I'm a new enthusiast to RC sailplanes. I'm building a non motorized Pelican "Grace" sailplane at the moment. I'm not sure how to set up the servos on the wings. It has 4 servos, one on each aileron and one on each flap. I have a new "Spektrum 6 channel radio. the transmitter book shows one aileron plugs into the "aile channel. It states that if two ailerons are used to plug the other one into the "aux/flap"#6 channel. That leaves 4 channels marked "thr","ele","rud" and "ger". Where would I plug into the reciever to utilize the flaps on the sailplane??? I have one "Y" harness which I think could connect both ailerons to the one aile plug but then limits the set up options. Should I have purchased a 7 channel radio or is there another way to wire this to take advantage of all the control options this ship has. I'm starting with very little knowledge of the "plumbing" aspects of wiring. I know.. I know...... I should have started out with a simple rudder elevator ship but I fell in love with the Pelican Grace and I do not plan to solo this plane without some help and alot of instruction. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Dan in Denver

First, I'm fairly certain your Spektrum Radio is NOT the proper set-up for this use. This radio is designed for "Park Flyers" which are flown "close in". The radio may not have the range needed for R/C sailplanes, which among all R/C vehicles are operated at the farthest distances between the transmitter and receiver. Per the HORIZON Hobby Electric Flight Catalog for this spring, aircraft using this radio should not be flown much farther then 3/8ths of a mile from the transmitter. I'm not familier enough with this system to completely rule out it's use. Maybe someone with more knowledge about it can help.

It sounds like the sailplane you have, is designed for two aileron servos and two flap servos. Y-harnesses should be used to combine the aileron servos and another used to combine the flap servos. Plug the Flap Y-harness into the Auxiliary channel and the aileron Y-harness into the aileron channel and you should be able to do what your asking.

Yeah, that is definitely correct. The Spektrum technology is not at the level it needs to be for sailplanes and glow/gas engined aircraft. I think its a couple of years away though. Go out and get yourself a 9303 for your glider. That will be much easier for you to work with.

Cheers,
DM

Come on now! He doesn't need to spring for a JR 9303! Any normal computer radio will be just fine. Futabam JR, HiTEC and Airtronics all make computer radios at much lower cost which will be more then adequate.

I'd connect both ailerons via a Y-cord to the aileron output and the flap servos to the Flap output via another Y-cord.

What "setups" are you afraid of losing? You won't get flaperons this way, nor do you need them.

Your biggest problem IMO is that you have a "Park Flyer" radio that should NOT be used with a glider due to range limitations.

I've got to agree with this one in spades. The Spread Spectrum radios are a fantastic achievement and will be great for larger planes WHEN THEY ARE READY. They don't have the range at this time to safely operate larger planes, especially sailplanes. I've seen the sailplanes at our field so high that they aren't much more than a speck in the sky. The manufacturer of the Spread Spectrum radios clearly state that they are intended for use in small park flyers, this is because these planes are kept in closer than larger planes. I do realize that there are people out there that are using these radios in larger models right now and might tell you that they haven't had any problems, but IMHO they are just plain lucky that they haven't lost control yet. Myself I'm drooling waiting for these radios to be made for larger models, but I'll wait until they are designed for longer ranges. I'm not in enough of a hurry to risk losing a plane over it.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Ken

Thank you everyone for your help on the servo setup. Your all probably shaking your heads in unison at my ignorance. If I use "Y" on the ailerons, How do I set the 2 servos to move in opposite directions [one aileron up,the other down] for cordinated flight?Can I use the radio reverse servo direction for just one aileron or do I physically flip one servo over in the bay to move opposite the other? {BIG STUPID GRIN ON MY} I can see you all shaking your heads in unison again...
AS for the Spektrum radio, I looked at many radios and almost bought a HiTec optic 6. Then I went to Hobby Town here and the sales guy sold me on the Spektrum because of the 2.5 gig freq. which I know is new tech in the RC radio world. After I got home and read the owners book I was also concerned about the range issue. I looked up everything I could find on the internet and found that the radio supposedly has much more range than JR is willing to commit to. A number of independent range tests done by owners found that the range is well over 3000 feet. There is a ":caviet"here.. The freq. is more suseptable to interference from metal objects like fences, bridges, buildings ect ect. which standard radios are notI'm going to fly inopenfeilds with nothing within a mile. I'm sure I will also be into park flyers in the furture anyway which makes this radio a good purchase ................{AS I SEE THE BEAUTIFULL SAILPLANE I JUST BUILT FLY OFF OVER THE HORIZON AND HERE A MUFFLED CRUNCH".

