KenC Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 Found this in a box of bits. I presume it is a temperature probe and its pins and connector wire seem to be of " servo 3 wire" style. Not sure how you tell +ve and -ve as no markings on pins. Does it just connect to a receiver channel , and is it universally compatible ? Any info much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterF Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 (edited) The 125degC on the heatshrink may just be the activation temperature for the heatshrink not an indication that it is a temperature sensor. Most temperature probes I have seen only need 2 or 3 wires, not sure why it would have 3 x 3 connectors. Edited July 29, 2023 by PeterF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David perry 1 Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 The 125 is the heatshrink value. Looks like a micro rx but has no antenna, so... Id be inclined to cut the heatshrink off and see whats under there 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatMc Posted July 29, 2023 Share Posted July 29, 2023 (edited) A servo exerciser, like the one Phil Green designed (a few years back) comes to mind. One set of pins for battery & 2 for a pair of servos. Edited July 29, 2023 by PatMc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 29, 2023 Author Share Posted July 29, 2023 PatMc are you saying it is a permanent on once the plug is in and it just runs the servo back and forth full turns cycle ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottenRow Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 10 hours ago, KenC said: PatMc are you saying it is a permanent on once the plug is in and it just runs the servo back and forth full turns cycle ? He is saying that it might be one, but there again it could be one of many things. As David said above, removing the heatshrink might give a clue, if anything is printed on the circuit board for example. Be careful if you are going to try plugging a battery into it though; that 3 x 3 matrix of connector pins means the battery (and servo) connectors could be plugged in four different ways. Only one of those ways would be correct. The other ways might cause damage - two of the possible ways of connecting would probably short-circuit the battery, which would be, er, interesting! Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 30, 2023 Author Share Posted July 30, 2023 (edited) Amazed that no one has recognised this thing and come out with a definite answer . When you look at the close up the pins look to be set out in 3 vertical sets , and if "servo" wired , then the live is central and only the neutral and signal could be reversed . Edited July 30, 2023 by KenC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David perry 1 Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 8 minutes ago, KenC said: Amazed that no one has recognised this thing and come out with a definite answer . When you look at the close up the pins look to be set out in 3 vertical sets , and if "servo" wired , then the live is central and only the neutral and signal could be reversed . Thats correct and I cant see a way of easily damaging the device itself unless one really tried. However, unless that heatshrink is removed the only way this thing will be identfied is by someone recognising it because they also have / had one. It's odd that an input isn't clearly identified...then i might think servo slow or somesuch but as it is, its a puzzle. Certainly, no harm will come from skinning the beast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 30, 2023 Author Share Posted July 30, 2023 David, part of me says gut it and show its innards ! The other part says , no leave it and wait for Moses to open the way .... Whats skitso when there are 3 parts, because the last part says , taunt them a bit longer because it seems a good puzzle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Walby Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 Could it not be a plain old servo reverser? I have some with an in, out and out reversed on leads, perhaps this is the leadless version? If it is then it will only work in one combination ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David perry 1 Posted July 30, 2023 Share Posted July 30, 2023 Its a bit like the letter on the mantlepiece that no one opens yet everyone asks whats inside. There IS only one way. Removing the shrink wont harm it...but the suspense is killing me ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 30, 2023 Author Share Posted July 30, 2023 Chris if it is a servo reverser, then why 3 sets of 3 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 30, 2023 Author Share Posted July 30, 2023 Oh Dave call me a tease ! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 9 hours ago, KenC said: Chris if it is a servo reverser, then why 3 sets of 3 ? Could be for say dual elevator/flap servos, one input two outputs one of which is reversed. But I'm watching with interest as to what it actually is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Watkins Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 With the item having obvious servo connector pjns, common to the board is usually negative pin. I would join that up to a receiver servo set up and try it. It does look like, as stated above, a servo retract slow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 cut the heatshrink off it and be done with the mystery if you don't know what it is, you may break something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaxG Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 V tail/elevon Mixer. One in and two out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 31, 2023 Author Share Posted July 31, 2023 OK the moment has arrived, please place your final bets and stand away from the table ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 Aaaah, it was a thingimajig all along. Mystery solved - hope that you enjoy using it. 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 31, 2023 Author Share Posted July 31, 2023 Yes I have studied it closely and with my deep electronics background and knowledge I can state that it was most probably built in June 2013 .... beyond that WTF ! Why do the myriad of bits and bobs all culminate in a four pin line on the rear of the board that seems unused ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlyBird Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 The STM8S003F3, if I have read it correctly, is a timer chip. It looks like it had a flying lead to connect to the receiver, which is no longer there at the top of the board with signal, positive and negative from left to right respectively. The signal connects to channel 13 which is a timer I/O. My guess as to what it does is that it is a retract timer with three servos activated at different times dependent on the program the chip is running. What next fit a lead and three servos and see what happens, probably nothing if its a failed device which had its rx connecting lead removed. Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenC Posted July 31, 2023 Author Share Posted July 31, 2023 Thanks EarlyBird for the info, however I am sadly still confused as if you connect three servos to the available 9 pins, where does the power go , and what instigates the command ? Slowly now for the simple kids please ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 (edited) The ST chip is actually a whole microcontroller, or CPU. This widget could be doing anything. Might be a mixer. Or a door sequencer. Or a reverser. Or a tester. Or then again, it could spell out 'sausages' using morse code if you connect an LED to one of those plugs. Edited July 31, 2023 by Nigel R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottenRow Posted July 31, 2023 Share Posted July 31, 2023 The 8S003F3 IC is a microcontroller with flash memory. This would have been programmed by the manufacturer for whatever purpose the board is intended for. The small IC with five legs to the right of the uP is a voltage regulator, to provide (say) the 3.3V that the uP needs from the input supply. The fact that the heatshrink appeared to be closed at the opposite end of the board to the connectors, and lack of signs of solder around any of the four holes in the board, suggests that the four holes were not used in this version of whatever it is. The row of pins closest to the board look like they connect to the ground of the board, which would make those the negative pins. The middle row would be positive (assuming normal servo connections) and the uppermost row would be the signal pins. All three of these appear to connect to the uP via separate 470 ohm (471) resistors. I can’t quite make out the connections to the 10k ohm (103) resistors. As Nigel has just said (posts crossed), the board could be for anything. It might not necessarily be a servo controller of some kind at all, as servo connectors are also used for other signals such as S-Bus, telemetry and LED lights for example. Just out of interest Ken, could you post a photo of the other side of the board please? Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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