Power Expander - Product suggestion  
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All Forums >> Radios, Batteries, Clubhouse and more >> RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros >> Radio Manufacturer Direct Support >> Smart-Fly (Quest Engineering) Support Forum >> Power Expander - Product suggestion
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Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 5:37:25 PM   
sheetsg



Posts: 115
Joined: 7/12/2004
From: Breinigsville, PA, USA
Status: offline 		It occured to me, after reviewing many of the potential options to use reducandant battery/regulator solutions, the PowerExpander has a single point failure! The single power supply line to the Rx could fail due to mechanical vibration.

I would suggest adding another power wire with one of the other Rx channels.

Now to properly sugar coat this suggestion, the PowerExander solved a very nasty situation I had in my WH 260. I use a Futaba PCM 9x Rx with Hitec 5945 servos. Loading two servos per Rx channel dropped the servo signal so much that the servo stopped responding. By using the PowerExpander to "buffer" the servo signal, I'm able to attach two servo's per channel.

Greg.
       Post #: 1

RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 5:48:09 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 627
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Greg,
You will be happy to know that the PowerExpander II will have two power leads.

I am glad the PowerExpander solved your problem. We love feedback.

Thanks,


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Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

(in reply to sheetsg)
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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 5:55:06 PM   
sheetsg



Posts: 115
Joined: 7/12/2004
From: Breinigsville, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Great news! What's the timeframe on the 2nd version?

In the mean time, is there another output channel that has the same power supply as the Rx (i.e. use a servo lead to attach an unused channel output back to the Rx)?

Greg.

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 3

RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 5:58:16 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 627
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		HI Greg,
The PowerExpander II probably will not be out until summer.

At this time there is no way to access the +5V anywhere else.

Let me know if I can be of any further help.


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Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

(in reply to sheetsg)
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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 9:05:10 PM   
u8racing



Posts: 101
Joined: 11/13/2004
From: Fairview, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Will the PowerExpander II have the Ign. optical kill also? A rumer I heard.......

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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 9:22:37 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 627
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi,
No, the Equalizer II will not have the Ignition Cutoff built in but we are thinking about a 50cc size PowerExpander that would have the Igniton Cutoff transmitter built in along with a failsafe switch and sophisticated BatShare.


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Owner, Smart-Fly

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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 9:37:15 PM   
u8racing



Posts: 101
Joined: 11/13/2004
From: Fairview, OR, USA
Status: offline 		That's what I heard....Timeline for the 50cc Power Expander?

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 7

RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 9:45:38 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 627
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi,
Probably early summer. The holdup is the pigtails for the receiver. We are going to make this compatible with top-loading recevers so we need to order new, longer pigtails to connect the recever to the PowerExpander. These have a lead time of about 10 weeks for us. We just got two of the prototype of this version built up last week so we also need some testing. We would like to know how much of a demand for this there might be. Any feedback is welcome. Its going to have a smaller physical size than the standard PowerExpander, weigh about 1.8oz, support eight channels with a single servo output per channel except on channels 4 and 5 which have two (matches to rudder on Futaba and JR).


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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 10:04:38 PM   
u8racing



Posts: 101
Joined: 11/13/2004
From: Fairview, OR, USA
Status: offline 		It would seem to me that on 28% to 33% planes, 50cc size, with the Hitec 5955, most are only going to need to run one servo on the rudder channel, but about 1/2 the 50cc planes ( which includes 50cc to 70cc ) out there now will require 2 servo's per aileron. Just an observation.

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 9

RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 2/20/2006 10:34:12 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 627
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi,
8611s or equvalents should really be enough for a single servo on each aileron up to a 100cc plane. They have the required torque as long as you really get the torque out of the servo. Most people have been loosing torque by running these off a recevier with a single lead from the battery. You get voltage drops and the servo produces less torque. Most of the 50cc size planes I have seen run a single servo on ailerons. Which ones use two? This is the kind of feedback I like to get so we can design this the right way. This unit is really meant for 50cc size (generally) as we have provided standard R/C plug inputs for the batteries rather than using Deans. With dual batteries this should be sufficient for a 50cc plane but not a whole lot bigger.


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Owner, Smart-Fly

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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 9/7/2006 4:23:52 AM   
Jai Williams



Posts: 97
Joined: 1/20/2003
From: High Point, NC, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Mr. Ritchey,

Any update available on the new 50cc power expander? Will it have the ignition cutoff, and batshare features as mentioned above?

I am new to the digital servos, and have just ordered 7 new Hitecs for my 29% Ultimate Biplane.
6- HS5985MG for ailerons and elevators
1- HS5995TG for rudder
I will be using a Futaba PCM rx, and not quite sure what size batteries, or type (NiMh, or Lithium) will be required.
Any thoughts or suggestions would be gladly appreciated.

Regards, Jai

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 11

RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 9/7/2006 3:16:16 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 627
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Jai,
No new update on the 50cc unit yet. I have units flying but I do not have a definite introduction date. I have been working hard to get the PowerExpander with built in Equalizers out. Its almost done.
The 50CC unit will have the Ignition Cutoff transmitter and it will have BatShare features with an optional failsafe switch.

I would suggest you look at our PowerExpander Sport at the moment. If you are going to use lithiums then the SuperReg would be a good complement.

Please let me know if you have any more questions.


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Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 9/17/2006 12:34:59 AM   
ben beyer



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Joined: 11/23/2002
From: College Station, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Any power expanders that you can use redundant receivers with in the works?

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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 9/17/2006 3:55:31 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 627
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi,
I have been working on something with Chip Hyde. Its still experimental and probably would be best for a 40%+ plane but its dual-receiver, all in one type unit. I would not expect this or something similar out before the first of the year.


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Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 9/17/2006 7:31:32 PM   
ben beyer



Posts: 2339
Joined: 11/23/2002
From: College Station, TX, USA
Status: offline 		I'm just curious for a possible 40% project in the next few years.

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RE: Power Expander - Product suggestion - 9/21/2006 11:08:54 PM   
Bobby Folsom


 

Posts: 701
Joined: 3/11/2005
From: Vicksburg, MS, USA
Status: offline 		Sir: I'm planning for a new 100cc plane that will arrive at my shop around the first week in Dec 06. I