RE: Power Expander II  
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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 >> RE: Power Expander II
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RE: Power Expander II - 1/7/2007 9:48:54 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 616
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Colin,
I am not quite sure if you are asking if the PowerExpander 14mz can take LiPos in or when the PE-14mz will have built in regulators. Right now you can plug LiPos directly into the PE-14mz but you have to be running servos that can handle 8.4V like the Hitec 5995s. If you are asking when the PE-14mz will have built in regulators that will probably be a while. We should have a unit out later this year, in the PowerSystem line, that will be like the Pro but have regulators built in for the servos and additional features. I doubt we will do a 14mz version version of the PowerSystem very soon as the volume is still very low on the 14mz PowerExpander. The PE-14mz is shipping now and will take NiCd or NiMH directly. You can also use an optional failsafe switch with the PE-14mz that eliminates mechanical switches between the batteries and the PE-14mz.
Please let me know if I did not answer you questions.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ColinW

Hi,
Any timescale on when the 14MZ power expander will be able to take LIPOs directly plugged in without needing a regulator? When it is shipped will it also be able to take NICADs/NIMHs as per Power Box?



_____________________________

Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

(in reply to ColinW)
       Post #: 26

RE: Power Expander II - 1/7/2007 9:59:56 PM   
ColinW


 

Posts: 39
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: TroonAyrshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi Robert,
I have a 14MZ and want to use it with 2 LIPOs. I want to avoid using any more connectors than I have to; so I am hoping to find a power unit that will allow 2 batteries, of any type, to be connected directly without regulators, and that will also regulate the voltage to around 5.9 to be safe for servos and rx. At the moment the power box series seems to fit the bill, but they only have 7 discrete outputs whereas your system seems to offer 10 outputs. Hence the question.
Colin

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 27

RE: Power Expander II - 1/7/2007 10:10:10 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 616
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Colin,
A power unit that will accept LiPos will have a built-in regulator. I assume you mean external regulators. The volume is just not up there to for a 14mz version PowerSystem but, as I mentioned, we will come out with a PowerSystem that has built-in regulators for the servos and it will be like the PowerExpander Pro, 10 channels with multiple servos per channel. We may also come out with a PowerSystem Eq10.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ColinW

Hi Robert,
I have a 14MZ and want to use it with 2 LIPOs. I want to avoid using any more connectors than I have to; so I am hoping to find a power unit that will allow 2 batteries, of any type, to be connected directly without regulators, and that will also regulate the voltage to around 5.9 to be safe for servos and rx. At the moment the power box series seems to fit the bill, but they only have 7 discrete outputs whereas your system seems to offer 10 outputs. Hence the question.
Colin



_____________________________

Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

(in reply to ColinW)
       Post #: 28

RE: Power Expander II - 1/7/2007 10:37:07 PM   
ColinW


 

Posts: 39
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: TroonAyrshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		Hi Robert,
Any idea of when as I need the system for about March.
Colin

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 29

RE: Power Expander II - 1/7/2007 11:13:04 PM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		If you you use the PE with Hitec 5955 servos, you do not need a regulator.
So your solution exists today.

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(in reply to ColinW)
       Post #: 30

RE: Power Expander II - 1/8/2007 2:35:50 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 616
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Colin,
It will be later than that, probably in the fall. Sorry.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ColinW

Hi Robert,
Any idea of when as I need the system for about March.
Colin



_____________________________

Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

(in reply to ColinW)
       Post #: 31

RE: Power Expander II - 1/9/2007 11:22:54 PM   
zelayaroberto


 

Posts: 108
Joined: 8/10/2004
From: , FL, USA
Status: offline 		One question for the experts.
Besides that you have 10channel on the Power expander Pro and 2 of those channels handle 4 servos are there any other differences/advantages between the PE PRO AND THE PE sport?
I only going to use 7 channels.
Thanks.

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 32

RE: Power Expander II - 1/9/2007 11:45:02 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 616
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Roberto,
If you are going to use NiCd or NiMH batteries with the Pro you have built-in battery protection against a shorted cell. You also can use a failsafe switch. If you are using lithiums and regulators then these extra features really do not apply.


_____________________________

Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

(in reply to zelayaroberto)
       Post #: 33

RE: Power Expander II - 1/9/2007 11:48:29 PM   
zelayaroberto


 

Posts: 108
Joined: 8/10/2004
From: , FL, USA
Status: offline 		Ok, and Im going with Li-Ion. Thanks. Just placing the order right now.

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 34

RE: Power Expander II - 1/10/2007 12:12:08 AM   
Geistware



Posts: 12946
Joined: 4/9/2002
From: Locust Grove, GA, USA
Status: offline 		I like to add one more thing to Robert's reply.
One feature on the Pro is that you can add either an electronic switch or a mechanical switch to turn the power off/on and the failure mode of the switch is in the on position. It is a very nice feature.

_____________________________

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http://www.rcaircraft.net/
Information on the building and flying of Radio Control Aircraft.
Site for hobbyist in the R.C. Aircraft modeling world.

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       Post #: 35

RE: Power Expander II - 3/1/2007 7:13:13 PM   
gfyss


 

Posts: 49
Joined: 4/23/2005
From: Land O'Lakes, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Hi,

What's the current status of the powerexpander plus? I'm looking for something for my first gas plane and it looks to be ideal for my needs. The Pro seems to be overkill since I'm only using 1 servo on each channel, but it does support the fail-safe switch. I'll be using a single hi output NIMH (4200mah) at 6v initially.

My plane:
Chip Hyde Vision 3D
DA-50
JR-R649S RX
Hitec 5625 digital servos

Thanks!


_____________________________

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(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 36

RE: Power Expander II - 3/1/2007 7:22:20 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 616
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi,
We are starting to buy for production but it will probably be May before we are shipping. Our tests have gone excellent but now we have to deal with PCB and component lead times. There will be two versions, PowerExpander version for NiCd & NiMH and a PowerSystem version for lithiums that will have a fixed 6.0V regulator built in. Sorry.


_____________________________

Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

(in reply to gfyss)
       Post #: 37

RE: Power Expander II - 10/8/2007 5:18:46 AM   
heraldoboldrin


 

Posts: 153
Joined: 11/6/2005
From: Araras, BRAZIL
Status: offline 		Robert Ritchey

Can i use the Eq10 in a 14 channel futaba receiver?? As i will have strong servos only in 9 channels, this one i will plug in the power expander and the other chaneel that has regular servos will be pluged direct to the receiver...
Can i do that?? (i want to use EQ10 so i will have servo matching....)

Thanks

heraldo

(in reply to rrritchey)
       Post #: 38

RE: Power Expander II - 10/8/2007 3:21:24 PM   
rrritchey


 

Posts: 616
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hi Heraldo,
You can use the Eq10 with the 14-channel Futaba but you cannot plug any servos into the receiver. I have found even analog servos can swamp the 1 amp receiver regulator. You can plug in things like the Ignition Cutoff and a smoke system that uses a separate battery for its motor. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.


_____________________________

Robert Ritchey
Owner, Smart-Fly

(in reply to heraldoboldrin)
       Post #: 39

RE: Power Expander II - 10/8/2007 3:44:22 PM   
heraldoboldrin