help with msh brain

[loz]

hi guys, just installed a brain to my 450 pro and am a little confused with this self level feature, so i basically have 3 flight modes that are currently assigned to aux 2 on my dx8, on the setup screen there are 3 boxes to tick if u want self level, so would i tick just one of the boxes in a certain flight mode or all three? if its just one then does the switch have to be reset in order for sl to be used again? or can you have a seperate switch that chooses flight modes and a different one as a bail out?? thanks for any info

[p41mer]

I have 3 different flight modes. 1 is sport, 2 is 3d and 3 is 3d with bail out activated. Pretty much all my flying is done in mode 2. If I get into trouble I flick the switch to mode 3. When I get my self sorted i just flick back to mode 2.

Make sure your model is perfectly level when you program the auto level.

[loz]

Ok cheers that's kinda what I thought, are u using a dx8? If so what switch are yr flight modes assigned to?

[p41mer]

Nope, I use a futaba. Assign the flight mode to a switch that suits you and can have your finger hovering over incase you need the bail out.

[loz]

Ok cheers will see if I can assign a different switch. Just one other thing can dual rates be used in tx with this unit or does this have to be changed in the setup program, i tried adjusting agility on bench but doesn't appear to alter the throw of the servos much?

[p41mer]

Not sure. I'm not using dual rates on cyclic. Just some on the tail to slow it down a bit.

[maddog7]

Loz,
I'd be ginger with the SL feature of the Brain, I believe the newer FW is better but many people have had it crash their models.
I know not everyone will have this experience but thought a heads up might be beneficial.

See the threads on helifreak regarding this issue and the intricacies of updating the FW.
MSH Brain FBL Unit - HeliFreak

It's a great unit to fly though.
D

[loz]

Yeh it does seem like a bit of a mixed bag doesnt it with some saying it works great and others not, tbh I'm only just about flying around no 3d at all (well not intentinally lol) and if it can get me out of a situation when I loose orientation then id b happy, thanks for the heads up anyway

[Storrm]

help with msh brain

I have a DX8 and have the bank select on my aux2 3 way switch and then have programmed the bail out to my gear 2 way switch via a mix program. I found the gear switch easier to reach than any of the others and more intuitive

[James A]

I've used it before and my advice is to try it out on a non latching switch, I have it on the trainer switch on the DX8. Basically the heli becomes really unresponsive when in SL mode so if you throw the switch and it does something funny you want to get it out of SL asap in order to make the save. My advice it take it up really high blip it on and see what happens. My first time it pitched backwards by about 35 degrees and I was lucky to make the save as I was far too low and was using a latching switch at the time. Having read a lot of the threads many people suggest it is down to vibrations as the SL mode uses accelerometers which are susceptible to vibes where as the gyros it uses in normal flight aren't. At some point I will remount mine with a pad, plate pad and give it another try. Until then it's something I can use as a last resort rather than spending more time trying to get it to work well, taking off, testing, landing, adjusting to be honest for most people it's quicker to learn how to bail out properly yourself, unless your really pushing the envelope, then it would be useful.

[Storrm]

help with msh brain

Cheers James. I was thinking about using the trainer switch but it felt awkward to reach in an emergency. I've not tried SL yet (waiting for some nice weather!) but from what I've read, vibrations + not configured with a perfectly flat setup are the main reasons for a nasty SL experience. You should test SL on the bench by getting the Heli perfectly flat (I use a main shaft bubble level) and flicking the switch. The swash shouldn't move at all but if it does, you know you've not got it setup correctly. If it doesn't move but goes screwy in flight, it's a vibration issue

[maddog7]

I've used it before and my advice is to try it out on a non latching switch, I have it on the trainer switch on the DX8. Basically the heli becomes really unresponsive when in SL mode so if you throw the switch and it does something funny you want to get it out of SL asap in order to make the save. My advice it take it up really high blip it on and see what happens. My first time it pitched backwards by about 35 degrees and I was lucky to make the save as I was far too low and was using a latching switch at the time. Having read a lot of the threads many people suggest it is down to vibrations as the SL mode uses accelerometers which are susceptible to vibes where as the gyros it uses in normal flight aren't. At some point I will remount mine with a pad, plate pad and give it another try. Until then it's something I can use as a last resort rather than spending more time trying to get it to work well, taking off, testing, landing, adjusting to be honest for most people it's quicker to learn how to bail out properly yourself, unless your really pushing the envelope, then it would be useful.

This is great advice and exactly what I would do if I wanted to use SL.

Storrm,
You would probably not want to use it in this config, only set it up like this until your sure its gonna work then change to a 2 pos, easier to reach switch.
I've thought about this and recon a remote switch tied to your foot would be a good plan! You get into trouble, stamp your foot and bingo SL activates!

[JoeBailey]

This is great advice and exactly what I would do if I wanted to use SL.

Storrm,
You would probably not want to use it in this config, only set it up like this until your sure its gonna work then change to a 2 pos, easier to reach switch.
I've thought about this and recon a remote switch tied to your foot would be a good plan! You get into trouble, stamp your foot and bingo SL activates!

Brilliant idea, a guitar peddle plugged into the trainer switch would be great for buddying as well.

[maddog7]

Brilliant idea, a guitar peddle plugged into the trainer switch would be great for buddying as well.

Haha! yes, Guitar Pedal! perfect!

[James A]

Cheers James. I was thinking about using the trainer switch but it felt awkward to reach in an emergency. I've not tried SL yet (waiting for some nice weather!) but from what I've read, vibrations + not configured with a perfectly flat setup are the main reasons for a nasty SL experience. You should test SL on the bench by getting the Heli perfectly flat (I use a main shaft bubble level) and flicking the switch. The swash shouldn't move at all but if it does, you know you've not got it setup correctly. If it doesn't move but goes screwy in flight, it's a vibration issue

Well I finally did look into the vibes side of things by simply taking off the main blades and engaging SL on the bench to see what the swash did, firstly with 0 head speed and then at my normal flying head speed. Well the results spoke for themselves, everything fine with no head speed then the swash kicked back and to the side at 2500 rpm. I took the tail blades off and ran her up again and everything was fine so did a bit of rebalancing on the tail blades which made things better but still left a bit of unwanted movement so I then remounted the brain with a pad, plate, pad configuration after which I have zero unexpected motion. Now all I need to do is wait until I'm down at the field to test it out in anger, I'm still too cautious to try it out again in my back garden, even If I believe it should be fixed, it's time to get nice and high and then bask in the glory of a fully working SL system ....... touching wood.