RCU Forums - Servo Life

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Quote:

There is nothing wrong with high-end analog servos, AMT-180's, or the 10X. I would upgrade the 10X to 2.4 using a module, but all of the rest of the stuff is still good-to-go...

Bob

I agree Bob, nothing wrong with this stuff since it is bought and paid for. That's another reason why I want to use the JR 4131's on the flaps. Rated at 90oz/4.8v they should work great on a 6v system. As far as the AMT AT-180.....gone with the wind. Trying to get it serviced was a nightmare since the WV plant closed some years ago. The 10x was given to a worthy cause when my wife bought me a 12x as a "welcome home from the desert" gift. Otherwise I would have kept it. I hate upgrading just for the sake of keeping up with the latest techno-gadgets, just ask my cell phone provider with the ancient cell phone they want me to upgrade. Old usable stuff is worth using as long as it is tested and deemed reliable and it's trusted to do the job. Then again, "Technology waits on no one"...........Oh well.

FWIW I was not implying that the analog servos were not worth using, but digitals will give you better holding power. You can certainly mix analog and digital just not one digital on one flap and an analog on the other.

David, makes sense. Both flaps would have 4131's.

Good question and there are plenty of answer. IMO for regular usage should be more than 10-years however depending on the type of servo, operation and maintenance. Some could reach 20 years and some are less than 10 years. Servo has 2-components, electronics and mechanical. Electronics has low power and high power circuit. The low power electronics control circuit can operate up to more than 20-years while high power drive circuit has lesser life span due to heat dissipation. However full load or high current only happens in transient. The least life span are the mechanical side including position sensor, motor and gears. These days motor and gears are becoming more efficient, higher torque and higher strength. Product had passed thorough quality control and has sample of batch that undergone torture test of high current and over loading for longer time. Most average electronics with mechanical parts on normal wear and tear stay around 12 to 16 years of continous operation. I would prefer to use flying hours or time as you and many experienced pilots, owners and tech here are using as their basis for maintenance check to determine if the servo requires replacement.