Hey all, real quick question. I want to reverse one of my servos, but I don't want to use the switch on my transmitter todo it. Is there an easy way to reverse them, do I need to just put the wires on backwards on the receiver?

Thanks all.

Jeremiah

No, don't reverse the wires. If you don't want to use the switch (and I'd love to know why), you can buy pretty inexpensive servo reversers that connect inline with the servo. Most of the time people buy these to hang two servos off the same channel and reverse one of them, such as for aileron operation. The reason you can't reverrse the wires is that the positive and negative wires do not go directly to the motor, they power a circuit which then powers the motor. So by reversing the wires, you would by feeding reverse polarity into this circuit. Usually this won't harm anything, but it also will not work.

Here are some reversers you can buy...

[link=http://www.aeromicro.com/Catalog/dionysus_design_servo_reverser_3975198.htm]Dionysus Design Servo Reverser - $9.95[/link]
[link=http://www.fmadirect.com/Detail.htm?item=1398&section=61]FMA Direct Servor Reverser - $16.95[/link]

There are many others if you look around, some are integrated into a Y-harness for the aileron operation. Good luck.

Dave

I was wondering the same thing. What are you trying to accomplish? It could be as simple as mounting the control rod on the other side of the servo.

You can buy the reversers, or you can buy a new servo. Futaba servos will operate one direction, while certain other mfg servos operate the other. I don't remember the turn direction for each of the brands, but that info is around these forums some place. Just do a little searching and it ought to be in a couple of posts.

I'd spend the money on a new servo.

Why NOT use the transmitter reversing feature? Sheesh! Take advantage of the built-in electronics.

DO NOT switch the positive and negative power wires to the servo, you'll blow it. Most servos produced today have the motor and feedback pot hard-wired to the circuit board. They're almost impossible to switch manually. Buy a commercially availible inline servo reverser, or move the servo arm to the opposite side of the servo.

Dr.1

I'm simply tring to accomplish not having to remember to switch the reversing switch inbetween models. I only have the futaba 4y transmitter, no model memory so I don't to take off with something reversed.

I didn't realize it was so difficult to switch a servo.

I'll just have to remember is all.

I know you`re starting to make things for yourself,so do I have a look at this http://www.cliftech.com/

edited to fix address

Futaba's and Hitec's turn in opposite directions and have equivalent models in speed and response times. Heck we can always use a spare servo or two for the next project if you dont want to move the linkages to the other side of the arm...[8D]

Can't you just reverse the direction of the servo? If the arms are, say, towards the rear of the fuselage like mine is can't you reverse the servo so that the arm is facing towards the front of the fuselage, so that the pushrod connections are on the opposite side of the servo arm? I, too, can not see why you don't wanna use the feature on your radio. I have to reverse some of my servos on my LT-40 (elevator, rudder and throttle) because of how the plans instructed me to install the servos, but I will do it the easy way with the radio feature (as soon as I learn how to set the radio up for model 1, and then save the settings)

My radio doesn't have the feature for saving models. I would have to remember to manually switch it every time I switched planes. Was just hoping I wouldn't have to. As far as moving the hardware, it is a 1/2a plane and I don't have a whole lot of space to move it around. I'll just have to remember to move the switch.

brocja01,
Excellent reason, and it's worth picking up a servo that works "the other way" and using it. Honest, the idea that you'll always remember to change the servo direction everytime you switch models can lead you to ruin. You have a really good reason to keep everything as universal as possible. And using a different brand of servo is dead simple and will work 100% of the time without having to remember or do anything.

Proper safety procedures at the field should prevent you from flying a plane without the servo reversing switches in the proper direction. I've had three different models all on on HiTech Laser 4. Knowing I had to move switches, I always checked the control surface movement before I ever even started the plane. Never had a problem. I kept a laminated 3x5 card on my neckstrap with the switch positions.

Brad

You CAN re-wire a servo to make it work in the other direction. It's EASY.

There are 2 wires on the motor. Thats simple enough. Reverse them.

There are 3 wires on the pot. (potentiometer) Reverse the 2 on the outside. Leave the one in the center alone.

I don't try to solder the wires onto the pot. I cut them about 1/2" away from the pot and just solder the wires back together. Don't forget--LEAVE THE CENTER WIRE ALONE. Don;t get in a hurry and accidentally cut it when your cutting the 2 outside wires. (don't ask [X(]) Put heat shrink on the solder joints when your done.

Piece-o-cake.

Rcpilet,

If you open a modern servo, you will see the motor and feedback pot are HARDWIRED to the PC board. THERE ARE NO WIRES to cut and solder. It's a direct connection with the terminals on the motor and pot. Since he doesn't have room to reverse the servo arm position, he needs to get an inline servo reverser, buy an alternate servo that rotates opposite from the one he has, or make DARN sure of control surface direction before he starts the motor.

Dr.1

I'm kinda thinkin' that since he's still using a 4ch radio with dip switches for servo reversing--he's probably got some older servos as well.

I would like to know the definition of "modern". I took a Hitec 625MG apart about 3yrs ago and reversed it using the method I described above. Does modern mean--designed and produced in the last 2yrs? Does that mean that any servo thats more than 2yrs old, in it's design, is out of date?

Just thinking out loud.

just got done reversing to brand new 645"s and they have wires that are very easy to reverse,just like rcpilet says two outside wires on moter and same on the pot,don't be afraid of it just learn and never ask again

Jeremiah,

Remember to always do a preflight check before every flight making sure all control surfaces are moving in the direction in which they should. I've been flying for 5+ years or so now and do one everytime before I go up. A great habit to have.

Good luck,

Hay brocja01
I thought I could get away with doing the same thing. Bad things happened! If you want to run more than one model on one TX you should look into an entry-level computer radio like the Tower Hobbies system 3000 6xm, or Futaba T6EXAp. These hold all of your trim and through settings for each model. Also this type of radio makes rigging setup a breeze. If you do a little shopping one can be had for under $100.00

Reread what I said, "most" servos are hard wired. Futabas are. Maybe some of Hitec's aren't. If so, then yes, they can be reversed. But not ALL servos can be reversed that way.

Dr.1

certainly a GOOD idea to check control direction each time you install a radio in a new or additional plane. cant just take it for granted.why not just add a small tag to the affected push rod labeled rversed?

I am cheap and lazy. And like to standardize all controls.
I shift push rod to the sde of the servo that does the job.

I'm with tigerdude just unbolt the servo, turn 180 deg the rehook the control rod to the opposite side. You say you don't have much room, but you don't need more room. just make the back the front, and the front the back.

and by the way I completly understand your reason for doing this, I've had five planes on a 4 model radio also. Keep them the same .

You can also change brands of servos, for instance, Hitec and Futaba turn in opposite directions with the same input.I'm sure there are other brands which turn in opposite directions.

Not that this matters one hoot, but the Futaba's I've had apart are not wired directly to the internal boards. There are leads. All my Futaba's are pretty much coreless and/or digital F3A type. I cannot speak for other Futaba servos, so maybe it is just certain series that are wired as DR1Driver described.

I will however testify on the rewiring that RcPilet posted. It does work, the servo reverses, and it won't harm anything. I've never personally had to do this on my gear, but I have helped buddies do it who had radio limitations and it works great. One nice benefit is you don't get the drift often found with servo reversers and rewiring doesn’t add extra stuff in the circuit that can fail. Oh, it is cheap too... like basically free.

Cheers