IKON governor setup with Castle Edge 120HV speed controller

[Wolf51]

Hi guys.

As you might guess from the title, I have an IKON fllybarless system and Castle Edge 120HV speedie to use in my current build. Its an E5 running the popular 6S and 556 mains config.

I intend to use the IKON governor to get advantage of the better "predictive" governing capabilities it provides, as well as easier governor adjustment if/when desired.

Now, I've seen that a common way to set up the IKON gov is to use a brushless rpm sensor, which is connected to 2 of the motor wires on one side and plugged into the IKON gov port on the other.

I wonder if anyone has attempted or successfully setup an IKON governor using the following method.

The Edge 120HV speed controller has an auxiliary connection that can be configured to perform a number of functions. It has a single signal wire in a 3 pin receiver connector.
One function the auxiliary can perform is:
RPM OUT - Connect the AUX line to 3 axis gyros that support RPM sensors.
The ESC toggles the AUX LINE at every electrical commutation.
Divide this number by your number of magnetic pole pairs for mechanical RPM.

This sounds to me as if I could simply plug the speed controller AUX line into the flybarless system using an IKON governor adapter cable. Making sure to line up the signal wires. It seems simple, only needing to ensure that the correct numbers are entered into the IKON so that head speed is calculated correctly.

Your experience and/or advice on this method would be appreciated.
Or, if someone else has already posted this, can you just point me to it.

Thanks.

[Chris Sexton]

Hello!

I have you covered! I have two videos that cover exactly what you looking for!

Team iKON - Castle ESC Setup for iKON Gov

Synergy E6 Build Video - Part 7 - MSH Brain Gov Programming

If you still have questions let me know!!

[Chris Sexton]

One other thing: After you set your AUX output to RPM out in the castle software, you will need to either make up an adapter for the GOV port or buy one.

I use this one:



Link: http://www.helidirect.com/servo-to-jst-adapter-p-28434.hdx

It's .99 cents!

[Wolf51]

Hi Chris.

I thought you might help me out on this question.

First up I'll add a huge thanks to you for the effort you've gone to in preparing and publishing the E5-E6 build video series and also the IKON and Castle ESC setup videos. These are incredibly helpful to a noob like myself.
Thankyou!

Now, I've watched the IKON gov and Castle videos and it seems reasonably straight forward.
Your recommendation of setting the vehicle type as multicopter makes sense and I'll set mine up that way. Then for the governor setup enter the gearing and pole values and set the AUX function to "RPM out" on the "Other" tab.
I ordered a governor adapter cable with my IKON unit so I'm good to go on that and the other hardware.

I'll give the setup a try as soon as I have a battery to power the ESC.

cheers and thanks again.

[Chris Sexton]

Hi Chris.

I thought you might help me out on this question.

First up I'll add a huge thanks to you for the effort you've gone to in preparing and publishing the E5-E6 build video series and also the IKON and Castle ESC setup videos. These are incredibly helpful to a noob like myself.
Thankyou!

Now, I've watched the IKON gov and Castle videos and it seems reasonably straight forward.
Your recommendation of setting the vehicle type as multicopter makes sense and I'll set mine up that way. Then for the governor setup enter the gearing and pole values and set the AUX function to "RPM out" on the "Other" tab.
I ordered a governor adapter cable with my IKON unit so I'm good to go on that and the other hardware.

I'll give the setup a try as soon as I have a battery to power the ESC.

cheers and thanks again.

I am glad you are finding the videos helpful!

Just to clarify, when you put the Castle in Multi rotor mode. you won't enter gearing or pole count information into the castle. Those boxes will grey out. Just make sure you press update in the castle software after you change the aux port to RPM out.

When setup this way the Logging will still function, but when you download and view the logs, the viewer will need to know gearing and pole count to properly display rpm read.

[Wolf51]

OK, thanks for clarifying that Chris.

I had a look at the Castle Graph Viewer and see where to enter the gearing and pole count info.
Not difficult, hopefully it will retain the values you enter between sessions.
Guess I'll find out when I have some logs to look at.

