Glow driver servo frenzy! :)
 

So why do my servos go nuts when I connect the glow plug the glow driver from my power panel? I know noise is being generated by the electronic duty cycle circuit but I would think there would be a filter for the noise. It's a Tower Hobbies power panel from the late 1980's, I think, and the first I've ever used. And I am using a 12v Nicad battery lead acid. The radio is a 72Mhz FM Hitec Focus (or Laser).

Anyone had this problem and have a solution? I imagine the glow plug or wires are acting like a little radio station. :) If I fully extent the Tx antenna the problem will mostly go away.

RE: Glow driver servo frenzy! :)
 

Just the nature of the beast, happens all the time. Years ago I went to just a glow stick or driver and that makes the problem go away. During the winter when it gets down into the 20s and 30s I do use the driver from my power panel. I can crank it up and get more heat to the plug. Only thing I use my panel for these days is my electric fuel pump. I wouldn't use it for that but I have some big tanks in my planes and I really hate hand cranking.
Just buy a glow driver or watch the controls dance for you. I have never broken a servo because of the dancing.

RE: Glow driver servo frenzy! :)
 

I was hoping there was something that could be fixed. Now I understand why some power panels have glow stick chargers built in! :eek:

So another way around this, if you still want to use a 12v battery, is to use a high wattage potentiometer. I believe that was the way to do it before the solid state switcher was designed. The downside of that idea, the voltage to the glow plug will drop if an electric starter is used from the same battery source because there is no regulation.

Thanks for the post. :)

RE: Glow driver servo frenzy! :)
 

I always just ignored the jumping around. If it doesn't break anything no big deal. For about $12.00 you can buy a glow driver with a charger and it has a meter on it to see when you have a dead plug. It only takes a few seconds to fire up the engine so the driver isn't on there very long anyway. My old, very old panel doesn't have the stick charger on it. My fast field charger does though and gets used once in a while. The new batter for a stick is about $5.00 and I replace them about every two years or so.

RE: Glow driver servo frenzy! :)
 

Hi!
Sorry! But a Hitec Focus radio isn't that good.

RE: Glow driver servo frenzy! :)
 

HEY!!!I have owned several Hitec radios and never had a single issue with them. Just kidding but that is true. When I got back into RC a couple of years ago I couldn't find a Focus radio so I bought a Laser 6 channel. I love it. No problems at all except the elevator trim ratchet isn't very strong and its easy to bump out of position.

I have finally come around to computer radios but they are older modelsI bought off ebay for a song. I like the easy servo travel adjustments and easy reversing but all I use are 4 channels and high rates. And the old analog radios had that. I wish I could find an old Futaba 6XA (i think). I loved that radio.

RE: Glow driver servo frenzy! :)
 

You could try putting a small capacitor across the +/- terminals of the power panel. Maybe a disk ceramic capacitor with a value of 0.1 microfarad or so (try Radio Shack). Just something to attenuate the high frequency components of the pulsed waveform.

Better yet, just ignore it. Mine does it too. I just ignore it.

Eventually you may want to get a glow starter with internal NiCd battery. I think they are easier and safer than a power panel.