John Wagg

I have a Southerner 60 which is currently using an Irvine 20 IC engine. Now for some untold reason it won't run a full tank of fuel reliably and cuts out unexpectedly. This is the second Southerner I've built with the same engine only the first ran faultlessly with no trouble with this very engine. So something to do with fuel supply. (Tried 3 different engines and 2 different tanks.🤔) So I have decided to go electric with it, for reliability, and want some guidance to the size of electric motor for it. The Irvine 20 is really overpowered for it but nice for short take offs. I expect to run a 3S pack, size to be determined later to fit the battery area. The 20 runs a 9x6 prop' mainly on very low throttle for normal level flight. Appreciate any suggestions for motor and expected ESC size. Cheers.

Came back to RC a couple of years back and purchased some bargain MG90's of Ebay. (6 for £10). Soon found out that they were not very good. Yes the majority worked but generally poor centering and the plastic gears broke very easily. I had also bought some with metal gears (6 for £11.66) which don't crumble but again poor centering etc. I have used some where it doesn't matter but my last purchases have been from 4MAX budget range. Obviously cost a bit more, work well, with expectations of reasonable quality. Typically :- https://www.4-max.co.uk/servo-4max-4M-100AMG-022.html These have gone up in price since I purchased mine but then hasn't everything. 😟 So now no more cheap servos of Ebay.

This video shows that the ASW17 has Futaba type servo plugs so will fit directly to FRSKY receivers. At 13 minutes.

David can you get other modes on TX? Keeping ACCST can you change to EU/LBT or others beside D16? P.S. I know how to update the X8R receiver but not the Access Tx. Mikes firmware program is better that FRsky's and automatically detects the signal type. But if you can't get the X8R to work in the first place then I wouldn't attempt it.

The 4 in 1 module is in the transmitters quoted above and will work with various makes of receivers. This basically means there are 4 types of radio in it. But they will not work with all receivers because of patents from some of the manufacturers. I have a Radiomaster TX16S and working with various makes of receivers. The one thing that you must look out for, and to be legal, are radios that conform to EU/LBT regulations, presuming you intend to fly in the UK. There should be a label on the transmitter stating so. EU/LBT = European Union / Listen Before Talk. Most club fliers will fly "mode 2". (I don't, I fly mode 1) although generally a transmitter can be changed from 1 to 2 or vis-versa as I did with my TX16S. You say you have a glider. Is it a powered glider ? Are you joining a club? Try a different shop for advice but expect them, naturally, to only suggest what they sell. Edit - writing as Alan posted but good advice about contacting your local club.

Your right but does show external module off. Previously though David does post about his external module. Trying to confirm that Rx and TX have compatible firmware. I would agree that only by refreshing the firmware's to the same protocol is the way to go. But to a new OpenTX user it can be a minefield.

David please accept my apologies if obvious - also I'm learning new things about FRsky and OpenTX. The X8R is ACCST firmware. How have you got ACCST on an ACCESS transmitter ? 4th photo shows it's on internal module. Video V1 / V2 firmware :-

David really asking confirmation from others but would V1 or V2 firmware have an effect on Rx outputs ? Also David very easy to have the servo plugs the wrong way up (been there-red face) but very unlikely if the supply plug is correct. (which it must be if the Rx has bound.) https://www.frsky-rc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Manual/X8R.pdf

I bound my S8R to my Tx and no problem. I am wondering, as my system is ACCST, have you got the right firmware in both the Rx and Tx. ? ie - both on ACCESS (or ACCST) I wonder if it's possible to bind an ACCST receiver with an ACCESS transmitter but not have servo output ? My S8R does say ACCST on the case. John

Others have had a similar problem :- https://frsky.co.uk/forum/frsky-r-xsr-receiver/very-poor-rssi-when-changing-from-accst-to-access/paged/3/ A suggestion is to initially ignore the RSSI figures and do an actual range test using a receiver setup outside. Probably need two people, one to walk away and the other to signal loss of reception.

Have a look at the FRsky pdf :- https://www.frsky-rc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Manual/X8R.pdf Does say:- X8R-EU version only works with FrSky Taranis X9D Plus-EU version/XJT-EU version in D16-EU mode Is this relevant to your problem or a red herring ?

Thanks John for the link. Had a quick read and will digest again properly later. The majority of our club fly electric and there is a lot of experience to glean from them. I've been flying many years on I.C so electric is a new experience for me. I do have some concerns about electric operation, especially around the safe use of Li-Po cells. Cheers John

I watched a plane go out of range about a month ago. (not mine) Transmitter battery ran out. 🙄 So technically not out of normal range. Learner guy chancing a last flight. Luckily, plane flew better on its own than when he tried to control it and it landed unhurt.

