direct lipo connection

[seajayess]

Hi guys can somebody tell me if I can connect my 2 cell lipo direct to the 3gx controller.I have an inline voltage regulator for the tail servo ds655 and the cyclic servos are ds 615. Running version 3 on the 3gx unit. The problem I have is that after power up it all binds together but as soon as I move the elevator stick it browns out.It has the align step down regulator for the servos at the moment. I have tried a nicad receiver pack connected directly to the 3gx unit and this cures the problem.
Thanks CJS

[coolice]

Hey.

Your servos cannot take straight 2s LiPo power unfortunately, the 3GX can but will not regulate the power down to safe levels for the DS615/655.
Another option before fitting a regulator is a LiFe pack, these output 6.6volts which the servos will work well on.

What model are you having these power problems on?
V3 is known to be a lot more power demanding and has caused problems on machines that were previously flying ok on the stock ESC BEC power supply.

The Align step down will not be enough of a voltage drop from 2s LiPo and in all honesty I'm not sure it would work reliably enough to trust on this higher voltage, as it was only intended to drop 6 volts down to 5 volts.
.

[seajayess]

Thanks for the reply , it is a 600 dfc , and has been ok running on the align regulator till I loaded version 3, which I think is better than version 2.1. So it looks like either a better regulator with higher current supply or a lifi battery thanks CJS

[Andy from Sandy]

It has the align step down regulator for the servos at the moment.

The device is a diode. When used in conjunction with an Align Regulator as intended it drops the voltage from 5.8 volts to 5.2 volts. The forward switch on voltage drop of a diode is 0.6volts so if you start with 7.4 volts you will end up with 6.8volts.

[coolice]

Thanks for the reply , it is a 600 dfc , and has been ok running on the align regulator till I loaded version 3, which I think is better than version 2.1. So it looks like either a better regulator with higher current supply or a lifi battery thanks CJS

Evening Mate.

You're welcome, glad to help.

Unfortunately now with the FBL trend the Align 2in1 is even more marginal on amp rating, some have even been able to get their models to brownout on the bench with firmwares V2.1 or lower just by cycling the servo's. Now add in flight loads and the amp draw goes up even more, creating a potential problem.

Is your model an E or N varient?
I must admit to quite liking my regulators, for the simple reason that the servo power demands are then removed from the reciver/FBL unit and handled solely by a unit I feel is better designed to deal with the high amp draw. We all know that most unit's cope ok, but I like to complicate things on my own models

Yeah, basically it is now as you say, choose a better regulator or go LiFe pack. The easy option is LiFe, one connection straight to the 3GX and away you go.

Keep us posted on how you get on.
.

[Mark_T]

I have an inline voltage regulator for the tail servo ds655 ...
...It has the align step down regulator for the servos at the moment.

Can you be a little more clear on what exactly you are using, is it just the Align step down for the tail, or are you also using an Align 2-in-1 regulator or some other Align device?

Personally I'd go with the LiFe that Coolice suggested and get rid of the drop-down on the tail, never liked those things as they just add a failure point for no good reason with a 655 servo.

[seajayess]

Thanks for the replies , been looking at lifi battery option and see these produce 6.6 volts you say this is ok to use with no voltage regulator at all
CJS

[George J]

Cliffy

Bec for me every day, I know life works well but I just personally don't like that you can't actually check the pack to see what's left in it. It's not the end of the world as you can see what you're using per flight and just work out how many flights you'll get out of it but I just prefer taking power from the flight packs. The Gryphons I've been using, Vega Reg on the Rave and Agena BEC on the 700, have been faultless.

George

[coolice]

Thanks for the replies , been looking at lifi battery option and see these produce 6.6 volts you say this is ok to use with no voltage regulator at all
CJS

Morning mate.

Yes, absolutely fine running the Aligns on 6.6 volts.
.

[seajayess]

Thanks for the replies have, ordered a life battery CJS