Futaba 4PL Setup, Tips, Tricks & Help

[redron123]

sorry wrong thread im a little tired.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by baconCHDDRchips

ive got a 4PL question. maybe i didnt see it when i skimmed this thread, but what battery are people using. i here life is really good but my lhs doesnt have any that would fit the 4pl. thanks.

Any 4PK battery will fit the 4PL. Just search for a LiFE 4PK battery.

[WAM]

Originally Posted by Harley

It doesn't matter where you put the BEC actually. So you are good to go.

Okay, so far so good. I programmed the 4PL per your video -- but a question: The video said to put the dig on CH4, but your wiring diagram shows rear ESC plugged into CH3 on the RX. I confuse easily...but I'm new at this.

Should the rear ESC be plugged into RX port 4 instead of 3? Or is this another one of those things that doesn't matter?

Edit -- Oh, wait. There are two versions of your diagram. I have one where the RX is shown as 1,2,3,4B. Your current one is 1,2,4 & Batt. My RX is 1,2,3,4,5,6B. I'm using 1 for servo, 2 and 3 for the ESC's and 4 for the BEC. 5 & 6B empty. That okay?

[Harley]

Originally Posted by WAM

Okay, so far so good. I programmed the 4PL per your video -- but a question: The video said to put the dig on CH4, but your wiring diagram shows rear ESC plugged into CH3 on the RX. I confuse easily...but I'm new at this.

Should the rear ESC be plugged into RX port 4 instead of 3? Or is this another one of those things that doesn't matter?

Edit -- Oh, wait. There are two versions of your diagram. I have one where the RX is marked 1,2,3,4B. Your current one is 1,2,4 & Batt. My RX is 1,2,3,4,5,6B. I'm using 1 for servo, 2 and 3 for the ESC's and 4 for the BEC.

If you go back and look at the diagram it shows the rear ESC in CH4.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by WAM

Edit -- Oh, wait. There are two versions of your diagram. I have one where the RX is marked 1,2,3,4B. Your current one is 1,2,4 & Batt. My RX is 1,2,3,4,5,6B. I'm using 1 for servo, 2 and 3 for the ESC's and 4 for the BEC. 5 & 6 empty. That okay?

There is only one 4PL version. No idea where you are seeing more then one unless you are looking at a 4PK version.

Just wire it like I have shown. BEC position doesn't matter.

[WAM]

Originally Posted by Harley

There is only one 4PL version. No idea where you are seeing more then one unless you are looking at a 4PK version.

Just wire it like I have shown. BEC position doesn't matter.

Yeah, all I have is a hard copy I printed out a while ago. Don't remember where I got it. Nearly identical to your current -- has your name lower right, but no image of the 4PL in the other corner. Besides the different RX labels, the only difference is all the wires have square corners instead of chamfered corners. No matter...I'll trash it and use the current one.

But my question was if I need to put rear ESC into RX CH4 since the TX was programmed for dig on CH4. Your diagram shows it in CH4, but your RX has no CH3 and mine does. I am trying to follow your diagram, but your RX doesn't match mine.

[snail78]

Originally Posted by WAM

Yeah, all I have is a hard copy I printed out a while ago. Don't remember where I got it. Nearly identical to your current -- has your name lower right, but no image of the 4PL in the other corner. Besides the different RX labels, the only difference is all the wires have square corners instead of chamfered corners. No matter...I'll trash it and use the current one.

But my question was if I need to put rear ESC into RX CH4 since the TX was programmed for dig on CH4. Your diagram shows it in CH4, but your RX has no CH3 and mine does. I am trying to follow your diagram, but your RX doesn't match mine.

hey Wam if you come out to our comp on sat. just ask for me and you can look at my set up ive been running the 4PL for a while now

[WAM]

Originally Posted by snail78

hey Wam if you come out to our comp on sat. just ask for me and you can look at my set up ive been running the 4PL for a while now

I'll be there. But it's not the 4PL so much as the 2106 RX I have questions on. I think the TX is properly programmed. The XR should be running sometime tomorrow, so I can just see what works. Hopefully you can't hurt anything by plugging into the RX wrong.

[Charlie-III]

Originally Posted by WAM

Hopefully you can't hurt anything by plugging into the RX wrong.

