Can't Get Retracts to Work

[mb-1953]

Due to the cold weather boredom, I decided to install retracts on my TDR2.
The kit from Henseleit has an E-Flite retract actuator. I have a DX-9 and I am using a Spirit Pro fbl. I connected the retract to channel 0 in the spirit which I have directed the output to be channel 8 from the tx. On the tx I have channel 8 as aux 3. I enabled the "Sequencer" and set the switch as "flight mode", Forward is H,N, Reverse is 1,2. My thoughts were to have the retract down on N for takeoff and H for landing.. The speed is set for Nor. I am using channel A and have Channel B inhibited.
When I connect a servo to the spirit channel 0 it moves as one would expect. The problem is the e-flight actuator will not move. I understand there is a logic circuit in the actuator that requires it to initiated 2 times first and then will operate on demand. This is to protect the helicopter from falling over if the switch is in the wrong position. When I put the actuator on a servo tester it operates as it is designed.
I cant get the tx to engage the actuator even though I flip the switches 2 times. I think there may be a problem with the speed of the signal to the actuator. I can't turn the tester very fast but the tx moves the servo very quickly.
Sorry for the long explanation, I have a screenshot and vid but the vid was too large to upload.
I don't think the problem is with the spirit pro, my question is, should I be doing this a different way?

[ZeXx86]

Hi!

sorry for delayed reply.
Well, my question to make it clear is:
When you connect a servo to the CH0 port, does it work as intended?

You have said it is working when servo is plugged in, but I am not sure if it is working exactly as it should.
With the servo it will be probably easier to find the problem.

Theoretically if the servo is operating correctly, then the problem could be, that Spirit Pro is outputting at CH0 port the same frequency that is used for the swashplate servos. Could you just temporarily try what will happen if Cyclic servo frequency is changed to 50Hz or 60Hz?

[mb-1953]

Yes I will try it later today when I get back from work. The servo appears to work properly.

[mb-1953]

You were correct Tomas. The retracts will work with the frequency at 150 or less. They will not work at 200 or 333. The servos I am using are 333. Is there a fix for this?
Thank you.
Mike

[ZeXx86]

Great.

For now you can use modified firmware which maps CH0 output also at AUX2 port, but with same frequency that is used for Throttle.
This mean you have to flash this firmware, connect the retracts to AUX2 and set Throttle frequency under 150Hz, which very likely already is since the most ESCs are happy with around 60Hz.

Firmware is there: http://spirit-system.com/dl/fw/spirit-fw-2.4.7.4df

You do not have to reconfigure anything. It is nearly identical to version 2.4.3.

In Future firmwares AUX2 will be configurable as output, similarly as CH0 is right now.

[mb-1953]

Problem solved. Thank you Tomas.

[ZeXx86]

You are welcome.

Please redownload the firmware and flash it again.
There is minor fix for the update (for AUX2 port) to make sure that all will work correctly.

[mb-1953]

I can't seem to redownload the firmware, it keeps coming up with a .man extension not .4df?

[ZeXx86]

This is unfortunately problem of Internet Explorer and Edge browsers.
Other web browsers will work well.

Alternatively manual renaming to 4df should work.

[mb-1953]

Thanks Tomas, worked on firefox