108 MODEL AVIATION
TAKING OFF: There’s a great deal to cover this month, so I’m
not going to waste a lot of space on introductions. I was excited to
see the Deans Ultra Plug couplers from Maxx Products
International (MPi), and I think you will be too.
If you’ve followed my foray into the 2.4 GHz conversion of
my Multiplex radio and are still trying to figure out what to do,
I’m showing one
more option for
you that answers
the question of how
to easily flip
between 72 MHz
and 2.4 GHz.
Let’s get going.
MPi Arming
Switches: I showed
you some armingswitch
options in
the February
column and heard some good
news from the good people at
MPi. They make a switch (item
1570) that does what the diagram
(in the February column)
illustrated between the controller
and the receiver.
It is a prewired switch
plugged in-line that acts as the
arming switch for the ESC. It
disconnects the power from the
ESC’s BEC circuit—not the
signal—and works well on small
park flyers and similar models.
The arming methods I’ve
described don’t preclude having
to unplug the motor battery pack
from the system to prevent drain
on the battery; they only disarm
the controller. Leaving a battery
plugged into the controller will
eventually overdischarge your
battery and ruin it.
Easy Way to Solder Deans Ultra
Plugs: These are great
connectors, but I hear complaints about how hard
they are to solder onto wires. There are all sorts of
tricks to do a better job on them, but the solution
from MPi is the best I’ve seen.
Photos show the easy soldering coupler that is
specifically designed for Deans plugs (item 2818).
The coupler gives you a nice socket in which to
solder the wire, and the other end has a split that
fits tightly over the Deans spade. Soldering this to
the plug was incredibly simple.
Be sure to keep the plug connected to the other
half while you’re soldering, to help avoid
deforming the housing. I’ll admit to fussing over
soldering Deans plugs, but this method was quick.
I’m impressed.
Model Airplane Design Made Easy: I love books
Also included in this column:
• Easy soldering for Deans
Ultra Plugs
• Super new book
• Franken-Evo
• Multimotor ESC checkpoint
More arming-switch info
Electrics Greg Gimlick | [email protected]
Above: MPi’s Universal ESC Control
Switch connects between the ESC and
receiver to act as an arming switch.
Left: These little gems make soldering
wires to Deans Ultra Plug lugs a cinch.
They are similar to motor “bullet”
connectors.
Below: Solder wires into the cups and
then push the split end onto the Deans
lug. Solder the lug and you’re set. MPi
has made this connection easy.
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 11:51 AM Page 108
June 2009 109
and have a library
full of them, but
I’m always on the
lookout for
something new and
worthwhile
concerning my
hobbies.
I’ve mentioned
RCadvisor.com and
the brain behind it:
Carlos Reyes.
Several months
ago, he told me that
he was writing
about airplane
design and asked if
I would be
interested in
reading a draft. I
wasn’t all fired up
about reading
another book about
design, but I love
these kinds of
books, so I said
“Sure.”
I got the draft
and was impressed
within the first few
pages. I skipped
around to find more
technical sections
and see how Carlos addressed them, and I
found that he continued his easy writing
style that injected wit and wisdom into
every chapter.
If you’ve ever thought about designing
a model and shied away from it because
you thought it would be too complicated,
think again. This book breaks it down into
easy-to-understand steps and walks you
through the whys and wherefores. Carlos
understands models and modelers, and he
cuts through the jargon and teaches.
I don’t remember being so impressed by
this kind of book in a long time. Check it
out!
Franken-Evo: That’s the name a friend
came up with for my Multiplex Royal Evo
that you can see in the photos. I showed
you my conversion to 2.4 GHz using the
XPS system last year, but I continue to
look at options.
Some people are hacking the Spektrum
Futaba module and installing it in the Evo,
but I wasn’t willing to go to that extent. I
happened upon Michel Moret of
Switzerland and his Power RC Electronics
Web site. (See the “Sources” listing.)
Michel offers a module or “light”
version to connect directly to the Spektrum
module and plug into the universal
connector on the back of the radio. When
you plug it in, it disconnects whatever
module you have inside, whether it’s the
XPS 2.4 GHz or the stock 72 MHz
synthesized version.
This means there’s nothing to change.
When you plug in the module, it’s 2.4 GHz
Spektrum. When you unplug it, you’re
The author considers Carlos Reyes’s book
a “must-read” for anyone who is interested
in designing his or her own model.
