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Author Topic: Setting up my ICE Lite 50  (Read 1358 times)

Offline Vincent Judd

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Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« on: April 03, 2012, 05:47:32 PM »
1st time at this, could someone please check my settings and make sure that I did it properly?  I followed Norm's cookbook as much as possible.  Here are my settings for my E Flite Power 25 Motor:
:
Throttle Tab Vehicle Type: Control Line.  Throttle type: Govenor Mode  Throttle Response:  N/A
Settings for Govenor Mode:  Govenor High   Govenor Gain:  High (35)  Initial Spool up rate:  Medium (5)  Head Speed Change Rate:  Medium (5)
Gearing information:  Pinion/Main gear 1/1  (why don't we use "no gearing/direct drive" setting?)   KV  870

Brake Tab  Strength:100% Hard    Delay: .6 sec   Ramp: Very Fast
Cutoffs   Voltage: Auto lipo   Volts/cell 3.2    Current Limiting: Very sensitive  Type: Hard Cutoff

Motor Tab  Motor Start Power: Medium  (59)   Timing: Custom 2   PWM Rate: 8 khz   Direction: Reverse

Other Tab  Power on beep: enabled   BEC Voltage: 5.0V

I'm not sure about the data logging.  What useful information will this provide for me?  Not being sarcastic, just curious.

I built a test stand for my initial trial runs.  Figured that would be better than trying to do it in the plane.

I'll be posting photos once it's all together.  This combination is going in my Vector.  Still trying to figure out how to put 10 lbs of electronics in a 5 lb. bag.  (yes, I've been looking at all the build photos, it's still a lot of "stuff" that has to go in that little fuselage).  And of course, I'm my own worse enemy, wanting everything to be "perfect".  May not be possible-I want to fly this year).

Many thanks

Vince

   
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Offline WhittleN

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2012, 06:55:53 PM »
Vince
Good job.  Did you read the Cookbook post above in "Gettin all AMP'ed up!"?  Make sure you down load and read the updated one - a few posts down.  It will explain all of what you punched in and also the data logging.

Norm
Edit - Didn't read in your post that you followed the cookbook OPS!  What qustions did you have about data logging?
« Last Edit: April 03, 2012, 07:13:04 PM by WhittleN »
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Offline Vincent Judd

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2012, 07:24:57 PM »
Thanks Norm, and thanks for all your hard work in developing the process for us to use.  It would have taken me forever and probably a couple of burned up ESC's and motors to figure all that stuff out.  As far as the data logging, I thought I read somewhere that it slows down the processing speed of the ESC.  Just wondered what all that data would do for me as far as any changes that I may want to make.  I'm not big on tweaking, I'd just like to get something that's working well and do a lot of flying this summer.  At my skill level, it probably doesn't make a whole lot of difference anyway.  My last competitive stunt venture was at the 1991 Nats, so I have a lot of practice time ahead of me this summer. 

I also read that even though upgrades are available, it might not be in my best interest to upgrade my software at this point.  I believe I have version 3.41.1

Again, thanks to you and the other forum members for all the invaluable information presented on here. 

Vince
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Offline William DeMauro

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2012, 06:15:06 AM »
Vince,
 If it were me I'd change the the hard cutoff to a soft cutoff. A hard cutoff can devastating to a stuntplane if it kicks in during a hard manuver. I would also change the auto lipo setting to custom,and set it for like 2.5-2.7 volts. There is no reason to use RC settings in control line stunt. I would rather have my power sag than shutoff and lose my plane. A lipo that can't hold its voltage is no good to us anyway.
William
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Offline WhittleN

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2012, 07:45:26 AM »
William/Vince
Good catch William, I too now set my cutoff's (both Current and Voltage) to soft.  Also I don't go as low as William on voltage (3VDC) but that is a matter of personal preference.
As for Castle Link:  3.51.05 is the latest Castle Link Software and it is quite satisfactory to utilize.  Now, once you down load Castle Link it has Firmware (the operating system for the ESC) loaded in it.  It will ask you to update firmware on start-up hit the red X and continue to the Software Tab.  I would load 3.28 firmware – I am presently flying that version without any trouble.
Vince glad you have gotten back to stunt – I know with the electric technology (once you get over the learning curve) you will enjoy it even more.
Norm
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Offline Dennis Adamisin

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2012, 08:37:40 AM »
No need for Brake set to "Very Fast"  - that is like putting a stick in the spokes of your bike to stop it.  I use the MEDIUM apply (to 100% strength)  I also like the delay set to 1 second, no need for prop brake to be a stressful event...
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As I've grown older, I've learned that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everyone off is a piece of cake!