The worst you will do is have something not work correctly if items are plugged into the wrong port on the RX.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by WAM

Yeah, all I have is a hard copy I printed out a while ago. Don't remember where I got it. Nearly identical to your current -- has your name lower right, but no image of the 4PL in the other corner. Besides the different RX labels, the only difference is all the wires have square corners instead of chamfered corners. No matter...I'll trash it and use the current one.

But my question was if I need to put rear ESC into RX CH4 since the TX was programmed for dig on CH4. Your diagram shows it in CH4, but your RX has no CH3 and mine does. I am trying to follow your diagram, but your RX doesn't match mine.

I just didn't put CH3 on there because it isn't used. It's just a graphical representation.

[WAM]

Originally Posted by Harley

I just didn't put CH3 on there because it isn't used. It's just a graphical representation.

Understand -- thanks. PM sent.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by WAM

Understand -- thanks. PM sent.

Replied, if you can though keep it in the thread. I get so bogged down in PM's that I miss them or ignore them when I'm busy.

[reden]

Is there anyway to program prooportional dig to the front and back?
I can get it to work for the rear but not both ends.
DT4 is used for dig mix CH4, rate at 100.
DT3 would be set ESC rate but this only work proportional rate to the rear.

Cheers
Rudolf

[Harley]

Originally Posted by reden

Is there anyway to program prooportional dig to the front and back?
I can get it to work for the rear but not both ends.
DT4 is used for dig mix CH4, rate at 100.
DT3 would be set ESC rate but this only work proportional rate to the rear.

Cheers
Rudolf

You have the ability to go to 120% on the rear which is the same as adjusting the front down. There is very few times when 20% isn't enough. There is not an option on the 4PL to do just the front.

[nvradtec]

Finally broke down and ordered a 4PL for my E-maxx test-project truck

would like to set it up this way

Ch 1 and 2 steering and throttle
Ch 3, rear steer, switchable mixing, 3 position switch (right-neutral-left)
Ch 4, transmission, 2 position switch, low-high

any setup examples, or tips for me to ponder while waiting
for my UPS lady to show up

Thanks

[Harley]

Originally Posted by nvradtec

Finally broke down and ordered a 4PL for my E-maxx test-project truck

would like to set it up this way

Ch 1 and 2 steering and throttle
Ch 3, rear steer, switchable mixing, 3 position switch (right-neutral-left)
Ch 4, transmission, 2 position switch, low-high

any setup examples, or tips for me to ponder while waiting
for my UPS lady to show up

Thanks

Ch1 and Ch2 will already be set.

For Ch3 and Ch4 do the following.

Go to the Advanced menu
Go to DT/DL
Decide which DT switches you want to control your fucntions
DT(#) - CH3 100/NOR
DT(#) - CH4 2P/NOR

Go back to Advanced
Go to 4WS Mixing
Switch it to ACT
Select which type of 4WS options you want on screen.


Thats about it. If you need more help when it arrives let me know.

[WAM]

New 4PL with dual Crawlmasters and FXR's. Both motors now set to zero timing. Two things I'd like to improve. The neutral dead area seems very long. I have hotwire ordered which I understand might help. Anything else?

And the low speed control is sudden and twitchy. I thought I'd try expo but need some info. The escs are on CH2 and CH4. If I set expo on the Throttle-2 page, will that only affect the front motor? I didn't see an expo setting for CH4.

Anything else I can do to smooth this thing out for low speed crawling?

[reden]

Originally Posted by Harley

You have the ability to go to 120% on the rear which is the same as adjusting the front down...

Thats how it is set at the moment.
I'm a bit spoiled with Graupner aircraft radios where one can program almost anything.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by WAM

New 4PL with dual Crawlmasters and FXR's. Both motors now set to zero timing. Two things I'd like to improve. The neutral dead area seems very long. I have hotwire ordered which I understand might help. Anything else?

And the low speed control is sudden and twitchy. I thought I'd try expo but need some info. The escs are on CH2 and CH4. If I set expo on the Throttle-2 page, will that only affect the front motor? I didn't see an expo setting for CH4.

Anything else I can do to smooth this thing out for low speed crawling?

Have you calibrated both ESC's yet? Yes you should be able to program in EXPO and have it effect both ESC's. I do not run any EXPO on mine though so I am trying to remember for sure.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by reden

Thats how it is set at the moment.
I'm a bit spoiled with Graupner aircraft radios where one can program almost anything.

On the 4PK you can do it but even when the radio has the capabilities I do not suggest that you do it. You don't want to have to adjust both especially when on course. You are just asking to screw yourself up. It's NOT a good idea.