There are many choices to be made when it comes to selecting the power setup for your helicopter. I’m not referring to motor power, I’m discussing servo power. In the helicopter world, we want speed, torque, and consistency. Until this review, I had a simple, two-cell 7.4-volt LiPo plugged straight into my receiver to power my high voltage servos, which is what many others use. This had worked well for me, so I was curious when I started to read about Scott Gray’s new Reactor HVX.
Before I jump into this review, you may be asking, “Who is Scott Gray?” Scott is an extremely accomplished helicopter pilot, who has competed in and won many contests throughout the world. He is adept at F3C precision flying and 3-D flight, and has been competing since at least the late 1990s. He knows a thing or two about helicopter setup!
This is the newest generation of Scott’s regulator and it comes with some nifty features. Capable of putting out 25 amps, the HVX has been optimized for use with 3S LiPos, but can accept up to 4S packs. There are two servo buses that can be set to separate voltages, so that you can have high voltage on one side, but a lower voltage on the other side. This lets you distribute your high-voltage servos and your low-voltage servos as well as your receiver on a single unit.
The HVX has a power-output voltage range of 5.2 volts up to 9.0 volts on either side, and also has a built-in telemetry port that allows you to read your pack voltage directly on your transmitter (assuming your transmitter has telemetry features).
JR users have it easy with this telemetry feature. They merely plug the HVX cable into their DMSS receiver and read pack voltage on their screen. Other compatible brands will require more tinkering to enjoy this feature.
The HVX also comes with a push-to-start (PTS) fail-safe switch. It will fail in the on position if there is a problem. The HVX has a quick-charge plug, composed of a Deans Ultra Plug and heavy-gauge wire. Scott points out in the instruction manual that you don’t need to balance-charge your receiver pack each time you want to charge at the field, so you can mount this plug somewhere outside of your canopy for quick charging without removing the battery.
The HVX is a plug-and-play system. The blister pack contains the regulator, several servo extensions, the PTS switch, and an instruction sheet. Installation consists of plugging your servos into one side of the regulator and using the extensions from the other side to attach to your receiver.
If you want to use some servos on one side set at a particular voltage, you run your cable to the receiver from the corresponding channel on the opposite side of the regulator. There is a servo port specifically for the PTS switch, but you can choose to use a bind plug instead of the PTS switch (although I’m not sure why you would). The last port is for the telemetry output.
My Raptor E700 has four high-voltage servos—three Futaba BLS255HV on the cyclic, and one Futaba BLS256HV on the tail. These are all rated to run at 7.4 volts, so I set one bus side to 7.4 volts. The second bus I left at the default setting, which is 5.2 volts, and plugged my servo extensions from the HVX into my receiver on this side.
The hardest part of the setup was routing the wires and making sure that nothing was chafing against the side frames. I mounted the regulator on the side of my heli, leaving it partially exposed out of the side of the canopy. I used industrial-strength foam tape to stick it to my side frames, avoiding any kind of wrap around the unit. The regulator has a solid aluminum body with cooling fins machined into the sides, and it is important to keep some airflow over them, especially at higher voltages.
I mounted the PTS switch toward the rear of my helicopter, along with the quick-charge plug. It was quickly apparent that turning my helicopter on and off, as well as quick-charging the receiver pack, was going to be easy without having to remove the canopy.
After everything was installed, I moved on to the setup. There is a single recessed button at one end of the regulator that is used for setup. Using a tiny screwdriver, I was able to easily cycle through the settings. To enter setup, you have to hold the button down for a few seconds and the first bus will flash its blue LED. You then tap the button to cycle through the voltage settings, represented by a series of flashes (referenced in the instruction manual).
With the first side set to 7.4 volts, I held the set button again for a few seconds until the opposite LED started to flash for the second bus. I left this at default and held the set button again. The two blue LEDs started to flash alternately, indicating that the PTS switch was selected (as opposed to the bind plug option). One more long push of the set button exited the setup mode, and that was it! I also switched out my 7.4-volt 2,000 mAh receiver battery for a new 11.1-volt battery.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to notice any difference when I flew it for the first time. I had already been running a 7.4-volt LiPo, so how different could it be? As I drove out to the flying field, I contemplated this. I’m not a particularly advanced 3-D pilot, so would I be good enough to notice any kind of difference?
