Out with the old...

Replacing the Align 2-in-1 with a Fromeco Arizona regulator and a SwitchGlo

After a few weeks and a dozen or so flights on my Trex 600N, I’ve learned a few things. One of which is that I didn’t really put the power switch for the Align 2-in-1 in a very good spot. I had originally mounted it on the left side of the heli in front of the throttle servo. The main problem with this location is that with the canopy on, it’s very hard to reach, which isn’t such a big deal when turning the receiver on, but becomes a much bigger issue when powering off after a flight. I’ve burnt myself on the hot muffler more times than I care to remember.

Additionally, I’ve learned that while the Align glow starter seems to work well enough, it’s also a pain in the butt to activate, since its button is also on the 2-in-1′s switch panel. Speaking of the glow starter’s button, it’s not really a tactile button. When you push it, it doesn’t click or move or in any way whatsoever let you know it’s been pushed. If it weren’t for the LEDs to let you know it’s active, you have no real way to know if power is being delivered to the plug. Since the power panel with its LEDs is hidden under my canopy, it’s a guessing game. More than once I thought I’d pushed it, but hadn’t actually done so.

Although I’ve not had any issues yet with mine over the course of 13 flights, others have reported issues with the slide-switch on the 2-in-1 corroding and breaking contact, sometimes shutting off the receiver in mid flight. This is not what I want to have happen to me (I prefer that I, rather than my equipment be the cause of crashes) so I’ve decided to remove the Align 2-in-1 and replace it with a Fromeco Arizona regulator and a SwitchGlo remote glow starter.

Since I performed the removal of the 2-in-1 and installation of the Arizona regulator and SwitchGlo all at the same time, I’ve reviewed them together but have attempted to review each here as separate components. Click the appropriate link to view the review of each device.

The Arizona Helicopter regulator by Fromeco Scale Avionics, LLC.

The SwitchGlo remote glow ingnitor by Compudraft Engineering.