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[Norman Castle]

Needing a cheapo tx for the lady wife to use with her airboat, I ended up getting a Flysky FS-GT2E and the thing is driving me up the wall 

I've followed the quaint instructions to the best of my ability, and the supplied RX (an FS-A3) is correctly connected to both throttle (ESC driving brushless motor) and servo.  TX throttle trim is zeroed, and bind plug is removed.  On switching on the TX, both red and green LEDs are on steady. 

When I connect the battery to the RX, the RX LED cxomes on steady, and the motor keeps beeping 2-3 times a second after the usual 3-note startup beep.  Rudders respond correctly to input from the steering wheel, but nothing will persuade the motor to respond to the throttle. 

The motor works just fine with the same ESC when I revert to my usual Spektrum/Orange setup, so can anybody please suggest what I'm doing wrong before I hurl the thing out the window and write off £17? 

[Netleyned]

Have you tried changing the throttle reverse setting?
Just a thought.


Ned

[Norman Castle]

Have you tried changing the throttle reverse setting?
Just a thought.


Ned

I hadn't, Ned, but I have now - and after maybe 5 seconds, the motor ran right way round at or close to flat out with no pressure on the trigger!  What's really bizarre though is that I can't make it do that again, irrespective of the throttle reverse setting.

This is not sensible at all ... 

[barriew]

As this is an air boat, I take it you are using a Forward Only ESC. I think you will find that the ESC requires the throttle to be set to minimum when you switch on. With a steerwheel type transmitter this may be difficult. These ESCs are normally used by the aero guys who use the non- centering stick on a conventional TX. This is a safety system to protect you from whirring props.


Barrie

[barriew]

As this is an air boat, I take it you are using a Forward Only ESC. I think you will find that the ESC requires the throttle to be set to minimum when you switch on - that is full reverse with a centered channel. With a steerwheel type transmitter this may be difficult. These ESCs are normally used by the aero guys who use the non- centering stick on a conventional TX.


This is a safety system to protect you from whirring props.


Barrie

Not sure why this ended up as quote!

[Norman Castle]

As this is an air boat, I take it you are using a Forward Only ESC. I think you will find that the ESC requires the throttle to be set to minimum when you switch on. With a steerwheel type transmitter this may be difficult.

Yep, forward-only ESC, but doesn't no pressure on the TX trigger mean "off" in the same sense as stick fully back on a conventional aircraft TX?

[barriew]

Sorry Norman - no. No pressure means mid- point.  Its a question of the signal the TX sends. This does not go negative for reverse - its just by convention that neutral in boats and cars is effectively 50% throttle for aircraft.

I think you are going to have a problem using your Tx with your airboat.


Barrie

[Netleyned]

It may be possible to programme the esc to recognise the centre position of the trigger.
I use a trigger and wheel Tx with a forwards only esc in a small
fast electric with no problems.
You could try starting up with the trigger held in reverse while switching on the Rx.
When you first asked about a cheap Tx , you were a bit secretive about the intended
use. A bit more info would have allowed a more informative response.


Ned

[Norman Castle]

When you first asked about a cheap Tx , you were a bit secretive about the intended
use.

Not intentionally, Ned.  It would never have occurred to me that no pressure on the trigger equates to 50% throttle, which is why I simply said that I didn't need reverse.

Anyhow, I've tried the start up with trigger held in reverse and although the bleeps coming from the motor are different, it's still no go.  The question now is, how have you got something similar working for you?  I'd give up on the idea now despite that leaving me £17 down which I can't really afford, but unfortunately the lady wife had a try of rudder control via steering wheel and liked it lots ... 

[barriew]

Norman,


Its really down to the ESC - do you have the instructions for it? These will tell you what the ESC is telling you with the beeps, which may help to see how the Tx can be used.


Barrie

[Norman Castle]

Norman,


Its really down to the ESC - do you have the instructions for it? These will tell you what the ESC is telling you with the beeps, which may help to see how the Tx can be used.


