brokenenglish

Very nice, and coincides with my own interests, so I shall be watching. Yippee, a real engine and fuel tank! Thanks for posting!

Thanks a lot gentlemen. Looks like the answers I wanted. I've reported my triplicate posts, so I hope that some kind moderator will delete the surplus ones! Sorry and Thanks again! Brian

Simon Thanks a lot. Your description sounds exactly like what I'm getting. Apologies to all for the duplicate postings. I'm out in the sticks with a very poor and intermittent Internet. Sometimes it's difficult to know whether the "send" has actually worked or not. I'll do my best to delete. Sorry! Brian

Gentlemen, I've had great advice here before, so I hope some of you may come up with the answers again... I've just graduated from a PZ Radian to the Radian Pro, and just completed my first successful "aileron" session (3 flights). I'm using the ESC supplied with the Radian Pro and a PZ battery, with a Spektrum AR500 Rx. When I plug in the battery, either the Rx or the ESC is emitting a whistle, which continues all through the flights, until I unplug the battery. This probably should mean something. I know the battery isn't low, and I know the Rx is properly bound (I've had 3 longish flights going pretty high). So why is the Rx or ESC whistling, while performance seems normal? Second question: my PZ battery is labelled to be charged through the white "balancing" plug, but I'm using a Ripmax charger that charges through the power leads, with the white plug plugged into a balancing board. Is this of any importance? Finally, as the plane was very slightly tail heavy, I'm using a 3S 1800 mAh battery instead of the specified 1300 mAh. Can this have any unforeseen consequence for the ignorant git that I am? Happy New Year! Brian

The Indian Mills I've owned were all OK, and a Tomboy nosing into a grass field obviously shouldn't break an engine. Are you using modern "composite" propellers? I only use old engines (except for four-strokes) and I'd never use a carbon or GF prop, it's just asking for trouble. Hard on the fingers as well.

Hi all, This is just to close this thread, with a big Thank You to all the gentlemen who helped me. The purpose of this model was to learn to fly with ailerons, on my own. I now have a couple of successful aileron flights completed with no great drama and I'm very pleased. The flights were a couple of weeks ago, but then the poor weather took over. Anyway, its now just a case of practice and flying hours, with the hope of being reasonably competent by the time the better weather comes... I have other planes lined up to practice on as well, so I'm optimistic. The forecast is better for tomorrow, so I'm hoping for a bit more progress. Thank you all, Brian

Being a LiPo beginner, I have what I'm sure will be a very simple question for you gentlemen. I think I understand the various types of connector and charging principles, etc, and I've found commercially available adapter leads for any compatibility problems... However, my ultimate objective is to use 2S LiPos with a voltage regulator, as a lightweight power source in small diesel powered models... I see that some of the smaller 2S LiPos (around 200 mAh) only have one JST connector, for direct plugging into an Rx or switch harness. How are these batteries charged (with only one JST connector)? Should the JST connector plug into my balancing board?

Good evening, Success! Thanks a lot! But I still have another couple of questions (please): My DX5e / AR500 set (Mode 2) was purchased new from an excellent UK model store. However, it was being sold "without box" which, I suppose, means that it was probably intended for an RTF, but never got installed. Thanks to your combined efforts, everything now works perfectly, EXCEPT that I've had to reverse the elevator and throttle plugs in the Rx. The throttle is plugged into the slot marked "elev", and the elevator is plugged into the slot marked "thro". Everything then works absolutely perfectly so, obviously, I've left it like that and I shall fly like that... Has anyone ever seen this kind of nonsense before? Now, one final question (then you can all drift off to the pub!). My only previous electric plane is my RTF Radian. On the Radian, the folding prop is blocked in its forward travel, i.e. it won't fold forward, which seems logical to me. However, the prop on the Phase 3 Phoenix II pivots freely on its hinge, from fully folded to both blades pointing fully forward, which surprises me... Is it normal that the prop blades should also fold forwards? Thanks again for all this. The next hour or two of good weather and I'll be flying. Brian

