Mike Johnson

Horizon Hobbies have just stopped selling DSM2 under the JR brand, they are brining in a new aftermarket module that is frequency hopping, this is not the JR frequancy hopping units that are available in Japan.   Mike

We have vacancies in our model flying club at the moment, anyone interested resister on our Forum and someone will get back to you.   When you register on our forum you will not be able to see all the threads until your membership of the forum is approved, we have found this neccessary due to spamming posts, sorry for that, but it will be worth it if you live in the Sittingbourne area:   http://sittingbournemodelflyingclub.maxforum.org/   Mike Edited By Mike Johnson on 20/02/2011 13:45:03 Edited By Mike Johnson on 20/02/2011 13:45:18 Edited By Mike Johnson on 20/02/2011 13:45:51 Edited By Mike Johnson on 20/02/2011 13:47:19

Don't know if its on this thread earlier, but the wing fixings on the Habu do get a bit loose after a while to the extent that mine fell out of the front fixing in flight, this is after a lot of use and abuse though, the fix I have now seen it to put a couple of rawle plugs and dry wall fixing screws through the wing into the fus, have not botherd to replace the Habu as I bought a Tomahawk Viperjet to put all the gear in, not saying to much against the Habu, but the Viperjet is so amazing in comparison.   Also the new Habu 32 is available as a JetCat P20 turbine conversion from Al's hobbies, the airframe is not available as of now, but should be in the shops by the end of Feb mid March.   Mike

Does anyone make an A10 suitable for twin 90mm fans? I have about 11Lbs of thrust to put into it.   Mike

Stephen   When you bind the Rx you must leave the button pressed on the Tx until the light on the Rx goes solid i.e. not blinking, then let go of the bind push button on the TX and remove the bind plug whilst everything is still switched on, then switch off the Rx first then the Tx, when you next switch on they should be still bound, also remember if binding for the first time and then setting up the aircraft you must re-bind to ensure the Rx remembers the throttle settings for fail safe, if you use a throttle cut, then re-bind with the throttle cut operated when you switch on the TX for the final binding, that means button pushed, switch operated and then switch on the TX, a third hand would be handy. LOL   Mike

But not by Futaba who are the original manufacturer who has to certify the output of the Tx as a single commercial unit. Mike

I have now read through the EMC Regulations and again I can find nothing which would constitute a breach by moving an external wire from a module to inside the case of a Tx.   See: http://www.siracertification.com/UserDocs/New%20approach%20directives/emc.pdf   If anyone can find the relevant legislation that would apply, please do point me in the right direction I would love to see it.   Further to all the above, its a bit like the BMFA saying that all clubs must have a Child and Vulnerable Adult policy, this may be a requirement of the BMFA and or the insurance, but it is not a requirement of the Health and Safety at Work Act, as most amature clubs and its members are not at work, therefore the Act does not apply.   Mike

From the EMC Regulations:   ‘Apparatus’: in the context of the EMC Regulations, “apparatus” is defined as a product, with an intrinsic function intended for the end user, and supplied or intended for supply, or taken into service, or intended to be taken into service as a single commercial unit. Therefore Tx's and Rx's must be tested as a single commercial unit, which you can not do if using an after market module. Mike

Bruce   I do understand where you are comming from, but unfortunatly the above does not cover the alteration to the signal output of the Tx by using a different manufacturers product, by using a Spektrum module in a FF9 lets say, you have altered the ouput from 35Mhz as approved on its CE markings too 2.4Ghz, this completly changes the Tx output irrespective of the Rx.   By the way car kits are fitted using any means that are available, most reccomend cutting into the wireing and soldering the wires to ensure a proper contact.   To qualify myself as you found it neccesary to do, I spent 40 years in Courts on interpritation of law, contracts, and Health and Safety legislation.   From what I have read so far, the CE markings are about quality control procedures and Health and Saftey legislation, I can not find at this time anything that would constitute a breach of the legilation by moving a wire from outside to inside a Tx case, which is where we started.   Mike

Just read this in the directive:   The Regulations apply to all electrical equipment, subject to the exemptions shown at Annex B, that is designed or adapted for use between 50 and 1,000 volts (in the case of alternating current) or 75 and 1,500 volts (in the case of direct current). The Regulations cover domestic electrical equipment and equipment that is intended for use in the workplace.   Now going to read Annex B   Mike

