Newbie Align Trex 450 Pro V2 3GX with DX8, built what next I need advice

[adamneuk]

I have an Align Trex 450 Pro V2 3GX with DX8. I have it built and everything connected up and wondered if I should be doing some checks. I can connect all the power and the controls move but the blades do not turn I get a regular beeping noise.

Is there a club in the Northeast U.K. that I can go to?

Adam

[Stuart]

There are a few clubs in the NE - where abouts in the Newcastle are you ?

Have you flown any heli's at all before now ?

[adamneuk]

Live in High Heaton Near the Freeman Hospital. I have never flown helis before. I can do the basics on phoenix.

Thanks

Adam

[adamneuk]

I live near PAddy Freemans in Heaton. I have never flown helis before. I can do the basics on Phoenix sim.

[Vikki]

Ok, with absolutely no disrespect whatsoever, that is somewhat scary.

When you built your helicopter did you go through the set-up procedure, like servos at 90 degress, swash plate level, blades at 0 degrees at mid stick? 3GX set-up according to steps in the manual?

I ask because everything has to be just right for things to go well, especially for a beginner.

If you have done all that and the heli is fit to fly then I change my 'somewhat' to 'slightly'

It's not a bad size but it can be intimidating if you're not used to something bigger. I know my first 450 looked massive to me and scared the spit (being polite) out of me. Weh it spooled up my knees went weak. Since getting used to my 500 the 450 looks real tiny now.

Is there a chance of you getting a Nano, 130X or mCPx to practise on first. Believe me, what you learn on those little guys WILL help you with the big dude. It's a lot less painful crashing the little guys because they tend to survive the crash, and they survive multiple crashes unless you hit on an unlucky spot. The 130X is the least durable.

Fly in very calm conditions when you first learn to take off and hover. It may be advantageous to use training gear and start with small hops first. Get a feel for the controls.

I'm pretty sure that someone close to you from here would be happy to help you out. I would be if I was close enough. Is it worth you booking a 2 hour lesson with an instructor? The first 30 minutes can be spent having a pro check over your heli. Then you can be buddy-boxed while you learn to lift off and hover. It would probably be worth every penny, especially as you are going in a noob.

I think that about cover my thoughts. Enjoy the hobby and be safe

[Varelco]

Welcome to the hobby Adam, good heli to start off with! Your best bet is to get someone with some heli experience to check it over, they may spot something you wouldnt even with loads of tips off the forum. It might be worth getting training landing gear on it whilst your learning. Seeing as you have been using phoenix you may not need them for long!

Good luck!

[adamneuk]

I think I would be best geting somebody to who knows what they are doing to look over it and have a test fly for me once I have the blades turning and I know the controls are working properly.

At the moment the blades do not turn and there is a repetative beeping noise. I got no set up instructions with it.

[Vikki]

Ah, I see. I didn't actually go through the 3GX set up procedure on mine because I went Beast X with it. If the blades won't turn and it just beeps at you then the throttle is probably not fully at zero when you power on. The ESC should be set-up already, mine was.

However, you are very wise to want an experienced person to look it over for you. It helps a great deal in those first, tentative steps, to know that the heli is spot on. You'll probably get more replies this evening.

Is there an instructor within travelling distance? He can check your heli over and then the rest of the lesson would be spent teaching you to hover with confidence. I know it's, like, £80 for two hours but at your stage, and killing to birds with one stone, it would pay you dividends. There may even be an addict close to you who has the skill and inclination to buddy you. It can go pear-shaped real quick.

I think an instructor or friend would take off for you and get a stable hover going at height before passing control to you. That gives them a chance to rescue a fruit shaped incident. Once happy that you can hold a hover tail-in they would probably let you take off into that hover. Jeepers that would be a beaut way of doing it.

[adamneuk]

the beeping is different to the the throttle setting alarm

[Vikki]

Hold my hands up here and say I've only ever heard the normal start up beeps sequence. There's probably a manual around on the 'net for the ESC. I think it's also in the Align build instructions for the 450... Oh! On youtube as well, I've seen one on setting up the ESC. Might be with a look there.

[tomatwalden]

I have an Align Trex 450 Pro V2 3GX with DX8. I have it built and everything connected up and wondered if I should be doing some checks. I can connect all the power and the controls move but the blades do not turn I get a regular beeping noise.

Is there a club in the Northeast U.K. that I can go to?

Adam

I was just in the same situation last week with my 500EFL Pro. The regular beeping noise is almost certainly the ESC which needs programming first before it will arm and power the motor.

If the video below mimics your symptoms, program your ESC and your motor should start.

[tomatwalden]

PS.

[tomatwalden]

Ah, I see. I didn't actually go through the 3GX set up procedure on mine because I went Beast X with it. If the blades won't turn and it just beeps at you then the throttle is probably not fully at zero when you power on. The ESC should be set-up already, mine was....

Seems Align are inconsistent then - mine definitely wasn't setup so I had the beeping problem when I plugged it in. My throttle was at zero which was my original assumption. As soon as I went through the programming sequence for the ESC, everything sprung into life ..

[muscleflex]

maybe your throttle is reversed? it's beeping because you're actually on high throttle instead of low?

[tomatwalden]

maybe your throttle is reversed? it's beeping because you're actually on high throttle instead of low?

To be honest, I doubt that's Adam's problem as it's exactly the situation I had ....

When I hit this beeping, I thought the same thing so reversed the throttle in my TX. The result was that the beeping went away, but only because I now had in effect got the throttle at max with the stick being low. This causes the ESC to enter programming mode!

I suggest the solution is to plug in the battery with the throttle stick at max. This will enter programming mode. Follow the instructions in the vid above and it should be good to go.

JUST IN CASE I'M WRONG! - Loosen the motor slightly such that you can dis-engage the pinion from the main gear. That way, if something does decide to spin up, you won't chop your fingers off!