Danham,
the only stupid question is the one that you don't ask. So let's see if I can clear up the servo issue here. Look at the attached diagram to visualize what I'm describing. When you hook up 2 servos to a Y-harness BOTH servos move in the same direction when you move your stick. If you look at both servos sitting side by side the control arms will move the same direction. But in the configuration in the picture with the control rods on the outside of the servos, when you move the stick one side will move "up" while the other side "moves down", but in reality they are both moving the same direction (which means the control horn on both servos is moving clockwise).

So let's look at an aileron throw here. Let's say we want to do right aileron with the setup in the picture. When we move the stick right both control horns move clockwise. The right servo pushes "down" on the control rod which raises the right aileron, while the left servo pulls "up" on the control rod which pulls the left aileron down.

Try benching the setup to see what's going on. Use two servos side by side on the bench with a Y-harness to see how they move in this configuration.

Hope this helps

Ken

BY GOLLY.. your schematic makes sense now. Unfortunately,I already mounted both servos. I "mirrored" them [meaning both servo arms face towards the wingtips. I used double sided tape which makes it not too much trouble to reverse one if I have to. I have not wired in the "Y" harness yet so I'm not sure how they will move..

Generally, they will rotate in the same direction, which is what Ken's sketch shows. If they go in opposite directions, then you need to mount the pushrod on the same side on both servos.

You could also use a Y-harness with a reverser built into one leg. Verify connector compatibility before ordering.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXAFN2&P=ML

I hate to keep beating a dead horse! However, the following is simply my disclaimer:
To reiterate, you are attempting to use this radio for a purpose it is marginally serviceable for (technically, the manufacturer and/or distributor have specified it is unsuitable for, due to lack of range). The servos provided with the radio set, possibly lack power for this aircraft. The receiver is meant to get it's power from the electric motor batteries (this is a surmountable problem, which you may have remedied already).

The best help you can get, is to get with R/Cers in your area to help you learn about the hobby, installation of R/C equipment into your airplane and how to fly.

My best suggestion would be to put the sailplane aside and get a small Park Flyer model more suited for the radio you have purchased.

I have decided to invest in another radio for the sailplane. I talked to a local soaring club and they also said not to use the Spektrum. So I'm going to probably keep it for use on another airplane and get a Airtronics Stylus radio which was recommended.

THANK YOU !!! At last you listened -- it took a couple 2X4's but your making progress. ENJOY !!! RED

Bruce, what would be the point in a reverser, when all he would need to do is go from the other side of the servo. A reverser costs money. Am I missing a benefit in doing what you suggest?

danham,
Don't worry about how you placed the servos. As someone said, just make your connection for one of the pair of servos differently. Hook the connecting rod to the other side of the servo arm of one of the servos.

If you look at RCKen's excellent graphic, you'll notice that the connecting rod makes a 90degree link with the servo arm. You want that for both servos. If you've already screwed on the horn for the servo that's going to have it's connection changed, you will need to move that flap horn to keep the servoarm/connectingrod/horn angles square. It's worth the effort.

If you look at RCKen's graphic, do your servos sit like his are shown? Or are they on their sides, maybe under a plywood cover plate? If they're on their sides, we need to talk more. If they're on their sides, you may want to turn the plate around 180 degrees if you can.

The servos are hitec HS85MG servos. I had to turn them on their sides and cut off on arm due to shallow servo bays.I mounted them on each aileron and flap so they "mirror" each other with servo arms facing outboard towards wing tips. I used heavy duty sticky tape. They are stuck pretty good, but I can work them loose if need be with a little effort.
Thanks for your thoughts and help.
Dan

The point would be that I answered his question directly. He asked how to make one servo turn the opposite direction. His mechanical setup may not allow for attaching to the other side of the servo. Since he mounted them on their sides this would be the case unless he changes his mounting methods