Barrie

Ah!  I don't think I have destructions for this one, but I might have another ESC I can try it with for which they might be online.  Back very shortly!

[Netleyned]

If you do not have the instructions they are usually
available on line.
Just google the make and model instructions and
you should find the answer.


Ned

[Norman Castle]

OK ... I've found the other ESC which I know works as it should.  It's a Perkins 20A and the book of words for it is here .pdf]http://www.phoenixmp.com/acatalog/4404850a[1].pdf but I can't see anything there that's relevant to the current problem. 

Looks like I'm snookered.

[Netleyned]

Are you saying the perky works with your new Tx?
If so you need to look at the esc programming.


Ned

[barriew]

I tend to agree The only thing I can suggest is if you are able (willing) to open up the TX and remove the centring spring on the throttle.


Regards,


Barrie

[Netleyned]

The spring fell off mine Barrie,
Made no difference to the operation.
Just a bit awkward finding stop!
Opened it up and found the plastic
holder had snapped off so drilled and fixed
a 2 mm bolt head to hook the spring on.


Ned

[Norman Castle]

Are you saying the perky works with your new Tx?
If so you need to look at the esc programming.


Ned

Sorry, Ned - brain is just about fried with this.  The Perkins one works just fine in the airboat with the Spektrum TX but I need to see what happens with this toy TX.  Will swop it over and report back in the morning: must away now and do some cooking or I shall be in the doghouse ...

Thanks for your help so far, chaps.  Enjoy your evening 

[barriew]

Sorry, Ned - brain is just about fried with this.  The Perkins one works just fine in the airboat with the Spektrum TX but I need to see what happens with this toy TX.  Will swop it over and report back in the morning: must away now and do some cooking or I shall be in the doghouse ...

Thanks for your help so far, chaps.  Enjoy your evening 

Norman - Do you use a "centered" channel on your Spektrum? The Perkins ESC manual states that the throttle must be set to minimum before switching on.

Ned - I suggested removing the spring so the Tx could be switched on with the throttle at minimum - Full reverse for a boat.

I don't have one of the steerwheel transmitters, but have run into problems using forward only ESCs on a centered channel in an airboat.

Barrie

[Norman Castle]

Norman - Do you use a "centered" channel on your Spektrum? The Perkins ESC manual states that the throttle must be set to minimum before switching on.

Barrie, I think you've just about summed it up here.  The Spektrum we use with the airboat is one of the later ones which is readily convertible from centred to aircraft mode and back again (at least it is if you drill a hole in the case exactly over the appropriate screw) and we use it in pull-stick-back-to-stop mode.

The reason I tried to go down this route is that having seen videos of people controlling airboats with pistol-grip TXs, my wife took a fancy to using one.  But it now looks to me like there must be something special about the ESCs they use with them.

[barriew]

Norman

The Flysky should still work, IF you can do the same and disable the spring and start with the lever in "full reverse".

Barrie

[Netleyned]

No need to move the spring.
Try holding the trigger full astern whilst
switching on Tx and then Rx.
Worth a try


Ned

[barriew]

Agreed Ned, but I thought he had tried that. Maybe try both ways - full forward and full reverse in case the channel is reversed


Barrie

[Netleyned]

Just had a thought,
We have a club member who uses one of these with a fast elec fwd only
and I've noticed he has an elastic band holding the trigger in full reverse
until he pulls the trigger. The elastic band returns the trigger to full reverse.
I wonder if that is to get around this problem.
If he is at the lake today I ill find out.


Ned

[barriew]

Ned


That should solve the problem provided the channel isn't reversed.


Barrie

[Norman Castle]

Gosh, thanks gents.  I'll try that now.  Just had a thought though - if it doesn't work, could I use a car speed controller?

HURRAH!!!!  IT WORKS!!!!!

The rubber band trick has done it.  No idea how that works, but it does, so the lady wife will be well chuffed.  Hopefully there will even be cake for tea.

Thank you very much indeed gents.  I really appreciate your help.