The author’s converted Multiplex radio is
called the “Franken-Evo,” because of two
antennas and a conversion module that are
attached to the back with Velcro.
Components from Power RC Electronics to accept Spektrum
Futaba module for converting the Multiplex Evo to 2.4 GHz.
There’s also a “light” version that doesn’t include the plastic
module case.
back to 72 MHz. The system attaches to the
back of the radio with hook-and-loop
fastener, and I mounted the antenna on the
side of the module so it all comes off
together.
I’ll admit that it looks bizarre to have two
antennas on the radio and this conversion
attached to the back, but it works like a
champ. It couldn’t be easier. Since this unit
is mounted in the middle of the back, it
doesn’t get in the way of my hands while
flying.
Michel even thought to wire in a
connector so you don’t have to remove the
universal plug to charge the transmitter
battery. Check out the Web site or e-mail
him directly for more information.
Multimotor Blues: I heard from someone
who was having trouble getting his twinmotor
ducted fan to run without one of the
motors dropping off and running erratically.
We traded e-mails, going over the obvious
steps to diagnose the problem and suspecting
that one of the speed controls was
malfunctioning.
The real problem became harder to figure
out when the symptoms didn’t seem to
follow the ESC. We swapped it around and
tried a new one, and the problem remained.
I didn’t hear from him for a while and
assumed that the problem had been resolved,
but recently he wrote to tell me that he had
parked the project out of frustration. I asked
a few questions, trying not to be redundant
but reviewing the basic steps of how it was
wired.
This time he mentioned disconnecting the
red lead connector from the Y cord at the
receiver. A little light went off in my head,
and I asked if he had disconnected the red
wire from each ESC before inserting it into
the Y cord.
He had not, so both BECs on the
controllers were sending power down to the
Y cord, where it had nowhere to go but try to
go back up the ESC wires. This caused
confusion for the ESC processor, and one of
the motors would begin to act up. Once he
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 1:30 PM Page 109
disconnected both red wires before
plugging them back into the Y cord and did
a test run, victory!
What a basic mistake that was to make
and an easy one not to think of. If you’re
using two motors and two speed controls,
you must disconnect both of the red wires
before using the Y cord. If you’re going to
use one of the controller’s BEC functions,
be sure to disconnect the red wire from the
other one.
Final Approach: Keep the e-mails
coming, and let me know what topics interest
you. Next time I’ll look at questions regarding
speed-control features and programming. MA
Sources:
MPi
(847) 438-2233
www.maxxprod.com
Power RC Electronics
http://home.page.ch/pub/mmmoret@net200
0.ch/index_Page585.htm
[email protected]
Multiplex USA
(858) 748-8440
www.multiplexusa.com
Xtreme Power Systems
2440 N. Kiowa Blvd.
Lake Havasu City AZ 86403
www.xtremepowersystems.net
Spektrum
(800) 338-4639
www.spektrumrc.com
RCadvisor.com
(505) 206-1569
www.rcadvisor.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 108,109,110
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 108,109,110
108 MODEL AVIATION
TAKING OFF: There’s a great deal to cover this month, so I’m
not going to waste a lot of space on introductions. I was excited to
see the Deans Ultra Plug couplers from Maxx Products
International (MPi), and I think you will be too.
If you’ve followed my foray into the 2.4 GHz conversion of
my Multiplex radio and are still trying to figure out what to do,
I’m showing one
more option for
you that answers
the question of how
to easily flip
between 72 MHz
and 2.4 GHz.
Let’s get going.
MPi Arming
Switches: I showed
you some armingswitch
options in
the February
column and heard some good
news from the good people at
MPi. They make a switch (item
1570) that does what the diagram
(in the February column)
illustrated between the controller
and the receiver.
It is a prewired switch
plugged in-line that acts as the
arming switch for the ESC. It
disconnects the power from the
ESC’s BEC circuit—not the
signal—and works well on small
park flyers and similar models.
The arming methods I’ve
described don’t preclude having
to unplug the motor battery pack
from the system to prevent drain
on the battery; they only disarm
the controller. Leaving a battery
plugged into the controller will
eventually overdischarge your
battery and ruin it.
Easy Way to Solder Deans Ultra
Plugs: These are great
connectors, but I hear complaints about how hard
they are to solder onto wires. There are all sorts of
tricks to do a better job on them, but the solution
from MPi is the best I’ve seen.
Photos show the easy soldering coupler that is
specifically designed for Deans plugs (item 2818).