The first difference I noticed was when I was getting my heli ready to fly. This was the first time I was able to start everything without taking off the canopy.
After it was in the air, I gave the tail a few quick kicks, and that’s when I realized that I could feel the effects. The tail felt snappier and quicker. I gave the tail a few more quick kicks to make sure I wasn’t imagining it, and flew a few flights with the new setup.
Overall it felt as though my tail and cyclic were slightly crisper and the controls felt exactly the same throughout each flight. There was a consistency that I hadn’t noticed before until I flew with the HVX. It’s not a night-and-day difference for someone at my skill level, but the best way that I can describe it is to say that my heli was livelier with the HVX.
The HVX is a great system for those who want to run a regulator. The power is consistent, and the regulator is easy to set up. The PTS switch and quick-charge plug are convenient, and the system is something I quickly grew accustomed to. Having two user-settable buses is a great feature for those running lower-voltage tail servos, and the built-in telemetry can be a useful feature.
If I had one wish, it would be that the regulator was slightly smaller. It is slightly bulky, making it challenging to find a good location to install it. I’m a strong proponent of using a separate receiver battery on larger helis, and the HVX gives you the flexibility you need for nearly any kind of setup.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2014/06
Page Numbers: 71,72,73
Edition: Model Aviation - 2014/06
Page Numbers: 71,72,73
There are many choices to be made when it comes to selecting the power setup for your helicopter. I’m not referring to motor power, I’m discussing servo power. In the helicopter world, we want speed, torque, and consistency. Until this review, I had a simple, two-cell 7.4-volt LiPo plugged straight into my receiver to power my high voltage servos, which is what many others use. This had worked well for me, so I was curious when I started to read about Scott Gray’s new Reactor HVX.
Before I jump into this review, you may be asking, “Who is Scott Gray?” Scott is an extremely accomplished helicopter pilot, who has competed in and won many contests throughout the world. He is adept at F3C precision flying and 3-D flight, and has been competing since at least the late 1990s. He knows a thing or two about helicopter setup!
This is the newest generation of Scott’s regulator and it comes with some nifty features. Capable of putting out 25 amps, the HVX has been optimized for use with 3S LiPos, but can accept up to 4S packs. There are two servo buses that can be set to separate voltages, so that you can have high voltage on one side, but a lower voltage on the other side. This lets you distribute your high-voltage servos and your low-voltage servos as well as your receiver on a single unit.
The HVX has a power-output voltage range of 5.2 volts up to 9.0 volts on either side, and also has a built-in telemetry port that allows you to read your pack voltage directly on your transmitter (assuming your transmitter has telemetry features).
JR users have it easy with this telemetry feature. They merely plug the HVX cable into their DMSS receiver and read pack voltage on their screen. Other compatible brands will require more tinkering to enjoy this feature.
The HVX also comes with a push-to-start (PTS) fail-safe switch. It will fail in the on position if there is a problem. The HVX has a quick-charge plug, composed of a Deans Ultra Plug and heavy-gauge wire. Scott points out in the instruction manual that you don’t need to balance-charge your receiver pack each time you want to charge at the field, so you can mount this plug somewhere outside of your canopy for quick charging without removing the battery.
The HVX is a plug-and-play system. The blister pack contains the regulator, several servo extensions, the PTS switch, and an instruction sheet. Installation consists of plugging your servos into one side of the regulator and using the extensions from the other side to attach to your receiver.
If you want to use some servos on one side set at a particular voltage, you run your cable to the receiver from the corresponding channel on the opposite side of the regulator. There is a servo port specifically for the PTS switch, but you can choose to use a bind plug instead of the PTS switch (although I’m not sure why you would). The last port is for the telemetry output.
My Raptor E700 has four high-voltage servos—three Futaba BLS255HV on the cyclic, and one Futaba BLS256HV on the tail. These are all rated to run at 7.4 volts, so I set one bus side to 7.4 volts. The second bus I left at the default setting, which is 5.2 volts, and plugged my servo extensions from the HVX into my receiver on this side.
