#35 Model Airplane Building Clinic >> DJAerotech Chrysalis 2m Electric Sailplane

[FishHawk]

I had the throttle lever in the middle and not all the way down.
On the power board the guys helped me out by suggesting that I put the throttle lever all the way down. Another newbie problem solved. FishHawk

[Don Stackhouse]

Most (if not all) modern ESC's require that. They will not "arm" until they sense the throttle at minimum for some specified time. It's a safety feature to keep you from having the motor suddenly start up the instant you turn it on.

Electrics are more dangerous to your fingers than gas engines. If you stop the prop with a finger or other body part, a gas engine loses torque as the RPM falls. ON an electric motor, the torque increases as the RPM falls.

Either way, props and fingers should be kept separate, or else the fingers could become SEPARATED.

Along those lines, one other suggestion you will commonly find in ESC instructions is to remove the prop before doing any setup or adjustments, just in case the motor does start unexpectedly.

[Dimeflyer]

this may sound nuts but try puting the channel back where it was and then switch any two leads on the motor and see if the beeps are still good and the motor arms for the right direction ?
It has worked for me on a couple of planes in the past so it might be worth a try guy ?
most of the info the manufactures put in the packed paperwork for the motor say to try this if it runs the wroung way at first startup .
I did not read all the posts so far but I do know what has worked for me before .
George

[Don Stackhouse]

On a brushless motor, swapping any two of the three motor leads reverses the direction of rotation of the motor. It should not have any effect on operation of the throttle stick, or arming of the ESC at startup.

[Larry3215]

Originally Posted by Dimeflyer

this may sound nuts but try puting the channel back where it was and then switch any two leads on the motor and see if the beeps are still good and the motor arms for the right direction ?
It has worked for me on a couple of planes in the past so it might be worth a try guy ?
most of the info the manufactures put in the packed paperwork for the motor say to try this if it runs the wroung way at first startup .
I did not read all the posts so far but I do know what has worked for me before .
George

You must have done other things or different thiings than you thought and not known it. What you're describing will not do what you say it will. It just doesnt work that way.

Originally Posted by Don Stackhouse

On a brushless motor, swapping any two of the three motor leads reverses the direction of rotation of the motor. It should not have any effect on operation of the throttle stick, or arming of the ESC at startup.

+1

[Dimeflyer]

Maybe I am an magician and don't know it but I can read yet -the instructions say revers any two wires so thats what I did and it worked !
As fort the switch -they have been known to short on one set of pins and not both !
I have a degree in electronics and have had to replace lots of shorted switches
in more than 30 years of work my friend .
I simply ment it would give a responce that should be different fron dead power ?
the only other thing to try is an multimeater to check the switch out of circut .
I am old but not dumb yet ?
JMO
George

[FishHawk]

What or how do I set the washout when covering the wing? Do I use shims as gauge to check the washout? FishHawk

[Don Stackhouse]

The shims are both a gauge and a tool.

Shrink the covering on the bottom. Set the panel being adjusted on a flat surface, with the shims holding it at the correct washout. While holding it there, shrink the covering on the top covering. You may pick up a few wrinkles on the bottom, in which case re-shrink the bottom and repeat. After a couple iterations it should hold the correct washout settings.

You can also see the washout profile by sighting forwards from the trailing edge, see pic.

However, you're talking about a wooden airplane, made from pieces of trees, and it seems like such things often believe they are still alive and growing. Changes in temperature, humidity, etc. will cause the structure to try to wander off in the direction of its choice. It's a little like tuning a new set of strings on a guitar. At first they go back out of tune in minutes, then they hold tune for hours, then days, then weeks. Re-check your washout and reset it periodically. At first you will need to do this often, but as the structure gets used to your desired shape for it, it will gradually accept and maintain that desired shape.

And some of you probably thought airplanes were inanimate objects! Nothing could be further from the truth.

[FishHawk]

Another excellent tutorial, thank you Don.FishHawk