Gentlemen, Thanks so much for your help. I've just proceeded as you all advised, and the problem is almost solved. First of all, all the plugs in the receiver were "wrong way round". I removed them. Then I connected a separate battery pack (no ESC), which revealed that the RC system wasn't bound (probably because of the plugging error). I then reconnected the LiPo/ESC combination properly (Thanks Pete for definite wire colour data) and bound the RC system. This worked OK. The system is now bound. Then I did a "final check", with just the throttle and rudder servos connected, to make sure the system was actually working... SURPRISE! Initially nothing worked (Oh dear!). Then, I just twiddled the sticks a bit, and discovered that the elevator plug position on the Rx is operating the throttle (just as if it were mode 1, which it ain't...). At this point, my wife would like to express her most sincere gratitude to the gentlemen who told me to remove the propeller! So that's the present state of play. Later today, I'm going to mess around with the plug positions and see if I can sort the problem out, but that won't get the throttle onto the LH stick with the ratchet I'd like your ideas again (please). At the moment, I have my Spektrum mode 2 Tx, with two servos (throttle and rudder) plugged into the Rx. The rudder is operating properly (L/R movement on the LH stick), but the throttle is being operated by the elevator function (up/down movement on the RH stick). Finally, Thanks again, your help so far has been Great and has worked 100%! Brian

Thanks David and Pete, Yes, I'll try all that tomorrow! David, just one remark. The plane is "radio ready". I connected up a new Spektrum system, but I removed it when things obviously weren't right. So there is no "going to a lot of trouble" to install Futaba or anything else. There is no receiver installed at the moment. Looking through all this thread, I'm really pleased with the result. I'm sure that I'll get the plane flying quickly. For me, flying here on my own, I think that electric flight, 2.4 GHz, binding, ESC sorting and pre-installed servos that don't match my chosen RC system were rather too many new tricks to learn all at once. I/We will get it right for the week-end! Brian

Posted by kc on 14/11/2012 18:02:11: Presumably if you got the servos plugged in wrong way round then the ESC is also plugged in wrong way round too......thats the problem perhaps? Yes, I'd thought of that. Thanks. As the plane came with Futaba type plugs, I'm going to try a Futaba receiver (and Tx!), which should resolve at least the plug orientation problem. Then, as a function of the result of that test, I'll work through all the other suggestions and decide which ones are applicable in the light of the results I'm getting... I should add that, 48 hours ago when I started this thread, I had a bit of free time... Unfortunately, some urgent work cropped up, and I won't be able to investigate the plane problems until tomorrow evening. However, all you helpful people should please rest assured that I haven't just "gone away". I'm obviously really keen to sort the problem out and fly the plane... but it'll have to wait until tomorrow evening!

Gentlemen, Thanks a lot! I didn't expect such a reaction, so quickly. I'll charge an NiMH Rx battery overnight and carry out the above suggestions, hopefully in some kind of logical sequence, tomorrow morning. I'll report back tomorrow. Obviously, if the control surfaces work with the NiMH receiver battery, without the ESC/motor connected, then at least it will prove that I've properly bound the Tx/Rx (or the contrary, of course!), which may therefore narrow the problem down to the motor/ESC area... I didn't mention it, but my system is only a DX5e with AR500 Rx. This is because, normally, I only fly vintage with original old i.c. engines, so I don't need more functions or programming capability. Not long ago, I bought a Parkzone Radian RTF, just for a bit of quick fun in the fields close to my home. I was so pleased with the result, and with the Spektrum "entry level" system, that I bought another Spektrum radio and a similar glider, but with ailerons, just to "learn ailerons". Anyway, Thanks a lot, I'll report back tomorrow, Brian

Hi, I'm not a beginner. I've been messing with toy planes for more than 60 years. BUT, I am new to electric flight and 2.4 GHz. I just purchased a Phase 3 Phoenix II (radio ready) and a new Spektrum system, and I have problems! First of all, I properly bound the Tx/Rx (I think). I followed the instructions and got the predicted result. Then the problems started... The plane has "Futaba" type connectors on the servos, with the small locator tab on the connector. The locator tabs prevented me from plugging the servos into the Spektrum receiver, so I trimmed the tabs off. When I connected up the onboard system, with the TX switched on, the ESC is emitting continuous beeps (apparently some kind of error), and the motor occasionally twitches slightly. Furthermore, none of the controls work, and the motor doesn't run. I think the battery/ESC connector is foolproof and cannot be wrongly connected, and I really need help to resolve three questions: 1. As the battery/ESC cannot be wrongly connected, why is the ESC beeping? 2. Having trimmed the locator tabs off the servo connectors, how can I be CERTAIN that they are properly connected? 3. Why is nothing working? I'm counting on the fact that anyone on this electric forum will be more knowledgeable than me on electric flight systems and 2.4 GHz. HELP PLEASE! Brian

Posted by kc on 12/10/2012 11:12:09: Where can we buy tiny metric open end spanners such as for M3 nuts etc? Here's a link. Very inexpensive and you can pay with Visa or Mastercard **LINK** I've purchased from this company and I was very satisfied.