Any ideas why the trim values would be so different between AL and Manual flight modes? I'm using the new HFP board with the latest software update and a Spektrum DX8. The gain settings are equivalent in both modes (one positive and one negative number), but they're so far off it is very challenging to switch between modes. Thanks...
Hoverfly AL/Manual issues
- Thread starter octocine
- Start date
Once you set the trims for Al then you dont need to touch them again for normal mode. They can be quite different for a number of reasons, how perfectly square your frame and motor mounts are, how well level your board is etc. All builds will be different. I have a Hexa and a X8 and both have different trim settings. I need less trim for AL if I have done the calibrations as per HF.
What do you mean by being challenging when switching between modes?
What do you mean by being challenging when switching between modes?
If I trim for AL it holds position perfectly. If I then switch to Manual mode the helicopter moves violently to the left. The manual suggests that you first trim in AL, power off transmitter while stiil in AL, then switch to Manual and power transmitter. Apparently, the trim values from AL are supposed to move to manual mode, but for some reason they're not doing this for me.
Webheadfred
Air Traffic Controller
After you trim it in AL mode you must land and power off in AL mode. Leave the trims where they were when you trimmed them. When the multi os powered off. Switch off AL on the transmitter, leave the trims alone. When you repower the multi, the trims on the transmitter are read as center for HFP and it'll fly perfectly. When you switch to AL, the trims are already set for level flight.
S11D336B
George - Hoverfly
You shouldn't need much trim for Al. Make sure you follow this guide. It will help
https://hoverflytech.zendesk.com/entries/21202158-auto-level-setup-for-hoverflypro
https://hoverflytech.zendesk.com/entries/21202158-auto-level-setup-for-hoverflypro
Exactly!! I had a problem with keeping the AL trims after powering down but I was disarming the board everytime. DO NOT DISARM. Power down with the board still active and it will remember the trim settings. I can't recall anywhere in the manual that specifies this.
Cheers
MJ
Webheadfred
Air Traffic Controller
I NEVERapproach the multi without disarming it. Any time you power up the HFP, it reads the sticks, including trims, as dead center. Your trims should have been set for level flight in AL mode. By powering them down and up, it reads those settings.
I agree that you should NEVER get close to the multi without disarming it but I tried numerous times to get the os to remember the trim setting and I found through a one time power down without disarming that it remembered the trims. I may have done something wrong but it was the ONLY way that I could find to get the trims set properly.
Cheers
MJ
Webheadfred
Air Traffic Controller
The HFP doesn't 'remember' the settings. When you power up the HFP and the radio is on, the HFP simply reads the current positions of the sticks on the transmitter, including the trim, and uses this as center. You must keep the trims set each flight where they were previously, once you get them dialed in.
Procedure...
1. Zero out all trims.
2. Power up and take off.
3. Switch to AL.
4. Trim to take out any drift. LEAVE TRIM SETTING HERE!
5. Land while in AL mode.
6. Disarm.
7. Power off.
8. Switch off AL on transmitter.
9. LEAVE TRIMS ALONE. LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY WERE SET PREVIOUSLY. THEY MUST ALWAYS BE HERE FOR THIS BUILD.
10. Power on the Multi with the HFP.
The HFP reads the trim positions and assumes that this is for level flight. When you switch on the AL, the trims you previously dialed in will be already there and your quad will fly fine.
Hope this helps.
Procedure...
1. Zero out all trims.
2. Power up and take off.
3. Switch to AL.
4. Trim to take out any drift. LEAVE TRIM SETTING HERE!
5. Land while in AL mode.
6. Disarm.
7. Power off.
8. Switch off AL on transmitter.
9. LEAVE TRIMS ALONE. LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY WERE SET PREVIOUSLY. THEY MUST ALWAYS BE HERE FOR THIS BUILD.
10. Power on the Multi with the HFP.
The HFP reads the trim positions and assumes that this is for level flight. When you switch on the AL, the trims you previously dialed in will be already there and your quad will fly fine.
