenti  ;)
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Barthez

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #17 on: February 03, 2007, 04:08:10 pm »
I had the same probs with the pack that came with my TX. It did not last more than an hour. I took it appart when I made up a new pack. the old one had a dead cell. Mind you the stated capacity is quite low in this day and age.
It would make no difference hgow often or how well you discharged and recharged your pack if you have a poor set of cells in the first place. I thought my pack would be a one off but seems not. Poor quality control.
Pity good Tx though. I have set myTX to work with twin props but not mixed from the rudder stick. 

Bart.
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BarryM

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #18 on: February 04, 2007, 02:02:30 pm »
I was on the point of buying a 6EXA until I read this. Has anyone actually got a satisfactory result switching from single to dual throttle control with a 6EXA?   My 20 years' old, 7 channel, Fleet Plainsman manages it at the flick of a switch and without a computer chip in sight - I suppose that's progress?  ???
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Colin Bishop

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #19 on: February 04, 2007, 03:19:18 pm »
Yes, Fleet did have this facility and very useful it was too. I have replicated it on the 6EXA by using the undercarriage switch on the TX to slave/separate the ESCs in the model by means of a switch linked to one of the RX channels. Not so simple obviously, but the result is the same.
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Ghost in the shell

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #20 on: February 04, 2007, 04:44:10 pm »
the feature i like about the exa is the memory modes, i have 5 boats i can run atm and there on different slots

1 Gemini
2 Celestia
3 Esprit D'Atlantique, (dual rates engaged)
4 Southampton tug
5 Yamato

Each model has a different stick set up, which given my preference for rudder on slot 4 does confuse people
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Scottie

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #21 on: February 08, 2007, 08:26:30 pm »
Quote from: BarryM on February 04, 2007, 02:02:30 pm
I was on the point of buying a 6EXA until I read this. Has anyone actually got a satisfactory result switching from single to dual throttle control with a 6EXA?   My 20 years' old, 7 channel, Fleet Plainsman manages it at the flick of a switch and without a computer chip in sight - I suppose that's progress?  ???

Yes, Like Colin I utilised one of the switches although I chose to use the Dual Rate switch since I couldn't see myself ever wanting dual rates on a model.

I can send a schematic of the mod if you're interested. It requires opening the back and doing a bit of soldering but it is simple enough.

Scottie
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BarryM

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #22 on: February 09, 2007, 09:36:57 am »
Scottie,

Thanks for the offer but having weighed up the pro's and cons of the 6EXA, I now have a F-14 Navy on order. Mind you, there may well be others who would be interested.

Thanks

Barry M
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SHEARWATER 5

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #23 on: February 09, 2007, 11:41:56 am »
Hi new member 1st post.
I also bought the Futaba set for use with my currant and first scale build "Sentinel"twin screw.
After much deliberation over this twin motor control topic I have returned the set and paid the extra for the F2 Navy.
Looking at both it seems the F2 is clearly the better option but not without a big hit in the wallet department!
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chromedome

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Re: Futaba 6EXA
« Reply #24 on: February 09, 2007, 11:49:30 am »
Barry...do you not fancy going for the new crystal free TX from multiplex,since you are in the market?

  chromedome
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