speed control question
#1
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From: Edmonton, AB, CANADA
Hi guys,
I'm not exactly new to the hobby, but I'm new to electrics and I'm tryin to use the same radio for an electrajet and another glow plane I have, trouble is ......... the throttle on the glow airplane and the speed control work in opposite directions so I've gotta keep reversing the channels between the two craft.
Is there a way to reverse the speed control so that the switching won't be needed anymore? As simple as swapping some wires? or what?
I'm not exactly new to the hobby, but I'm new to electrics and I'm tryin to use the same radio for an electrajet and another glow plane I have, trouble is ......... the throttle on the glow airplane and the speed control work in opposite directions so I've gotta keep reversing the channels between the two craft.
Is there a way to reverse the speed control so that the switching won't be needed anymore? As simple as swapping some wires? or what?
#3
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From: Laurel, MD,
The normal way that's done is with a radio that has mutiple model memory, of course.
I have seen some speed controls advertized with the feature you are looking for, but if your's doesn't have it, you are out of luck, you can't just switch wires around. If you think about it, you can swtich the output wires around to make the motor run backwards, but low is still low and high is still high. The signal wires coming in to the ESC (or a servo) aren't reverseable.
I have seen some speed controls advertized with the feature you are looking for, but if your's doesn't have it, you are out of luck, you can't just switch wires around. If you think about it, you can swtich the output wires around to make the motor run backwards, but low is still low and high is still high. The signal wires coming in to the ESC (or a servo) aren't reverseable.
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From: Laurel, MD,
Dave, right you are, but if you check the first post carefully you'll see the poster is trying to run two airplanes from the same non-computer radio with out having to flip the reversing switch between planes.
On the bright side, it is "only" throttle, so you're not going to launch with something reversed. But some speed controls can kick on the motor if you arm them at high throttle, and that can be dangerious.
If I were you, I'd look at moving the pushrod on the glow throttle servo to the other side of the servo if possible. Maybe putting in a flexible cable or something to allow it to reach. That will solve the problem. Failing that, you might be able to find a "reversed" servo. Back in the days before servo reversing was standard on all radios, every radio company sold "reversed" servos for use when you need something to go the other way, but couldn't move the pushrod. You might be able to find one. For all I know, it's possible that some brands of servos natually work reversed from others these days.
There is also a modification you can make to a servo to make it work backwards. It involves opening it up and removing and re-soldering several of the wires inside, but it is doable.
On the bright side, it is "only" throttle, so you're not going to launch with something reversed. But some speed controls can kick on the motor if you arm them at high throttle, and that can be dangerious.
If I were you, I'd look at moving the pushrod on the glow throttle servo to the other side of the servo if possible. Maybe putting in a flexible cable or something to allow it to reach. That will solve the problem. Failing that, you might be able to find a "reversed" servo. Back in the days before servo reversing was standard on all radios, every radio company sold "reversed" servos for use when you need something to go the other way, but couldn't move the pushrod. You might be able to find one. For all I know, it's possible that some brands of servos natually work reversed from others these days.
There is also a modification you can make to a servo to make it work backwards. It involves opening it up and removing and re-soldering several of the wires inside, but it is doable.
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From: Edmonton, AB, CANADA
Thanks for the input, forunately you're right it is "only" the throttle, and this speed control does not seem to arm until the throttle has been cut.
Not enough space in the fuse to change sides on the servo on the glow plane and it's not enough of an inconveniance to justify spending the time to move the servo this late in the season, when I could spend that time flying instead. Not to menton that a computer radio on the way within a few weeks and that'll solve the problem anyway.
Not enough space in the fuse to change sides on the servo on the glow plane and it's not enough of an inconveniance to justify spending the time to move the servo this late in the season, when I could spend that time flying instead. Not to menton that a computer radio on the way within a few weeks and that'll solve the problem anyway.
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From: Philadelphia,
PA
If you are not willing to move the servo reversing switch you can buy a tiny electronic servo reverser and plug it into the circuit on your glow plane.
#8
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From: Laurel, MD,
Doh! why didn't I think of that. Yes, you can get a reverser for $15-$20, and probibly less. It should work with either the throttle servo or the speed control,but likely easier to install in the glow plane.



