Installation of a CPII ER bail out switch on DX6i

So I have been wanting to install a Emergency Recovery bail out switch on my Tx to work with my Co Pilot II system. I did this today and made a video of the process. Basically what this means is that you fly with the stabilization system OFF, but have a very easy to reach switch to activate the stabilization to keep you from crashing (this is done as your are, well, crashing).

The details, if the system is OFF and you are in normal flight at only a slight angle (Less than 45 degrees), centering your cyclic while pressing the button will cause the helicopter to level itself out at whatever gain you have decided to use (normally it's always pretty high so it levels quick). Should you be upside down, and totally screwed up at an angle beyond 45 degrees, like a tail dive, centering the cyclic while pressing the button will cause emergency recovery to kick in and level the helicopter twice as fast as normal. Once your saved you just let go of the button and continue your flying without any stabilization.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEPtlUGVRaw

So after dinner and a Beer  ;D I just realized that I could set this up to have Co Pilot be ON in an open circuit condition. Meaning that with the switch forward and button out it is ON, then you would hold your finger on the red button (close the circuit) while flying and have the system be OFF. In an emergency just let go of the button and cyclic and be saved! Much easier to just let go of things than reach for them.

So maybe I'm just missing something here, but why do you want a new switch on an existing switch function?  Is it just that you want something more like a dead man throttle control?  When I started into the video I was thinking you were actually adding new functionality to the transmitter.  I guess it does make it more like a panic switch.  So does flipping the switch force leveling regardless of the right stick position or does the right stick still have to be centered?

I'm still hoping to see that fly some day.  Everyone that was at Redwood when you came said it worked awesome.

...Tiger

All it is doing is moving an existing switch to a different location, and switching from a toggle to a momentary push button. No new functions, nothing really changes, think of having the real F16 fighter jet with the ejection button located "somewhere" on the dash of the plane, now I have moved it to the stick where I can keep my finger "on it" at all times and bail out without searching for that life saving button "somewhere". This will allow "me" to be in full command of the heli as I try to fly inverted while nose in, and as I screw up and start to crash, I have a reset button to make things OK instantly.

As soon as we get some decent weather I plan to fly a lot, like everyday if I can manage, so we will certainly meet up, I also want to get the trainer cable and let some more experienced pilots try flying this system and some FPV too, I know a few people with DX6i Tx so all I need is a cable to setup a buddy box.

PP - My understanding is that the Spektrum radio just needs an ordinary 3.5mm stereo cable for the trainer port.  I just happen to have a whole case of 12 foot stereo cables if you want one (or a bunch).  If you're interested, I could deliver at indoor flying this Wednesday.

...Tiger

The Spektrum Trainer Port Cable is actually 1/8" Mono to 1/8" Mono but this could be a MOOT point because the forums do confirm the 1/8" Stereo WILL work in a pinch. But at the same time I have also been reading which imply some Stereo Cables may not work, although I can't say how reliable is that last point. Nevertheless given the ambiguity might want to check before ya spend any $$$ ...

DIY: Port hook-up and wiring instructions (pdf)

      [size=1.20em][shadow=Orange,left]w00d[/shadow]



[/size]

wOOd - You're right - It is mono.  I read a posting last night from some guy giving a stereo cable part number that was suppose to work.  I assumed from that that it was a bidirectional communication and needed two data lines.  Below is a pic from the Spektrum site that clearly shows mono.  I guess which ever end gets plugged in first determines who is the master and who is the slave.  What we call 1/8" here is generally really 3.5mm.  That's probably because all of the parts are imported from metric sources.  You could use cables or plugs labeled either way.

...Tiger

It is curious though, the cable that plugs my Tx (DX6i) into the PC for the Flight
Simulator (Phoenix) clearly uses a Stereo connector ... As I said in my previous
post "a moot point" both will (should) work   

    <--- [size=0.8em]Cable is proprietary, 1/8" (3.5mm) Stereo to USB[/size]


EDIT: Trainer Port, Tx side

   

Another sketch at DIY Drones: DX6i Trainer Port (Tx side)

I also found a Spekrum DX6i/Trainer JACK Bulletin but it's near 3 year old, FYI:

    [shadow=grey,left]w00d[/shadow]

I think the USB cable provides power to the Tx via the stereo cable?

I tried the button out today, works as advertised, it is still very stressful to let go of the button and fly, but by the last battery I was doing ok, only had to hit it a few times to save me, but was able to fly figure eights and nose in forward flight without any help at all. So it proves that flying all this time with it has actually taught me how to fly, still have a looooooong way to go before I can say I can fly these things, but things are improving!

I did notice that even though I am trimmed out for a pretty good hover, it wants to roll over in flight without the computer on, maybe I don't realize how little input it takes to make something happen on these and I am actually adding stick input without knowing it? But I think it does have some kind of issue I will look into.

I thought it maybe this also but nope ...

... soon as the stereo plug is connected to the Tx it comes to life, and this is without the USB end being connected to the PC

I also looked for any voltages with the volt-meter, with the USB connected but not plugged in to the Tx I didn't read any voltages at the stereo end

Next tested was with the USB connected and with the stereo end connected but without the Tx's batteries, the result was a completely dead Tx ... it wouldn't turn on

So it must close a circuit to power the computer (DX6i) by plugging in, but I wonder if the radio transmitter gets power? It would make sense if it didnt as there would be no need. Maybe it re-directs the PPM signal from going to the radio but out the trainer port instead?

When plugged in the transmitter section is turned off. When SiMing battery life is measued in days even weeks, but when flying battery life is measured in hours ...

Ah, makes sense. Also when I had my DX6i apart I saw a sticker in Dbi and it translated to about 100Mw, not a lot, but enough to get the job done. And use your batteries.

Been thinking (LOL, smell the w00d burning) maybe the mysterious black box on the Phoenix Cable needs power. Thinking maybe the Stereo plug is powering that !?! Sometime back and being always the curious I opened the mystery box to see what was inside and they actually filled it with a somewhat solid black TAR substance and I imagine it being a Software Key (lock) makes it difficult to reverse engineer. ANyhowZ maybe the circuitry inside that need power? ... Again out of curiosity I will put it to the multi-meter to see if the stereo connection is outputting any power