Futaba 16SZ and Powerbox PBS T250

[John Rickett 102]

Does anyone know how to register a Powerbox PBS-250 temperature sensor in a 16SZ transmitter.

According to Powerbox they are compatible but I cannot get it to work. I am using Slot 8, although according to the Futaba manual (Futaba) temperature sensors can be assigned to any of the 31 slots, the Powerbox manual (for Europe) says to use 8-31.

Whatever I do I get the message 'Sensor not ready'.

Help from anyone who has had to tackle this before would be appreciated.

Thanks    

[Frank Skilbeck]

John, have you set the sensor to Futaba protocol, we are using a Powerbox pressure sensor with a Multiplex radio, but had to get the Powerbox sensor programming lead and change it's mode from Powerbox to Multiplex, I guess you have to do the same to use it with Futaba.

[John Rickett 102]

Frank, Thanks for that.

I've got the Powerbox Terminal programme and have connected to that and changed to Sbus so that should be the same thing....if its worked. There is no 'save' command in the programme and no flashing lights so I can't tell if a change has been accomplished. 

[Frank Skilbeck]

John, does this help https://forum.powerbox-systems.com/forum/index.php?thread/6895-slots-used-for-futaba-telemetry/ looks like you should not register the sensor first just tell the Tx which slots it's using according to this list. BTW if you post a query on the Powerbox forum they are usually quick to respond.

[John Rickett 102]

Frank, Thanks for your help once again.

I did as the Powerbox link advised, even changed the receiver to Mode B (SBus) which I had forgotten to do, but still no read out from the T250.

I'll do as you suggest and post a query on the Powerbox Forum.

Thanks

 

[John Rickett 102]

For those who may need to know one day....

The Powerbox Terminal programme is required, connect the sensor via a usb port to the terminal and when the programme starts, select SBus and then move the slider to Slot 3 - that's it for making the sensor Futaba compatible.

In the transmitter, select 'sensor' and choose slots 3 - 7 with the 'temp F1713' option. Now go to 'telemetry' and up to 5 (depending on how many thermocouples are connected to the sensor) temperatures should read.

Annoyingly with Futaba, having previously set-up whether you want imperial or metric units, you are stuck with either one for all measurements, so as I wanted the height sensor to read out in feet, I now have the temperature in degrees F whereas I'm a convert to celsius for temperature but not metres for height. A small burden...