I've just received my new Jetcat mini GSU and the connection options have me all confused.

In my package I have one 6 pin cable which plugs into a supplied I/O board (the same as the one supplied with the P-20). I also have an 8 pin cable (no I/O board to fit this). As far as I see I can only use it if I plug it straight into the P-20s ECU, which is a bit of a pain.

I can't use the I/O board to connect it to the V10 ECU as it only has one Minibridge (the new connector) and one RJ45. Therefore I can't plug both the ECU and GSU into the I/O board at the same time.

The literature about the P100 says that you use the 8 pin cable with I/O board for V6 type ECUs but I don't have an I/O board that fits the 8 core cable so can't use it with my old P-80 either.

Am I supposed to have more parts supplied with the Mini GSU than I have, or am I supposed to buy them separately? What other new cables/connectors are available (if any)?

OK. After a bit of research (and some help from Modtron) I think I've found out what's going on. The Jetcat literature that I have read appears to be incorrect.

I think connections are as follows (please correct me if I am wrong).

V6 ECU

Use 6 pin ribbon cable and supplied I/O interface. The orginal telephone cable then connects to the ECU.

V6 ECU with the newer charge socket I/O board

Use the 8 pin cable direct to the back of the I/O board

V10 ECU

Use the 6 pin cable direct to the ECU. No I/O board is supplied.


If you want to use the GSU offboard on the V10 ECU but can't reach the socket (and maybe the charge equipped I/O board as the socket is on the back) then you will either need to leave a cable flopping around in the model or buy a new I/O board. I've found a picture of one from the P100 literature but have no idea if it's available. I'm hoping they release another one without the phone socket as well.

I'm a bit disappointed that they supplied one for the old ECU but not the new one. I'm not sure why they haven't supplied the one in my picture as I think that would work for both.

I picked one up while at Florida Jets and mounted it in my KingCat today.
I have the latest style large I/O Board, which has a socket below the LED's to connect the ribbon cable. This large I/O Board can be easily identified by the black plastic housing for the LED's.

I have mounted the I/O board that comes with the P20 in a slide, so I can remove it from the airframe, un plug it and plug the cable into the mini GSU, have not tried it yet with the turbine run and shut off, but will let you know if it all works tomorrow after I have run it up.

Mike

I have received an email from Jetcat and the I/O board i have pictured above is available (Part Number 61108-50).

This has 2 of the new connectors so will allow you to plug the mini GSU into the I/O board whilst it is still connected to the ECU.

Hey,

Nice install, Harley!

Should this not have been supplied with the mini GSU as standard, the one with it is just the same as the one supplied with the P20 and is of no use.

Mike

I think so.

The bits supplied are the bare minimum to connect to all ECU types but nothing more. Considering the price of the unit I think it only fair that the package is a bit more comprehensive but I guess there are quite a few options to ensure everyone is satisfied (e.g. Harley's board is another option).

My ideal I/O board would have 2 of the new connectors but no RJ45 plug but I'm not sure if this has been produced. I did ask Jetcat but they replied with the part number of the board I pictured above (which wasn't quite what I asked).

The number of standard size JetCat turbines in the field verses the P-20SE, means that it was down to your supplier to advise you that for P-20 use the Mini LED-I/O interface was needed.
Most of the Mini GSU's we have supplied have gone to big JetCat owners, who hopefully have a later I/O board with the 8 pin connector.

Dw

But if they don't have the later I/O board they will not be able to use the mini GSU unless they make an adaptor of some kind, flat cable to phone connector, in fact this would be the solution for everyone who does not have the latest I/O board or the alternative small one with the double connection.

Mike

Yep, but thats down to the supplier to ask the question, know the answer etc...

I should have mentioned...mine is easily removable, as it is held to the support frame with Velcro.
It is very easy to remove if/when required for maintenance.

The support frame is made from the scrap bits of wing skin left over from cutting out the KingCat main landing gear skins during construction.

I will ask the question then David, what have you in stock that will allow a Mini GSU to be fitted to a P20 installation?

Mike

Thought I would up load a couple of pics of the sliding mount I made for the I/O board, I have put a couple of pieces of rubber band in the tracks to keep the board in place, but its just a simple matter to pull it out, unplug it and then plug in the mini GSU.

Mike

I'm might be wrong but I don't think that's true. Earlier ECU version owners can turn around the micro I/O board supplied with the mini GSU. You use a phone cable from the ECU to the phone socket on the micro I/O board. There is then a free Minibridge connector on the I/O board to plug the GSU into.

The only people disadvantaged are those that have a V10 ECU with micro I/O board (as supplied with P20)[&o]

Mike

Just leave the 6 wire ribbon cable in the ECU and plug in the Mini GSU as needed. My Habu GSU was plugged in for the learn Rc and first run, since then as with most of my JC I hardly ever plug it back it.
The Mini LED I/O is £19.99

Dave