Safe mode

[helimadness]

Hi all. So I have never worried about safe mode just left it inactive. I have just upgraded my tx to a xg7 and they put a lot of notes in the manual about making sure safe mode is setup. Does evey one use it? Has It saved anyone?

I assume just set cyclic and rudder to mid stick, what about pitch and throttle?

Anything else I need to know?


Cheers

[bolders]

Absolutely. I dread to think about my heli flying up and away, if it should ever loose radio link, due to me not setting failsafe positions.

I dont know about the xg7 but failsafe settings on Spektrum only effects the throttle. All other channels remain in there last position

[Mark_T]

I dont know about the xg7 but failsafe settings on Spektrum only effects the throttle. All other channels remain in there last position

That is not completely true, some Spektrum receivers offer 'preset failsafe' in addition to the more common 'Smartsafe' mode.

With the preset mode you can set how you want the other channels to be positioned as well.

For the OP, if your radio offers a failsafe mode (and most available in the UK do) you must make use of it, it isn't about saving the model, it is about the safety of everyone around the model including yourself.

[Mike W]

If you look in the BMFA book , am sure somewhere it says that if model is fitted with a failsafe then it has to be activated ... I would rather have a model smash than god forbid it hit someone . Would be a sticky situation if you not got your failsafe set and you then try to claim on your insurance .. Always better to set it then not

[Cuppa]

Safety first always! +1 with Mike on that insurance companys allways wriggle like an fish!!!! so make sure you are infact coverd!

[helimadness]

I am living in China and there is no insurance for this hobby as yet. Safety is a big concern here as no one understands what they are or how dangerous they are so happily walk up to them when flying. Luckily the people flying here do so make sure people stay away. It is one of those accidents waiting to happen in China unfortunately.
Ok so will set fail safe before I fly next time. I assume everything mid stick is a safe bet? Zero pitch so hopefully will stay in the air long enough to get signal again or come crashing down softly.

The XG7 I think I can just put the stick where you want the fail safe position to be and press the clear button for it to store the setting. Can do for each channel.

Is there any way to test? Maybe unplug the motor move the stick and turn tx off to see if it all center's?

Actually had a incident with the Mini CP on the weekend. It binds every time you turn the tx and heli on. There was another guy there with the same tx. I think it somehow got messed up or bound with his as it spooled up not quite enough to take off and I had no control over it. No cyclic, no throttle not even throttle hold worked. I picked it up and managed to unplug it with out getting clipped with the blades. certainly made me think but.

Cheers

[Mark_T]

... Zero pitch so hopefully will stay in the air long enough to get signal again or come crashing down softly.

Wrong approach, this isn't about saving the model, this is about preventing accidents so you want the model out of the air quickly, not drifting out of control.

Throttle to zero and the rest holding last position will leave the model on a predictable path most of the time so at least you can see where it is likely to come down.

Anything else is just pure luck as to what orientation the model is in and how it reacts to the change in control positions.

Only certainty is which ever you choose the other choice would have been better if you do lose control

[helimadness]

Understand and agree the last thing you want it to hit someone. I figured it might be safer if it doesn't come crashing down but drifting around is no good either. Zero throttle makes sense thinking about it now. less throttle = less hurt.
I was thinking zero throttle if you were in idle up mode might actually mean stick down and full throttle. Will have to look into the manual more.
Will have to read up on getting it to remember the last positions as well.

Just out of interest how often does this happen in reality with modern radios? How many times a year do you see a model lose signal and crash?

Thanks for the advice.

Cheers

[Mark_T]

I was thinking zero throttle if you were in idle up mode might actually mean stick down and full throttle. Will have to look into the manual more.

The fail-safe should be working at the channel level so it is not putting your stick to zero, it is putting the throttle channel to zero. Check your radio manual to be sure, but this is why it is important to check the fail-safe settings after the model is fully set up so if for example you have reversed a throttle channel during set up, you reset the fail-safe to the correct 'off' position and don't have it going to full throttle instead by accident.

[coolice]

Hey.

Zero throttle, zero degrees pitch and other channels centred on all my models for the same reason of getting control back and guide the model to a safe landing. Having an out of control model not shoot upwards or drive itself downwards with collective pitch during a failsafe scenario is good also.

Let's be honest, if your model enters failsafe its a lottery as to where it could potentially end up.
.

[helimadness]

ok all good comments.

So how do you test fail safe once setup? I was thinking unplug the motor maybe move the stick away from where they should end up in fail safe and then turn the TX off. Does that work?

cheers

[coolice]

Hey.

Yes, that will work and is how I try the failsafe positions once set. I've also on the odd occasion left the motor connected, but removed the main and tail blades, then held the model and spun up with motor power a little before switching off the tx.
It helps if you have a fellow modeller with you, who's aware of the safety required when doing this to be totally safe. This is more applicable to an electric machine, as with an IC machine its easier to see the throttle servo move to idle or off position.

I feel its always best to check, especially after a new build or mods to an existing model.
.

[bolders]

That is not completely true, some Spektrum receivers offer 'preset failsafe' in addition to the more common 'Smartsafe' mode.

With the preset mode you can set how you want the other channels to be positioned as well.

For the OP, if your radio offers a failsafe mode (and most available in the UK do) you must make use of it, it isn't about saving the model, it is about the safety of everyone around the model including yourself.

Thats interesting, I just assumed that they would all be the same as the DX6i with AR6200 & AR7000 (What is it they say about assumption lol). Do you know it this is a transmitter or reciever specific function and what models support the preset failsafe.

ok all good comments.

So how do you test fail safe once setup? I was thinking unplug the motor maybe move the stick away from where they should end up in fail safe and then turn the TX off. Does that work?

cheers

You really want the motor plugged in during testing as imo the throttle setting is the most important to get right when setting failsafe. It would be better to either dis-engage the motor from the main gear or remove the main gear completely and then test.

[Mark_T]

Thats interesting, I just assumed that they would all be the same as the DX6i with AR6200 & AR7000 (What is it they say about assumption lol). Do you know it this is a transmitter or reciever specific function and what models support the preset failsafe.

Receiver specific and in general from the AR7000 upwards, but early models of the AR7000 do not support it.

[unwind-protect]

Thats interesting, I just assumed that they would all be the same as the DX6i with AR6200 & AR7000 (What is it they say about assumption lol). Do you know it this is a transmitter or reciever specific function and what models support the preset failsafe.

Spektrum alternate failsafe mode - RC Helicopter Wiki

Incidentally, while I happily check the failsafe settings on my nitro machine from time to time, I have yet to see a protocol for testing failsafe on an electric heli. Routinely unplugging the motor (even one wire) is not an option. Anyone have any suggestions?