[Wolf51]

Hoping Chris Sexton reads this.

Chris I've been looking for your pics of the synergy heli with the ikon flybarless unit mounted on the underside of the receiver tray.

I know I've seen them hereabouts but just can't find them again

Could you please post a link to them to help me along.

Thanks very much.

PS. Happy for anyone else who knows where they are to help out.

[Chris Sexton]

here is the link to my E5 project with pictures of the ikon placement.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.263121647190552.1073741836.197343063768411&type=3

Here is a link to my E7se with the same FBL placement.

https://www.facebook.com/chris.sexton.rc/photos_stream

The pictures of the E7se aren't in an album, you will need to scroll down about 2/3 of the way through my photo stream.  But they are there and set to public.

[Chris Sexton]

Let's try this:

[Wolf51]

Thanks Chris, for the links and the pics posted above.

Plenty of nice heli pics in your facebook photo stream as well.

That'll help get me going.

I was planning on mounting the ikon in the upper tray, but couldn't achieve a layout I  was happy with.
Theres a lot of squish and pinch on the cables and they get over top of the gearbox which I don't really like.
I think maybe I've been getting a bit too particular as well.

So I'm going to try the receiver tray approach, one benefit being the wires from the Castle ESC and BEC will reach the ikon without extensions.

I did notice we're using the same route for the elevator servo wire in the gap beside the aileron servo.
I think that's tidier than over the top of the frame, keeps the wire below the upper edge of the frame too.

Back to it...

Cheers

[Chris Sexton]

If you want to set it up like mine. Do yourself a favor. Take the tail boom mounts out and leave the bottom plate off until wiring is done.

sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2

[Wolf51]

If you want to set it up like mine. Do yourself a favor. Take the tail boom mounts out and leave the bottom plate off until wiring is done.

Good advice again Chris, I took the bottom plate off and it made the job a lot easier, thanks.
I've now got the wiring done and its a nice tidy layout with the FBL unit under the receiver tray.

Now doing the rotor head and IKON setup, I've watched your basic IKON and governor setup videos and they help a lot.

For initial test flights I want to set up a normal throttle curve. Just so I can get a feel for the heli as it spools up, without having it automatically spinning up to governor headspeed. I'll end up with 3 governed setups once I've done the basic flight checks.

So, it seems straight forward, am I right that I can achieve as follows?
NB. CC speed controller is set as "multicopter" and I'm using the IKON governor.

Using setup 1 in the IKON as my "Normal" mode, select not to use the governor in the flight style setup screen for setup 1. And create an appropriate throttle curve for flight mode 1 in the TX.

One other question, for the E5 built as a 550 and running 6S do you set the model size in the IKON to 500 or 600?
I'm guessing the choice will make a difference to the way the IKON wizard sets gains for the model, and the direction I may need to make adjustments later?

thanks again.

[Chris Sexton]

Your throttle setup sounds right for testing spool up.

Yes I start at 600 gains and 3d style. I have the agility slider at 75 on all my models but that is personal preference.

sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2

[Wolf51]

Hi guys.

Just a courtesy update here.

My E5 is finally ready for its maiden flights.
Its been a really interesting build project, enjoyed it massively and I'm really happy with how its come together.

Bench tests and ground spool up have gone smoothly.
Next weekend, its the flying field for the first flights.

The assistance I've received here has helped a lot with the build and setup.
Thanks again to all.

[Wolf51]

Well after some delays due to bad weather I took my E5 for its maiden flight this morning.

Yeah, there were a few nerves before takeoff, but they disappeared as soon as I got the heli in the air.
Nothing adventurous, just hovering, fig 8s and small circuits to get a feel for the controls.
Man, what a revelation it is, absolutely rock solid in hover and flight.
That's using the iKon default settings and other details as per the build manual and 2100 headspeed.

I was already a big fan of this heli when I bought the airframe.
The build experience was a pleasure and its delivered solid flight performance.
I could already feel that theres huge performance potential in this bird.

BIG THANKS to Matt for the design, engineering and build quality of the E5.

Wooo Hooo!