Futaba 7 C & Electronics

[Darryl Vernon]

Hi all.
I'm now at that stage, that I'm setting up the electronics in my Panther.

All my prior models, used the old 27mHz system, and this digital jiggery pokery is all new to me.

I was rather hoping the Futaba manual would be helpful, but it's all about setting up for aircraft.

I've got all the hull electrics wired up, (but not the turret yet). All was pretty straight forward, following the instructions supplied, and I'm pretty much ready for the 'bench testing'.
But....... I'm finding the setting up with the Futaba a little bit intimidating and confusing.

Is there a post anywhere on here, in simple layman's terms, on how to go about the setting up?

I've done a search, but can find nothing that suits.

Cheers!

[Mick Regan]

Hi Darryl

The basic setup of the 7C should control your Panther fine. Just stick with the basic aircraft setup to start with. Using ACRO or HELI setting just mixes up the channels to much.

The main reason you won't find any postings regarding setting up is because it is all down to personal preference.

If you let us know what setup you prefer, i.e. 1 stick or 2 stick steering, left or right hand drive, sound control method etc. Post it here, and if I can't help you there is certainly someone on the Forum who can.

Mick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Darryl
Here is a quick way to start you off you only need the following pages in
the manual.

Page 22 is a good little map of the menu's and switch explanations.

Leave as aircraft like Mick said the futaba's start as that.

Page 18 shows the Link procedure to Link your Tx with your receiver
and if you have a spare little servo you can check each channel is working.

Page 27 for the Model name if you want it easy to recognise if you end up
using the TX on another model.

Page 30 is where you need to check that your switch "E" is asigned to
channel 5 if you are operating the sounds as the Amplifier manual.
If it has any letter other than "E" change that to "E".

The only other one you might need is the channel reversing if required
this is on the same page 30.

If your Throttle is on the left then forward and back is Channel 3 and this
will be your Left Track.
Right and left on this stick is channel 4,this can be turret turn or gun
elevation.
Right stick forward and back is channel 2 and thi swould be your Right
Track
Right and left on this stick is channel 1 and like channel 4 can be your turret
turn or gun elevation,dependant on your choice of connection.

If you go the 1 stick root for both Tracks I am sure Mark has put a posting
on the Forum with the instructions for programming this.
Good luck with your Panther electrics.
There is not much to study in the manual when its cut down to a few pages.
Cheers
Phil

[Darryl Vernon]

Mick & Phil, thanks very much to both of you for those replies & info.

Very helpful indeed, and just the sort of thing I was after.

It now gives me something to get stuck into tomorrow.

Cheers!

[Darryl Vernon]

Well, thanks to Phil's step by step instructions, which I printed off to work from, I've got things going, but there are a few niggles to sort out.

1) Although the wiring is all the right way around, the motors are turning in reverse when I push the sticks forward, and forward when I pull the sticks back.

Is this to do with the transmitter?

2) The exhaust heat element is working fine, but the fan doesn't work.
The connectors all seem correctly connected.

Faulty fan?

3) When switching the power on the 'Power Supply Module' there is an audible 'pop' from the speakers, even when the volume control is turned right down.
There is also a very slight hum from the speakers, but it doesn't increase with the volume.

Are these sounds normal? I just need to ask, as it's all new to me.

Cheers.

[Adrian Harris]

Hi Darryl.

The pop! is normal, though it does seem a bit extreme on the Armortek amplifier module. It's caused by amplifier output going to one voltage rail or the other at power up. Professional PA amplifiers use relays to isolate the speakers until the final amplifier stage has settled down to provent damage to the speakers.

You should be able to reverse the channels on the 7C, so that the motors go in the expected direction.

Adrian.

[Adrian Harris]

Servo reversing is detailed on page 31 of the 7C manual.

Seems to be quite straightforward - though I haven't used a 7C yet

Adrian.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Darryl
Channels 2 and 3 will be the ones to reverse for your tracks.

RE Smoke Fan
Double check all your connections,the fuse is Fine because the Elements work
and get hot.
The fan will only run when the drive motor is running that the blue and yellow
connectors go to from the little black smoke relay.
Page 6 on the smoke manual.
Its sometimes difficult to see if it is running unless you are doing a test run on
the bench.
The smoke can take a minute or more to build up to see the effect.
Hope that helps
Cheers
Phil

[Darryl Vernon]

Servo reversing is detailed on page 31 of the 7C manual.

Seems to be quite straightforward - though I haven't used a 7C yet

Adrian.

Adrian,
I've done it!

I sorted out the 'servo reverse', and the sprockets now run in the proper directions.
It was straight forward, once I started to understand the setting buttons, and how they work.
As I said in my earlier post, these digital TXs are all new to me, but with the info from you guys, and using it more over time, I'll get used to it.

It's all clever stuff. A little complicated for a newby in the beginning, but it's soooo much better than the old systems that I've used in the past.

Hi Darryl
Channels 2 and 3 will be the ones to reverse for your tracks.

RE Smoke Fan
Double check all your connections,the fuse is Fine because the Elements work
and get hot.
The fan will only run when the drive motor is running that the blue and yellow
connectors go to from the little black smoke relay.
Page 6 on the smoke manual.
Its sometimes difficult to see if it is running unless you are doing a test run on
the bench.
The smoke can take a minute or more to build up to see the effect.
Hope that helps
Cheers
Phil

Thanks Phil.

I'll do a thorough check of the fan connectors etc tomorrow.
I can see the fan ok, because I've got all the decking off, and everything is totally exposed.
I'm sort of 'bench testing' with everything loosely in situ, as it's easier for me at the moment.
I'll run some more tests, and if no joy, I'll give Gill a ring.

Cheers!

[Adrian Harris]

I think the fan will only work when the tank is moving forward, so if you've had the motors going the wrong way then the fan wont work.

Adrian.

[Ragnar Arntsen]

Hi Darryl
Want some ease of driving?
Make new con.to the reciver
Ch 1 RIGHT MOTOR
Ch 2 LEFT MOTOR
Ch 3 GUN ELEV.
Ch 4 TURRET TURN
Turn on the trans. and activate the elevon SEE PAGE 44
Do as the book says and set values as follows:
AIL + 100%
ELE + 100%
DIFF -7%
be sure that you activate the mix from IHN to ON ,this is in the first step
Then as the book says close menu.
Reciver on.
You now drive with right stick forw.- backw.- left- right- one the spot turning-just left or right track and every combination as the real on
With left stick gun elev and turret turn.
KEEP stick in the senter position and move forward the tank should move straight forward, if not, open SUB-TRIM Menu page 39 IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT ITS THE SUB TRIM THAT CORRECTS ANY LEFT OR RIGHT ERROR On mine tank on track has 0%and the other has -32% .I had the sub trim menu open when driving and altered the % while driving until it went straight. DEPENDING on ease of track movement you will have to set other sub values than mine.The sub trims are for AIL AND ELE ie.ch 1and 2
Ps. before doing anything make note of current settings and reciver leads connections.
Have fun driving it as the real one. If it dont work for you,just set the mix to IHN and replug to your earlier ch. Sub trims to 0%
Ragnar

[Darryl Vernon]

Great instructions
Ragnar

Brilliant!

Thanks very much for that Ragnar.

I shall print off your instructions, and work from them.

It's just how I wanted the tank to operate, and should save me posting any more TX questions, as I think your list just about covers everything I needed to know.

Much appreciated.