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Mini-HowTo
Setting up a Lemon Gyro on a 6ch plane
It seems like there's always a lot of questions on how to setup the Lemon stabilizer in a plane. There's a lot of guides out there, but it seems like that first setup can be daunting to a gyro newbie. I created this guide to help out some who may be needing some setup help.
First, let me make it clear that there's 2 different Lemon gyro types currently on the market. The Lemon Stabilizer and the Lemon Stabilizer PLUS. I personally prefer the standard Lemon Stabilizers, since the PLUS versions are a bit more complicated and more tedious to setup (IMO). Before you get started, make sure you know which version you are using. The standard lemon has the satellite port next to the dials. The PLUS model has a recessed button. This blog is discussing how to set up the STANDARD Lemon Gyros. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: In order to utilize all 6 channels on a Lemon Stabilizer, you MUST have a 7+ channel transmitter. I know this doesn't make sense, but trust me. If you have a Dx6 and you have a 6ch airplane, this guide will not help you. There are gyro options available that can work, such as the admiral gyro receivers and the orange gyro, but the standard Lemon gyro is NOT recommended if you have a 6ch transmitter and a plane that requires all 6 channels. Why? Because with a standard Lemon Gyro, the GEAR channel turns the gyro on/off. This means that anything plugged into GEAR will also turn your gyro on and off when used. Example: If we plugged the landing gear into the GEAR port, then every time we raise or lower the landing gear, it will cause the gyro to be turned on and off. This is undesirable, as it doesn't allow full control of the gyro without also controlling something else on the plane. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the standard Lemon Gyro Receiver w/ Satellite unit: https://www.lemon-rx.com/index.php?r...product_id=128 I could walk through the entire setup process, but I think you'll have a better understanding if you read the first few posts of this thread and also read the instructions shown on the Lemon webpage I linked to above. I will write down some detailed steps here (but you'll still need to read those two links to understand exactly how to do some of this). Setup Process: 1) It is best to locate the gyro as close to the center of the plane's CG as possible. This isn't always an option, but at the very least, make sure the gyro is on the centerline (roll axis) of the plane. Make sure all the dip switches are flipped the correct direction (by default, they should all be switched to the same side - but just make sure). See here for info. 2) Plug in all the servo leads as normal except for GEAR. Leave the gear unconnected for a moment and bind the Rx to your Transmitter. Once bound, remove the BIND plug from the receiver and plug the landing gear servo cable into the BIND port on the Lemon Rx. To recap why we're doing this: Quote:
3) Once things are connected, turn up the gain dials on the gyro so you can see/hear the control surfaces moving when you hold the plane. Then test to make sure everything is working well. Make sure the controls are moving the correct directions per your inputs and make sure that the gyro is "correcting" the right direction. Use the dip switches J1,J2,J3 to reverse gyro direction if needed. Also check to make sure the gyro is turning on/off when you flip the GEAR switch on your transmitter. All of this is covered in many Youtube videos and on the links I provided above - so if you get stuck, do some homework and sleep on it and keep at it. Quote:
5) Unplug the battery from the plane (receiver). Turn off your Tx and turn everything back on and connect the battery to the plane. Test everything again - just to be sure everything is acting right. If not, read through this guide again and/or look on Youtube for help setting up the Lemon gyro. 6) The last thing to do is adjust the gain dials so it'll be optimal in flight. I recommend starting out at around 10 o'clock on all 3 dials. It should be a good (safe) starting point for you to use, but you may need to lower/increase the gains a bit depending on your preferences. If you have an 8ch transmitter, you can setup AUX3 on a dial/knob and use this to adjust the gains in-flight. It is important to get the gain setting "just right" for each dial. Usually the rudder can be a higher setting than Aileron and Elevator, but each needs to be watched carefully. I start out each new plane setup at the 10 o'clock position and go for a flight. It is probably best if you start off with the gyro