No Bryce I think it is you that are wrong, manufactures supply in car phones kits to be installed into the permenant wiring of a car, the same applies to SATNAV equipment.   The CE directive is a Health and Safety compliance documentation to ensure that the output from a product does not harm any individual or domestic animal, by using a different module in a Tx you have modified the output of that equipment, using your argument the equipment no longer complies with the CE directive.   See: http://www.siracertification.com/UserDocs/New%20approach%20directives/lvd.pdf   Mike

Further to the above, if indeed that is the case, using a Spektrum module in a Futaba Tx will by defalut not have Futaba's RECOMMEDATION and therefore will invalidate the CE approval?    This would then mean that all module based Tx's can not be used with an after manufacturers module, I wonder why all these manufacturers are wasting their time producing them?   Another thought, I have modified my car to have a SATNAV and Hands free phone, have I invalidated the "Construction Use" Regulations and indeed the "Type Approval"   Clearly not.   Mike 

The notification in your last issue that moving a wire from outside to inside a Tx to make it less vulnerable would invalidate the CE markings and OFCOM statutes cannot be correct, these markings and inspections are for compliance with power output and compliance with statutes and have nothing to do with the routing of cables, if this was ever taken to court because of an acident the defence would be that the wire was moved to make it less vulnerable to damage and therefore was an improvement.  To take the inferance in the statement to its ultimate conclusion, I as a builder of a model would not be allowed to substitute, horns, pushrods or use servo's other than those specified by the manufacturer or possibly use radio equipment other than that used in the original airframe, this is plainly a nonsence.   Mike        

Graupner have now called in all the IFS systems for a hardware upgrade, it also seems they are offering three different types of system within the same Rx case, don't know how this works or what it is, just thought I would add something to the site as an update. Mike

I don't know what you are trying to put them in, but on my Twister I can get two x two in line and one on top, I have tried this in the battery compartment and it fits, just have not bothered as I am using a 4S LiPo @ 4350Mah at the moment may try it later when I break open another DeWalt pack that I have.  Mike

Chris  That is the problem, you can buy a whole unit including the saw and drill with the VPX pack but not just the batteries will keep looking, if I find any in Europe at a sensible price I will post here. Mike

Danny  Must admit I have not looked lately for the DeWalt packs on e-bay, but have been looking for the B&D 1100Mah packs to make up some smaller Rx packs, seems thay are even more elusive than the 36volt. Mike

Danny  I have not found any DeWalt 36volt packs that aren't LiFi's thats news to me. All the packs I have are made up of combinations of ballance leads even the bought one's, I don't think anyone supplies their multiple packs with just one lead at least I have not seen any above 4S with one ballance lead. Chris Yes the puffin one's are good value and are redily avilable, its a good way to start. As to the shrikwrap I have only found 105mm from BRC, though I have not looked for any bigger, they take a 4S pack veritcally, you have to cover the end's yourself with somthing, I use fibre reinforced tape, I am sure a trawl thought the internet would bring results for larger shrinkwrap.  Mike

A DeWalt 36volt 10S pack is just two 5S packs waiting to be split and have leads soldered onto the tags left after you have split them, already welded together in 5S, then cover them, come on guys its not that difficult.  Mike

Good luck with the soldering, I did not have any problem making up my A123 packs with a 75watt Iron from the DeWalt packs, just measured the Twister and I can get 4s in without problems, but the fith cell would have to be on top, unless I carve out the inside of the battery tray, I think I will just sitck with the LiPo's for now and keep the A123's for my Rx supply in my bigger machines. Mike

Tom  They Weigh 453gms with connectors, I have not checked the C of G, but it fly's and glides fine, the batteries do not get hot at all, they are 25C so pulling about 50amps they are well within capacity which is 108.75amps at 25C which is the low end of the capacity, max is 50C bursts which is 217amp, don't think the Twister will get there.  Mind you when I put them with my 6S to make up 10S in my Extra they are close too the 152 amp climb out. Mike

Tom  I also fitted the Wemotec fan, no green putty on mine must have been good right out of the box, I am using Flight Power 4350Mah 4S in mine, I know thay are heavier, but give great duration, the only other mod I did was to put the Rx up higher to allow the battery to go back further, I am also using a Spektrum 6100 Rx and have not run out of range yet!!!!!!  Mike

Tom  I put an Typoon EDF 2W-20 in my Twister so it could take 4S and it fly's as well as when I burnt out my standard motor, I have also put vectored thust on the pitch by just linking it to the elevator, it works well in high alpha across the patch, all adds to the fun. Mike

Once you have set up your servo's etc: you must re-bind to ensure the fail safe works in the correct direction, its that simple.  Mike

Keep us informed. Mike