Installation of a Benedini encoder

[John Pissey]

Encoder Installations

I’ve purchased an encoder from Benedini and have also looked at the pictures on the Armortek web site but would like as much information as I can get before I start doing modifications to my Spektrum DX18 transmitter. I have yet to see a YouTube video showing how somebody modified a Spektrum to accommodate one of these encoders and I don’t want to mess this up. Thomas Benedini mentions connecting it to a spare proportional channel which I’m not sure that this transmitter has. I will be calling Spektrum technical department for advice but I’m thinking that I won’t get much from them so I am counting on you guys to give me all you know.
The spring On switch can be easily be exchanged with one of the toggle switches and if it is just a matter of connecting the wires from the existing switch to the 3 wire harness provided it will be easy. However as I said I’m not sure. The advice of where people have installed the rotary switch would be helpful as well.
Once the encoder is installed will it automatically work the sound sections by just dialing them and switching the spring toggle?

Thanks Again
John

[Armortek]

John, I've edited the old post into the relevant Knowledge Base Topic here:

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... 295#p49295

Regards.

Stephen

[John Pissey]

Thanks Stephen

The illustrations look good Stephen and I will be going through them and the procedures in a little more detail when I open up my Tx sometime next week. I’m a little confused as to the why I need both the rotary control knob as well as the 3 way toggle switch. Am I removing the 3 way switch just for the space for the spring load switch that comes with the encoder or do you need 2 channels for the encoder function? If the removal of the 3 way switch is just to accommodate the spring loaded switch I will make another hole for the switch for I don’t want to lose the functionality of a channel if I don’t have to. On the DX18 the rotary knob is on the top right side of the Tx and it looks like there is enough room beside it for another switch.
The other part which I’m a little confused about is the programing of the encoder with the sound card. I thought as long as the sound is already functional the encoder would just work the individual settings. I have found an article by Mick Regan Dec. 23 2014 on setting up the sound card for a Benedini encoder. Is this accurate? As far as programing the new encoder, I have found instructions on Benedini’s web site but am unclear exactly what they are saying. So if you can enlighten me as to those steps too that would be helpful. I also noticed that my sound is not as prominent as I expected it to be outside other that the volume selector, does the sound card have any other adjustments that I could make while I have this apart?

Thanks Again
John

[Adrian Harris]

> Am I removing the 3 way switch just for the space for the spring load switch

Yes. If you're happy drilling a hole in the transmitter then you don't need to remove the 3 way switch.

> do you need 2 channels for the encoder function?

No.

Adrian.

[Armortek]

John, as Adrian says.

In order to cater for dual rates and mode changes, most modern Tx have more assignable switches than channels. You may find you have enough switches for all your channels without using the three way displaced by the rotary encoder. If not, mounting it somewhere else on the Tx is an option.

The volume control on Amp Module is the only way to vary sound levels.

I've posted a full guide to setting up the TBS 5 II and TBS Mini sound cards for rotary encoder in the Knowledge Base, here:

http://www.armortek.co.uk/Forum3b/viewt ... =34&t=5809

Thanks to Mick Regan for his original guide to the TBS 5.

Stephen

[Ad Wouterse]

Hi John,

If you replace the toggle switch control mode by the rotary switch control mode, you can remove the toggle switch. You can now use this free channel in your TX for the Rotary switch/trigger switch combination. This combination requires only 1 proportional channel.
You can find further info here (English version) http://www.benedini.de/TBS5E_5.pdf