The coupler gives you a nice socket in which to
solder the wire, and the other end has a split that
fits tightly over the Deans spade. Soldering this to
the plug was incredibly simple.
Be sure to keep the plug connected to the other
half while you’re soldering, to help avoid
deforming the housing. I’ll admit to fussing over
soldering Deans plugs, but this method was quick.
I’m impressed.
Model Airplane Design Made Easy: I love books
Also included in this column:
• Easy soldering for Deans
Ultra Plugs
• Super new book
• Franken-Evo
• Multimotor ESC checkpoint
More arming-switch info
Electrics Greg Gimlick | [email protected]
Above: MPi’s Universal ESC Control
Switch connects between the ESC and
receiver to act as an arming switch.
Left: These little gems make soldering
wires to Deans Ultra Plug lugs a cinch.
They are similar to motor “bullet”
connectors.
Below: Solder wires into the cups and
then push the split end onto the Deans
lug. Solder the lug and you’re set. MPi
has made this connection easy.
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 11:51 AM Page 108
June 2009 109
and have a library
full of them, but
I’m always on the
lookout for
something new and
worthwhile
concerning my
hobbies.
I’ve mentioned
RCadvisor.com and
the brain behind it:
Carlos Reyes.
Several months
ago, he told me that
he was writing
about airplane
design and asked if
I would be
interested in
reading a draft. I
wasn’t all fired up
about reading
another book about
design, but I love
these kinds of
books, so I said
“Sure.”
I got the draft
and was impressed
within the first few
pages. I skipped
around to find more
technical sections
and see how Carlos addressed them, and I
found that he continued his easy writing
style that injected wit and wisdom into
every chapter.
If you’ve ever thought about designing
a model and shied away from it because
you thought it would be too complicated,
think again. This book breaks it down into
easy-to-understand steps and walks you
through the whys and wherefores. Carlos
understands models and modelers, and he
cuts through the jargon and teaches.
I don’t remember being so impressed by
this kind of book in a long time. Check it
out!
Franken-Evo: That’s the name a friend
came up with for my Multiplex Royal Evo
that you can see in the photos. I showed
you my conversion to 2.4 GHz using the
XPS system last year, but I continue to
look at options.
Some people are hacking the Spektrum
Futaba module and installing it in the Evo,
but I wasn’t willing to go to that extent. I
happened upon Michel Moret of
Switzerland and his Power RC Electronics
Web site. (See the “Sources” listing.)
Michel offers a module or “light”
version to connect directly to the Spektrum
module and plug into the universal
connector on the back of the radio. When
you plug it in, it disconnects whatever
module you have inside, whether it’s the
XPS 2.4 GHz or the stock 72 MHz
synthesized version.
This means there’s nothing to change.
When you plug in the module, it’s 2.4 GHz
Spektrum. When you unplug it, you’re
The author considers Carlos Reyes’s book
a “must-read” for anyone who is interested
in designing his or her own model.
The author’s converted Multiplex radio is
called the “Franken-Evo,” because of two
antennas and a conversion module that are
attached to the back with Velcro.
Components from Power RC Electronics to accept Spektrum
Futaba module for converting the Multiplex Evo to 2.4 GHz.
There’s also a “light” version that doesn’t include the plastic
module case.
back to 72 MHz. The system attaches to the
back of the radio with hook-and-loop
fastener, and I mounted the antenna on the
side of the module so it all comes off
together.
I’ll admit that it looks bizarre to have two
antennas on the radio and this conversion
attached to the back, but it works like a
champ. It couldn’t be easier. Since this unit
is mounted in the middle of the back, it
doesn’t get in the way of my hands while
flying.
Michel even thought to wire in a
connector so you don’t have to remove the
universal plug to charge the transmitter
battery. Check out the Web site or e-mail
him directly for more information.
Multimotor Blues: I heard from someone
who was having trouble getting his twinmotor
ducted fan to run without one of the
motors dropping off and running erratically.
We traded e-mails, going over the obvious
steps to diagnose the problem and suspecting
that one of the speed controls was
malfunctioning.
The real problem became harder to figure
out when the symptoms didn’t seem to
follow the ESC. We swapped it around and
tried a new one, and the problem remained.
I didn’t hear from him for a while and
assumed that the problem had been resolved,
but recently he wrote to tell me that he had
parked the project out of frustration. I asked
a few questions, trying not to be redundant
but reviewing the basic steps of how it was
wired.
