Servo City Power Expander Board

[droland]

I have run across this item from Servo City a few times online, but have not been able to find any posts about it on FG.

http://www.servocity.com/html/servo_power_boards.html

Since it has a separate RX power input on the board, it might at least be good to free up a channel in the RX to use for a servo.

I'm just wondering about it's usefulness in a 50 CC setup where many are not using full power board and regulators. Specifically with A123 Batteries.

Anyone familiar with it?

[wallygator]

	Quote: Originally Posted by droland
	I have run across this item from Servo City a few times online, but have not been able to find any posts about it on FG. http://www.servocity.com/html/servo_power_boards.html Since it has a separate RX power input on the board, it might at least be good to free up a channel in the RX to use for a servo. I'm just wondering about it's usefulness in a 50 CC setup where many are not using full power board and regulators. Specifically with A123 Batteries. Anyone familiar with it?

I have been using one in my 50cc Extra and previously in a WH Sukhoi for more than a year.
You need good soldering skills as it was unassembled for the lower price. I would recommend that someone with average or less soldering skills pay the extra $10.00 for the assembled version.
As for how it works I have been nothing but pleased with the way it works. You do need to be careful when plugging in servos as it's easy to plug them in backwards if you're not paying attention. I power my Extra with one 2300 A123 that powers the servos and then I split off seperately through a Castle regulator to power the reciever with 5.0 volts (FASST didn't like 6.6v) The servo's are getting full power directly from the A123 through the 12ga. main feed.
It's smaller and lighter than the power boards and does enough for a 50cc plane. I have more pics on my home PC that I can show you the working setup.

[droland]

Glad to find someone that is using it.
I'm very good with solder, but for $10 more, I'd probably let them do it.

So... the benefit is cleaner/better/more power to the servos I suppose?

It looks like you did not connect your RX power to the board, right?
That is one thing I was hoping is to free up an RX channel.
Is it good for that also?

Sure, I would like to see more pictures if available.

[pepatrick]

I dont get it...especially on a 50cc plane..

[TooBizzy]

If you want to free up a channel, all you have to do is use a "Y" cable for power input and servo output....With more "Y's", You can run multiple power feeds to the reciever to help keep voltage up on the rail. I have a 50cc, 30cc, 20cc, and (2) Nitro Heli's all set up this way with the Fasst 2.4, A123's, and high end Digital Servo's....No regs on the reciever and doing fine.... The power board should work ok, but its basically the same as using "Y" cable's.....Except for the fact that you have more connections/failure points.

[wallygator]

For me it's not so much to free up a channel.
I use A123 to supply full voltage to the servos and regulated 5.0 volts to the reciever.
Servo power is not going throught the reciever contributing heat to the reciever and only being able to put 4 amps through the one power lead.
It's cheap, it works and can you see the power wires feeding the board??? (High Count 12Gauge) that only feeds the servos the reciever is fed seperately from a Castle regulator using the eighth servo lead or the end connector on the board. ( I have a Futaba 617 reciever)
I'll post more pics when I get home that will explain it better.

[droland]

Wally, dang, seems you are the only one that has one of these.
Yes, I believe I understand your configuration with your batteries.

I have the same 617 RX.
I like the idea of the servo power not going through the RX.

Seems if you are feeding the RX power through the 8th lead on the circuit board, or the connector on the end of the board, that you probably did free up an RX channel even if that was not your goal.

Dan

[TooBizzy]

I have (5) of the Futaba 617 recievers all set up with A123 and multiple power feeds to to the reciever using the "Y" cable method. I have never experienced a heat related problem you speak of? Or any problem as far as that goes.....Maybe I'm lucky? Plus I don't run any regulators. Never had a reciever or servo failure....If you read thru some of the A123 threads here on the forum, there are many who run this exact setup with no problems. Something to consider.....

Anyway...At least go the A123 route. You'll never look back. I can't believe how easy it is to come home from work, put the A123's on charge, and by the time I get my clothes changed, I'm charged and ready to head to the field....You can't beat it!

[droland]

TooBizzy, thanks for you feedback.
I also have A123 batteries with "Y" cables running straight to the 617 RX.
It works fine.
I'm really not asking for advise on how to set up my plane.

I was just wanting to find out a little specifically about the Servo City Power Board
and if/how people were using it.

[wallygator]

Here are a few pics of the Sukhoi setup.
Fromco Wolverine fed by 2 A123's
One output goes to the board, other goes to the Castle regulator.
Regulator plugs into the channel 8 pigtail that goes to the reciever.
The other 7 pigtails go to the reciever.
All servos plug into the board.
I did not use the input on the end of the board.
I did have heat related problems with the first 617 I had and this was one of the things I tried.
Never had a lockout after going to this setup. Many people never had the problem I was one of the few that did. I am comfortable with this so I continue to use it in all my 50cc plane since then.

[airbornrc]

I use one in my 100cc plane. Two 123 2300s through a wolverine to the board. I hard wired all the extensions to the board eliminating a connection. All of my servos have only one connection between them and power, reducing resistance. I run direct power from the board to the reciever with no problems (Fast 6008)

Mark

[sherman89]

	Quote: Originally Posted by wallygator
	Here are a few pics of the Sukhoi setup. Fromco Wolverine fed by 2 A123's One output goes to the board, other goes to the Castle regulator. Regulator plugs into the channel 8 pigtail that goes to the reciever. The other 7 pigtails go to the reciever. All servos plug into the board. I did not use the input on the end of the board. I did have heat related problems with the first 617 I had and this was one of the things I tried. Never had a lockout after going to this setup. Many people never had the problem I was one of the few that did. I am comfortable with this so I continue to use it in all my 50cc plane since then.

Wally did have a heat issue with his 617 Rx, I watched the light go green to red and back to green with the change in heat. The power board did reduce the heat at the Rx created by the servos drawing down on the buzz bar. With the board installed Wally had no more heat issues and I believe he is still flying the same set-up today.

[droland]

Ahh... must be that 'white dot' thing with the Futaba RX.
The ones with the white dots on the end is suppose to have the heat issues fixed.
I have not checked all of my 617's but the one is this 50CC does have the white dot.

Hardwiring all the extensions to the board sounds like an excellent idea also to reduce resistance.

[FreeRider]

hi guys,

looks like a nice gadjet
how many amps ca it handle

[STLAV8R]

	Quote: Originally Posted by pepatrick
	I dont get it...especially on a 50cc plane..

Can you say overkill?