Voltage Regulator recommendations
05-19-2020, 01:09 PM
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Voltage Regulator recommendations
Okay guys I'm building an old school 1/8 scale Tamjets F-16 with 8 moderate torque servos. There are 8 servos and are mainly JR 3421, 9411 and 168. These servos are not made to handle over 6V so I'm needing to run a voltage regulator to keep the servos from burning out. Because my current fleet of jets all use high voltage servos I intend to use a 6.6V LiFE or 7.4V LiPo receiver packs. And I will be running a dual battery receiver setup.
I have researched RC voltage regulators and found all types and specs. My question is how do I determine the proper continuous amperage and peak amperage rating I should look for in a voltage regulator to safely operate this jet?
Thanks for the help!
I have researched RC voltage regulators and found all types and specs. My question is how do I determine the proper continuous amperage and peak amperage rating I should look for in a voltage regulator to safely operate this jet?
Thanks for the help!
05-19-2020, 02:22 PM
#3
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My 2 cents worth. You don't need any sort of voltage regulator. A 6.6 Life is just fine for 6 volt rated servos. I use them in all my jets and I don't own any voltage regulators! Just another potential point of failure in my opinion. Dual battery? Be honest. Have you ever had an onboard battery fail? In 38 years, I have never seen this happen. Dual batteries is just overkill; again, my opinion. I have never used or even considered using a dual battery setup.
05-19-2020, 05:14 PM
#4
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An opposing view-
Opposite experience for me- I run the A123's from Electrodynamics. I tried them at first with some of my older, similiar model servos like you have. I burned up the motors on several of them before I added a simple Powerbox 5.9 volt regulator. Not one problem since. Just not worth the chance in my opinion.
Remember, the A123s settle down to about 6.6 volts, but can come off the charger a bit higher than that, which in some cases, is a bit too much for the older servos.
This is just my experience-as they say, your mileage may vary...
Mike O.
Remember, the A123s settle down to about 6.6 volts, but can come off the charger a bit higher than that, which in some cases, is a bit too much for the older servos.
This is just my experience-as they say, your mileage may vary...
Mike O.
05-19-2020, 06:33 PM
#6
Originally Posted by HotelSierra
Okay guys I'm building an old school 1/8 scale Tamjets F-16 with 8 moderate torque servos. There are 8 servos and are mainly JR 3421, 9411 and 168. These servos are not made to handle over 6V so I'm needing to run a voltage regulator to keep the servos from burning out. Because my current fleet of jets all use high voltage servos I intend to use a 6.6V LiFE or 7.4V LiPo receiver packs. And I will be running a dual battery receiver setup.
I have researched RC voltage regulators and found all types and specs. My question is how do I determine the proper continuous amperage and peak amperage rating I should look for in a voltage regulator to safely operate this jet?
Thanks for the help!
I have researched RC voltage regulators and found all types and specs. My question is how do I determine the proper continuous amperage and peak amperage rating I should look for in a voltage regulator to safely operate this jet?
Thanks for the help!
http://www.mksservosusa.com/product....11&cat=&page=1
Last edited by JackD; 05-19-2020 at 06:39 PM.
05-19-2020, 06:35 PM
#7
I use two 2S Lipos and the Smartfly Turbo Reg (https://www.smart-fly.com/turboreg) in all my jets. Its been totally reliable, AND in my jets with electric gear, I tap directly off of one battery to power the gear. The regulator keeps the batteries balanced and the power stable even when the gear is operating.
Bob
Bob
05-19-2020, 09:21 PM
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He asked about current rating and you all went off like a firework in different directions!
You want something over 10A, total. ( Continuous) all regs will have a higher few seconds peak. A Powerbox Gemini II would be the minimum, run two batteries not because one might fail, more because a connection might!
PB have a new power supply called Source that would be the Ultimate.
Dave
You want something over 10A, total. ( Continuous) all regs will have a higher few seconds peak. A Powerbox Gemini II would be the minimum, run two batteries not because one might fail, more because a connection might!
PB have a new power supply called Source that would be the Ultimate.
Dave
Last edited by Dave Wilshere; 05-19-2020 at 09:24 PM.
05-19-2020, 09:42 PM
#10
Jeti has a good voltage regulator that I use in combination with old style servos. If you also use a Jeti TX you get all kinds of telemetri information right back to your TX. MAX BEC 2D Plus EX: JETI model s. r. o.
