servo extension
 

i need a aileron servo extension for my sky raider mach 1 the prices i see are 3dollars for standard and then 9 dollars for the heavy duty gold will standard be enough?

RE: servo extension
 

Yes, the standard extension will be fine with the Sky Raider. I use an extension on all my planes - that way I can have the receiver entirely wrapped in foam yet still plug in the ailerons. I use as many as needed to reach the connections in the wing as required.

Hogflyer

RE: servo extension
 

Make darn sure you secure any connections that are not readily accessable.. as in the wing, if using an extension on the aileron servos in the wings. I use a short length of cotton string, tie a square knot, then put a drop of CA on the knot. It does not come apart by itself.

RE: servo extension
 

cg im really a newbie still so i might get you to explain do ya tie the string around the end of the extension and servo end?

RE: servo extension
 

most of my planes have servo extensions of one size or another, I use tape to make sure the connectors don't come loose it works just fine.
some thread dental floss through the wires and tie it as a safety, tape has worked well for me so its what I use.

RE: servo extension
 

Anything to keep the connectors from disconnecting from vibration. I just happen to use some cotton string wrapped around the connectors (after they are properly joined) lengthwise, tied off in a tight knot to hold them closed or joined, and a drop of CA on the knot to keep IT from coming undone. Dental floss.. kite string, cooking twine, anything like that will do. The string is good because it is cheap (inexpensive), and if carefully done, you can simply cut the string with an exacto knife and un-join the connectors.

The drawing below is crude, but it should show you what I mean.

CGr

RE: servo extension
 

They make a yellow keeper that just simply snaps over the connector ends and holds them in place and it's reuseable for seasons to come. Some get neoprene hose of a diameter to slide over the extension end to help add friction to the servo lead connector and hold it in place too. Some use tape, but again it has to be replaced often. Your plane has one aileron servo on a tray in the middle of the wing and your extension is going into the receiver on the aileron channel (typically #1 on Futaba anyway). Since your extension and servo are new, you won't have to worry about the first 30-40 insertions before the connection loosens. I never saw a need to date to use anything on this type of connection personally unless I could feel it move when I gentle tug on it that it's a loose connection. I lose planes usually from forgetting to check my aged clevis's on a preflight check, and once the elevator clevis goes, it's an expensive lawn dart, but brings a few chuckles from the crowd.

The heavy duty extension I believe are for higher torque servos and generally aren't required on a .40 size trainer. I know some that use it regardless since $6 extra isn't a whole lot of money. Wait until you really start buying crazy upgrades, it's a slow addiction, but an addiction nonetheless.

RE: servo extension
 

A three inch length of cotton string and a drop of CA can't be much more expensive than the plastic keepers... Everywhere I've read so far, has said to do something to secure the connections so they don't come apart. There must be a good reason for that.

Remember Murphy.. anything that can go wrong, will. An ounce of prevention...

I'm sure you know all the sayings. It's worth the peace of mind to make sure connections are made, and made so they won't come apart.

Several years ago, I was at the Bronx Zoo in New York City. I was in the Reptile building looking at the snakes. I came to the window'ed cage that contained a 10 foot long King Cobra. There was a sign on the window that simply said, "Please do not tap on the glass. What would you do if it broke?"

Well, same logic applies here. What would you do if your connection on the aileron came un-done in flight? It takes two minutes to secure it, and the cost is just about nothing. Like I said.. what can a three inch length of string and a drop of CA cost?

CGr

RE: servo extension
 

I still have a roll of 500 mph tape, left over from my full scale days. Works great for holding the connectors together, and it can be reused, well if you can get it a part, lol.

RE: servo extension
 

I use shrink wrap electric tubing. Just cut a piece about 3/8 of an inch longer on both ends, slid it over the connector, heat it with a heat gun. This is only recommended if you don't plan on disconnecting these leads on a regular basis. If you do need to disconnect the leads secured this way then very carfully slice the shrink wrap over the plastic ONLY and tear the rest off.

RE: servo extension
 

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXDT85&P=ML

linked above is a clip that goes on your servo connections.



Austin

RE: servo extension
 

Thanks for the link, this is what I use, my searching didn't show the product up for me on tower, I didn't have the name of the product. These have an advantage over shrink tubing, dental floss, 500mph tape, it can be removed and attached again, good for removing the aileron servo from the extension in the receiver when taking off the wing.

