11/25/03

Open Box

As I receive GV-1, there are few components (amp box, sensor, a pair of  magnetic, user manual and necessary hardware for 30 and 60 engine ) in the box. 

Preinstall Test

The purpose of pre-installed test is to test GV-1 function correctly and to find out the reading side of magnetic. The procedure is not complex, just simply connect as the photo below. Connect sensor to its first slot and connect Rx battery to one of other slots.

Using the miniature screwdriver that come with to turn to magnetic reading screen. You should be able to see the reading percentage of magnetic. Usually it shows 4% of reading before you take magnetic nearby the sensor. If there is 0% read-out, please check your connection before going any feather.

While you take a magnetic close to the sensor, the read out would either go up to 97% or go down to 0%. Make a mark on the side of magnetic that you get 97% read-out. (If you would like to install two magnetic on the fan, you may skip this step. However, I would still suggest you doing it.)

Installation

Some fans, come with heli kits, have one or two pre-drill hole(s) for putting governor magnetic. If there is no pre-drill hole on the fan, you should drill one or two by yourself. Please read the manual comes with GV1 for detail about how to drill a hole on a fan. The idea of attaching two magnetic is for balance purpose, so you don't need to take out a lot of material on the side on fan you attaching magnetic on. Even there are two magnetic install on the fan, only one will give actual read-out for the system.

Using the hardware, comes with when you purchase, to mount magnetic sensor on the one side of engine. (Usually, I will choose the side far from muffler, because I want all wire stay away from heat.)

Balance the fan

After attaching magnetic on a fan, you may need to balance the fan to get a better performance and less vibration for your engine. As you can see on the photos below, I drilled some small holes on the up side of fan close to the magnetic without drill through the fan. This took out some material from the heavy side of fan. I know there are some people never balance their fans and still have no any vibration for their fan (I don't know they say no vibration), but I always balance my fans. I like to use High-point Balancer to balance my fans, but you could choose any tool you have if that one is able to do the job.

Setup transmitter and GV1 amp box

The ways of setting up transmitter and GV1 amp box are very from person to person. However, there are few things in common and the setups are described in the following.

Throttle travel limit

While you attach GV1 to a new heli or after adjusting your throttle travel on your transmitter, the first thing you should do is setting up the throttle travel limit on GV1 or GV1 will not work properly.

Gear ratio

Instack of controlling rotor head speed, a GV1 actually control engine running speed by detecting engine fan rotating speed and increasing or decreasing throttle. The gear ratio provide a ratio to divide engine running speed to match the head speed you set up.

Engine R.P.M. / Gear Ratio = Rotor Head R.P.M.

This gear ratio can be found on your heli manual or get it yourself. 

Before Flying

It is very exciting to fly with new components installed on a heli, however for safety reason, it is very important to check all components work properly before starting the engine. There are a few thing to check after installed GV1: sensor reading, gear ratio, throttle limit and engagement.

My setting

There are variety way of setting up GV1. The way of setting depends on the function of your radio, numbers of spare channel on your receiver and personal preference. If you would like to set up head speed remotely, you would need to provide a channel on your receiver. Furthermore, there are three methods to turn on GV1 on the GV1 manual: by stick, by switch and both. You will need to provide an extra channel if you would like to turn GV1 ON/OFF by switch. Personally, I like to have the function of controlling rotor head speed and ON/OFF of GV1.on  my transmitter. In Futaba 9Z, there is no menu item direct relay to the control of GV1. Program mixing (offset) will be used to control GV1.

I prefer using only one channel to control the speed of rotor head and switch ON/OFF of GV1 remotely. 

1. I would assign a channel to control rotor head speed simply by connecting the R.P.M. plug of GV1 to a spare channel on the receiver. Okay, let me make channel #7 and then turn the radio and the receiver power on.
2. Make radio send out its lowest on channel #7 and then turn GV1 to R.P.M. setting up menu. You would see S1 displays at the end on LED. However, if you see S3, you would need to reverse channel #7.
3. On radio, set channel #7 on its lowest; on GV1, press (-) until screen displays (--OFF--). On radio, set channel #7 on its middle; on GV1, set speed to 1000. On radio, set channel #7 to its highest; on GV1, set speed to 2000. After this step, GV1 has been set up completed.
4. It is time to set up head speed remotely and confirm the setting. For example: 
   if my lowest channel #7 is -100 and highest channel #7 is 100. (Futaba 9Z)
   head speed 1400 RPM is bring the channel #7 to output 40;
   head speed 1750 RPM is bring the channel #7 to output 75;
   head speed 1800 RPM is bring the channel #7 to output 80.
   turning GV1 off is bring the channel #7 to output (-100 to -1)
   Another example:
   if my lowest channel #7 is 0 and highest channel #7 is 100. (Futaba FF8, FF9)
   head speed 1400 RPM is bring the channel #7 to output 70;
   head speed 1700 RPM is bring the channel #7 to output 85;
   head speed 1800 RPM is bring the channel #7 to output 90.
   turning GV1 off is bring the channel #7 to output (0 to 49)
5. Confirm the speed for different flying mode: normal, idle 1, idle 2 and throttle hold.

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