600 Derek's Align Trex 600e Pro DFC

Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
Well, I'm thinking that I just have to double check the settings of the Castle 80HV ESC and the Castle BEC Pro.

Checking the esc should be very similar, i think, to what I did to the Castle 50 for my Trex 450.

The Castle BEC Pro is new to me. I see in the specs that the voltage range is 4.8 volts to 12.5 volts. I have the DS615m cyclic servos and the DS655 tail servo and I'm using a 2S 6.6v LiFe rx pack. Since the voltage on the rx pack is 6.6v, can I set the BEC Pro to 6.0 volts or should I be looking at a lower setting?
 
murankar

murankar

Staff member
With the bec you shouldn't need an rx pack. You can plug the pack straight to the rx If everything can handle the max voltage of the pack. The bec is powered from the flight pack by tapping into the esc to battery leads. Some use a y harness so they can plug in just the bec with out the motor being powered.

I have my bec soldered right into the esc leads. I also have 2 fail safes set up so I don't get an accidental spool up.

If your castle has the white lead I would suggest getting the throttle lock add on for it. I have one on my Gaui just for the extra protection along with throttle cut.

I was commended on it at the funfly but was also told it wasn't needed on a 450 by the same people.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forum Runner
 
Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
I tried to explain this when I first talked about my 600. It came to me with the Castle BEC Pro wired up and it also has the battery lead for the rx pack. I have BEC's on some of my planes and never used an rx pack because I was under the impression that the BEC pulled power from the flight packs, which is how it works on my planes.

It's curious that my helicopter came to me wired up like that.

I want to keep the rx pack, just in case something happens to the ESC, I should be able to auto to the ground. So, I should be able to just remove the BEC, all together...right?
 
Last edited:
murankar

murankar

Staff member
It's the same in this application too. The bec is being the battery for the rx. Who ever had that kit before you did not know how to properly set it up for power.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forum Runner
 
murankar

murankar

Staff member
He may have had both installed but chose which ever method he wanted. Who knows what they were thinking.

The best setup would be to use the flight pack, the next best is the bec. Since your not a hard core smack flier then the bec is just as good.

Both have the down sides which ends in flames so pick one and go with it.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forum Runner
 
Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
That's what I thought, too, but I was told that I could just leave it. It never made sense to me but I left it. I haven't plugged in the flight packs yet but I have had the rx pack plugged in, several times, for programming and setup. Kinda sounds like a bit of misdirection.
 
murankar

murankar

Staff member
Just go with the rx pack and call it done. Less hassle, less electronics one less major fail point.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forum Runner
 
Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
murankar said:
Just go with the rx pack and call it done. Less hassle, less electronics one less major fail point.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forum Runner
Click to expand...

Sounds good to me! I started thinking about this, really hard, and it just didn't make sense to me. I called up my LHS and talked with the semi pro there. He's a very knowledgeable guy and has no trouble talking with lesser experienced pilots...wish really helps because, well lets face it, I am "lesser experienced", lol. He asked me to bring my 600 to him, so I did. I explained my thoughts and he said the exact same thing that you said, Matthias. Remove the CC BEC Pro and simply run the rx pack. I told him that I have planes that have ESC's that are BEC OPTO and that I have the external CC BEC in them. I asked him, "Why would this situation be any different?" He simply said, "There is absolutely no difference."

So, I'll be removing the CC BEC Pro tonight and cleaning up the wires...again, lol.

Thanks for your replies!
 
Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
Ok....Paul.....I think I'm going to need your help here.....or another Ikon user. I can't remember who all uses the Ikon.

After pulling the CC BEC Pro from my helicopter, there are now two empty ports where the CC BEC Pro plugged into the Ikon. My receiver pack also has two leads that will fit into the Ikon for power to the Ikon and the servos. Does it matter which of these ports I would plug the rx pack into? One port is labeled as "CH 3/s-rec" and the other is "CH 2/aux". The farthest port is labeled as "CH 3-4-5/bind" but I remember in the Ikon programming, it says do not plug a battery into this port. Fair enough...I won't.
 
Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
OK...this is starting to make sense to me now. I just hooked up the Castle Link to the CC BEC Pro and it is set for an Output Voltage of 6.0 volts. This BEC is wired into the mix to bring the voltage, of the rx pack, down to the 6.0 volts. I have been using a 6.6 volt LiFe battery for setup and programming and I had intended on using it for when I take this 600 out for it's first flight.

However...I spoke with a buddy of mine earlier today. He has a Trex 700e that is basically wired just like mine (with minor differences) but he runs a 2S 7.4 volt 3600mah lipo and he's using the Align voltage regulator to bring the voltage down to 6.0 volts Now....no matter if a fully charged 7.4 volt lipo (8.4 volts roughly) or a 6.6 volt LiFe battery (7.2 volts roughly), the CC BEC Pro will bring that voltage down to the 6.0 volts so that I don't overwork my servos but I should also have a constant 6.0 volts being delivered, in either case.

From the sounds of it, maybe I should set aside my LiFe rx pack and get a 7.4v lipo for an rx pack.

Am I understanding this correctly?
 
Last edited:
murankar

murankar

Staff member
What's the max voltage of the servos? If your going to run a bec your better off just using the main packs for power. By doing so you'll be lowering the disk loading, dropping you total cost in a crash, less worries about charging packs and more. Since your talking about using the bec the extra pack is senseless unless cog is off and the extra weight is needed.

Personally I think this kit should be high voltage so you can use a flight pack.

The idea here is to have the least amount of failure points in the system and to drop total over all cost.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forum Runner
 
Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
The max voltage for the 4 servos is 6.0v. I just don't have the money to go with HV servos right now.
 
murankar

murankar

Staff member
Then just tap off the main packs and be done with it. Less hassle and weight one less thing to go wrong.

Sent from my LG-E980 using Forum Runner
 
cml001

cml001

Well-Known Member
Just saw ur videos on YouTube. I think you can run it that way.. I did the same but with the RCE-6... They have 2 versions.. One for electric and one for nitro(w an igniter).. I like cause it has an on/off switch and is a little smaller. Pics of it are on my 550 thread if u wanna look see.
 
P

pvolcko

Well-Known Member
Ports you are using sound fine.

I agree. If you're using a bec then might as well use a tap off the first 6s main pack (first being the one supplying negative to the esc). Life pack if you're going to run without a regulator. LiPo if you had hv servos. Even if the main pack is low enough to cause the esc to trigger lvc, there will be plenty of power to run the electronics and bec. Separate rx pack, unless running direct without bec or regulator, doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Personal opinion. Others live by separate rx packs.
 
cml001

cml001

Well-Known Member
I did mine with the thought of HV servos in the future.. So alls I have to do is remove the reg at that point.. Be easier I was think'n.. And wouldn't have all the unnecessary soldered wire at that point either..
 
Derek

Derek

Well-Known Member
I spoke with Lee, earlier today, and I really believe that he helped shed some light on this for me. Don't get me wrong, I was hearing the advice that has been given to me but I just wasn't fully understanding it all. Sometimes text is hard to comprehend...well sometimes its difficult for me to understand, lol.

Anyway...Lee has his Goblin 570 all wired up and working. He showed me how he has the wiring done for his BEC to the ESC leads and not using an rx pack. I was dead set on using an rx pack because it's "what I knew." After talking with Lee this afternoon, and referring to the Castle Creations website illustration, I went ahead and soldered the BEC leads to the ESC leads so that the BEC will be powered from the flight pack. Here is a bit of video that shows what I've done. In all honesty, I'm looking for a "stamp of approval", sort of speak. Please have a look and tell me what you think. If it all looks good, I'll finally get to power this monster up for a hover test.

Castle BEC Pro soldered to ESC leads - YouTube
 
H

heli-maniac

New Member
The flight packs cant equalize with the jumper built of the esc . You need to beable to plug the packs together first
I built a y harness with the bec lead coming off the harness
You have it backwards to the diagram in the video
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom