Topic: Slowing an RTR down? (Read 5938 times)

TugCowboy · « **on:** May 02, 2015, 08:04:32 pm »

Hi All,

Bit of a strange one.
My 5 year old Son, Harry, wants to bring his RC Boat to Mayhem at Wicksteed. He loves his boat and, to be honest, for the £40 it cost, is fantastic in build quality and reliability.

The main problem is that its fine for him to use on our local huge pond with only a few other boats in but his coordination and enthusiasm as a 5 year old just wouldn't let me let him run loose with it at Wicksteed.

Is there any way I can, without replacing all of the running gear, slow it down to a walking pace?

They Bly reason I don't want to replace too many bits is it is "his boat" and truly out of bounds to me under orders from the Mrs.

Perhaps a couple of resistors soldered on the motors or something like that I can get away with?

Many thanks!

Alex

Klunk · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2015, 08:08:05 pm »

what boat is it

TugCowboy · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2015, 08:13:55 pm »

Klunk, thanks for the fast reply, it's a Tamco MB.01
It was a Modelzone design IIRC.

Alex

gribeauval · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2015, 08:18:36 pm »

Tape a stop on the throttle lever on the transmitter so that he can't give it full thrust !!

Simples!!

Mike

cos918 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2015, 08:48:27 pm »

Hi Alex
a few options . 1 reduce the prop size . 2 run on 6v instead of 7.2v. These may only reduce the speed a bit .3 replace the ESC with one were you can set the full throttle point. .

john

gra2 · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2015, 07:08:26 am »

G/day Alex,
Make a cardboard or plastic disc as per photo and make slot to reduce forward throttle and reverse if required.

Graham

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2015, 07:14:05 am »

Quote from: gra2 on May 03, 2015, 07:08:26 am

G/day Alex,
Make a cardboard or plastic disc as per photo and make slot to reduce forward throttle and reverse if required.

Graham

Good idea, works for everyone, on all boats

Klunk · « **Reply #7 on:** May 03, 2015, 07:40:21 am »

it has a pistol grip controller guys!!!
And cardboard discs with a 5 year old!!!! LOL is there an ultra strong cardboard i am not aware of that a 5 year old wont destroy!!! Good idea for me though. Plastic disc is a better option for a standard radio.

for thise not aware of what the boat and contoller look like follow this link
http://www.gladstons.com/shop/marine-rtr-artr-models/5601-tamco-mb-01-micro-boat-combo.html

looks like a copy of the small dark horse boats from 2 years ago.

you could use a wedge on the pistol grip to stop full throttle being used. not sure how to attach it, maybe a spot of hot glue that means it could be pulled off at a later stage.

malcolmfrary · « **Reply #8 on:** May 03, 2015, 07:51:12 am »

A lower voltage battery is probably the best bet. Next is the resistor, but working out and getting the right value and power rating and then finding it a home where it won't melt anything might be problematic.
The external stick limiter will only work with a proportional speed control, and this doesn't get a mention in the advertising.

vnkiwi · « **Reply #9 on:** May 03, 2015, 08:35:04 am »

I'd be very surprised if that has proportional speed. Simple on - off, similar to an RTR that I have, currently being converted using proper 2.4 4channel.
So, maybe as Malcolm says, a lower voltage will work, but to low and nothing works, or suitable resistor etc, but it will be HOT.
Good luck, and let us all know how you did it, and how it went
cheers

chuffy · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2015, 09:04:23 am »

Something that can be fixed between the grip and the trigger thing to restrict movement and fixed with gaffer tape?

Paul.

vnkiwi · « **Reply #11 on:** May 03, 2015, 09:14:01 am »

Paul, think you will find that the trigger is simply two switches, one for reverse, one forward.
so the packer wont work on this one. It's not proportional.
could be wrong

chuffy · « **Reply #12 on:** May 03, 2015, 09:20:41 am »

Change prop, tie a lump of lead to it, fix a barge behind it, fit water brakes, similar to air brakes only upside down, ask Martin to clear the lake for five minutes so that he can give us all a demo.

Paul

TugCowboy · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2015, 09:54:08 am »

Thanks guys, some great suggestions here.

I'm going to have the controller apart today and see if there's anything there that can be done otherwise changing the prop might be an idea.

I've got a friend who makes battery packs for quad copters so I may ask him to knock me something lower voltage up if I can't get anywhere using the above.

Many thanks for all the help so far. I'll keep you updated!

Alex

chuffy · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2015, 10:22:16 am »

Boys love speed, ask Martin to clear the lake, he does it for the large lifeboats, and let the lad have his day as long as he keeps it on the lake it'll be fine, as Bikerdude 999 would say..

Paul.

tigertiger · « **Reply #15 on:** May 03, 2015, 10:24:44 am »

Along the lines of the change the prop idea.

Buy a cheap plastic prop, smaller if you can, and even if you cannot get smaller trim off the ends of the blades with scissors. It will be ugly, but should do the trick.

Plastic - RIP · « **Reply #16 on:** May 03, 2015, 10:45:00 am »

Fit a diode or two in the battery lead - each wil give a 0.7V drop in voltage (get big chunky ones to take the current - 10A is probably ok).

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2015, 10:57:30 am »

One concern with dropping the voltage of the battery pack may be a reduction in signal range/Low voltage cutout kicking in

Stavros · « **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2015, 12:26:24 pm »

Er lads ther is simply NO NEED AT ALL to do anything to voltage etc etc etc ......

We usually do divide the lake into 3 sectionson ....General boats....straight running course and small boats section....That is a small boat ....not a lot sail in there so he OK OK OK to play away.....rope and pool noodles divide the lake up so LEAVE THE BOAT WELL ALONE

Dave

Danny · « **Reply #19 on:** May 03, 2015, 09:55:31 pm »

I have a similar model (Atomic Flash 007), they are ludicrously fast (but great fun).
I use the case moulding (bit sticking out behind the trigger) as a guide for 80%(?) speed.
You could stick a bit of wood behind the trigger to restrict movement.
Don't be tempted to try and reduce voltage! The speed controllers in these boats are VERY sensitive to voltage change and cut-off levels. You may have noticed that if you run the battery down, the stop is both sudden and permanent!!
They will not even work with a NMih 6-pack (however, there is a very good 7.2V lipo pack at Component Shop which gives you an extra few mins thrashing about :)
The Chairman's son at one of my local clubs lets his son loose with his, and he's only 3 yrs old! They are very light so don't do much damage (the boat, not his son ... although ... :).
Cheers
Danny

me3 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 04, 2015, 08:08:31 am »

If you put a small brass prop on (one like used on tugs) it shouldn't plane so it would slow it down considerably. Could be wrong but that's what I would try

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Author Topic: Slowing an RTR down? (Read 5938 times)

Stavros