Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => The "Black Arts!" ( Electrics & Electronics ) => Topic started by: Jim1978 on June 05, 2021, 10:22:34 pm
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Hi to all and thank you for allowing me onto your great forum.
I’m looking for advice if possible.
I bought an r/c boat for my son and I to give us time together. We’ve taken it out a few times but didn’t realise the lake we were using had salt water in it, which got into the motors. We decided to strip the boat down and repaint it and fit new motors.
All was going ok till we went to test it. What was forward on the controller now makes the boat reverse, and what was reverse does nothing. The wiring has not been touched other than to fit the two now motors. Swapping the wires to the motors has no effect.
There’s no switches on either the receiver or controller so I’m a bit puzzled.
Has anyone got any advice, huge thanks in advance
Best wishes
Jim
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Welcome Jim.......I'am no wiz on electrics {:-{ , but many Members here will be able to sort the directional issue
If you can, post some images of the principal components, or and at least....detail the Manufacturer & Part numbers of the same components
Running in salt or brackish waters should not really pose any real problems if a few simple rules are followed
......[but the motors & electricts should not be exposed to any water >>:-( ].....this can also be discussed
Derek
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Hi Derick
Thank you for such a warm welcome
The boat in question is syma Blue streak. It was around £60 to buy but I wanted something that my little one and I could play with. We’ve resprayed it and other than the new motors it’s stock. It did take on a small amount of water but it never got into the receiver
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mmmmmm :embarrassed: is this the Craft Jim?...certainly no slouch %)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skjV2SaGUlw
There are other U-tube video's where the Skipper believes it is a wave hopper O0
Derek
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Hi Jim,
Again, Welcome to the Mayhem!
1. Can you post photo of the insides of the boat / motors / electrics?
( use P Add Image to post below the post window )
2. Wash the motors out with slightly soapy water.
3. Lightly spay / lubricate motors with oil.... at a push, WD40.
4. If you can get into the electronics ( I think it's single board unit in these boats ), wash that out too. Scrub with your good toothbrush! ok2
(https://i.postimg.cc/RJ9V3LVm/Martin-01.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/RJ9V3LVm)
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The black blocks in Martins picture are relays. They control whether the motors go forward or reverse. They normally only operate for reverse. If a bit of damp has got into the control board the transistors operating the relays might be in a switched on condition, making the motor reverse only. A relay stuck part operated can have the same effect. As they have black covers, you can't see what is going on with the contacts, so there is some guesswork.
Cleaning of both sides of the PCB might remove the unintended circuit that mother nature created. With the battery out, plenty of clean water and some toothbrush action, dry well, a wash over with isopropyl alcohol to dissolve and flush away any lurking hidden drops of water, treat with Corrosion-X.
When reassembling, clogging the wire hole up with something like Blu-Tak will reduce the chance of water getting in that way.
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Thanks guys. Derek that’s exactly the same boat I have. Twin motor. Martin and Malcolm I’ll post some photos ASAP. Just out with my son. I really appreciate your help with this %)
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Jim - are you sailing at the boating lake in Brightlingsea? There is a model club based there and I am sure that they would be happy to help you.
Barrie
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Hi Barrie, unfortunately I’m miles away in Thurrock but a good idea tho. I take my son and boat to coalhouse fort as it has a nice sized couple of lakes.
So I have taken some photos, the black mark on the receiver is just a slight overspill of paint from when we sprayed the shell. The motors are back to originals also. The controller is very basic tho. I’m my ( ahem) younger days I built R/c cars and the controller was able to switch over to two channels, plus had the removable chip
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Sorry guys I’ve tried all sorts but it won’t let me upload them :((
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Photos
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Jim - I've sent you a personal message with my email address so you can send me the photos and I will post them for you.
Barrie
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Jim - I've sent you a personal message with my email address so you can send me the photos and I will post them for you.
Barrie
:-))
(https://i.postimg.cc/xXL16xxK/m1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/xXL16xxK)
(https://i.postimg.cc/06x2FYFh/M2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/06x2FYFh)
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Excellent, can you take a photo of the box the motors connect into? :-))
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Sorry I thought I’d sent it. I’m useless with technology {-) I’ll send it to Barrie
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One thing I have found this evening is the receiver is completely sealed with a type of mastic. Can’t split it at all. Also on closer inspection of the motors, there’s what appears to be a resister or similar soldered to the rear of each one, however one appears to have come away to not connecting. I wonder if this is the issue ?
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(https://i.postimg.cc/K1c8vW6G/M2.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/K1c8vW6G)
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One thing I have found this evening is the receiver is completely sealed with a type of mastic. Can’t split it at all. Also on closer inspection of the motors, there’s what appears to be a resister or similar soldered to the rear of each one, however one appears to have come away to not connecting. I wonder if this is the issue ?
Those are capacitors to help with suppression of radio frequencies so the motors don't interfere with the radio. One end is soldered to a power contact, the other to the motor can. It shouldn't stop the motor working if its come away
Barrie
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Thanks Barrie. All very odd then. I’m wondering If the problem is with the controller then
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If you get stuck and need help there's a club at bluewater just over the bridge
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Thanks Barrie. All very odd then. I’m wondering If the problem is with the controller then
Probably.... Pop the screws out, take a look & take a photo for us. :-)
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Jim one thing that has puzzled me is your very fuzzy pic of the controller seems to have the left throttle stick at what most might consider "full reverse". Pics of the original boat and transmitter are not clear on internet listings, there's seems to be at least 2 boats described as this which doesn't help. Is your transmitter stick supposed to be central dictating forwards and reverse function, or just forwards control? At the moment if it's supposed to be forwards and back it looks in your blurry pick the stick is stuck fully back?
Rich
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Having spoken to Jim I suspect the problem is in the box of tricks that control speed and direction . These ready to run models tend to use electronics that are not easy to repair. If possibly is it time to fit some conventional R/C equipment?
Stan
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Hi guys. Thank you for all your replies and advice. After a chat with Stan he has given me some things to check. If this shows the magic box to be faulty I’ll look at replacing it with a much better quality unit. I’m guessing I’d need both the receiver and speed controller if I do :-))
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HI Jim if it proves to be a radio fault you may decide to upgrade to a better system then you will need the following.
1 Electronic speed controller this will do both motors you should not need a high rated unit for those motors. Hobbywing 1060 for brushed motors ?
2 One servo for the rudder.
3 A 2 channel radio system make sure the left hand stick is self centring.
4 A commercial rudder unit along with cable and other ancillary items
Hope this helps
Stan.