The hardest part of the setup was routing the wires and making sure that nothing was chafing against the side frames. I mounted the regulator on the side of my heli, leaving it partially exposed out of the side of the canopy. I used industrial-strength foam tape to stick it to my side frames, avoiding any kind of wrap around the unit. The regulator has a solid aluminum body with cooling fins machined into the sides, and it is important to keep some airflow over them, especially at higher voltages.
I mounted the PTS switch toward the rear of my helicopter, along with the quick-charge plug. It was quickly apparent that turning my helicopter on and off, as well as quick-charging the receiver pack, was going to be easy without having to remove the canopy.
After everything was installed, I moved on to the setup. There is a single recessed button at one end of the regulator that is used for setup. Using a tiny screwdriver, I was able to easily cycle through the settings. To enter setup, you have to hold the button down for a few seconds and the first bus will flash its blue LED. You then tap the button to cycle through the voltage settings, represented by a series of flashes (referenced in the instruction manual).
With the first side set to 7.4 volts, I held the set button again for a few seconds until the opposite LED started to flash for the second bus. I left this at default and held the set button again. The two blue LEDs started to flash alternately, indicating that the PTS switch was selected (as opposed to the bind plug option). One more long push of the set button exited the setup mode, and that was it! I also switched out my 7.4-volt 2,000 mAh receiver battery for a new 11.1-volt battery.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to notice any difference when I flew it for the first time. I had already been running a 7.4-volt LiPo, so how different could it be? As I drove out to the flying field, I contemplated this. I’m not a particularly advanced 3-D pilot, so would I be good enough to notice any kind of difference?
The first difference I noticed was when I was getting my heli ready to fly. This was the first time I was able to start everything without taking off the canopy.
After it was in the air, I gave the tail a few quick kicks, and that’s when I realized that I could feel the effects. The tail felt snappier and quicker. I gave the tail a few more quick kicks to make sure I wasn’t imagining it, and flew a few flights with the new setup.
Overall it felt as though my tail and cyclic were slightly crisper and the controls felt exactly the same throughout each flight. There was a consistency that I hadn’t noticed before until I flew with the HVX. It’s not a night-and-day difference for someone at my skill level, but the best way that I can describe it is to say that my heli was livelier with the HVX.
The HVX is a great system for those who want to run a regulator. The power is consistent, and the regulator is easy to set up. The PTS switch and quick-charge plug are convenient, and the system is something I quickly grew accustomed to. Having two user-settable buses is a great feature for those running lower-voltage tail servos, and the built-in telemetry can be a useful feature.
If I had one wish, it would be that the regulator was slightly smaller. It is slightly bulky, making it challenging to find a good location to install it. I’m a strong proponent of using a separate receiver battery on larger helis, and the HVX gives you the flexibility you need for nearly any kind of setup.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2014/06
Page Numbers: 71,72,73
There are many choices to be made when it comes to selecting the power setup for your helicopter. I’m not referring to motor power, I’m discussing servo power. In the helicopter world, we want speed, torque, and consistency. Until this review, I had a simple, two-cell 7.4-volt LiPo plugged straight into my receiver to power my high voltage servos, which is what many others use. This had worked well for me, so I was curious when I started to read about Scott Gray’s new Reactor HVX.
Before I jump into this review, you may be asking, “Who is Scott Gray?” Scott is an extremely accomplished helicopter pilot, who has competed in and won many contests throughout the world. He is adept at F3C precision flying and 3-D flight, and has been competing since at least the late 1990s. He knows a thing or two about helicopter setup!
This is the newest generation of Scott’s regulator and it comes with some nifty features. Capable of putting out 25 amps, the HVX has been optimized for use with 3S LiPos, but can accept up to 4S packs. There are two servo buses that can be set to separate voltages, so that you can have high voltage on one side, but a lower voltage on the other side. This lets you distribute your high-voltage servos and your low-voltage servos as well as your receiver on a single unit.
The HVX has a power-output voltage range of 5.2 volts up to 9.0 volts on either side, and also has a built-in telemetry port that allows you to read your pack voltage directly on your transmitter (assuming your transmitter has telemetry features).
