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[essex2visuvesi]

I have a Hitec laser 6 TX and I would like to change the gear switch from a 2 to a 3 position switch. Currently the switch gives full positive in the up position and full negative at down.  What i would like is a centre position to give the equivalent of centrre stick.

Is this even remotely (excuse the pun) possible?

[Martin (Admin)]

 
I've got a Glynn Guest article on this at home somewhere, "Transmitter Trickery" - I'll see if I can find it tonight.


Maplin may sell switch you want ( Look for type B or F )
http://www.maplin.co.uk/sub-miniature-toggle-switches-2341

Martin

[essex2visuvesi]

Cheers for that, most appreciated

[unbuiltnautilus]

If the switch has three wires running up to it,you can convert to a three position, if it only has two wires going to it, its a no.
The Glynn Guest articles dating back to the nineties I think, were the basis for most of the Display Teams Radio conversions and were a godsend to us. Not so much those that like a peaceful life at the pond though..

[Martin (Admin)]

email sent  

[john44]

Hi unbuiltnautilus,
I am intrigued by the mods to your Planet T5,
what are they and what do they do,?
Are the pots to just replace the stick controls ?
Have you already done a post on the mod,s etc.?


john

[essex2visuvesi]

email sent  

Cheers!

Ill get the scredriver out 

[essex2visuvesi]

Rather than start a new thread I think ill resurect this one
Opened up the laser 6 today and joy of joys the gear switch has 3 wires


I have a suitable switch which is and on/off/on centre return which is perfect for my needs (will be running a ballast pump)


I had a read of the "transmitter trickery" article that Martin was kind enough to email me.


now my question is this.  Do I just unsolder the 3 wires from the old switch and resolder them to the new one? or have I got to make the 3 pot board in the GG article as well?

[unbuiltnautilus]

You will need the three pot board as well to get your centre position. You can substitute fixed resistors for the variable pots, but off the top of my head I cannot remember the ratings. They are all in my little red book, along with everyone who has ever annoyed me. A long list since joining Mayhem

[essex2visuvesi]

You will need the three pot board as well to get your centre position. You can substitute fixed resistors for the variable pots, but off the top of my head I cannot remember the ratings. They are all in my little red book, along with everyone who has ever annoyed me. A long list since joining Mayhem

That comment about the list reminded me of this :)





Seriously tho, If I use the 3 pot setup from the Transmitter trickery article it should work?

[unbuiltnautilus]

Everything we have blown up, sunk and/or set fire to over the last eighteen years or so can trace its roots back to 'Transmitter Trickery', many thanks GG. Yes the article is still current, variable potentiometers of 4.7k or 5k will give you the greatest deflection, while lacking in the ability to reduce the throw down to a few degrees either side of neutral. If you want less deflection fit 10k pots, this will allow you better fine adjustment just off neutral, but will reduce the overall deflection of the servo.
You are NOT in my little red book.....well done

[essex2visuvesi]

Tthe switch is to operate the TT Neptune dive controller. so a centre sprung switch is ideal as it only needs to trigger relays that switch the pump on in each direction, so fine adjustment is not really needed. As long as it pushes the signal far enough to trigger the relay it will be fine  Also on the board are some failsafes, water and pressure senors but I think thats by the by.


I'll have a hunt to see if I have some suitable pots


A conversation with another RC chap mentions that the pots may not be needed on the Laser Tx as he thinks it has resistors on the switch feed that will centre it if there is no feed.


Guess there's one way to find out lol

[unbuiltnautilus]

Well even more resistors wont kill it, so go for it.
When I was lumbered with fitting rotary switches, push buttons etc into sets for fellow members, I had to keep the little red book as ratings of resistors and their effects altered depending on the sets. Some would also have a rampaging fourth wire looped around the sets various sticks, whose purpose I never quite fathomed out and which it seemed best to pretend didn't exist! In consequence, the only set I ever cooked was my own Multiplex Combi 90, after that I took the batteries out before carrying out any work, not a bad idea that....

[essex2visuvesi]

Well I finally have had some time to actually get something done!


Opened up the Laser 6 again and desoldered the old switch and replaced with the new 3 way sprung to centre off no resistors yet


Before actually doing any soldering I used a block connector to just connect up the switch and it worked!..... well sort of


switch up = goes to up position :)
Switch to centre = Servo jumps to full down position and the slowly returns to centre (takes about 3 seconds)
switch down = Servo moves down
Switch to centre = servo slowly moves to the centre position again (again about 3 seconds to travel)


SO Im guessing I need resistors


Why is nothing ever simple?

[malcolmfrary]

Why is nothing ever simple?

Because if it was easy, everybody would have one.
Just guessing, but is probable that with the switch centred, no voltage is being offered, and the hardware is just seeing the voltage change due to leakage or a spurious circuit formed by the other parts.

[essex2visuvesi]

That man is quite right! faulty switch.... never assume that a brand new switch to be servicable lol


All sorted, a bit of help from a fellow member and the switch now does what its told!


2 resistors of about 6k across the switch terminals and all is well with the world