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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: steven yampolsky on October 24, 2012, 09:02:53 PM

Title: Timer overview please
Post by: steven yampolsky on October 24, 2012, 09:02:53 PM
I am trying to understand different components of an electric setup and one thing that keeps me confused is timers. Can some please give an overview of timers, what they are for, common functions, types of timers and currently available options/vendors/brands of timers.
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: Tim Wescott on October 24, 2012, 09:48:05 PM
If you've used an RC system it's easy: timers pretend to be receivers.

At their most basic, they provide a throttle signal to the ESC that starts low, goes high for your desired flight time, then goes low again.

In the case of KR timers, they also monitor the motor speed and regulate it.

In the case of Igor Burger's timers, they can also monitor the flight speed of the plane (with an accelerometer) and adjust the motor speed.

Some of them can also do landing gear.

I'm going to stop now.  It's either that, or write a book.  I hope this helps.
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: Igor Burger on October 25, 2012, 01:50:49 AM
There are also more complex sequencers, with binary inputs, outputs, which can even be connected together. They can control either different throttle levels during flight, or controll one servo doing "something" (something like timers in FF models) they have even programmable loops, interupts from outside world reacting to something (cut lines in combats, input from 2.4Gh receiver fr security cut offs) or timeouts. They are usefull for gun, bomb, smoke operations of scale models, sensing landing or extreme bellcrank movement etc.
Look here: http://www.netax.sk/hexoft/docu/itimer_en.pdf

BTW ...
description of simple timer is here: http://www.netax.sk/hexoft/docu/CLtimer_en.pdf
active timer: http://www.netax.sk/hexoft/docu/iAccTimer_en.pdf
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: steven yampolsky on October 25, 2012, 08:18:43 AM
The cookbooks has a timer by Will Hubin. What are those? How do they work?

Timers in general: The way I understand it, ESC's can perform similar functions such as shut off or RPM regimes, right? What are the differences between performing the function in esc or the timer.

Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: Igor Burger on October 25, 2012, 08:23:19 AM
Generally ESC does, what the timer tells to do :-))
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: Crist Rigotti on October 25, 2012, 08:25:04 AM
Look at this:

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=17035.0
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: steven yampolsky on October 25, 2012, 03:18:58 PM
That's a good post. One last question, where can one purchase these timers and how much do they cost?
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: John Cralley on October 25, 2012, 04:41:22 PM
The Will Hubin different timers can be purchased from him directly. Email him at whubin@kent.edu and describe what ESC you plan to use and he can advise you about a timer. His run from about ten to twenty dollars except that his FM-9 series timers need a programmer at $70-80.

Keith Renecle's timers can be purchased from Eric Rule at RSM Distribution. rsm1rule@rsmdistribution.com They can be used with an inexpensive ESC and still have governing of the RPM. His timers also need a programmer. I bought one recently with a programmer for $52.50

In both cases you only need to buy the programmer only once and then the additional timers can use the same programmer.

I don't know if Igor is marketing his timers or not.

These to me are the most popular timers right now.
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: Keith Renecle on October 26, 2012, 12:54:41 AM
Hi Steven,

My timer info is on my website:http://www.keithrenecle.co.za/Electric%20CL.htm

The KR Governor timer is different to the others in that it does not require an esc with a built-in governor system. You just add one extra wire from my timer to any one of the motor wires, and it uses the motor pulses in a feedback loop to control the rpm and keep it constant. You need a governor of some type to fly decent stunt with e-power.

Keith R
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: Bob Hudak on October 26, 2012, 08:40:51 PM
Just ask Will to email a copy of his timer and programmer brochure, the prices are there. I like the FM-9 timer with remote start button. I have a FM-9V (+/ 500 rpm remote adjustment)on a setup but don't find that I use the remote rheostat rpm adjuster. The programmer box is easy to connect to the timer and make the changes if I need more rpms. I don't find it necessary to make a rpm change once the motor dialed in to fly the plane.
Bob
Title: Re: Timer overview please
Post by: Bob Hudak on October 26, 2012, 08:52:43 PM
One other bit of info, read Norm Wittles cookbook downloadable from the top of this forum. It will explain in detail what the different components do in an electric setup.
 Bob