JR users have it easy with this telemetry feature. They merely plug the HVX cable into their DMSS receiver and read pack voltage on their screen. Other compatible brands will require more tinkering to enjoy this feature.
The HVX also comes with a push-to-start (PTS) fail-safe switch. It will fail in the on position if there is a problem. The HVX has a quick-charge plug, composed of a Deans Ultra Plug and heavy-gauge wire. Scott points out in the instruction manual that you don’t need to balance-charge your receiver pack each time you want to charge at the field, so you can mount this plug somewhere outside of your canopy for quick charging without removing the battery.
The HVX is a plug-and-play system. The blister pack contains the regulator, several servo extensions, the PTS switch, and an instruction sheet. Installation consists of plugging your servos into one side of the regulator and using the extensions from the other side to attach to your receiver.
If you want to use some servos on one side set at a particular voltage, you run your cable to the receiver from the corresponding channel on the opposite side of the regulator. There is a servo port specifically for the PTS switch, but you can choose to use a bind plug instead of the PTS switch (although I’m not sure why you would). The last port is for the telemetry output.
My Raptor E700 has four high-voltage servos—three Futaba BLS255HV on the cyclic, and one Futaba BLS256HV on the tail. These are all rated to run at 7.4 volts, so I set one bus side to 7.4 volts. The second bus I left at the default setting, which is 5.2 volts, and plugged my servo extensions from the HVX into my receiver on this side.
The hardest part of the setup was routing the wires and making sure that nothing was chafing against the side frames. I mounted the regulator on the side of my heli, leaving it partially exposed out of the side of the canopy. I used industrial-strength foam tape to stick it to my side frames, avoiding any kind of wrap around the unit. The regulator has a solid aluminum body with cooling fins machined into the sides, and it is important to keep some airflow over them, especially at higher voltages.
I mounted the PTS switch toward the rear of my helicopter, along with the quick-charge plug. It was quickly apparent that turning my helicopter on and off, as well as quick-charging the receiver pack, was going to be easy without having to remove the canopy.
After everything was installed, I moved on to the setup. There is a single recessed button at one end of the regulator that is used for setup. Using a tiny screwdriver, I was able to easily cycle through the settings. To enter setup, you have to hold the button down for a few seconds and the first bus will flash its blue LED. You then tap the button to cycle through the voltage settings, represented by a series of flashes (referenced in the instruction manual).
With the first side set to 7.4 volts, I held the set button again for a few seconds until the opposite LED started to flash for the second bus. I left this at default and held the set button again. The two blue LEDs started to flash alternately, indicating that the PTS switch was selected (as opposed to the bind plug option). One more long push of the set button exited the setup mode, and that was it! I also switched out my 7.4-volt 2,000 mAh receiver battery for a new 11.1-volt battery.
I wasn’t sure if I was going to notice any difference when I flew it for the first time. I had already been running a 7.4-volt LiPo, so how different could it be? As I drove out to the flying field, I contemplated this. I’m not a particularly advanced 3-D pilot, so would I be good enough to notice any kind of difference?
The first difference I noticed was when I was getting my heli ready to fly. This was the first time I was able to start everything without taking off the canopy.
After it was in the air, I gave the tail a few quick kicks, and that’s when I realized that I could feel the effects. The tail felt snappier and quicker. I gave the tail a few more quick kicks to make sure I wasn’t imagining it, and flew a few flights with the new setup.
Overall it felt as though my tail and cyclic were slightly crisper and the controls felt exactly the same throughout each flight. There was a consistency that I hadn’t noticed before until I flew with the HVX. It’s not a night-and-day difference for someone at my skill level, but the best way that I can describe it is to say that my heli was livelier with the HVX.
The HVX is a great system for those who want to run a regulator. The power is consistent, and the regulator is easy to set up. The PTS switch and quick-charge plug are convenient, and the system is something I quickly grew accustomed to. Having two user-settable buses is a great feature for those running lower-voltage tail servos, and the built-in telemetry can be a useful feature.
If I had one wish, it would be that the regulator was slightly smaller. It is slightly bulky, making it challenging to find a good location to install it. I’m a strong proponent of using a separate receiver battery on larger helis, and the HVX gives you the flexibility you need for nearly any kind of setup.