Offline William DeMauro

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2012, 12:46:37 PM »
The only reason I go lower than 3V is that there is no way I want to deal with an unexpected shutoff in flight. I would rather have a sag in power and be able to save my plane.
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Offline WhittleN

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2012, 12:53:43 PM »
William
I understand, I have set both voltage to soft cutoff and 3VDC and Current to “Insensitive” and soft cut-off after several folks including myself had unexplainable cut-offs in flight.
Norm
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Offline bob branch

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2012, 09:58:11 PM »
I would recmmend you slow up the ramp up setting. Your setting can throw magnets and again provide a stuctural jolt that there is no need for. Also it will use more current than a slower ramp up.

bob branch
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Offline Vincent Judd

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2012, 01:11:31 PM »
OK, I made some changes to my original program based on everyone's comments.  Here's the latest  (changes in Blue:

Throttle Tab Vehicle Type: Control Line.  Throttle type: Govenor Mode  Throttle Response:  N/A
Settings for Govenor Mode:  Govenor High   Govenor Gain:  High (35)  Initial Spool up rate:  Medium (5 degrees)  Head Speed Change Rate:  Medium (5 degrees)
Gearing information:  Pinion/Main gear 1/1  (why don't we use "no gearing/direct drive" setting?)   KV  870
Battery Pack Voltage:  14.8
Desired Head Speeds  8,750, 8,850, & 9,000

Brake Tab  Strength: 100% Hard    Delay: 1 sec   Ramp: Medium

Cutoffs   Voltage: Auto lipo   Volts/cell 3.0    Current Limiting: insensitive  Cutoff Type: Soft Cutoff

Motor Tab  Motor Start Power: Medium  (59)   Timing: Custom 2   PWM Rate: 8 khz   Direction: Reverse

Other Tab  Power on beep: enabled   BEC Voltage: 5.0V

Just a couple of comments on my part as to my original settings.  In the original cookbook, it stated that if you fly off of grass (I do), use a "sensitive" or "very sensitive" current setting to avoid damaging your ESC in the case of a prop strike, thus my original setting.

Not sure why I had a hard cutoff, that was a mistake on my part. 

I'm confused about slowing up the  "ramp up" setting.  Which setting would control that, the Initial spool up rate?

Once again, thanks for all the assistance.

Vince

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Offline WhittleN

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2012, 05:03:36 PM »
Vince
If you fly off grass and you happen to nose over you want to shut the ESC down quickly.  Igor Burger in another topic talked about setting the cut-off voltage to 3.3VDC to get the ESC to shut-off quickly.  I can tell you one of my friends did burn down his ESC when the airplane nosed over in the grass.   So the settings you have chosen are really for pavement. 
You could set the 1/1 that would be the same.
It wasn't the ramp up settings it was the ramp down for the brake setting that Bob and Dennis suggested you slow down.  This is a personal preference - I use the 'very fast" setting and have not have problems with throwing magnets or destroying anything.  So whatever you like it is not real critical.
The cookbook is really a guide to get you through the first few flights.  After that I’m sure you will develop your personal preferences’.
Regards
Norm
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Offline Vincent Judd

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Re: Setting up my ICE Lite 50
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2012, 04:31:04 PM »
Thanks Norm, I will have to go back in and change those settings back to what I originally had since I don't see any pavement in my future flying circles.  I understand that a lot of it is trial and error, I just don't want any catastrophic failures due to me setting the ESC up improperly.  I'm sure what I have will be a good starting point, I'll tweak it as I progress.

Thanks again to everyone.

Vince
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