Hope this helps.
So does this mean that a person will never be able to use the trims again to trim out wind drift while in AL or Manual? Sorry but this is how I read your procedure.
All I know is that I had a drift issue between Man and AL. I tried multiple times to get the two to match using the procedure of disarming and as an experiment I tried to power down while in AL WITHOUT DISARMING. It worked. That's all I know.
As far as having your body parts in the line of the prop arcs while armed.......I highly agree it is not recommended. However the muti boards are the only device (that I am aware of) that has this feature. I fly a 2 metre 3 1/2 HP electric pattern plane and once the batteries are plugged in, it is armed and dangerous. Until the batteries are disconnected it has the potential to kill if the throttle stick is even bumped. It is the nature of the beast. Same with large electric heli's. Granted a few of the modern transmitters will give you stick/switch position warnings but an inadvertant bump of either will produce a flesh eating result. All of these flying buzzsaws MUST be treated with the highest respect and regard. They all have disasterous potential.
I sincerely hope that the ESC manufacturers will modify their designs to reflect the operation of the multi boards re arming and disarming. A LOT of accidents could be prevented.
Cheers
MJ
All I know is that I had a drift issue between Man and AL. I tried multiple times to get the two to match using the procedure of disarming and as an experiment I tried to power down while in AL WITHOUT DISARMING. It worked. That's all I know.
As far as having your body parts in the line of the prop arcs while armed.......I highly agree it is not recommended. However the muti boards are the only device (that I am aware of) that has this feature. I fly a 2 metre 3 1/2 HP electric pattern plane and once the batteries are plugged in, it is armed and dangerous. Until the batteries are disconnected it has the potential to kill if the throttle stick is even bumped. It is the nature of the beast. Same with large electric heli's. Granted a few of the modern transmitters will give you stick/switch position warnings but an inadvertant bump of either will produce a flesh eating result. All of these flying buzzsaws MUST be treated with the highest respect and regard. They all have disasterous potential.
I sincerely hope that the ESC manufacturers will modify their designs to reflect the operation of the multi boards re arming and disarming. A LOT of accidents could be prevented.
Cheers
MJ
Webheadfred
Air Traffic Controller
You certainly can use trim in any manner you like. This procedure is simply to dial in a no wind AL trim setting. If you later adjust trim, for what ever reason, if you do not move them back, the HFP will read the new positions as center the next time you power cycle and it will fly fine. In AL mode, it may drift as before.
Over on RCGroups, you'll find photos of a fellow who didn't disarm his multi. He approached it and kneeled down to do something and somehow, the receiver/transmitter signal was blocked. The multi went into fail safe mode and the motors spooled up and it jumped in his face. 68 stitches later and a lesson learned that could have killed him. Go and look.. I think his name was AV8Chuck. Not sure though...
Over on RCGroups, you'll find photos of a fellow who didn't disarm his multi. He approached it and kneeled down to do something and somehow, the receiver/transmitter signal was blocked. The multi went into fail safe mode and the motors spooled up and it jumped in his face. 68 stitches later and a lesson learned that could have killed him. Go and look.. I think his name was AV8Chuck. Not sure though...
Last edited by a moderator:
Webheadfred
Air Traffic Controller
Sorry, no I don't. To get mine dialed in, I set the trim for the AH channel on a dial and adjusted it 'on the fly' in the air. I am able on my Futaba, switch to a servo page and see the setting. I then set this to the endpoint on that channel and let it go from there. It seemed to work.
I could not find any reference to any accident that AV8Chuck had other than him commenting about someone else that had a 5 stitch encounter however if you search RCG Multi copter talk you will find a plethora of injuries from these things. The one I remember the most is this one:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1683326&highlight=injuri
I believe another quad hit him as he was flying his. As I say, these things demand the utmost in respect.
I am not advocating an unsafe act........I am only pointing out the procedure that worked for me.
Let's all be careful out there. 'Nuff said.