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[Davo]

I still have my 3Ch MacGregor radio set from 1975. It was bought with the rechargeable battery which passed away many decades ago.  Looking on line I note a picture of this set with a battery box in the back  It looks like 3No AA batteries giving 4.5 volts.  I have no information regarding the set and the battery pack it should have.  Can anyone advise the power required?  I doubt I would use it again but would like to see if it still runs.   Any advice on the battery pack appreciated.
This set with two servo's cost around £100 in 1975, if my memory is correct; around £800 in todays value.  My more recent sets have been around £70 for a good set.
David

[Colin Bishop]

I think they operated on 9.6v - confirmed by this link:
https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=136496

8 NiCads @1.2v

Colin

[Leaky Bottom]

You can download a complete manual from here https://manualzz.com/doc/26181165/m33--macgregor-digimac-ii-and-iii-instructions

[Davo]

Many thanks for the quick reply and information.  I can see it will need 6No 1.5v AA batteries, so the holder in the photo must be a double sided one. The manual site is amazing, and I now have a copy the manual.  The manual makes reference to a  specially mould battery tray, and I can see there is not a lot of space in the transmitter, so I will see what can be fitted.    The mystery will be where the Pos and Neg wires will join the board.
I recall the fully charged transmitter only had a life of about an hour, which was very limiting at the pond side.  By the time the Merco 61 was happy, the battery was in the red!  With batteries, you can at least swap them out.
As I doubt I would use it in a model, and the units have no real value, it is only curiosity to see what still functions.
Thanks again
David

[sabre]

One you get it working you will need a commander excapement for the rudder and a corpral escapement for the throttle plus yards of elastic to power them. 

[Davo]

Luckily I still have the complete set up in a scratch built boat from 1975.  The Merco 61 was sold some years ago when my Sea Queen went brushless. I hope this boat may go brushless and get back on the water.  I do not anticipate 10cc performance, but it may look nice as I can shift all the battery weight to the rear for balance.
David