Failsafe throttle setting for r/c boat

[Michael BordParticipant @michaelbord10152]

Hi,

Just joined forum so hi to everyone. Just finished (or near enough to try out) a model launch with a 545 motor. I'm a newbie with current radio gear but have got everything working ok – with one possible problem about what happens when transmitter signal lost.
I have a Tamco TAX6 6 channel 2.4ghz outfit. The receiver is connected to an Mtroniks viper 15 speed controller.. Everything works fine, however turning off the transmitter causes the motor to go full power astern. According to the Mtroniks web site this is likely to be because the neutral "off" position on the throttle stick is the half way position while the receiver fail safe will signal to use the bottom position of the throttle stick. that would be idle on a plane but is full reverse on the model boat setting.
Is it possible to set the receiver to use the equivalent "halfway" throttle position if there is no transmitter signal, thus turning off boat motor if signal lost?
I can't find this information in the instructions, have just e-mailed suppliers but someone out there may have some advice on this..
Thanks.

[Michael BordParticipant @michaelbord10152]

[AridlandsParticipant @aridlands]

Hi Michael,

I have not found a way to set the failsafe on the Tamco set, however an alternative is to use the "Mode" switch on the Tx to change mode, then you can use the same stick on the Tx as you did previously, but now connect the ESC to the elevator channel at the receiver. The elevator channel failsafes to the stick neutral (centre) position, so this should work for you.

Alan

[Michael BordParticipant @michaelbord10152]

Thanks very much for that advice, Alan. I'll try that out, sounds like it should do the job. Is that mode 1 that I should use (got it set to mode 2 at the moment whioch is what the only diagram in the rather skimpy instruction leaflet showed).

Bill

[AridlandsParticipant @aridlands]

I expect you have tried it already.. but the answer is yes, use mode 1 and then the elevator channel at the receiver.

Alan

[Michael BordParticipant @michaelbord10152]

Hi Alan,

Now tested and your set up works perfectly, thanks very much indeed for the advice. My next outing to the lake will be in the knowledge that the motor will now cut out in the absence of a transmitter signal, so much safer than the risk that the boat could go into full reverse in case of trouble.

Thanks again

l

[Kimosubby ShipyardsParticipant @kimosubbyshipyards]

Hi both,

I followed your discussion last year but as I didn't have any sets mentioned did not expect to use your passed on knowledge. However, at the IMBS last November I purchased two cheap 2.4 GHz sets (£25 each) with the precise intention of using them for childrens have a go boating, but in model yachts only. They were a pair of Radiolink T4EU 4 channel complete with receivers.

Today I thought I'd take a set out and try it in one of my small tugs, just to set it up and get a feel for it, and to establish how to restrict stick travel etc as it would be used by small hands. Experience with children's transmitter usage means "if it moves waggle it like mad" or "push/pull it through the stops as hard as possible cos it'll go faster" etc etc.

So, in mode two, LH stick is throttle (up/down) and RH stick rudder (left/right). All worked well on installation and no problems with receiver binding. If anything, the servos have just a bit more travel but no other problems at all.

NOW as the ON/OFF Is another switch that little hands can find, I wondered what would happen if the transmitter is turned off first. LUCKILY I tried this out of the water, with the top off the tug anticipating the worst – and YES – FULL throttle ahead.

Remembering your discussion above, I selected mode 1, and changed the servo plugs over and reversed operation on them and got the Tug back to the same sticks doing the same control. This time switching off whilst bound to the receiver resulted in the throttle remaining at whatever setting it was in when the signal failed – it did not goto center (off), or one end, just held position. Switching back on regained control.

Nowhere does the word failsafe get a mention in the user manual (on-line only) and nor does the unit mentioned the default in mode 2 as being to full throttle.

As it's intended use is for a yacht I've no problem, especially in mode 1 as I set now. It just goes to proove, you get what you pay for! Oh, and I've adjusted failsafes on my other gear too, at least with them they have a section in the manual explaing how to set one, and how you can create your own default too.

Kimosubby

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Kimosubby, what are you using as a speed control? All of the ESCs that I have used have set themselves to neutral on loss of signal. The only time that this has not applied was with a resistor type worked by a servo. This was before "clever" radios made for a market that has totally different requirements to boaters. Loss of signal = servo stayed exactly where it was, as did the rudder. Things could have been worse – it could have been mine that hurtled into the far bank at great speed.

Full throttle ahead means that the channel reverse switch is probably set to "R" rather than "N" – the flyboy failsafe usually simulates "stick fully back" which is why us boaters get so annoyed when the fail "safe" chucks the boat into full reverse, and the usual setup for boats is stick forward, go forward, stick back, come back. The same logic applies to the rudder, stick left, go left etc, but I have know a few who insisted that it should act like a tiller arm.

If they are exposed, the small slider switches will be worked by the little 'uns. They have the curiosity, they have better eyesight, their fingers are more nimble, and they get a closer view due to having shorter arms.

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Just read some instructions for an ESC. It contains the little gem that Futaba TXs, to allow correct setting up of an ESC, need to have the servo switch set to reverse, rather than normal. Well done Futabe for daring to be different.

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