This time he mentioned disconnecting the
red lead connector from the Y cord at the
receiver. A little light went off in my head,
and I asked if he had disconnected the red
wire from each ESC before inserting it into
the Y cord.
He had not, so both BECs on the
controllers were sending power down to the
Y cord, where it had nowhere to go but try to
go back up the ESC wires. This caused
confusion for the ESC processor, and one of
the motors would begin to act up. Once he
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 1:30 PM Page 109
disconnected both red wires before
plugging them back into the Y cord and did
a test run, victory!
What a basic mistake that was to make
and an easy one not to think of. If you’re
using two motors and two speed controls,
you must disconnect both of the red wires
before using the Y cord. If you’re going to
use one of the controller’s BEC functions,
be sure to disconnect the red wire from the
other one.
Final Approach: Keep the e-mails
coming, and let me know what topics interest
you. Next time I’ll look at questions regarding
speed-control features and programming. MA
Sources:
MPi
(847) 438-2233
www.maxxprod.com
Power RC Electronics
http://home.page.ch/pub/mmmoret@net200
0.ch/index_Page585.htm
[email protected]
Multiplex USA
(858) 748-8440
www.multiplexusa.com
Xtreme Power Systems
2440 N. Kiowa Blvd.
Lake Havasu City AZ 86403
www.xtremepowersystems.net
Spektrum
(800) 338-4639
www.spektrumrc.com
RCadvisor.com
(505) 206-1569
www.rcadvisor.com
Edition: Model Aviation - 2009/06
Page Numbers: 108,109,110
108 MODEL AVIATION
TAKING OFF: There’s a great deal to cover this month, so I’m
not going to waste a lot of space on introductions. I was excited to
see the Deans Ultra Plug couplers from Maxx Products
International (MPi), and I think you will be too.
If you’ve followed my foray into the 2.4 GHz conversion of
my Multiplex radio and are still trying to figure out what to do,
I’m showing one
more option for
you that answers
the question of how
to easily flip
between 72 MHz
and 2.4 GHz.
Let’s get going.
MPi Arming
Switches: I showed
you some armingswitch
options in
the February
column and heard some good
news from the good people at
MPi. They make a switch (item
1570) that does what the diagram
(in the February column)
illustrated between the controller
and the receiver.
It is a prewired switch
plugged in-line that acts as the
arming switch for the ESC. It
disconnects the power from the
ESC’s BEC circuit—not the
signal—and works well on small
park flyers and similar models.
The arming methods I’ve
described don’t preclude having
to unplug the motor battery pack
from the system to prevent drain
on the battery; they only disarm
the controller. Leaving a battery
plugged into the controller will
eventually overdischarge your
battery and ruin it.
Easy Way to Solder Deans Ultra
Plugs: These are great
connectors, but I hear complaints about how hard
they are to solder onto wires. There are all sorts of
tricks to do a better job on them, but the solution
from MPi is the best I’ve seen.
Photos show the easy soldering coupler that is
specifically designed for Deans plugs (item 2818).
The coupler gives you a nice socket in which to
solder the wire, and the other end has a split that
fits tightly over the Deans spade. Soldering this to
the plug was incredibly simple.
Be sure to keep the plug connected to the other
half while you’re soldering, to help avoid
deforming the housing. I’ll admit to fussing over
soldering Deans plugs, but this method was quick.
I’m impressed.
Model Airplane Design Made Easy: I love books
Also included in this column:
• Easy soldering for Deans
Ultra Plugs
• Super new book
• Franken-Evo
• Multimotor ESC checkpoint
More arming-switch info
Electrics Greg Gimlick | [email protected]
Above: MPi’s Universal ESC Control
Switch connects between the ESC and
receiver to act as an arming switch.
Left: These little gems make soldering
wires to Deans Ultra Plug lugs a cinch.
They are similar to motor “bullet”
connectors.
Below: Solder wires into the cups and
then push the split end onto the Deans
lug. Solder the lug and you’re set. MPi
has made this connection easy.
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 11:51 AM Page 108
June 2009 109
and have a library
full of them, but
I’m always on the
lookout for
something new and
worthwhile
concerning my
hobbies.
I’ve mentioned
RCadvisor.com and
the brain behind it:
Carlos Reyes.
Several months
ago, he told me that
he was writing
about airplane
design and asked if
I would be
interested in
reading a draft. I
wasn’t all fired up
about reading
another book about
design, but I love
these kinds of
books, so I said
“Sure.”
