Throttle percentages, values and GOV setup

[Lovasathar]

Dear All!

I am quite new to governor setup, have already 3 units in Trex 800E, Trex 600L and a Goblin 500 helicopter, and so far I used only throttle % curves. Since I fly light 3D also, it would be great to set up the governor function in these helicopters. I use Castle Phoenix ESC in all the helicopters. I use Spektrum DX9 radio.

If someone would confirm that these calculations are correct and I understand the concept well, it would be great! Or if not, please correct me!

TX has to be matched with the Spirit Pro values in the diagnostic tab. BUT, it will be overwritten as soos as I "teach" the ESC the min - max values...
For example this happened in the Goblin 500:
After ESC calibration the values in the DX9 are: min 90, max 100, thus in Spirit these became: min: 5, max:100.
So as next step I need to correct the value 1100 us so that it matches this "5" min. diagnostic value? If I calculate with the range 800 us, this will be 5% of 800 is that correct? So the value is: 1100 + 40 = 1140 ?
Can I safely enable governor with these values, in this case?
Which throttle frequency shall I choose from the list?

Thanks, best regards
Gabor

[ZeXx86]

Hi Gabor,

regarding your transmitter values - values are not that important if you will connect your ESC directly to the unit.

Important are values in the Diagnostic tab, this will show you how unit is recognizing the data that are coming from your transmitter.
So with your transmitter settings you want to achieve that 0% correspond to the throttle hold, respectively real 0% when the motor is not spinning.
And also the highest value: 100% in your transmitter should be really 100% in the unit.
If this will match, you can then set stright line for throttle curve - for example 65% for the beginning.

When this is OK, your main focus should be on the ESC so that values that you can see in the unit (the Diagnostic tab) are the same also for the ESC. To match this the most ESC offers a calibration process so you will just program it where is the lowest and the highest position.
Then your setup is 100% correct and you are ready to fly.

It might sound complicated, but it can be done in 2 minutes. Mostly the second part is more complicated, because each ESC can be calibrated in a different way or even can't be calibrated.
For this reason it is good to put as the Throttle Range (Min and Max) default values that you can find in the specification of your ESC.
Often it is near 1100 and 1900. So it will work immediately if all is in the default.

[Lovasathar]

Hi ZeXx86!

I was hoping very much that You will answer. It is much clearer now, but still some questions...
The diagnostic tab section of the message is clear.
But...How shall I setup the ESC with the Spirit Pro? Let's take for example any Castle Phoenix ESC. The only way I know to configure max and min endpoints is via the radio. How am I supposed to do in the Spirit Pro unit? Open the program set both values to middle (1520), and start to edit them (max first with max thorttle stick up to probably 1900?, then min with min throttle stick down to probably 1100?) as long as hear the ESC beeps that it has accepted the max - min values? Will this work?
By the way I have found no reference for the Castle products default min-max us values so any help in this matter also would be very much appriciated.

Thanks, regards,
Gabor Toth

[Adrian]

Hi Gabor, have a look on my Castel Edge Setup Gov Setup I use DX9 and CC Edge.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1364

Beside, min max range values can be found in Castle link under tab Throttle / Vehicle Type / ?.

[Lovasathar]

Hei Adrian!

Thank for this very detailed tutorial, however I am quite new to all this GOV stuff, and don't really understand this autorotation bailout. I think I probably don't need such complex setup just yet.
I'd like to have just a "regular" GOV function for my helicopters, a stable max headpeed setup, which I can "translate" with throttle curves in the DX9 radio. (like...85% for idle up1, 95% for idle up2 for example, and relativ flat curve beginning with zero for "normal")
I use Castle edge 160 HV on the 800E, and currently Castle ICE2 120 on the 600L.

Please advise, thanks, regards,
Gabor

[Adrian]

Just follow my guide without the Bailout switch in TX for CC Edge.
Beside you can't mix curve and flat line for gov in one bank setting, gov means constant head speed.
To set this you have to use different Banks, but this is way to complex at your current knowledge state.

[Adrian]

Dear Gabor
As you are new to Governor concept, we should start with little steps and move on as you get familiar with the concept.

Governor means constant Head rpm, controlled by either ESC Controller or FBL which requires rpm feedback.
In regards of what rpm is requested, this is set by TX under Throttle curve, which is a flat line in case of Governor usage.
In Spirit case, Target rpm is based on what's configured in max rpm multiplied by TX %. (rpm = max rpm * %)

It also changes the procedure you takeoff and land.
For takeoff, Pitch in the Center Position, going out of hold, wait till rpm are up and take off.
For Landing, land, go into hold and wait till rpm gets to zero. Or hoover over landing point and flick Hold land with reaming rpm.

Forget about Autorotation Bailout (ARB) at this stage, all we wanna make sure is Governor is working in your case and you get used to it.
Let me know if you have any question during this setup, just do what I suggest and try on the bench first.

