RunRyder - Fail safe for our gassers ?

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Gasser Model RC Helicopters > Fail safe for our gassers ?

pgkevet
Veteran
Location: surrey UK

Quote

The first time I had a hot start was when I was still a newbie with my PGasser and forgot to turn on the receiver batteries before starting. Of course, at the time I had no mechanical kill switch installed, and all I could do was hold on to that blade for dear life and try to figure out what to do. After 20 to 30 seconds of insanity I was finally able to grab the fuel lines and yank them off. It TOTALLY took out every bit of liner in the clutch and left me in a cloud of smoke and clutch-liner particles.

I've also managed that stupidity.. except that throttle was at idle and I'd stepped away before realising that I'd forgotten to switch on..and then had to sit there for over 90 mins while PGasser idled it's way through a tankful

I now have an obvious power-light by the pullstart as a visual clue.

A tx remote kill wouldn't have helped there either but still has arguable merit for a snagged throttle arm/servo. A remote kill requiring power to deactivate with a delay in case of glitch is probably something one should consider as a safety feature in case of brain-fart although on-board generator can take care of forgetting to switch the flight-pack on

pgk

08-03-2008 07:36 AM

ozace
Key Veteran
Location: melbourne, australia

The way i have my kill switch, no power = no motor, there are no circumstances when it wont work. I have had heli throttle servos crap out on me and the motor was going nuts, there was no easy way to shut it down. Never again, kill switch for me from now on.

we can never have too many, can we ?

08-03-2008 07:49 AM

Dimitris76
Senior Heliman
Location: Borås, Sweden

Quote
The way i have my kill switch, no power = no motor, there are no circumstances when it wont work. I have had heli throttle servos crap out on me and the motor was going nuts, there was no easy way to shut it down.

My point exactly!

Quote
Never again, kill switch for me from now on.

And you can still wire a manual switch - if you want to - just in case the Tx is out of reach during a hot start.

Dimitris

08-03-2008 10:29 AM

windy62
Heliman
Location: USA

Initially this thread was talking about failures, batteries, servos, etc. Now we're talking about human error, forgetting to turn the heli on, Tx too far away to reach it.

Hey, we're all human, but you may think about taking a page from the hard earned lessons from the electric guys, have a start procedure and do it the same way, every time, all the time.

I like the "no power, no motor" idea, but it is still adding ANOTHER failure point. How much power (from your battery) is required to keep it open?

And you're correct, you must do what YOU feel is necessary for your particular setup and flying. It may help to mention the fact that you do not have the simple alternatives on your heli that most others WILL have as stock.

Another reason I do NOT like digital THROTTLE trims as well....Although I believe you can change how much the trim moves with each "Beep" can't you? increase it to the point that that 2 or 4 beeps is OFF. The position of the trim is displayed on the Tx face as well. Not as easily seen as a regular trim, yes, and if the Tx is 5 ft away, well, better have a switch on the heli!!