OFF. Get up to altitude and turn it on once you're comfortable in the air. Once the gyro is on, watch out for potential oscillations from the plane. If the plane oscillates (vibrates) while flying, then one or more of the gain dials is set too high. Be ready to hit the gyro toggle switch on your Transmitter to disable the gyro if the plane starts to oscillate. These oscillations can get bad FAST and could cause a crash if you don't turn off the gyro in time. Oscillations will occur most often at higher speeds. So a way to test this is to put the plane into a fast dive and see if it wobbles. If it does, pay attention to which axis looks to be oscillating on and kill the gyro before it gets too bad. Once you land, turn down the dial of the control surface that caused the wobble (in my experience, it is usually aileron). Repeat this process until the plane no longer oscillates in high-speed flight. This means you have the gains set correctly. That's it. You should hopefully have your gyro working now on your plane. If you ever see the plane start oscillating in flight, or behaving oddly/unexpectedly, turn the gyro OFF. Either the gyro gains are turned up too high and it's causing the plane to get the jitters, or there's always the possibility that the Lemon stabilizer came off and is bouncing around inside your plane! Toggling the gyro OFF will offer you a failsafe option in case this happens. Just don't forget which switch it is! If anyone thinks I forgot something important, let me know and I'll add it to the list. |
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Last edited by Suko; Jul 25, 2019 at 02:49 PM.
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reversed ailerons
I'm trying to set up my Zohd flying wing, and I've got it mixing properly for elevon function, but my ailerons are reversed. Right stick gives me left roll, and vice versa. I can't fix it no matter what I do. I've tried switching plugs, I even tried changing the channel assignment in my Spektrum DX6 and nothing will change it.
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I didn't see this until today, so sorry for the really late reply.
There's a few things to check. First, did you make sure the gyro is in "Delta" mode? If you look at the receiver unit, it'll say "*DETLA", make sure the dip switch next to it is switched ON. Next would be to check your transmitter settings. You will want it set to NORMAL airplane mode. NOT elevon or delta. The delta mixing for the wing will be done inside the receiver, so you can leave your transmitter in normal mode. Make sure one of your aileron servos is plugged into the aileron port, plug the other into the elevator port and test everything out. After doing all the things listed above, you may need to reverse directions on your Tx and/or the receiver. |
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F-14 dual Receiver
Hi Suko,
Was going to send you a PM but I don't think you have that option enabled. I just bought a F-14 ARF to paint/build during this downtime as my flying sites are closed, been wanting one since I started flying EDFs. I use the Lemon gyros in all my EDFs (the non plus and with satellites) so I am pretty familiar with them. Reading your post in the F-14 thread about using dual receivers got me thinking this would be best for my setup. I have never bound dual receivers and after looking into it some I'm discovering the channel inputs are just going to be repeated on both receivers, ALE-->ALE, RUD-->RUD and AUX(s)-->AUX(s)..? If this is correct and with using the gear channel for gyro on/off and BEC, I cannot use two 7 channel gyro receivers because ultimately they are 6 channel with gyro control and I wouldn't have an additional AUX for the wing sweep, is this correct? Is that why you went with the 10 channel instead of another 7 rec/gyro? I have a DX8 g2 and two lemon 6/7 channel rec/gyros already this is partially why I ask, If so I can pick up a 10 channel.. unless an additional standard 7 or 6 channel non gyro receiver would work.. but I don't think so given their AUX channels would be used by the gear and flaps. Anyways thanks for any help and the youtube vids of your 14 flying are great, can't wait! |
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Garrison,
