How to power my retracts.

[Pumpkinguy]

I have 3 pretty beefy all metal servoless retracts going on my gryphon hex. I have no A couple guys online said this particular type are garbage and fail all the time. I've talked to another guy that said he used a capacitor on the rx and he's never had a problem. I have no idea of amp draw. Should I use a capacitor and what one? Or do I use 6v power from my bec and take signal from my rx? Thx

 

[Carapau]

Do not power from RX! Get power from main power distribution board via a BEC and then use the signal wire. Gear can often draw high current, enough to cause brown out on rx and/or on FC depending on how it's wired


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[Pumpkinguy]

Thx.

 

[Bartman]

a bigger problem than a brown out is the black out....gear are servo driven and if a gear leg jams thus leaving the servo jammed while still trying to move the gear it will drain your batteries to nothing. this is why a lot of servo driven camera gimbal users switched over to having their gimbals powered by a separate battery.

so my answer would be add a small 2S Lipo to the heli for the landing gear. it'll weigh practically nothing, last a really long time, and won't bring down your heli if/when the gear jam

 

[Pumpkinguy]

That's another good option Bart. Thanks. I wonder if 2s unregulated power is too much. 8 1/2 volts.
Here is my retract. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...ract_for_Large_Models_10_12kg_w_10mm_Pin.html

I think it has protection built in as well. It's servoless which I assume that means it has a digital motor.

 

[Bartman]

Specs:Operating Voltage: 4.5~7.4V
Mount Plate Dimensions: 52mm x 43mm
Screw Hole Spacing: 43mm x 31mm
Depth: 32mm
Length: 92mm
Pin: 10mm
Max model weight: 10~12kg
Weight: 177g

4.5 volts to 7.4 volts is the voltage range and 7.4 is the nominal voltage for a 2 cell LiPo.....so you're good with that (if that's what you want to do, it's your call)

 

[SleepyC]

@Pumpkinguy I’d really rethink those retracts. 1) They are not made for multi’s and 2) they have an awful reputation.
For $110 you can get a set of the Tarot Retracts that have a built in controller and can take 3 - 6S have a failsafe “down” position in the controller.

I have them on three rigs now from 10lbs to 28lbs and they work GREAT.

I’m sure many people carry them, but I purchased mine here:

You will want (1) of these: http://www.cnchelicopter.com/tarot-tl8x002-auto-landing-gear-controller/

And (2) of these: http://www.cnchelicopter.com/tarot-x-series-electric-retractable-landing-gear-group-tl8x001/

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[Pumpkinguy]

I appreciate your opinion Sleepy but who gives them an awful reputation? I have read some bad reviews yes and also talked to guys that have used them flawlessly 100 times. They are the same retracts that gryphon dynamics is using on their landing gear.
At this point they are not being changed. I have parts being machined as we speak. If they fail I will look into something else.
I'm curious. What makes a retract specific to a multi or a plane?

 

[SleepyC]

I appreciate your opinion Sleepy but who gives them an awful reputation? I have read some bad reviews yes and also talked to guys that have used them flawlessly 100 times. They are the same retracts that gryphon dynamics is using on their landing gear.
At this point they are not being changed. I have parts being machined as we speak. If they fail I will look into something else.
I'm curious. What makes a retract specific to a multi or a plane?

To me its the mounting plate. If you are machining them, then I guess that doesn’t matter.
But if you look at the picture these were meant to be mounted INTO a wing so the flange is on the opposite side from what you want it on for a multi.

View attachment 22876

If you look at the tarot, it will easily mount to any flat surface with the mounting ears right there at the contact point instead of being on the opposite side.

View attachment 22877
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Also, you would need to machine a 25mm boom mount, to slide on the retract spike, the Tarots accept a 25mm boom as the leg straight away.

Also as I have been an airplane guy for 31 years, I have seen those HK retracts used on Airplanes for probably 2 or so years and I think they are at about a 50/50 ratio of working (From what I have seen in person) so I’d just hate to see you have an issue with such a nice frame due to a HK retract.

But hey, if you can machine them and test them a lot, go for it!

 

[Bartman]

But hey, if you can machine them and test them a lot, go for it!

and post pictures!!

 

[Pumpkinguy]

It's hard finding a retract for the gryphon frame. I need 3 retracts. And they will be just legs. Not a "T" at the bottom.
I have emailed gryphon a few times asking when theirs will be listed on their online store. I never got an answer. So instead of giving gryphon $600
I decided to make my own using the same retracts as gryphon uses.
In this pic you will see the 10mm steel pin. That will be replaced with a offset aluminum male pin to 20mm female to accept my 20mm x 420mm CF legs. The machine shop is almost done. I cannot cancel this the reason I have to give these a chance.
If they fail mid flight I will have to hand catch or land on a trash can and look for something else.

 

[SleepyC]

Yea that’s what I meant by the flange being on the wrong side, but hey! Some extra bolts and problem solved.
I hope they work! Post pics when you finish!

 

[Pumpkinguy]

If you can recommend a high quality brand that I can consider please do so. But ones like you suggested would be impossible to mount on this frame.

 

[Pumpkinguy]

Sleepy. I've sent you a pm. I know how you mods don't like to look at them so I'm letting you know here. Lol

 

[Pumpkinguy]

View attachment 22881 Here is the harness I made.