Way OT - R/C Advice

Submitted by Blazefire on
So, this is way OT, but I always go to MGoBoard before I go anywhere else, because MGoBoard rules. It's spring, and I was out running the RC car around at a local park where they have an RC dirt track. My little cousin had gotten a car for Christmas, and he wanted to come along. That little car really suprised me, as it had no problem getting around this track. Much more powerful than I would've thought. However, the radio was not strong enough to reach the entire track, so he had to kind of follow the car around, which upset him a lot. I had an old radio and speed control lying around, so I told him, no problem, I can replace the electronics and you'll be able to do the whole course in no time. So, I ripped out the board from the car (it was an all in one board), and put in the radio and speed control before I noticed a problem. The steering servo is not a normal servo. There's no signal wire, and it's not proportional. It's either left, or right, full, and it's a non-standard servo size too, so I can't just replace it. So now I've broken his car, because I've tried several things, including ripping the board out of another servo and soldering the motor's leads onto that board. Nothing. So what I need is an R/C switch, with three positions, essentially off, on, and reverse, in this case off, left, and right, preferably with, or ready to accept, Futaba leads. Anybody know where I can get something like this?

WildcatBlue

March 21st, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^

but now I want one SO BAD. I'm sorry I can't help with your problem, but thanks for bringing back memories. I had a Kyosho USA-1 monster truck back in the day. Good times.

willywill9

March 21st, 2010 at 9:26 PM ^

Whoa. You are out of control...and that is awesome. I was expecting this thread to be about the Residential College. I would have had tons of advice.

Six Zero

March 22nd, 2010 at 8:10 AM ^

Now I know who to send kids to when I want their childhoods trampled. J/K-- honestly, I'd give the kid a finite timetable for your repair, and if you can't then it's time to step up and do a make-good and buy him a new one. Last thing you want to do with a kid is leave 'em hanging indefinitely. I'm sure you'll hook him up either way.

formerlyanonymous

March 22nd, 2010 at 11:15 AM ^

Unless of course he's setting up a miniature bomb that he can remote detonate less than 3 minutes after fixing it. Because seriously, the only thing better than having fun as a kid is having fun as a kid while watching things explode.

Blazefire

March 22nd, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^

Sorta. I remembered I had an old tiny reversing ESC from a one pound robot project. These little esc's are usually just on/off switches, in this case with a reverse. So I dug, and I dug, and I dug, and I found it. A few minutes of soldering later, and bang, I'm on my way! It works! Mostly. The steering servo works, correctly, but weakly, and a little intermittently. I think I just need a radio battery to source power, but I might instead need a battery to attach directly to the little esc. No big deal either way. Radio would be preferable, because A: No soldering, and B: I might be able to rig it with a battery eliminator circuit. Either way, no big deal. I WIN! Also, range (and speed) greatly increased.