6V Step Down

[Steve]

I've not gone down the 6V LiPo route yet for any of my helis, but am considering a half-way house for my next one, with a 6V NiMh pack, rather than the ususal 4.8V

So I need a step-down regulator to run a Futaba 9254 tail servo.

Is this correct?

Where does it go?

Does the gyro (Futaba) need to be regulated down as well?

Will my usual JR PCM Synthesised receiver be ok with this?

Do I need to be fussy about which servos I buy for the heli in general?

I found this on Midlands website for about £3 - is this what I need?

K10333A : 5.1V Step-Down Voltage Regulator
Allowing use of Futaba servo models 9241.9251.9253.9254.9255.9256, and other digital servos not capable of handling 6V. Connect the regulator inline between the Gyro and the rudder servo. If you are using a servo that can accept 6V input, the regulator is not required.

Thanks

[Stuart]

I use the duralite system, but only because the fromeco system wasn't out at the time. Rather time intensive for charging but lasts for ages.

Yes, you'll need a 5.1v step down for the tail servo...however, unlike the duralite site that mentions not recommended for Nicad and Nimh the one on midland mentions nothing, so it may pay to double check before ordering.

Most rx and gyro's take 6v, the GY401 can run on 6v so I placed mine between the gyro and the tail.

http://duralitebatteries.com/accessories4.html#Tail

Just double check on servo spec'd before buying.

Most these day's I suspect are being geared to higher voltages anyways due to the influx of lipo used on not only nitro but the larger heli's.

Out of interest why haven't you moved to Lipo.....I find I never worry as much about the old how much battery have I got left scenario.

I've just installed tonight RC Spartans G4 Lipo guard on my Mini Titan.....talk about bright

[Nutz]

You would need 1 stepdown per non 6V capably servo, you don't need to step down the gyro though I do not know if the Gyro will like 7+ volts, that is what your 6V pack will be when it is charged, personally for the price of the align 5.9V reg I would go down that road with a stepdown for you tail servo.

[Steve]

Out of interest why haven't you moved to Lipo

Dunno really.

I suppose cost has something to do with it. It's not just the price of the regulators, it's the LiPo packs, the charger, the balancer etc etc, all of which I'd have to buy in order to go down this road.

I need to look into it a bit more closely.

[Steve]

You would need 1 stepdown per non 6V capably servo, you don't need to step down the gyro though I do not know if the Gyro will like 7+ volts, that is what your 6V pack will be when it is charged, personally for the price of the align 5.9V reg I would go down that road with a stepdown for you tail servo.

So what you're saying is I need to regulate the 6V NiMh pack to make sure it doesn't peak over 6V for the whole system (connect it between the battery and the receiver), and then further regulate the supply to the tail servo down to 5V or there abouts.

[ChrisB]

Phil Henderson sells the complete Align regulated system for £26

6A regulator £12
1900 mah 7.4v Lipo £12
5.1v stepdown for tail servo £2


I use this system on 2 helis and its perfect

[Steve]

Phil Henderson sells the complete Align regulated system for £26

6A regulator £12
1900 mah 7.4v Lipo £12
5.1v stepdown for tail servo £2


I use this system on 2 helis and its perfect

Is 1900 mAh LiPo a big one, small, or average? I have never dipped my toes into LiPo, so don't comprehend the figures in the same way that I do with NiMhs and NiCds. I've read about helis with 4000 mAh LiPos. Would this regulator and step-down work ok with such a pack? How much is the charger and balancer going to set me back on top of this?

[wadders]

Sorry to Hijack the post but i was thinking this is a good place to ask.
Ive got a Trex700 fitted with the following:

Beast X
Bls 451's (collective)
9256 (tail)
9252 (throttle)
Atg

Im using a 8A Flighttech Regulator and a outrage 7.4v 3600mah lipo.
I have turned the voltage down to about 5.1v. my question is.............

am i doing it the right way? is 5.1v enough for the beastx and the BLS451's?
and do i need to step it down for the 9256 on the Tail or will it handle +-5.1v ok???????

[Brod]

Hi Wadders,can tell you the beastx works fine on my 8A Flightech reg.set at 5.1v,but no experience with your other equipment.

[wadders]

Sorry to Hijack the post but i was thinking this is a good place to ask.
Ive got a Trex700 fitted with the following:

Beast X
Bls 451's (collective)
9256 (tail)
9252 (throttle)
Atg

Im using a 8A Flighttech Regulator and a outrage 7.4v 3600mah lipo.
I have turned the voltage down to about 5.1v. my question is.............

am i doing it the right way? is 5.1v enough for the beastx and the BLS451's?
and do i need to step it down for the 9256 on the Tail or will it handle +-5.1v ok???????

Someone must have an idea............

[Stuart]

The only reason the stepdown was used was because certain servos are designed to work off 4.8v. You can get away with a slightly higher voltage but.your going to start to overheat the servo and reduce its lifespan.

Provided your working within servos specs you will be fine. Most gyros and rx's will generally work on a wide voltage range its servo that are generally more restrictive.

[ROSSCO]

Sorry to Hijack the post but i was thinking this is a good place to ask.
Ive got a Trex700 fitted with the following:

Beast X
Bls 451's (collective)
9256 (tail)
9252 (throttle)
Atg

Im using a 8A Flighttech Regulator and a outrage 7.4v 3600mah lipo.
I have turned the voltage down to about 5.1v. my question is.............

am i doing it the right way? is 5.1v enough for the beastx and the BLS451's?
and do i need to step it down for the 9256 on the Tail or will it handle +-5.1v ok???????

If you have the regulator set at 5.1v then the 9256 should be fine, i used to run a Duralite Regulated system at 5.1v and also 5.3v and this was perfectly fine for the entire system including the gyro/tail servo. This should actually be better as you are actually getting a constant voltage to the servos rather than a decreasing voltage. If you take a Nicad/nimh pack which is listed as 4.8v that is fully charged it will actually put out close to 6v and then during use the voltage will decrease. Most voltage step-downs for Gyro/Tail Servo will actually step the voltage down to 5.1v/5.3v anyway so it should be perfectly fine.

The BeastX and Futaba BLS451's are rated for 4.8v usage so 5.1v should be perfectly fine for them. (The BeastX is actually rated at 3.5v - 8.5v).

[sacko]

BLS are rated now for high voltage.

Just get a;

Flightech 8 amp reg
Any 2s 2200mah lipo

You could get an align step down for the 9254, I didn't and used it for about a year with no issues.

..and I wouldn't touch an Align 2in1 with a barge pole!

[wadders]

BLS are rated now for high voltage.

Just get a;

Flightech 8 amp reg
Any 2s 2200mah lipo

You could get an align step down for the 9254, I didn't and used it for about a year with no issues.

..and I wouldn't touch an Align 2in1 with a barge pole!

hey paul thats what i got accept got a 3600 mah lipo.
as long as the higher voltage wont cause issues in flight with the 9254 then im happy to use it without the step down.

Thanks

[Steve]

Servos rated at 4.8V carry a nominal value which is a hangover from NiCd and NiMh days. A fully charged 4.8V NiMh or NiCd pack can give out over 6V for a short period of time, and these servos never failed under such conditions. So, if you're running a regulated 5.1V system, then you are providing exactly 5.1V at all times, which is well within the tolerance that a 4.8V servo can safely tolerate. I have two helis running at 5.1V regulated with 4.8V JR servos in, and they are no bother at all. No step down required for the tail either.