Ron, I don't think the S8R has a return to home function. It's not mentioned in the instructions so I presume there is no GPS sensor in it. This will be my first serious electric model although I have an electric glider and one of the Volentex mini warbirds. Currently I now use a Radiomaster TX16S (Edgetx) as my QX7 has packed in. Most of my receivers are FRsky plus a few equivalents. Thank you for the reply. John

Thank you MattyB. Simples 👍

Appreciate the replies Guys thank's. On all my "normal" Rx's (FRsky etc) I can set the failsafe by first putting the Tx sticks into the failsafe position I want Usually just throttle closed but you could add flaps or up elevator if practical. Following this just press the receivers F/S button (bind button) for a less than 2 seconds and this sets the fail-safe. The S8R does have a F/S button but as Andy says it doesn't work when the Rx is set in the stabiliser mode. So the fail-safe has to be set on the transmitter which is something I haven't needed to do until now. (more little grey cells to exercise 🙄) The S8R can have the stabiliser mode switched out and so becomes a normal receiver, then perhaps the F/S button may function normally ? A good point JD8, as I didn't expect the ESC to cut the power if the signal is lost. Edit - just to add that the F/S has to be reset if the receiver is rebound or to cancel the F/S then rebind the receiver. Cheers John

JD8, Thanks for the reply. When the plane is completed I suppose all I have to do is switch the Tx off and see the outcome. 🙂 Cheers John

If an electric plane (ESC motor controller) flies out of range does the motor cut.? I'm getting an electric plane for Christmas (been a good boy 😇) and just wondering if the motor cuts or keeps going. At the moment I intend fitting an FRsky S8R stabiliser receiver which, depending on settings, could just fly away on it's own in stabilisation mode even when out of range. So like any powered plane if the motor cuts it's expected to return to terra-firma. It would be nice as a "fail safe mode" if the motor cut and the receiver went into its self stabilisation mode. The S8R, as far as I'm aware, does not have a safe mode like other standard receivers where you just momentarily press the F/S button to set the controls on signal loss. Normally I fly IC models so this new fangled electricary stuff is going to tax the little grey cells, What with timers, throttle arming, etc. Cheers John

Looked again at T9's website and it appears as you say that "Universal" probably equals FCC firmware. Rx's with your "UNIVERSAL ACCST" firmware are just using the "UNI" designation. https://www.t9hobbysport.com/frsky-xr-uni-accst-firmware-receivers They are charging £2.50 for the self flashing activation key. I presume each Rx has an individual activation key. Cheers John

Thankyou Ron and Mike for your replies. I don't understand why T9Hobbysport are listing S8R Universal receivers unless they are able to flash the firmware on them ? Currently I have 6 off D8R-11 receivers flashed with Mikes Universal and all work as expected. My S8R is flashed with FRsky V2 Eu/LBT so in theory it should be stable and sorted concerning the wayward servo movement. But I would still prefer Mikes firmware if available in the future. Thankyou Ron for the explanation and will give it a go on an X8R. What I don't understand is why the LUA script is put in the TOOLS folder. Am I right in thinking that the LUA script is for use on the Tx only and not for the receiver. ? Cheers John

Reading through the Aloft postings they say that S8R (stabilising) receivers are not UNI' supported yet T9Hobbysport list them on their website:- https://www.t9hobbysport.com/frsky-s8r-receiver I have an S8R which i would like to flash the 'UNI' firmware on, is this possible. ? Am I right in thinking that any receivers can be re-flashed with Frsky firmware if a UNI' installation isn't successful ? Also Aloft mentioned about a video showing installing the firmware which would be helpful as I don't understand "lua" or the activation process. The video doesn't appear to be available yet. I've downloaded the Universal firmware and just need to understand the activation process. Cheers John

Generally I would start off with about a 1/3 cord back from the leading edge especially as it is a straight parallel cord wing. The other parameters are the aileron and elevator movement. If your Tx has rates then I would set them up for the ailerons and elevator as well. Before flying check how the model is balanced side to side. With the wing in place, hang the model at the the top of the vertical stabiliser (rudder) and also at the nose. Which ever wing side drops then put some weight in the the light wing until plane is level. Once the plane is flying safely there are techniques to determine the best place for CG by noting how it flies. P.S. I would think a 36 will be a bit overpowered for a 36" wingspan 👍

Depending on the model I drill pin holes in the fuselage and poke the wires out the side, top or bottom.

How much of a thread can you see up inside the needle. ? (maybe something inside.) Can you try it on another carb'? Is the needle bottoming out when turned in ? Fit some fuel tube to the carb and blow into it while turning the needle in to see if it reduces the flow.

Appreciate the replies and thanks. I bought this from Leeds Model Shop 8/3/22 this year. Model Technics Laser 05 5L Nitro Glow Fuel MTLS5 It doesn't seem to develop full power and I have difficulty in getting a reliable idle. This is on an engine (SC30FS) that ran very well on both Optifuel 5% and original Laser 5. Yes it starts and runs but doesn't feel right. Not done any real tests to compare. I've not done much flying this year generally because of the weather so it's lasting a long time. I suppose I should have queried it at the time but with the changes that Laser 5 etc were going through I just assumed it was OK. Especially when people were saying that the new Laser fuel required the settings tweaking also helped settle suspicions. It's only recently when forum members mentioned purple and red colouring that started me wondering why is mine is green.🤢 Actually looks worse in a clear jar than in the plastic container. Edit - By the way the exhaust residue is clear. Very sorry for the post diversion.