Align 450 3GX New build questions

[adamneuk]

Hi,

I have a couple of questions I am curious about. If you don't mind I will just list them below.

1. Should the Status and Gov lights both be red on the 3GX box?
2. What is DIR set up?
3. How do I secure the circular brackets that the rubber control rod runs through to the tail?
4. Any tips on cable routing?

Thanks in advance Adam.

[Stevec]

I think this question is a bit specialised for the beginners section, you may want to ask in the trex 450 forum.. but I'll have a go at some.

1. Should the Status and Gov lights both be red on the 3GX box?

off the top of my head I can't remember and I don't have the manual here to check it sorry...

2. What is DIR set up?

If I remember correctly DIR setup is where you set the mechanical throws and directions of the servos, it tells you about it in the manual and there are some videos on youtube that cover the 3gx setup.

3. How do I secure the circular brackets that the rubber control rod runs through to the tail?

most people wedge a cable tie between the hoop and the boom and then snip off the excess leaving a small wedge of plastic in there.

4. Any tips on cable routing?

depends on how much you crash.
I have tried routing everything internally and it is easy enough to achieve a neat and almost wireless looking install, but if you put it in a lot then you will soon get fed up with it as access to the wires means you are removing a side frame each time.
my latest rebuild I have routed both the front servos down the left side frame on the outside and by cutting a drinking straw down one side I am able to use the straw as a conduit for the 3 servo leads. the tail servo wire is bunched up in front of the tail servo and the esc radio wire is run along the bottom plate on the inside.

some people use dental floss as a securing method for the wires instead of zip ties. on these little light helis anything helps to keep the weight down. personally I haven't bothered with that and use cable ties.

have a look in the FBL systems section for the other questions I am sure you are not the first to ask!

hope this helps.
Steve

[coolice]

Hi,

I have a couple of questions I am curious about. If you don't mind I will just list them below.

1. Should the Status and Gov lights both be red on the 3GX box?
2. What is DIR set up?
3. How do I secure the circular brackets that the rubber control rod runs through to the tail?
4. Any tips on cable routing?

Thanks in advance Adam.

Hey Adam.

1. No, governor should be red. Status led needs to be green to signal heading hold mode. You will need to adjust ATV or gyro gain values depending on 3GX wiring.
If using satellites gyro gain defaults to channel 7 AUX2.

2. DIR mode is used to teach the 3GX it's environment, in this case cyclic pitch range, gyro sense directions and control directions. The instructions go through this phase step by step so take your time and you'll be fine.

3. You can use a section of a zip tie to hold these in place, or as I do a small blob of super glue.

4. As neat as you possibly can, the main thing to watch and protect wires from is sharp carbon frame edges as these will cut through wiring very quickly.

If you get stuck ask the question and I'll do my best to answer.
.

[tomatwalden]

Hi,

I have a couple of questions I am curious about. If you don't mind I will just list them below.

1. Should the Status and Gov lights both be red on the 3GX box?
2. What is DIR set up?
3. How do I secure the circular brackets that the rubber control rod runs through to the tail?
4. Any tips on cable routing?

Thanks in advance Adam.

Adam - Jeff Fassbinder from Align did a vid series showing the build of the 500EFL here : Align Trex 500 EFL Pro Building the Rotor Head and Swashplate.m4v - YouTube

I know you've got a 450, but many of the principles should be the same.

T

[Extensa]

Hi, I have a 450 sport with 3GX, the status light should be green when giro is in head holding mode and red in rate mode, so you need to raise you giro sensitivity I got mine set to 65% on the computer software not TX as it is different figures!

DIR is the status you put the 3GX into by turning off heli, hold the set button down on 3GX and turn on at the same time, keep the st button held down till the lights are half way across and let go of set button you will get a light on status and DIR, this means you have bypassed the giro so you can set the mechanical 90 of the servos and your blade pitch.

I used a piece of zip tie in between the rudder and rod mounts as coolice said.

Cables are hard to keep tidy on the 450 as its so small but I put mine through the front tail mounting block and straight into the 3GX but your heli might be different?