I got the draft
and was impressed
within the first few
pages. I skipped
around to find more
technical sections
and see how Carlos addressed them, and I
found that he continued his easy writing
style that injected wit and wisdom into
every chapter.
If you’ve ever thought about designing
a model and shied away from it because
you thought it would be too complicated,
think again. This book breaks it down into
easy-to-understand steps and walks you
through the whys and wherefores. Carlos
understands models and modelers, and he
cuts through the jargon and teaches.
I don’t remember being so impressed by
this kind of book in a long time. Check it
out!
Franken-Evo: That’s the name a friend
came up with for my Multiplex Royal Evo
that you can see in the photos. I showed
you my conversion to 2.4 GHz using the
XPS system last year, but I continue to
look at options.
Some people are hacking the Spektrum
Futaba module and installing it in the Evo,
but I wasn’t willing to go to that extent. I
happened upon Michel Moret of
Switzerland and his Power RC Electronics
Web site. (See the “Sources” listing.)
Michel offers a module or “light”
version to connect directly to the Spektrum
module and plug into the universal
connector on the back of the radio. When
you plug it in, it disconnects whatever
module you have inside, whether it’s the
XPS 2.4 GHz or the stock 72 MHz
synthesized version.
This means there’s nothing to change.
When you plug in the module, it’s 2.4 GHz
Spektrum. When you unplug it, you’re
The author considers Carlos Reyes’s book
a “must-read” for anyone who is interested
in designing his or her own model.
The author’s converted Multiplex radio is
called the “Franken-Evo,” because of two
antennas and a conversion module that are
attached to the back with Velcro.
Components from Power RC Electronics to accept Spektrum
Futaba module for converting the Multiplex Evo to 2.4 GHz.
There’s also a “light” version that doesn’t include the plastic
module case.
back to 72 MHz. The system attaches to the
back of the radio with hook-and-loop
fastener, and I mounted the antenna on the
side of the module so it all comes off
together.
I’ll admit that it looks bizarre to have two
antennas on the radio and this conversion
attached to the back, but it works like a
champ. It couldn’t be easier. Since this unit
is mounted in the middle of the back, it
doesn’t get in the way of my hands while
flying.
Michel even thought to wire in a
connector so you don’t have to remove the
universal plug to charge the transmitter
battery. Check out the Web site or e-mail
him directly for more information.
Multimotor Blues: I heard from someone
who was having trouble getting his twinmotor
ducted fan to run without one of the
motors dropping off and running erratically.
We traded e-mails, going over the obvious
steps to diagnose the problem and suspecting
that one of the speed controls was
malfunctioning.
The real problem became harder to figure
out when the symptoms didn’t seem to
follow the ESC. We swapped it around and
tried a new one, and the problem remained.
I didn’t hear from him for a while and
assumed that the problem had been resolved,
but recently he wrote to tell me that he had
parked the project out of frustration. I asked
a few questions, trying not to be redundant
but reviewing the basic steps of how it was
wired.
This time he mentioned disconnecting the
red lead connector from the Y cord at the
receiver. A little light went off in my head,
and I asked if he had disconnected the red
wire from each ESC before inserting it into
the Y cord.
He had not, so both BECs on the
controllers were sending power down to the
Y cord, where it had nowhere to go but try to
go back up the ESC wires. This caused
confusion for the ESC processor, and one of
the motors would begin to act up. Once he
06sig4.QXD 4/23/09 1:30 PM Page 109
disconnected both red wires before
plugging them back into the Y cord and did
a test run, victory!
What a basic mistake that was to make
and an easy one not to think of. If you’re
using two motors and two speed controls,
you must disconnect both of the red wires
before using the Y cord. If you’re going to
use one of the controller’s BEC functions,
be sure to disconnect the red wire from the
other one.
Final Approach: Keep the e-mails
coming, and let me know what topics interest
you. Next time I’ll look at questions regarding
speed-control features and programming. MA
Sources:
MPi
(847) 438-2233
www.maxxprod.com
Power RC Electronics
http://home.page.ch/pub/mmmoret@net200
0.ch/index_Page585.htm
[email protected]
Multiplex USA
(858) 748-8440
www.multiplexusa.com
Xtreme Power Systems
2440 N. Kiowa Blvd.
Lake Havasu City AZ 86403
www.xtremepowersystems.net
Spektrum
(800) 338-4639
www.spektrumrc.com
RCadvisor.com
(505) 206-1569
www.rcadvisor.com