Recoil Module / Benedini sound

[Kirk Wiggins]

Hi everyone,
I need help! I think I successfully programmed the sound card according to instructions...it sequenced through available sounds. However, the recoil module instructions indicate I need to "CALL UP sound number four on the sound card." How do I do that? I pushed the programming button again and it went through the sequence of sounds, including engine, cannon, flash, commands, and a few other weird noises, ending with a series of dat dat dat dats(four), which continued until the power supply was shut off.
I'm obviously doing something wrong, and electronics is not my strong suit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Kirk

[Adrian Harris]

The most important questions are:

1) How are you selecting a sound on the Benedini (rotary encoder / multi-position switch / joystick) ?

2) How many bumps does it play when it is switched on - this indicates the sound selection method

2) What make/model of transmitter do you have ?

When the instructions say to "Call Up" a sound, it just means select it, so if you have the sound card programmed and can make it play a particular sound to order, then when you make it play the main gun sound, the recoil should activate.

Adrian.

[Adrian Harris]

The staccato noises which repeat until power off just show that it has reached the end of the available sounds.

Adrian.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Kirk
If you are using a Futaba 7c(others will be similar)and you have assigned switch E to
channel 5.
With switch E at the middle position,operate the switch back wards 4 times then forwards
once to hear the sound.
Go through them all from 1 press back to about 15 ish,some sounds might be repeated.
Then its just a matter of memorising how many presses backwards
Cheers Phil

[Kirk Wiggins]

Adrian and Phil,
I am using a Futaba T8FG transmitter on 7 channel. I also have a Late Tiger 1 with a blank firer. I have tried to set up the Firefly exactly like the Tiger and copied the Tiger transmitter channel settings to the Firefly. That may be the problem. I'm using switch H for the blank firer and the recoil module for the Firefly probably needs a 3 position switch which will allow for sound selection.
As far as selecting sound, I'm not familiar with a rotary encoder. Both tracks are controlled by the right joystick and the left joystick controls turret rotation and gun elevation. Guess that leaves a 3 position switch to select sound. When I turn the power on it plays 6 bumps.
So, If I reprogram the transmitter channel for the firing unit from switch H to a 3 position switch, I should then be able to select the appropriate sound. Am I on the right track?
Thanks to both of you for responding so quickly.
Regards....Kirk

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Kirk
Yes you deffinately need a 3 position switch for channel 5 or what ever channel that
you are using for the amplifier connection.
Don't forget to check your wiring because when you fit the recoil system you end up
changing the connection over for the amplifier.
Follow the recoil manual for those changes,but be ware if the photograph in the manual
is chopped off at the bottom,the 2 right hand wire out of the 3 crossover in the
photograph.
My picture was chopped off but I had already done one before.
The middle of the 3 wires goes to where your original amplifier cable went and the right
hand one to the MG/Gun connection.
The left hand one has a different connection for the receiver.
On start up your recoil should operate once,that is normal,then its just a matter of
selecting sound 4 to operate the gun sound and the recoil.
Cheers
Phil

[Kirk Wiggins]

Thanks Phil,
That gets me on the right track. You and Adrian are the best!
Kirk

[Kirk Wiggins]

Hi Phil,
I still haven't resolved the problem. However, upon checking the wiring, I did find that the recoil module I received was wired differently than shown in the manual and what you described in your instructions. The photo in the manual was also clipped so your description of the outside and middle wire crossover was helpful. My recoil module manual shows the middle and outside wires with the large white connectors to be used to connect to the Amp module. The connector to the inside wire was not shown. The unit shipped to me, had the middle wire with a smaller receiver connector on the tip. The inside wire had the large white connector, like you would use to connect to the amp module. Therefore, I connected the middle wire to the receiver channel 5, and the inside and outside wire to the amp module. According to the manual and your instructions, the middle and outside wire should be connected to the amp module. Is this the problem? Should I ask Gill to send another, properly wired, recoil module?
Thanks for your help,
Kirk

[Adrian Harris]

Kirk.

The easiest way to work out which lead goes where is to remove the lid on the module, so that it looks the same as the picture on page 6 of the recoil manual.

You should then be able to see which of your leads goes to which connector inside the module.

The lead which goes to the separate two-way screw terminal needs to go to the connector on the Amplifer Module which is next to the volume control.

The lead which goes to the separate three-way screw terminal needs to go the right hand connector of the bank of five on the Amplifier Module.

You can follow each lead from start to finish in the picture on page 6

This should allow you to confirm that your leads start and finish in the right places, even if they come out through different holes in the case from the one shown in the manual.

The other two-way and three-way screw terminals, which are next to each other on the PCB, are for the LEDs.

Adrian.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Kirk
Yes you are right my receiver conection for the recoil mod was in the
middle of the 3 not on the left as the manual.
But if you follow Adrians description you will see that those 2 are connected together
at a terminal block inside,so it didn't matter that they were switched.
Cheers
Phil

[Kirk Wiggins]

Hi Adrian and Phil,
Thank you both for responding. The recoil module wiring appears to be OK. I have two final questions.

1. The manual has a recommended list of channel settings. The channels I used were copied from my Tiger set-up, and are different, with the exception of channel 5 for the Amp mod and channel 7 for power. Does that present any issues?

2. I am using a 3 position switch "G" for engine sound. I used a 2 position switch "H" for the blank firer on the Tiger. I have now switched "H" to a 3 position switch "E" for the gun sound/flash/recoil. Is "E" the switch I should be using to call up the gun sound on the sound card? If so, I must have made a mistake programming the change for I'm getting nothing.

Kind regards, Kirk

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Kirk.
I haven't got a Futaba 8 manual so I cant help with the switch Letters.
But I do think your problems are at the radio end.
If you have heard all the sounds play,all that is working fine fine.
All sounds are selected off one 3 position switch.
it is important that the 3 position switch chosen is assigned to channel 5 and that the lead from your recoil module is also connected to that same channel on the receiver.
I think your problem is in the above.
You mentioned using 3 position switch G for the engine sound,did you have all the sounds
working before fitting the recoil module.
If you was using switch G to start up the Tank by pressing the power button and moving the
switch forward and then back to centre and you had the engine sound start up,then that
switch was working ok at that stage and you should have been able to select the other
sounds as described in the manual.
Double check all of the above first,If all else fails I can only say that it would be
best to go back to the stage before the amplifier modual was fitted,wire up as the
manual and when every thing is working,move on to the amplifier stage and make sure all
sounds are selectable before then moving to the recoil stage.
Sometimes the extra work is necessary to eliminate some of the stages.
Hope that helps you a bit and gives you some options.
Cheers
Phil

[Kirk Wiggins]

Thanks Phil,

I'm running up the white flag! I'm to old to deal with this amount of aggravation in my life.

I'll take the transmitter back to the hobby shop where it was purchased and have them program it according to the manual. Reading the transmitter manual, geared totally to R/C aircraft, is like trying to read Sanskrit. You and Adrian have my undying thanks for trying to help me....it's just over my head.

I do lament the demise of the blank-firer.

Kindest regards,

Kirk

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Kirk.
That's a good source of local help for the radio,you haven't done too badly at all if
you have programmed your radio for 1 stick operation of the tracks.
So don't forget,if your transmitter was operating all the tracks,turret rotation and
elevation ok,you should only need a bit of assistance with the 3 position switch
selection and assigning it to a channel eg no 5.
I hope you get it all working soon,let us know.
Cheers
Phil

[Adrian Harris]

I realise this is an old thread, but it's king of linked to John Grima's question on a separate switch for the gun bang/flash/recoil.

If I'm re-reading the thread correctly Kirk, you were used to having a separate switch on the Tiger which operated the blank firer. This switch controlled a motor which turned the blank firer cassette and hence made the gun fire.

On the new electronics with the recoil module, the bang/flash/recoil is all controlled by the sound system, and hence doesn't require an extra switch to operate.

Once the sound system has been configured on the transmitter, whether by encoder or three position switch, the gun simulation should be automatically linked to the gun sound.

Adrian.