RE: servo extension
 

It is not a good idea to use extensions where they seldom get exercised (mated and demated) as they will eventually cause problems, especially if you are in an area that has occasional high humidity. Avoid burying an extension in a wing where it will reside until the plane crashes unless you want to accelerate the time to first crash.

RE: servo extension
 

For that airplane, you probably need one for the aileron to receiver so you can connect and disconnect between flying sessions as you remove the wing for storage and maintenance. If you are using one aileron servo, then you need only one. If you are using two servos, then you need a Y-Harness.

It is important -- to me at least -- that I can hook and unhook with minimum efforet and be reasonably assured that there will be no bouncing wiring within the fuse. servo area during maneuvers.

Bring the one or two female plugs to somewhere where the servo male plugs reach with some excess for working fingers. Secure the female plugs to some part of the side of the fuse, or even a cross member as you may need. I use a 1/16" scrap to CA the females to, the fuse or whatever I select. That provides some jiggle room. A small of scrap cut 1/16 x 1/8 +/- along the sides helps to keep you from breaking it loose when you plug in the male from the servo. Everything is then secured.
EXTRA: Try to place the female so that when the wing is fitted down the servo wires of the male are slightly bent over thus preventing their slipping back out until you pull them out.
Always make a BIG spot of red or black ( preferred since the black wire is always external) so that you can always just go black to black and not have to eyeball so much which way the plug-in goes. Makes less effort! My thing! :D

If you have servos in the wing then you may need a long extension in the wing. Use heat-shrink tubing and shrink with your monokote gun or a hair-drier. Only need enough to secure those square corners. Or tie them together using dental floss between the wires. Works.
I have models many years old and have not experienced Rodney's problem. Now, after saying that, will I be able to say same tomorrow evening? OH Lordy!! [:o]

RE: servo extension
 

So.. what you're saying is that the aileron servo, for an in-wing installation (a servo for each aileron mounted in the wing) should be disconnected often? That would be fairly interesting. How about the rear mounted servos where the extension connector is in the center of the fuselage? We're supposed to open up the fuselage or remove the servo just to 'exercise' the connection?

I don't think so.

The servo leads are only 6 to 8 inches long and those long runs need an extension.

CGr.

RE: servo extension
 

or you can take the ribbon cables out your PC and use those as extensions.lol..just joking
Take it out of your wife's PC instead.;)
She dosen't need a second enternal hardrive.

Gold make better conductors then tin and won't have corrosion build up as fast.
yes..moisture from huminity.
you know...in the morning you see the morning dew build up on the roof of your car.
I imagine there's air everywhere on planet earth.

If i soilder them nicely and use heat shrink tubing..I imagine that would be stronge to keep it all
together and never have to worry about connection problems.lol
Make it as long as i want.

$.08 a foot for #24 32(wire)...for 3M..which my boss still deems too expensive.lol
But you can try radio shack or pc shops...You don't need that much
If it's gray...just use color markers to color them ..so you won't cross the wires when you soilder.

if you decide to use ready made extension...good old scotch tape will do to prevent the connetor from
coming apart.

As for me...He's talking about the Y connector. I still need to take those apart and spay contact cleaners in
those connectors every so often.

RE: servo extension
 

this brings me back to just use a little tape at the connector.

I use the 3M blue painters tape so it doesn't leave any glue residue if I ever(and I never!) need to undo it,every plane in my hangar has tape on the servo leads for the ailerons,and several have flaps, it costs less than 2/10 of a cent for the amount needed to hold the connector together and thats it.
as for exersizing the connector:eek: sorry no.
its a good way to wear out the connector,plug the extension into the servo lead,tape it,shrink wrap it,tie it, glue it,there all going to do the same thing prevent the extension from coming loose in the wing/fuse,and fly it.

RE: servo extension
 

Rodney, what do you suggest be done instead of burying an extension connection deep in the wing?

Solder (and secure with heat shrink tubing) extra lengths of wire to extend the original servo lead length?

This would seem like a plausible solution to the "securing extensions" problem, with these benefits:
1. Less bulky cables, easiee to thread, because the bulky connection has been eliminated.
2. Lighter, marginally less weight is removed.
3. Corrosion, at the joint, no corrosion problems with the male-female plugs.
4. Cost, no need to buy commercial connector holders.

