Can a micro receiver (like a Spektrum AR6100) be used to control non-micro servos? Is the voltage supplied to it more important or something specific to the receiver?

Thanks

I am by no means an expert on this subject and there are many here that are but, I believe the problem is not in the voltage for the larger servos but the current draw required through the Rx to those servos. I don't believe the micro servos can handle the current draw and would burn up in short order. Many people flying 40% planes use two Rx so they can split up how many servos go through each one as their current draw is enormous. By using two they can split this in half and reduce the risk of losing a plane to a burned out Rx.

The RX doesn't power the servos. The battery powers both the servos and the RX. The center lead (usually red) of the servo just connects to a buss bar inside the RX that carries the battery + voltage. Giant scale planes sometimes use two RX's just for redundancy, not because there is a limit to how many servos they can drive. If one RX drives the left aileron and one side of the elevator, you still have some control should the other RX fail.

Some guys are using a separate battery to power the servos. Having the servo and RX batteries separate means that the RX never sees a voltage dip caused by high servo current draw.

Amazing help.... thank you very much! The diagrams are sweet.

It will be nice to be able to use the smaller RXs. Less cost, less wieght and more parts redundancy. :-]

Thanks again.

If I were you, I'd get a second opinion. The current still has to flow through the receiver. Too much current = too much heat. That's why all of the people I know have two receivers, not for redundancy.

The + and - bus bars in the 6100 are more than enough to handle the current of the bigger servos. all the signal wire does is tell the servo how far to move, as B.L.E. says. The two rcvrs are for redundancy.

The main limiting factor for the AR6100 is the range that it offers, it should not have have a problem with running normal servos (i.e. not high powered digital coreless servos such as the HiTec 5955 or JR8711) . I would be very careful if you are only looking at the AR6100 on a cost basis and trying to use it in a glow powered aircraft, and I would recommend that you rather look at the AR6200 (It only weighs 10 grams with it's satellite receiver and only cost fractionally more than the AR6100).

I do not know the actual power rating for the AR6100 as this is not commonly quoted due to the fact that it is not aimed at a market that would have high current draw, but for reference the AR9000 is rated at 30Amps. The limiting factor for current is not normally the receiver, but the receiver plugs. The standard JR/Futaba plug is only rated at 3 Amps, that is why people that decide not to use power distribution systems (such as SmartFly equalizer or a Powerbox) in large scale aircraft will always use multiple power inputs into the receiver. It is this large draw through these plugs that cause voltage drop and the associated problems. (This is why Spektrum have now introduced the AR9100 to try and overcome this problem)

Cheers
Pupmeister

B.L.E.'s solution is a good one, As Pupmiester explained, this prevents a lot of problems. Just remember that the switch and wires between battery, switches and power distribution points must also be capable of handling high peak current surges without causing voltage drops. If one tries to use a single battery and run all power through the receiver, the voltage drop between the battery and receiver can be a cause of real concern, especially if the switch is of poor quality and the wire gage is the typical small gage stuff.

I started a little confused and now I am still a little confused but this is the closest forum to my question. Will a micro receiver intended for electrics work with standard servos in a .20 size nitro plane if an outside battery sorce of the right voltage and amperage is added?

All electrical devices run on smoke! When you do somthing stupid and let it out, the device usually quits working.

It will work fine. I do the same thing. Not to worry.

Gord.

Thank you very much!