05-20-2020, 01:22 AM
#11
Originally Posted by HotelSierra
Okay guys I'm building an old school 1/8 scale Tamjets F-16 with 8 moderate torque servos. There are 8 servos and are mainly JR 3421, 9411 and 168. These servos are not made to handle over 6V so I'm needing to run a voltage regulator to keep the servos from burning out. Because my current fleet of jets all use high voltage servos I intend to use a 6.6V LiFE or 7.4V LiPo receiver packs. And I will be running a dual battery receiver setup.
I have researched RC voltage regulators and found all types and specs. My question is how do I determine the proper continuous amperage and peak amperage rating I should look for in a voltage regulator to safely operate this jet?
Thanks for the help!
I have researched RC voltage regulators and found all types and specs. My question is how do I determine the proper continuous amperage and peak amperage rating I should look for in a voltage regulator to safely operate this jet?
Thanks for the help!
Been using 9411s in my BobCats, and others for years, without a single problem and a very high degree of safety.
Using my Weatronics system, the amperage for an Airworld Hawk with lots of powerful servos averages around 3 with spikes of around 8. .A PST revision with 8 servos around 2 with spikes around 4.
Dual batteries, never fly a jet without them!
Last edited by David Gladwin; 05-20-2020 at 01:29 AM.
05-20-2020, 02:35 AM
#13
Dont agree, Dave flew my F15, all flying stab with that set up, no problems !
I spent a lot of time analysing current draws and voltages v control surface deflection, including all moving stabs. at various deflections at various GPS speeds using my Weatronics equipment, ( which measures current, voltage, servo positions and gps speed,) aerodynamically balanced stabs. no problem, the big currents were drawn, as one might expect, was flaps moving to landing position, until servo arm pushrods were aligned.
I dont know if Jeti measures current but I hope it will become a feature of Core in due course. Its an invaluable measurement.
Yes its my view, but one based on empirical data.
I spent a lot of time analysing current draws and voltages v control surface deflection, including all moving stabs. at various deflections at various GPS speeds using my Weatronics equipment, ( which measures current, voltage, servo positions and gps speed,) aerodynamically balanced stabs. no problem, the big currents were drawn, as one might expect, was flaps moving to landing position, until servo arm pushrods were aligned.
I dont know if Jeti measures current but I hope it will become a feature of Core in due course. Its an invaluable measurement.
Yes its my view, but one based on empirical data.
Last edited by David Gladwin; 05-20-2020 at 03:32 AM.
05-20-2020, 04:51 AM
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Originally Posted by David Gladwin
Dont agree, Dave flew my F15, all flying stab with that set up, no problems !
I spent a lot of time analysing current draws and voltages v control surface deflection, including all moving stabs. at various deflections at various GPS speeds using my Weatronics equipment, ( which measures current, voltage, servo positions and gps speed,) aerodynamically balanced stabs. no problem, the big currents were drawn, as one might expect, was flaps moving to landing position, until servo arm pushrods were aligned.
I dont know if Jeti measures current but I hope it will become a feature of Core in due course. Its an invaluable measurement.
Yes its my view, but one based on empirical data.
I spent a lot of time analysing current draws and voltages v control surface deflection, including all moving stabs. at various deflections at various GPS speeds using my Weatronics equipment, ( which measures current, voltage, servo positions and gps speed,) aerodynamically balanced stabs. no problem, the big currents were drawn, as one might expect, was flaps moving to landing position, until servo arm pushrods were aligned.
I dont know if Jeti measures current but I hope it will become a feature of Core in due course. Its an invaluable measurement.
Yes its my view, but one based on empirical data.
I work on my normal system of experience. I’ve sold hundreds and hundreds of Sensor switches and have seen heat sinks melted off the regs!
05-20-2020, 06:47 AM
#16
I dont know any more Dave, all I can say is that I have NEVER had a problem on any of my 10 sensors or seen any currents, even on my three Hawks with slab. Tailplanes which would be a problem for a sensor, including on my Mig 29 on which the stab planform and hinge points are quite different to the F15. Its a device in which I have complete confidence, based on using at least 10 over many years to power mainly the tiny Weatronics 12 ch tx.
Goodness knows what guys are doing to melt them!
The proof, of course, is to measure the inflight currents as I have done but I THINK only the Weatronics system has that capability. ( at the moment) .