TX Setup:
1. Define flat lines for Throttle Curve H:0% N:60% 1:90% 2:100%
this will give us 0 rpm on Hold, 60% of max rpm on N and 100* of max rpm on F2

ESC (Castle Creation Edge) ESC Preparation:
1) Configure ESC in Vehicle Type : External Governor this has fixed endpoints for range
2) Initial Spoolup: 8 (This is for Spoolup)
3) Optional, adjust Startpower under tab Motor for the first revolutions I had to lower on 12S (15) , 6S (59 medium) was fine.
4) Enable AUX Wire for RPM out, if there is no AUX, use 3rd party Sensor to tell Spirit current motor rpm.
5) Save config (update)

On Spirit:
1) Open Tab Diagnostics, adjust Servo Travel for throttle in TX
Hold = 0% F2 = 100% (I had to adjust 1 or 2 points)
2) Open Governor/throttle Tab
3) Set frequency 200Hz
4) set Min Range: 900us and max. Range: 1930us
5) Enable Governor
6) Set your desired max rpm (like 2100 for my 700er)
4) Spoolup Rate: "fast", try "very Fast" later, I use "very fast".
5) Spoolup rampup: 140us
6) Save config

Unmount blades and test it on your bench, let me know how it works.
With load eq. blades spoolup and holding will be better on field.

[Lovasathar]

Thanks a LOT Adrian, this was very usefeul!

One thing if I may ask...
You wrote for Hold I need to set up 0%.
Right now I use fligth mode "Hold" for Spirit Pro normal Bailout ("Rescue normal" on Switch A), thus it need to have RPM on (Right now it is on flat 80% or 85%, don't remember exactly).
However I use the DX9's Throttle Hold function for stop the motor (on switch H), and practise for example autorotaion landing from about 3-4m height. (Or in case I need to cut the throttle in other circumstances)
So I suppose I don't need to set 0% throttle curve hold in the case?

[Adrian]

Well I guess I use it the same way, however it seams to me you mixed up functionality, to clarify:
Switch H is my Hold Switch to Init ESC and Start-Stop Motor also used for Emergency
Switch A I use to Invert Gyro with a mixer to Rescue.

You should setup H to be part of the flight mode selection, to have N-1-2-H

If you go into your DX in Throttle Curve, you should see a line for each Flight Mode.
N: like 60%
1: like 90%
2: like 100%
H: 0%

If your not seeing H you might need to go into System setup / F-Mode Setup
There you should have:
Switch 1: Switch B
Switch 2: Inhibit
Hold Switch: Switch H (I dark, means Hold is active on I )
There you can Monitor your current state, try flicking the Swiches H and B to see what happens.
This is kind of common setup. Well there you might also be able to interchange A with H.
But you should definitively keep functions like Rescue (FBL) and Hold (Motor) on separate Switches.

If you got there, on TX Monitor in your DX9 you should now see the throttle out pending on your H and B Switches.
Hold -99, even you move pitch stick, value should remain.
N: something like 50
1: something like 80
2: like 100

To takeoff, select N (60%) and Hold (0%). Go out of Hold, motor ramps up to 60% of max Head, take off.
Select Mode 1 (90%) or 2 (100%) to get into higher rpm to have fun.
To land, go back to N (60%), hoover over landing spot, Switch Hold (0%) and Land with remaining rpm.

Switch A should invert Gyro to minus value, like something around -40 (rescue active)

[Lovasathar]

Thanks again Adrian!

Little bit off topic but maybe useful to share here.
You wrote the "flight mode - hold" is needed for initiating a ESC motor start or stop sequence (or for emergency). Therefore it needs to be in a flat zero curve. I understand that.
But I use the "Flight mode - Hold" currently for give negative gyro to Spirit Pro Rescue mode. (with siwtch A). (I coulnt't solve it in any other way.) That is why Hold throttle curve on flat 80% percent, so I can have motor RPM while "bailouting".
I don't know how to solve this with "mix" as You wrote, so the only option for give a negative gyro is tu use the "flight mode - hold" mode, because all the other I use with regular flight modes, with positive gyro values (Normal, flight mode 1, flight mode 2)

Can You please describe what kind of mix have You used for your switch A to give negative gyro for activete Spirit Pro Rescue mode?

By the way....Can just leave evereything as I use right now in my radio, and use the DX9's "Throttle hold" function on swith H to start - stop the motor (and for emergency)? That is the way I start - stop the motor for all my helicopters now (plus for emergency of course)
It seems to me that this is a completely different thing, and doesn't have any connection or effect with the "flight mode - hold". (At least for the throttle part). It just by default gives a "-130%" to throttle value when initiating and as a result cuts the throttle completely. Is that statement correct? Or I still don't get something right...?

Thanks,
Gabor