What's your favourite servo brand?

[Peter Jenkins]

I became quite a Hitec servo fancier till I found that for precision aerobatics they just would not centre accurately. This is very noticeable in a full F3A machine. Fit only Futaba or JR I was told and even then only specific ones. My first proper setup has all Futaba but it looks like my second one will be all JR. Savox and some Spectrum servos also seem to find favour with accurate centreing. So, for which make do I vote. Well, as I seem to have more Futaba servos than any other, that's what got my vote but better outcome would have resulted if we could tick two boxes!

[Ian Jones]

Well the question was "what's your favourite servo brand?" so my answer is Hitec.

I've used lots of Futaba S148s in sport models and mostly been happy with them but when I've needed to replace one with a Hitec it has seemed more precise somehow.

If my favourite brand can't match the requirements of the model then I will use others though.

Ian

[Foxfan]

I've got a toffee tin full of MacGregor and Kraft!

Did I see TowerPOO written back there? Do I take it they're erm,...not so great?<G>

Martin

[Simon Chambers]

Savox all the way for my bigger aircraft (.40 to 30cc)

Mix bag for 40 sized.

Smaller stuff is a lot of tower pro and corona.

Savox servos really are excellent. You only have to look at the normally always critical Flying Giants forum (specialising in 30cc an bigger forumites) to see they are very popular. Futaba/JR quality at a price cheaper than Hitec.

Incidentally, a lot (I.e most) of Spektrum servos are rebranded Savox with a JR compatible servo output spline.

Si.

[Simon Chambers]

Btw, interesting Turnigy is on the list when they are rebranded servos of many different manufacturers (TowerPoo, Corona, Blue Bird, et al.). Hobbyking (another trademark of Hextronix Limited - who own the trademark of turnigy) don't make or design any of their own servos.

Si

[Swissflyer]

Does anyone stress test new servos before use?

With ever higher cost pressures and the trend to sourcing cheaper components, I have become more and more uneasy at the thought of a too cheap servo pot or motor destroying a valuable model or hurting someone.

A floatplane, now nearing completion, put me on the spot. I wanted cheap servos as they will get wet but I don’t want premature servo failure forcing a premature swim either.

So mindful that the bathtub curve teaches us that failures will come early in service life, I set up the 20 minute continuous test cycle test rig pictured below.

It let me test each servo for continuous operation over 20 minutes.

Of course it is not a 100% guarantee but it does give some peace of mind.

My next step will be to load a servo to half its max rating and put a Watt meter in series for a 20 minute test. That will let me check the energy load that different servos will put on the system.

Mark

[Quentin Barton-Shortt]

I voted Futaba as I started out years ago with Futaba equipment and, I guess out of habit, have used Futaba products ever since. This is handy for switching bits and pieces from model to model.

Cheers

Quentin

[David Tweddle]

Voted "Other" as in the main Futaba. Although I do have S/H acquisitions of various Manufacturers.

David

[ben goodfellow 1]

i think it would be interesting to see out of the list how many unique servos there were and not just rebadged or rebranded ones

[Arceenut]

I use mostly Futabas as I seem to have an abundance of Futaba horns left over from earlier purchases. Also by sticking to a certain brand I don't have the worry of using the wrong arm and having it slip due to the wrong spline count. I can't be bothered to research the other brands to see which are compatible as to arms.