Hobby Eagle A3L Gyro

[xviper]

Awesome. What is the reason for the caps anyway? If you dont mind i ask.

I believe that there were a few reports of failures due to power loss in the RX and this created some problems with the gyro and/or RX. The capacitor was added as a way to stabilize and/or maintain sufficient voltage for just long enough in hopes that the primary cause of the power issue was momentary. I'm not so sure that this was ever conclusively proven one way or the other by anyone, thus, the appearance of this little device. I personally, have never heard of these reports and have not heard any further reports after the cap was introduced. It's not unlike the season we had at one of our clubs here where a few guys were crashing and the typical response was, "I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED". So, in an effort to come up with a reason other than pilot error or equipment failure, it was determined that cellphone emissions were to blame. Somebody high up in the club researched it and decided that was the ONLY reason for these crashes. Everyone who is flying or near anyone who is flying MUST turn their cellphones off. It wasn't long before this became a pile of BS since guys were still crashing for "unknown" reasons.

[\o/woohoo]

Awesome. What is the reason for the caps anyway? If you dont mind i ask.

[xviper]

Is it necessary to use the capacitor that comes with the A3L?

"Necessary" is a point of view. It's insurance. Some believe in insurance. Some don't. I have several HobbyEagles gyros in planes with NO capacitor and none have presented any problems. Those were from the days before they provided the capacitor with each unit. I also have 2 more that I have the capacitors and they, too, work flawlessly. It takes nothing to plug it in, so if there's room for it why not.

[\o/woohoo]

Is it necessary to use the capacitor that comes with the A3L?

[Grantham Kid]

If you are using digital servos they often twitch. Try an analog servo and see if it does the same.

[xviper]

Is it secured with double sided cushion? Gain too high?

[Hemidoo]

Does anyone know why every min or so the gyro twitches? (Like a sudden jolt) It doesnt bother me in flight but perhaps im doing something wrong? Im not using the included capacitor (or any at all). Thanks

The voltage capacitor is a good place to start . Mine all sit still after getting the wiggle just after powering up like it should .

[\o/woohoo]

Does anyone know why every min or so the gyro twitches? (Like a sudden jolt) It doesnt bother me in flight but perhaps im doing something wrong? Im not using the included capacitor (or any at all). Thanks

[KenS999]

Yes, previous the owner experienced this and I witnessed it. Because of this, I have backed down Gain #1 a hair, and turned Gain #2 off. Low rates on aileron as well to start. Thanks.

[xviper]

I have one in my Mirage. Note that the Mirage is a fast plane. At speed, if the gain is too high, the plane will start to oscillate. Slow down immediately and adjust gain ASAP.

[KenS999]

Thank you, for the helpful information. -Ken

[xviper]

I received a Mirage with a A3L installed. There are 2 adjustableGain pots labelled #1 and #2. Can you please tell me what each of them controls. Thank you.

One is "normal" gain and the other is "3D" gain. (They control all the axis - all control surfaces that you have plugged into it.) Since you aren't likely to do 3D with a Mirage, turn that one off (full counter clockwise) - I believe that's the one on the right. The "normal" one on the left can be dialed in at around 10 O'clock. However, if you are using master gain on the rotary knob of your TX, then you can start with it a bit more and use the knob to adjust gain on the fly. Start low. You can get the manual to download from Motion RC on the A3-L page. That will explain things in far more detail. Nevermind. Here it is ...............................
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/10...57732900112653

[KenS999]

I received a Mirage with a A3L installed. There are 2 adjustableGain pots labelled #1 and #2. Can you please tell me what each of them controls. Thank you.

[JeffinLV]

That's pretty much it. I only ever use the "normal" gain for normal flying. I don't fly 3D so I've turned the second gain pot all the way off. I also have planes that are on an 8-ch Rx and I plug the master gain into AUX3 and use the rotary knob for gain adjustments on the fly. Set the basic gain pot about 1/2 or less (<12 o'clock). This will give you a range of less than 50% to zero %. I find that on most of my planes, an actual gain of around 25% is very adequate. The 3rd position is for gyro OFF. I don't even plug the mode into a switch control. The gyro is simply controlled by the rotary knob. You can actually turn off the gyro with the knob set to zero gain. I find the mode switchability to be quite useless so I don't bother with it at all.
In general, it's the AIL that will stutter first if the gain is too high. Fly the plane as fast as it will go and set the gain just below when it starts to AIL oscillate.

Exactly what I wanted to hear.... thanks for the help!

[xviper]

Hey guys, just got my first A3-L. It’s going to be connected to the 3-way mode switch on my DX8 and AR8000 rx . I don’t need/want the 3D flight mode in gyro, and I’m concerned what’s going to happen if I inadvertently move the switch to position 3. The A3-L manual says “The normal gain (Basic Gain) (GAIN1) will take effect in all flight modes, it’s the most basic feature of the gyro, don’t turn it to 0% anyway.” Does this mean that if I have the Gain 2 pot on the gyro set to 0% and I move the switch to position 3 it will effectively just stay in normal 2D (“basic gain”) mode?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

That's pretty much it. I only ever use the "normal" gain for normal flying. I don't fly 3D so I've turned the second gain pot all the way off. I also have planes that are on an 8-ch Rx and I plug the master gain into AUX3 and use the rotary knob for gain adjustments on the fly. Set the basic gain pot about 1/2 or less (<12 o'clock). This will give you a range of less than 50% to zero %. I find that on most of my planes, an actual gain of around 25% is very adequate. The 3rd position is for gyro OFF. I don't even plug the mode into a switch control. The gyro is simply controlled by the rotary knob. You can actually turn off the gyro with the knob set to zero gain. I find the mode switchability to be quite useless so I don't bother with it at all.
In general, it's the AIL that will stutter first if the gain is too high. Fly the plane as fast as it will go and set the gain just below when it starts to AIL oscillate.

[JeffinLV]

Hey guys, just got my first A3-L. It’s going to be connected to the 3-way mode switch on my DX8 and AR8000 rx . I don’t need/want the 3D flight mode in gyro, and I’m concerned what’s going to happen if I inadvertently move the switch to position 3. The A3-L manual says “The normal gain (Basic Gain) (GAIN1) will take effect in all flight modes, it’s the most basic feature of the gyro, don’t turn it to 0% anyway.” Does this mean that if I have the Gain 2 pot on the gyro set to 0% and I move the switch to position 3 it will effectively just stay in normal 2D (“basic gain”) mode?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[\o/woohoo]

Lol i was just about to come back and answer my own question. Thanks for the super fast response.

[xviper]

Can i mount this gyro backwards? Pins facing the nose? I think i did this before and it worked but this was long ago i dont remember.

I think it's possible. You just have to reverse the roll and pitch response.

From page 1 of the manual ...........................
"The gyro can be attached flat or upright. In the example on the right, we just show you 2 ways of many different orientations. You only need to ensure that the servo connector pins always point toward the front (or rear) of the plane."

[\o/woohoo]

Can i mount this gyro backwards? Pins facing the nose? I think i did this before and it worked but this was long ago i dont remember.

[paul45120]

Can the old A3 super programming card be updated to the A3 super 2? If I do this will it still work on an A3super? Currently the card cannot find the A3 super 2.