Yes, that is why I went with a 10 channel as the second Rx. Channels 1 - 6 will be duplicated on each Rx, so using two typical lemon receivers won't help you out. You will want to grab a 10 channel receiver to get those extra 3 (or 4) channels for use on the other features on the F-14. The one thing I will say is that my original BEC died on me a while back (before I ran 2 Rx), so I had to buy a new one. I got the 20A YEP BEC (which has much higher output than the stock one and has 2 power leads). This allowed me to safely (and easily) provide power to both Rx's. I honestly have no idea if there could be any issue running 2 Rxs off the stock BEC. I have mine setup like this: First Rx 1 - THR 2 - AIL 3 - ELEV 4 - RUDD 5 - GYRO on/off 6 - FLAPS 7 - BEC plugged in for power (could use Ch 5 also) Second Rx 7 - Wing Sweep 8 - Brakes 9 - Afterburner Plug (allows me to fine-tune when it turns on) 10 - Open for future use. |
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Hi Suko,
Sorry to bother again. Like you I prefer the standard lemon gyro vs. the plus. But from what I'm gathering with my DX8 and the standard gryo, my AUX 3 channel, which I would want to use for the wing sweep on the F14, is dedicated to the gyro on/off and the gain. I normally set it up on a switch and until recently I just realized the gain is default to the knob where before I thought I was making the only adjustments to the gain from the actual receiver, great realization for my other planes. So to have the gyro and AUX 3 open I will have to run the PLUS version with it ON all the time right? And I can't do this from the normal version? I think they have a version of the plus with a satellite option which is my biggest concern although an on/off switch would be nice. I guess I will maiden with wing sweep unplugged and trim/check gyro with on/off switch and make sure gains are good (obviously ground check directions too but just to be sure on an expensive model) then when I'm ready just enable gyro permanently and use AUX 3 for sweep? Unless you see some other work around? I'll make the jump a DX9 or more eventually. |
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Hmmm. Yeah, trying to run a single Lemon Rx in the F-14 is going to be tough.
As you mentioned, you could go with a Lemon PLUS and leave it on all the time. However, my concern is that you might get it dialed in good for wings-out flight, but then the wings sweep and the gyro starts overcompensating. Or, the gyro comes loose in flight and then you're really in trouble. So, going with a Lemon Plus is doable, but I have a different suggestion. I would suggest going with the Admiral receiver/gyro. https://www.motionrc.com/products/ad...xis-stabilizer This is basically a lemon with a slightly different firmware. The benefit of the Admiral is that you can use Ch5 (Gear) for your landing gear AND also use it for the gyro toggle. It just requires a simple mix setup that they cover in their videos. https://www.motionrc.com/products/ad...izer#video-tab Here's the video on the mix setup:
With this receiver, you can setup the F-14 as follows: 1 - THR 2 - AIL 3 - ELE 4 - RUD 5 - GEAR & Gyro Toggle 6 - FLAP 7 - WING SWEEP 8 - GYRO GAINS The Admiral Rx also allows you to adjust gains using AUX3, just like the Lemons do. Honestly, the Admiral Rx is a superior Lemon (IMO). Sure, there's some downsides, like no Satellite port and it's a little more expensive. But being able to utilize Ch5 for landing gear and gyro toggle is a God send. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need any other help. P.S. Since the Admiral Rx doesn't allow for satellites, I want to emphasize that it is important to do a thorough range check once you get it installed and connected. When I installed mine, I mounted one antenna vertically and the other horizontally to maximize signal coverage. Have a buddy hold your plane and walk 50 ft (30 paces) away. Put your Tx into range test mode and have your buddy move the plane in every possible orientation while you wiggle the sticks. If the plane's controls stop moving for even a moment, make sure to relocate the Rx and make sure it's someplace that won't be blocked by the battery, carbon fiber, or a lot of metal and wires. You don't want to lose such a nice airplane because the Rx wasn't getting a good signal. |
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Last edited by Suko; Apr 29, 2020 at 02:54 PM.
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Ah yes! I forgot about these, I do have a couple actually. I remember them being slightly different, I guess I just thought they were similar to the plus version. That's probably a better option. I guess I could do an external gyro, I know the other one motion sells is a good unit but I have no experience with it. Probably wouldn't want to first try it in the 14.
Yes definitely will be range checking this one at the field. Thanks for your advice |
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Definitely bookmarking this page.
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