Ill leave it at that and get back to painting my Sea Fury with dual batteries feeding the Mercury and Core receivers !!
Goodness knows what guys are doing to melt them!
The proof, of course, is to measure the inflight currents as I have done but I THINK only the Weatronics system has that capability. ( at the moment) .
Ill leave it at that and get back to painting my Sea Fury with dual batteries feeding the Mercury and Core receivers !!
05-20-2020, 10:34 AM
#17
Originally Posted by David Gladwin
Dont agree, Dave flew my F15, all flying stab with that set up, no problems !
I spent a lot of time analysing current draws and voltages v control surface deflection, including all moving stabs. at various deflections at various GPS speeds using my Weatronics equipment, ( which measures current, voltage, servo positions and gps speed,) aerodynamically balanced stabs. no problem, the big currents were drawn, as one might expect, was flaps moving to landing position, until servo arm pushrods were aligned.
I dont know if Jeti measures current but I hope it will become a feature of Core in due course. Its an invaluable measurement.
Yes its my view, but one based on empirical data.
I spent a lot of time analysing current draws and voltages v control surface deflection, including all moving stabs. at various deflections at various GPS speeds using my Weatronics equipment, ( which measures current, voltage, servo positions and gps speed,) aerodynamically balanced stabs. no problem, the big currents were drawn, as one might expect, was flaps moving to landing position, until servo arm pushrods were aligned.
I dont know if Jeti measures current but I hope it will become a feature of Core in due course. Its an invaluable measurement.
Yes its my view, but one based on empirical data.
Yes Jeti measures Current
05-20-2020, 01:05 PM
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Thank you to all for the what you've contributed to this thread. I have learned a lot and really appreciate a forum that allows a healthy exchange of differing experiences and opinions. I took a several year break from the hobby and lost a jet on my inaugural flight back.....due to wrong battery voltage with older servos. The lesson learned is that the hobby has advanced so much that a lot of the new technology is not compatible with the older. Unfortunately, I still have a large inventory of brand new, early JR and early Spektrum servos and receivers. My current jets are guided by Jeti and are all high voltage installations. Since the pandemic shelter in place, I've decided it's time to build all my older kits that I've collected over the years and get them flying. I want to be a good steward and use what I have from the same era. I understand people will have different decisions and motivations.
Never the less, everybody stay healthy and safe. Keep following your passions, build, and fly!!!
Never the less, everybody stay healthy and safe. Keep following your passions, build, and fly!!!
05-20-2020, 01:52 PM
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Nothing wrong with your equipment, JR early servos are what are in 99% of my models, using 2s Li-Po batteries through Powerbox switches of various types set to 5.9v (default on most stuff they make)
05-22-2020, 05:53 PM
#21
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Jon,
Have same issue with some of the stuff I have. Got a plane recently with smartfly reg and that's fine, but very clunky by todays standards. Asked on the Facebook Jeti page what I should use and the MAX BEC 2D Plus EX: JETI model s. r. o. was recommended. Ordered that and some batteries from Aeropanda, should get them next week.
My Tam F-16, which I've resurrected to fly again maybe on monday, does not run a regulator. The rudder and nose wheel and rudder servo run just fine on a LiFe battery, have for 50-60 flights. But another airplane I tried this mix on burned up several of the older servos, mostly micro for actuating valves etc. So, not a bad idea to run a reg in these cases.
The other benefit of the Jeti device is that you can get the telemetry of the input batteries. If you run lipos, you can get a good idea on how much is left on them but not so much with LiFe.
Tom M
Have same issue with some of the stuff I have. Got a plane recently with smartfly reg and that's fine, but very clunky by todays standards. Asked on the Facebook Jeti page what I should use and the MAX BEC 2D Plus EX: JETI model s. r. o. was recommended. Ordered that and some batteries from Aeropanda, should get them next week.
My Tam F-16, which I've resurrected to fly again maybe on monday, does not run a regulator. The rudder and nose wheel and rudder servo run just fine on a LiFe battery, have for 50-60 flights. But another airplane I tried this mix on burned up several of the older servos, mostly micro for actuating valves etc. So, not a bad idea to run a reg in these cases.
The other benefit of the Jeti device is that you can get the telemetry of the input batteries. If you run lipos, you can get a good idea on how much is left on them but not so much with LiFe.
Tom M
