Spikey Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I have need of a simple servo tester, ideally one which can also be used to test-run a motor via its ESC. It looks like this will do me, but what do I do about powering it? It needs 4.8 to 6 volt DC, so do I really have to get a 4xAA carrier from Maplin, take the plug off one end of a servo extension lead and get the soldering iron out - and then tie up 4xAA cells? There's got to be a better way forward, but I can't see what it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 How about a spare RX pack. That`s what I do. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Green Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 I have a digital one, that shows the pulse width from the Rx as well as cycles the servo. It also requires a separate Rx pack to power it. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Hi Spikey. Two things - that same tester is available on ebay, £1.35 post free Here you go: Second, if you're testing a motor via an ESC, the ESC powers the tester via its BEC, there is no need for a separate battery. Just leave the 'input' connector disconnected. and plug the ESC into the output. It does 3 things - a variable pulse from the pot, a fixed neutral and end-to-end cycling. I've a couple of these as they are cheaper to buy than to make. Cheers Phil Edited By Phil Green on 21/11/2013 14:40:50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 Cheers chaps. (You'll like this next bit ...) I had to look up "Rx pack" 'cos I didn't know what one was, me not being into that noisy, messy, smelly means of power that some of you are Anyhow, that's me sorted yet again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Miller Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 The eBay one is the same as the one I have, and is used with an RX battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bran Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 And it's handy to have an old switch harness (you know, one you have swapped out before it gets black wire, etc!!) to use between battery pack and the unit. Any old one will do but a three wire allows recharging while plugged together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 My setup. Like Dave said. The RX pack and the switch were from a "retired" airframe. I would trust neither to flight again. Kev Edited By Kevin Fairgrieve on 21/11/2013 18:37:28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Posted by Spikey on 21/11/2013 14:44:23: Cheers chaps. (You'll like this next bit ...) I had to look up "Rx pack" 'cos I didn't know what one was, me not being into that noisy, messy, smelly means of power that some of you are Anyhow, that's me sorted yet again! Oh my. Are there really people out there who do not know the glory of IC power. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Dave:>>The eBay one is the same as the one I have, and is used with an RX battery. Yes, when testing servos, but the OP was asking about using it with an ESC to test a motor in which case the BEC will power it and no rx battery is necessary. Obviously, unless its an opto ESC with no BEC. Cheers Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Miller Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Posted by Phil Green on 21/11/2013 18:59:49: Dave:>>The eBay one is the same as the one I have, and is used with an RX battery. Yes, when testing servos, but the OP was asking about using it with an ESC to test a motor in which case the BEC will power it and no rx battery is necessary. Obviously, unless its an opto ESC with no BEC. Cheers Phil True, but I always use a separate RX battery rather than a BEC. Edited By Dave Miller on 21/11/2013 19:27:28 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dane Crosby Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Hi, just like others here I use a similar servo checker to the one you indicate Spikey. I have a spare Zippy 2s 2100 Rx LiPo which I connect to my spare 4Max UBEC to give a 5.2v supply to the checker. Just been using it to check some Bixler servos. You will find the centering mode very useful when setting up the flying surface control rods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 Posted by Kevin Fairgrieve on 21/11/2013 18:39:01: Oh my. Are there really people out there who do not know the glory of IC power. Indeed there are. And I don't want to really unsettle you, but I also like my aeroplanes to fly slowly as well as quietly ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 <--- Sorry, I cant get rid of these quote bars. One safety thing to remember is to always have the tester set to minimum before connecting an ESC & motor. If not, some ESCs will spin up the motor when you're not expecting it, some will go into programming mode, either way you dont want it! Cheers Phil Edited By Phil Green on 21/11/2013 21:19:06 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Bernard Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Hi Spikey - I also have one of the GiantShark testers and would not be without it. As mentioned it gives not only a variable output, but also a neutral and cycling function which are both indispensable. I use the neutral one to centre the servos when setting up the initial controls, and the cycle function to soak test new servos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Posted by Colin Bernard on 21/11/2013 22:36:12: the cycle function to soak test new servos. I use one of Phil Green's gizmo's for that job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Chaddock Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Spikey I don't use any separate rx packs so I have a stand alone UBEC set aside to powerr the servo tester from any handy flight battery when testing servo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 22, 2013 Author Share Posted November 22, 2013 Thanks one and all. In the end I went for what in my particular circumstances is the simplest option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Dav 2 Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 I bought mine from the Great White Shark £5.30. I've found it to be very useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Fairgrieve Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Posted by Spikey on 21/11/2013 19:55:33: Posted by Kevin Fairgrieve on 21/11/2013 18:39:01: Oh my. Are there really people out there who do not know the glory of IC power. Indeed there are. And I don't want to really unsettle you, but I also like my aeroplanes to fly slowly as well as quietly ... Spikey. I too have a small selection of electric planes and can see the benefits of both, Indeed I fly anything from Ultra Micro to 1/4 scale petrol engine power. Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 £12 for a £1.35 tester and a 99p battery box? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Privett Posted November 22, 2013 Share Posted November 22, 2013 Posted by PatMc on 21/11/2013 23:33:04: Posted by Colin Bernard on 21/11/2013 22:36:12: the cycle function to soak test new servos. I use one of Phil Green's gizmo's for that job. I think that's what I have too Pat. (Was it Phil who was selling the PIC chips, already programmed, over in "t'other place" a year or two ago?) Mine works well. The only 'problem' I have is that I keep losing it! My fault entirely, I assembled it on a small bit of veroboard, with a couple of leads and black heatshrink over the board. Perhaps I should attach a piece of bright-coloured tape to it - otherwise it blends in all too easily with all the other stuff on my building 'board'! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 Posted by Phil Green on 22/11/2013 20:48:27: £12 for a £1.35 tester and a 99p battery box? Or £12 to solve a problem without having to spend a total of 3 hours getting the bus to Maplin and back while waiting for the postman to come all the way from China, then taking the plug off one end of a servo extension lead and soldering two wires. Different strokes for different folks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Miller Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 No soldering was necessary on mine, servo plugs push straight onto the pins without problem. How and with whom you spend your money is your concern, no one else so no explanation required on that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 Sorry - was trying to be concise. The easiest way to connect the battery carrier to the servo tester would have been to cut the socket off a servo extension lead, strip out one conductor of the cable, then solder the remaining two conductors to the terminals on the battery carrier. Hence the necessary soldering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.