Help needed on HeliCommand HC3-SX

[zci_zr]

I have setup HeliCommand HC3-SX on my Trex500, I followed the setup up wizard and everything works fine except when HC in self-levelling (Horizon when light are green) mode, the heli keep drifting to the left.

I have checked the swash plate level and swash plate compensation direction, they all fine. The heli is flying good when HC under the FBL (Rigid when light are orange) mode. it just as soon as I flip the switch to Horizon self-levelling model, the heli start drifting to the left. I haven't tried the bailout yet, be course I am afraid it will also drift the heli to the left and lead to a crush.This is really strange for me and I can not figure out what is wrong with it, could anyone help please, thanks!

The following is the setting HC:

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I have to clear one thing, when I say drifting left, I meas the heli keep fly towards to left.

[zci_zr]

Only thing I can think of now is, when the first time setup using setup wizard, I have selected Mounting Orientation (Socket Side) wrong, I have selected rear instead of front. I have only notice this until I have finished with setup wizard, therefore I have corrected my mistake direct under the Mixer tab without go through all the setup wizard again. Could this be the problem???

[Mslater]

Your change in mixer is fine, all helicopters drift when level due to tail thrust so this is normal.

[Stanley Speel]

This is a vibration problem... try doing the same with the blades off and the swash will tilt left under hor.mode. Im on a phone atm but if you look at my two logo 400 crash threads there is some info on it Ill give a more detailed reply later.

[Stanley Speel]

Also it depends on how much the drift is. As mark said a bit is fine, but when you have the hor gain on 100 used for bailout, when it is drifting at a low gain (cant see what value youre using) then this might be a tip over at high gain.

You should be more worried if the heli is 'tilting' in self level mode and not drifting if that makes sense

[Roger_Salmon]

I had this problem and the solution is to adjust the servo to swash links to dial out the drift. This is what the manufacturer recommends.

[zci_zr]

Your change in mixer is fine, all helicopters drift when level due to tail thrust so this is normal.

Isn't HeliCommand HC3-SX suppose to keep the heli at where is should to be in horizontal phase? If I just let control stick go, the heli will drift and fly towards to the left.

This is a vibration problem... try doing the same with the blades off and the swash will tilt left under hor.mode. Im on a phone atm but if you look at my two logo 400 crash threads there is some info on it Ill give a more detailed reply later.

Good idea, I will try run the motor without blade, and see what is happening.

Also it depends on how much the drift is. As mark said a bit is fine, but when you have the hor gain on 100 used for bailout, when it is drifting at a low gain (cant see what value youre using) then this might be a tip over at high gain.

You should be more worried if the heli is 'tilting' in self level mode and not drifting if that makes sense

If I let the control stick go off on my Tx, the heli will just keep drift/fly towards to the left. My Hor. gain is set at 50% which is default setting come with HeliCommand. I have also tried increase to 65% which will makes the speed of heli drift to left a little faster. PS, I have done this through PC software, not on my Tx.

I am using JR DSX11, and set AUX2 to controlling the Hor. Gyro channel, I kept "Travel Limit" at both side as full which is +150% and -150%; also the "Travel Adj" remain un-touched, both side +100% and -100%.

One question is, Can I adjust head gyro gain through AUX2's "Travel Adj" value, e.g. if I want to reduce the HH gain, I just reduce the positive side of "travel adj" to +65% ? (This method is just like using "Gear Travel Adj" value to adjust tail gyro gain if you are using 6 channel receiver with JR DSX9 or DSX11)
If this method is works, how should I set the head gyro gain slider value in PC software, e.g should I leave as default gain which is 50%, or I have change it to full 100%?

I had this problem and the solution is to adjust the servo to swash links to dial out the drift. This is what the manufacturer recommends.

Do you means adj all swash plate to server linkage or just the one on the front left side? If I don't get you wrong, you means I should longer the linkage on the front left, be course the Heli is drift to the left, right? But in this case, the Swash Plate will not be in level any more, how would this works? Be course the heli is fly fine in just FBL model, only start drift to left when is in Horizon/self-levelling mode.

[Roger_Salmon]

If you get a lean to the left when you switch to Horizontal mode then increase the front left link one turn and decrease the front right one turn. If it's a lean to front or back then do the same operation but do it with elevator and both aileron links. It took me several flights to get mine adjusted. You can try adjusting just one link as well. You should check the many threads on Helifreak and RunRyder where there is a lot of info. Helicommand themselves recognize that the swash needs tuning for Horizontal mode.

I have my DX-8 set up so the Gear switch in position 0 gives me Rigid mode. Pressing the Trainer gives me Rescue mode. With Gear in the 1 position I have Horizontal mode. Using Aux2 ATVs I have the gain on Horizontal mode set to 60% and in Rescue mode set to -100%. If you do this use the Diagnose tab in the software to make sure you have it set correctly.

Hope this helps.

Isn't HeliCommand HC3-SX suppose to keep the heli at where is should to be in horizontal phase? If I just let control stick go, the heli will drift and fly towards to the left.



Good idea, I will try run the motor without blade, and see what is happening.



If I let the control stick go off on my Tx, the heli will just keep drift/fly towards to the left. My Hor. gain is set at 50% which is default setting come with HeliCommand. I have also tried increase to 65% which will makes the speed of heli drift to left a little faster. PS, I have done this through PC software, not on my Tx.

