guys anyone using powerbox digi-switch in F3A model. whats the best regulator ,battery for radio and cdi.

Hi,

Yes I use the Powerbox digiswitch to power both the Futaba 608 receiver and airborne pack (2 of 9151, 1 x 9650 and 2 x 9150 servos) and the CDi unit in my Axiome. Takes about 250 mAh per 20 oz flight (2 1/2 P11 schedules) using 25% nitro 10% SLV oil with needle 7/8 turns out. For competition flights I use ThunderPower 730 mAh 2S packs with starting voltage 8.3V (opencircuit) and finishing voltage 7.9 V. Easily enough. For practice I also use these plus bigger packs.

Hope this helps

Keith

I use a Digi-Switch on my Venus II with a Fromeco 2600mAh LiOn pack and so far it has been great.

I'm powering the RX and 6 digital servos (4 x 9252, 1 x 9151 & 1 x DS821)

Yepe,

The Digi Switch is very popular in Europe, I've using them for a long time, I was told by a re known designer in Europe he has never seen one go bad, that's why I switched to them on all my models, they can sustain 5A, more than needed.

Regards

I am operating a gasoline powered F3A model (SAP180 engine), and use and highly reccommend TECH AERO regulator and TECH AERO IBEC. Both the regulator and IBEC have field selectable voltage outputs.....of course the regulator feeds the RX and the IBEC feeds the CDI unit. The Ignition Battery Eliminator (IBEC) also optically isolates the signal for maximum possible rejection of spurious RFI returning to the RX. It is remotely activated from the TX.

Both components require a single 2S lipo or Liion source. If you use a LiFePO4 battery with its nom volatge at 6.6 or so, then you don't need the regulator but should still use the IBEC.

About as bullet proof as you can get with this set-up plus it is extremely lightweight. I have both the regulator and IBEC in my plane with a 1780mah 2S2P lipo and the whole thing weighs about 5 ozs. which is less than 1 1650 NiMH 5 cell pack.

I use Power box Digi-swith in past 3 years on 3 F3A 2 meters ships without a single failure.
Recently I have started to fly new Axiome and I use Power Box Sensor. It is a double separated channels supply completely isolated with 2 separate regulators + auto backup both directions all in one case 34 grams only. There are 2 input connectors for 2 LiPO packs and 2 outputs were 1 is to RX and 2 is to CDI. If one battery voltage drops or goes dead, it will sense and automatically switch and supply from the remaining pack supply to both outputs as a backup. Output voltage on both is 5.9 regulated. I use 2 packs of TP1320 MAH. This will last for 6-7 flights.
Regards
Amram

Switching to a backup is the easy part. Achieving a balanced system that will let you draw down both packs evenly is the part that Tech-Aero excels at. Both halves of the system are always in operation. Why carry extra battery weight around that is only useful if half the system fails? And how sure are you that it's operational if the only time you exercise it is during that unexpected in flight failure. Not for me! Instead, you want to carry an always functional redundant failsafe system that provides safety, reduces weight, and also provides more peak demand current than a single 3A regulator system can. Also, the regulators are easily programmable to any of 32 different voltage steps.

thanks guys

Guys got my powerbox digi-switch and check the manual. Powerbox digi-switch is only 3amps rated, is this enough for YS CDI and 6 digital servos. My friend told me I should get at least 5amps max for the regulator. Thanks

It says: Regulator capacity approx. 3 -5 A ( dependent upon available cooling )
So it should be OK

Hi Guy's. I've been using the digi-switch in my Oxai Beryll's for 4 years now and works great! Just have one question tho... on about 1 - in - 50 times when I switch the unit off, the light goes to orange- I give the second press and the unit (light) goes off ... BUT the power is still ON !!! I then have to go through the whole sequence of switching on, and off again. This has NEVER happened in the "Switch-on" phase, only "off"
Has anyone else experienced this with there units?

PS - I have had this happen on both my Beryll's so it doesn't appear to be isolated to the one switch!

Regards,
Marc.

It has happened to me a couple of times, but I found my case to be not holding the button long enough and the sw gets confused or something.

Regards

The on/off control SW gets confused and you guys are comfortable with this? Okay...

Yepe,

Current demand from the CDi ignition unit depends on the engines rpm. But at typical rpms going up to 7800, max demand is ~0.33A. My whole pack including CDi draws ~2.5A peak which includes CDi and five digi servos

Best wishes

Keith

thanks for the info

Come on Ed, we're living in modern times now. It's OK for a cell phone to drop calls (as long as the postage-stamp sized "Hi-Def" display works), a TV to need firmware updates every day and PC software to crash on a regular basis. Gone are the days of thorough testing and customer support (for the most part). You need to get with the program... LOL

John Pavlick
Team Black Magic

Its not getting confused, if you don't follow exactly the proper sequence it will remain on. I believe its a safety feature to make it difficult to turn off unintentionally.

Correct Chad! I mentioned that because it will go back to ON if you do not do it correctly, it will never go off by itself, even if the regulator fails it will remain on no matter what.
My words where used for a different purpose than what I tried to say, but it's my mistake, i'll better be specific next time.

By the way, I have never heard yet of one of this switches go bad, have you?

Best regards

Hi guys... I'm NOT concerned because as I said in my origional post it's always been while switching OFF that it stays ON - and after some almost 2000 flights between the two planes with no failure, it certainly is reliable. I just have to be carefull not to switch the TX of before checking that the plane is in fact off - as otherwise the motor (electric) will "jump" to idle as the failsafe kicks in!!! Got quite a shock when it happened the first time,

Hey Chad - That orange shirt still looks good!

Why do you not have it set to "jump" to brake on?

Magne

In my experience the digiswitch, if you hold the button too long to go to orange it goes into programming mode. This allows you to program the type of battery used on the switch. nicd/nimh or lithium. I suspect this is the issue you are seeing where it is not turning -OFF- I don't consider this a defect. My experience with the unit has been excellent. I wish it had a charge jack on the switch, but that is a minor issue to me.

Aerobatixx,

Do you think the digi-switch is capable of running 6 digital servos and YS CDI, can 3 amps handle it. Thanks.

yes