And cons too:
1. Need for experience making good, solid solder joints.
2. Time consuming.


What do you guys think about tampering with servo leads in this manner?

The other method I like a lot is the string and CA mehod. Never had priblems with it.

RE: servo extension
 

For what its worth I never bury connectors anywhere in the airplane, thus no need to worry about securing them or corrosion from disuse.

What I do is cut the new servos lead in half and solder in new lead wire cut to the exact length needed. This avoids losses due to excessive numbers of plugs and wire. The only extensions are short ones from the Rx that the wing servos plug into. They are fully accessable and are repluged every outing so corrosion is not a problem.

John

RE: servo extension
 

Ok. So now I am thoroughly confused as to what to do / what not to do. I'm quite the Nooby out here and I have a wing where the servo wires aren't long enough to reach the exit hole, thus requiring the need for extensions. My soldering skills are worthless seeing as I keep burning through the wires somehow, so I don't see that as being an option. If I were to just add servo extensions, and tie them together using the string and CA method, I'm reading that I'm gonna loose this plane due to what exactly????????? quite a bit confused here...........

RE: servo extension
 

Recently on my reactor I had quite a fer of the extension connections give problems. The reason: at 6V some of the Hitec HD female sockets were getting oxidised (incredible as it sounds) so the servos would start reacting late.

I feel that if the connections are in an unaccessible place, solder and then use shrink tubes. Use connectors only for the connection between the aileron servo leads and extension from the receiver which you regularly plug and replug.

I now use the orange safety clips (many have described above) on these connectors. It lets you disconnect quickly if you need to do so. Earlier in my trainer I would tape the assembly. I have never had a connection come off in either case, but there is always a first time and my luck with connectors and servos is not very good recently

Ameyam

RE: servo extension
 

Dakoris, relax take a deep breath the confusion comes from so many ways to that are fine to get the job done.

First although I am one who solders extensions since you are not comfortable with soldering then don,t do it just purchase extensions that will get the job done and avoid getting to much excess wire then for all connections that will be buried just make sure you choose any of the methods that has been presented here to make sure the plugs cannot get easily pulled apart.

You are in no real danger ;)

John

RE: servo extension
 

Your good question turned into a heck of an argument that is totally unrelated to your Sky Raider.

CGR's note (and drawing) does not apply to what you're doing with the Sky Raider. His comment is for cases where you have a connector that is inside the structure of the wing or fuselage and is never intended to be disconnected.

You will be plugging and unplugging the connector each time you go to the field. If you want to tie a string around it every time that's fine but I do not think it is necessary.

RE: servo extension
 

Just to add to the confusion - In the wings I use suspenders & a belt, especially in wings that come apart.

I use the plastic clips & seal the connection in shrink wrap. Have never had one pull apart or corrode. Costs about 60 cents per plane.

RE: servo extension
 

Dakoris,

You are right, for any newcomer this might sound very confusing!

In order of simplicity:

Method 1
1. Add a pre-made extension to your servo lead.
2. Use cotton string and a drop of CA so they do not come apart.

Enjoy!
PROS: Simple, quick, cheap and preferred method.
CONS: I have experienced the connectors getting oxidized. (Not a big con for the average flyer)

Variations: Using dental floss, heat shrink tubing, or tape.

Method 2 - for any model that involves a serious investment $$$ (John's method)
1. Cut servo leads, strip a decent amount of wire.
2. Using a pre-purchased extension, cut to length, so that the servo lead remaining and the extension when soldered intotal, give you the exact length needed.
3. Thread appropriate heat shrink tubing far enough down the wire (about 2 inches) so that soldering heat doesn't shrink it beforehand.Make sure it covers al ength equal to stripped wire plus 1cm on each side of the wire.
3. Using a 40 watt or less iron, heat the wires and add solder directly to the wires (I use a ceramic surface when pressing down). The trick is that as soon as the wires melt the solder being applied to it and it flows to cover them all,you remove the iron immediately. Don't add more, this is enough. Let it cool a bit.
4. Place heat shrink tubing on the joint, and use the heat gun to shrink it.

Enjoy!
PROS: makes for a solid connection that is durable and resistant to corrosion (soldering makes this possible)Also, simpler to thread into tubes leading to servo location.
CONS: time consuming, if it is improperly done, it can actually be worse than the connectors!