RS-385 Type Motor

The Servo Tester 

Tiny Smartcontrol Upgrade 

The MOSFET power transistors we use in our speed controls just keep getting better. This has allowed us to push the upper current limit on our Tiny Smartcontrol (SCT) from 4 amps to 6.6 amps (with no change in price). See the SCT page for details.

March/10/2007

The SCO-30 

 The SCO-30 is the newest addition to the Smartcontrol product family. An optically isolated control capable of running at a continuous 30 amp without overheating. It features automatic current limiting, automotive type input fuse, and flexible 15 gauge silicone wire (for motor and battery). It is compatible with 2.4 GHz Spektrum system. The ABS plastic case is included in the pricing. See the SCO page for details.

Price in US dollars is $119.99 plus $15 for shipping/handling.  

Price in Canadian dollars is $134.99 plus $15 for shipping/handling.    

Oct/1/2006

The SCO and the 2.4GHz Spektrum RC System  

Last summer (2006) a customer came in to the shop with one of these system. He was trying to use an SCO-20 with the system and the SCO's LED was flashing red, indicating that it was not getting a signal from the Spektrum AR6000 receiver. 

I connected the oscilloscope and measured the pulse voltage output, it was only 2.5 volts on the high level. These new receivers must have a built-in regulator, probably putting out 2.5 or 3 volts which would explain the lower voltages. Older receivers  typically run straight off the 4.8 volt batteries and they put out a pulse voltage of 4 volts or more.

The SCO has a voltage divider on the pulse input to prevent a problem called latch-up which occurs when the voltage on an input pin is higher that the power supply voltage (which is 3.3 volts on the SCO). Making the SCO work with the AR6000 receiver is a simple matter of changing the value of one resistor and adding a zener diode.

I will be modifying the input circuit on the SCO, SCB and ES4 to make them work with lower input voltages, the modified controls will be available on Oct. 1, 2006. If you already have one of these devices and you are switching over to one of these radios, you can return it and have it modified for a $20 flat fee (which also covers the cost of shipping it back). 

Please note: none of our older controls, which includes the SCA, the SCT and the original Smartcontrol will work with the AR6000 receiver.  

To Our European Customers - RoHS

 Starting on July 1st, 2006 new European Union (EU) regulations concerning the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) come into effect. These regulations ban the use of lead in in most electronic products. For a small company like ours this will mean we can no longer ship product to the EU.

The problem is more complex than just switching to lead-free solder, in fact we have been using tin-silver solder on critical, high-current connections for years. The real killer is our parts inventory, most of which contains some lead plating on the pins. It would be simply too expensive to either discard our current inventory or maintain 2 parts inventories (one for the EU and one for other locations). Eventually our old inventory will get used up and the parts will be replaced with RoHS compliant parts, but I expect this process will take years. 

So it is with regret that we announce we the longer serve our customers in the EU. 

ES4B Now Shipping!

 It looks the same as as the ES4A but the software has been changed to add a Morse code flasher on switch one and a 1 second flasher on switch two. See the ES4 page for details.

Matsushita Coreless Motor

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