Align governor (nitro)?

[moyesboy]

Anyone got any experience with the align governor for nitros?

[robgt]

Yep...
I'm currently reviewing one on my 600n.
Full details will be published on my site, but the long and the short of it is - I don't really like it that much.
It manages overspeeding pretty well, most of the time. It doesn't seem to hold as constant a head speed as I would like from a governor, and every now and again, it doesn't manage overspeeding well at all.

Fuller details and writeup will follow on my website once my datalogger is back and working on the heli again.

The Multigov is still the best in my opinion.

Cheers,
Rob.

[BobJ]

Hi Gordon & Rob

Rob's findings are different from mine, I know I have a baised point of view or at least it will seen as that.

I replaced the Futaba GV-1 in one of my 600N's as soon as I got my hands on the Align govenor and it worked very similar to the GV-1, it was dead easy to fit, very small, very light, very cheap and just works, what more could you want from a govenor.

Until a couple of years back I never used to bother with govenors at all so maybe I am expecting different things from then compared to Rob.

Cheers
Bob J

[moonmanflyer]

I have got one also, Very easy to fit, and simple to use.
I have not had any overspeeding issues since fitting it that i was having before, but i am not quite so sure on the decay side of things, it does seem to take a while to react to slowing of the blades, but this could be down to mine running a bit rich at the moment.

[Thomas]

I too have one, and very happy with it, I bought as I was too lazy to mess about fitting a sensor on the 600n - It was easy to set up and works very well.

[moyesboy]

Rob
I assume you got the two magnets opposite poles (2 magnets=twice the chance of a magnet throwing off - not so good)

Assume you messed about with the sensor - magnet spacing.

Did your test include running with a comprehensive range of throttle servos?


Is there any adjustment other than the speed setting (which you have to check with a tach presumably). IS there a tweak pot for response (gain) or is that in effect just mechanical from the servo speed/arm length?

Is this governor "active"? ie does it feedforward the throttle curve into the response, so it is in effect ready for the load before it happens? or is it piurely feedback and responds to the head speed sensor so that cyclic/throttle mix wouldn't help and a flat line curve would work the same as a throttle curve. (ignmorring possibility of sensor failure).

[robgt]

I have mine set up as per the manual.
The setup is very very simple - plug it in, push the button and calibrate low and high throttle end points, then set your Tx end points to desired headspeed (based on a printed chart that comes with the governor - it's not a million miles out to be honest).

I have two magnets (opposite poles) fitted to my metal fan - since day one - never an issue.

Sensor is mounted such that approx 1mm gap exists - it picks up fine.

The test heli runs using a single set of equpiment (servos, engine, muffler etc), which keeps the playing field level

No adjustments - the governor is either on or off (on a switch). Theory has it you can set up two headspeeds by using the flight mode switch, which I may yet do. Currently, I have it on a two position switch, so it's either on or off.

I've set it up using a basic V curve along the lines of 100 - 85 - 100.

Over the flights I've had with it, it has been slightly erratic in that some flights it makes you think, wow, that just worked! - and then other flights it becomes flaky, when nothing between the two flights has changed on the model?
Just my experience of it so far...
Once I can get a few datalogged flights done using this governor, it will hopefully clear up what it's doing (at least for me )

Cheers,
Rob

[moyesboy]

suprised it doesn't need a gain control as the response frequency of the system would vary a lot with the servo speed - so surely it would be unstable with a very fast servo and sluggish with a slow one and the only adjustment you have is servo arm length. so it might be fussy about servos and arm length.

I read that runout in the fan can be an issue (even with the metal one) as it needs to pick up both magnets and one can be further away than the other.

Is the test model the 600n?
With the sensor above the fan then on the bench the gap is maxium, and end float will close the gap.
With the sensor under the fan then on the bench the end float makes the gap minimum (unless you hold it upside down).
I read on the place I don't want to admit to reading that some folks got it working better by opening the gap a bit.

[robgt]

as it needs to pick up both magnets

No - just one magnet needed.

Is the test model the 600n?

Yes.
I've not had an issue with magnet/sensor pickup as far as I know.

some folks got it working better by opening the gap a bit.

That's ok, unless the sensor is pressed hard up against the underside of the frames already - then there's no scope for gap enlargement without frame modification - which I'm not about to do!
Cheers,
Rob

[moyesboy]

I do beleive it won't work unless it sees both magnets.
one pole switches it on the other switches it off.
But I can't be certain - I just read it on t'int hair-net.

[robgt]

That's not how it works
The sensor will only pick up on one pole of a magnet - it switches on when it hits that correct pole, and off when it's no longer over it.
Installing two magnets is purely for balancing the fan and is not really required. In this instance (and many others, but not all) you could simply use a counter balancing copper weight in place of the unused (non-sensing) magnet.

Cheers,
Rob

[simm0]

align gov

i was thinking of trying one of these govs
..but with robs nagative view and bobs positive view looking at this i wouldnt know what to believe at all..
BOB would you say it compares to a throttle jockey etc(old one)or not
and do you think robs unit may be a faulty
ive been using an old throttle jockey till recently with good results also a thunder tiger gov..with no problem..i found that the plug and play units work best for me and i would expect this to be the same

regards craig simmons

[g0pkh]

Hi all.

I have 2 600n's One I have fitted with a Revlock10
and the other I have fitted one of these Align ones.

I would tend to agree with Rob. I find the Align Governor just not as good at
managing overspeeds. Ok I don't yet fly full 3d, but do fly a lot of aerobatics
flips rolls, loops, 540 stalls and learning Inverted.

If I was to replace it, I would fit another Revlock TBH.

Pete