Spirit System

Hi,

Two weeks ago I had a problem with getting a reliable spin-up of my new Goblin 770 with CC Phoenix Edge HV 120 ESC (Set RPM Gov mode), 12S, Spirit RS and Jeti DS-12. I didn't fix it (yet) but in trying, my multiple 'factory resets' and settings changes in the ESC have now lost the endpoint settings and I'm having a hell of a time trying to re-set them and move on to the actual problem!

Seeing other threads on the 'Helifreak' forum about autorotation bailout issues has led me to (perhaps) a possible explanation in that the Spirit doesn't 'release' a low throttle point until after it has booted-up, and the CC ESC somehow doesn't pick it up. By now I'm well-familiar with the Castle recommended endpoint setting procedure and then (if successful) setting-up the Castle governor for 'Set-RPM'. The issue is that when 'opening up' the endpoints for the ESC to recognise, it doesn't, and I think it's due to the relationship between the FBL unit and the ESC.

I have a spare REX3 receiver and with a battery and connecting the ESC directly, I have set the endpoints but when connecting back to the Spirit, the ESC won't arm at zero throttle (i.e. with throttle-cut switch on). I have also pre-powered the Spirit to get it initialised and then connected main power to the ESC, but no progress: it won't initialise (arm). Throttle curve is set to 0-50-100 for this process.

It's tricky to know where to pose the question: is it a Spirit, Jeti or Castle Creations issue? I'm here because I could do with help understanding the Jeti / Spirit throttle range inconsistencies. Specifically:

1. If the Spirit requires 1100uS - 1900uS range, do I set throttle range in the transmitter to match this, even though the 'Diagnostic' tab shows less than 0-100%? Or, do I then alter the throttle range in the 'General' tab to get me back to 0-100% on the 'diagnostic' tab?

2. If I set the endpoints first with a separate receiver, how do I get the Spirit to recognise the same range?

I didn't have the problem when setting-up with a Spektrum iX12 transmitter, so I think it's related to the Jeti DSthrottle range.

Eventually, if I can get past this I can try again at fixing the ESC/Governor issue!

Cheers, Andy
UK

Hi,

when you are changing "receivers" or simply Throttle port then Signal might be very different actually.


Spirit unit is sending Throttle signal immediately after powerup.

1. In the Diagnostic tab Throttle signal should start with 0% so that 0% in radio correspond with 0% in the Diagnostic tab.
Similarly 100%. But this depends on your throttle curve - your curve might be for example 80% flat line. So you should see 80% ideally.

2. When passing through Spirit the unit is mapping the signal according what you will set in the General - Throttle - Throttle Range - Min./Max.
To make it work in the same way as with receiver please set Min. to 1000us and Max. to 2000us in the unit.
Then it is likely it will not matter where you will connect the receiver.

JETI receiver has range 1000 - 2000us by default, which is different from Spektrum. With Spirit unit you can change the range however you wish.

If ESC will not arm, then the Min. value is likely too high. Or in other words your ESC is calibrated for a lower Minimum point which was caused likely by calibrating with JETI receiver previously.

ZeXx86 wrote:Hi,

when you are changing "receivers" or simply Throttle port then Signal might be very different actually.


Spirit unit is sending Throttle signal immediately after powerup.

1. In the Diagnostic tab Throttle signal should start with 0% so that 0% in radio correspond with 0% in the Diagnostic tab.
Similarly 100%. But this depends on your throttle curve - your curve might be for example 80% flat line. So you should see 80% ideally.

2. When passing through Spirit the unit is mapping the signal according what you will set in the General - Throttle - Throttle Range - Min./Max.
To make it work in the same way as with receiver please set Min. to 1000us and Max. to 2000us in the unit.
Then it is likely it will not matter where you will connect the receiver.

JETI receiver has range 1000 - 2000us by default, which is different from Spektrum. With Spirit unit you can change the range however you wish.

If ESC will not arm, then the Min. value is likely too high. Or in other words your ESC is calibrated for a lower Minimum point which was caused likely by calibrating with JETI receiver previously.

Ha! Thanks, Tomas - I was working through the problem again 'from first principles' and solved it - then a few minutes later I read your perfect reply All this after many days of head-scratching and frustration.

This is inexperience on my part, not realising the Jeti system has a different throttle range than Spektrum (which I used before). In the end, I set the end-points like this:

1. Jeti DS-12 min/max throttle (servo setup) max negative: -100%, max positive +100% (default)
2. Throttle curve set to 0 - 50 - 100 straight line
3. Castle Creations ESC set to 'factory defaults' except 'helicopter' and 'fixed endpoint' mode
4. Spirit RS throttle range set to 1100 - 1900 (default)
5. Connect battery, throttle at 100%, open Spirit settings / 'General-Governor' settings, then increase 'Throttle Range: Max until ESC recognises top end-point. Drop throttle to 0%, then reduce 'Throttle Range: Min until ESC recognises bottom end-point. Now (surprise-surprise!) the range is 1000 - 2000 and all working.

Again, thanks Tomas for your help and instruction. Of course after the solution it all seems 'logical and obvious' but the confusion was very real before.....

Cheers, Andy