Failsafe setup?

[Rctintin]

Following on from the tragic events of Shades loosing his Heli at the weekend by just flying off, I thought I would check my Failsafe settings on my Helis. Well to my dismay, they are not set!!

I am a Futaba user, using a 12FG Tx, and all my Helis have 6203SB S-Bus Rx's.

The Heli I tested first was my 550, as that is on the bench having some repairs done to it (minor spill!!) so no boom or head installed, but all electrics connected. This is with a BeastX on board, with a CC Bec Pro for Rx power.

I plugged in a lipo, started her spinning, and turned my radio off, and nothing changed on the heli, it stayed spinning at the same speed.

Now, when I set this up, I set the throttle to full negative, all other sticks set to there natural mid point. On the Rx instructions, is says to 'Link to the Tx' by pressing and hold the 'Link/Mode' switch for more than 2 seconds.
This I did, and assumed that that was the fail safe set.

Can anyone please tell me how to set it correctly please? Also, I would like if possible to set the pitch to zero, and the throttle to idle so that if it does ever activate, it does not slam the heli into the ground with -12 deg pitch and a 2200 HS!!

[AcidDrink]

On Futaba radio you need to setup throttle in fail safe menu to something like -100 (roughly, depends on the ESC).
That should work.
If you want pitch at zero, set it to zero in the same menu (not to hold).

I am going to double check mine too..

[dani_r]

I should look into this too! Are the setups similar on the 8FG?

[Rctintin]

Thanks Michael, just looked at the 12FG menu, and set it up there, all tested and working fine. Just need to check my other machines now!!

Also, as stated, I was able to set the pitch to zero, and tested it there. it was great to see the servos lift to the correct position for zero pitch (and drop to zero) and the motor to spool down and stop.

I would now highly recommend everyone to remove their blades (or remove the pinion) and test their Heli's for failsafe!!

[Mark_T]

I should look into this too! Are the setups similar on the 8FG?

Yes, the 8FG is the same.

Very easy, just set each channel on the tx the way you want it in the failsafe menu and the job is done, nothing like the Spektrum setup.

[Rctintin]

As an ex DX7 and DX8 user, I did incorrectly assume that FS was set the same way on Futaba gear.

Thankfully, have checked mine after what happened to Shades has possibly saved me a Heli!!

[dani_r]

Yes, the 8FG is the same.

Very easy, just set each channel on the tx the way you want it in the failsafe menu and the job is done, nothing like the Spektrum setup.

Thanks I'll have a crack at that this week sometime

[shades]

I urge everyone to check their failsafe settings.
I dont want anyone to feel the low that I have had to experience.

[spillage]

You have still not heard anything shades????

[shades]

Nope nothing :-(

[David Drew]

Reading the various threads there are two things here. Loss of Rx power and loss of radio signal. (Failsafe.)

I'm certainly going to go over all my helis for this. The idea of a heli flying off or crashing due to either situation has given much cause for thought!

I'm thinking of having a small Rx pack to plug into the Rx as well as the power from the ESC on my leccies. Might do the same on my nitros. Needs thinking through.

The carb spring idea is also worth looking at if all else fails.


Here we go..............just when I thought everything was sorted ;-)

[Rctintin]

My TDR has an 800mah buffer plugged into the V-Bar as a backup to the SBEC.
My Goblin has a LiFe Rx pack, with 2 sets of servo plugs direct into the V-Bar and Rx with a XT60 instead of a switch.
I will be looking at throttle return springs on both my Nitro machines as well now.

[ModelGuard.Com]

Skookum 720 and 540 i have on all my helis has its own failsafe. If radio contact is lost the throttle goes to zero and if its the 720 it immediately self levels and goes to slight negative pitch.