I am using JR DSX11, and set AUX2 to controlling the Hor. Gyro channel, I kept "Travel Limit" at both side as full which is +150% and -150%; also the "Travel Adj" remain un-touched, both side +100% and -100%.

One question is, Can I adjust head gyro gain through AUX2's "Travel Adj" value, e.g. if I want to reduce the HH gain, I just reduce the positive side of "travel adj" to +65% ? (This method is just like using "Gear Travel Adj" value to adjust tail gyro gain if you are using 6 channel receiver with JR DSX9 or DSX11)
If this method is works, how should I set the head gyro gain slider value in PC software, e.g should I leave as default gain which is 50%, or I have change it to full 100%?



Do you means adj all swash plate to server linkage or just the one on the front left side? If I don't get you wrong, you means I should longer the linkage on the front left, be course the Heli is drift to the left, right? But in this case, the Swash Plate will not be in level any more, how would this works? Be course the heli is fly fine in just FBL model, only start drift to left when is in Horizon/self-levelling mode.

[zci_zr]

If you get a lean to the left when you switch to Horizontal mode then increase the front left link one turn and decrease the front right one turn. If it's a lean to front or back then do the same operation but do it with elevator and both aileron links. It took me several flights to get mine adjusted. You can try adjusting just one link as well. You should check the many threads on Helifreak and RunRyder where there is a lot of info. Helicommand themselves recognize that the swash needs tuning for Horizontal mode.

I have my DX-8 set up so the Gear switch in position 0 gives me Rigid mode. Pressing the Trainer gives me Rescue mode. With Gear in the 1 position I have Horizontal mode. Using Aux2 ATVs I have the gain on Horizontal mode set to 60% and in Rescue mode set to -100%. If you do this use the Diagnose tab in the software to make sure you have it set correctly.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for you reply, I will do a density search on those forum you have provided.

If I longer front linkage one turn, and short front left linkage one turn as well, will this make the swash plate not in 0 degree when mid-stick, and start drifting when I am just using the ridge mode (FBL function only), is this right?

About Tx Gain adj, If I do that, what is value of "Head Gyro Default Gian" under "Rigid" tab should I set for?

[zci_zr]

Regards to vibration, I have mounted the HeliCommand on top of the tail gear box (Trex 500), using the thick pad come with in the box, and has not apply and extra strap on top. Is this ok or should I try some where else with the other thin pad?

[Roger_Salmon]

I didn't have a problem in Rigid mode after making the adjustments.

Thanks for you reply, I will do a density search on those forum you have provided.

If I longer front linkage one turn, and short front left linkage one turn as well, will this make the swash plate not in 0 degree when mid-stick, and start drifting when I am just using the ridge mode (FBL function only), is this right?

[zci_zr]

Do I just adjust the linkage, or I have go through calibration in PC software after the linkage adjustment? Shouldn't swash pate must be at 0 degree all the time whenever both Ali and Elv stick are in the natural position?

[Roger_Salmon]

Just adjust the linkage. No need to go through the PC setup. That's what I did and Rigid mode takes account of the change and levels itself. If in doubt contact Joachim at Helicommand. He is very helpful.

Do I just adjust the linkage, or I have go through calibration in PC software after the linkage adjustment? Shouldn't swash pate must be at 0 degree all the time whenever both Ali and Elv stick are in the natural position?

[zci_zr]

Just adjust the linkage. No need to go through the PC setup. That's what I did and Rigid mode takes account of the change and levels itself. If in doubt contact Joachim at Helicommand. He is very helpful.

I am not sure I fully understand you correctly. When you say Rigid mode, do you means HeliCommand only works as a FBL unit as every other FBL units e.g. Align 3G, and DO NOT have function of self-levelling, is that right?

If so, this what I don't understand, after I change the length of the linkage, the swash plate is not in 0 degree any more, which will have a angle to right:

1. this could compensate left drifting when HeliCommand in self-levelling mode, when HeliCommand is trying to fly/level themselves;

2. But if in just FBL/Rigid mode, the HeliCommand doesn't Command heli any more but only simulating the flybar mechanism, Isn't that will cause the helicopter start drifting to the right, due to swash plate is not in level and has the angle to the right.


If in the end, I really could solove myself, how can I get in touch with Joachim at Helicommand?

Many thanks.

[Roger_Salmon]

Rigid mode is just that. The unit is acting purely as a FBL controller. Don't worry about how the swash is aligned the unit will take care of that.

You can contact Helicommand here:

HeliCommand - Contact

You can see many of Joachim posts here:

HeliCommand - HeliFreak

It's probably quicker to reach him through Helifreak imho.

I am not sure I fully understand you correctly. When you say Rigid mode, do you means HeliCommand only works as a FBL unit as every other FBL units e.g. Align 3G, and DO NOT have function of self-levelling, is that right?

If so, this what I don't understand, after I change the length of the linkage, the swash plate is not in 0 degree any more, which will have a angle to right:

1. this could compensate left drifting when HeliCommand in self-levelling mode, when HeliCommand is trying to fly/level themselves;

2. But if in just FBL/Rigid mode, the HeliCommand doesn't Command heli any more but only simulating the flybar mechanism, Isn't that will cause the helicopter start drifting to the right, due to swash plate is not in level and has the angle to the right.


If in the end, I really could solove myself, how can I get in touch with Joachim at Helicommand?

Many thanks.