What am I doing wrong now

[TelstarParticipant @telstar]

Hi One way to reverse is the circuit we used before Electronics. Using a servo and two micro switches.

The servo and switches are mounted on a piece of ply (or similar). Servo on position shown (center) motor off, stick one way touches micro switch motor one way, stick the other way, switches motor reverse.

This was a standard method before ESC's . V4 micro switches are readily available and would do the job. Typically £1.50 each, E bay

Cheers Tom

Edited By Telstar on 03/08/2017 22:48:59

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Andy

No, no and no. P91 does not function like P44 in this particular application, and P62 is even further away from what you need. Trust me – I make 'em.

Tom

Servos and microswitches??? Hmmmm…

Dave M

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Okay now totally confused. It works as it is albeit only one jet. I will add a y piece an connect both to one.

Cheers for all the help.

Andy

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

I know this may not necessarily be helpful.

But

You have a pump with a motor that if you run it one way, the water comes out one outlet, and then if you reverse the polarity and run it the other way, the water comes out the other one.

and you want to do a circuit to reverse the motor.

Seems the easiest is a just a normal reversing ESC on a centre-off controller channel – ie move stick one way, water comes out one hole, move the stick the other way and the ESC reverses it .

Or have I missed something?

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

You might be on to something there Noel. The ESC just thinks the pump is another brushed motor and works the same way. Hmm, I will hook up another ESC to the motor and use the same channels and see what happens. Worst that can happen is blowing another fuse in the main board.

Andy

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I have the Action Switcher and also a spare Action ESC. My current model is the plastic magic Revell Queen Mary 2 to which I have fitted the smallest Raboesch bow thruster which like your pump needs to 'squrt' in both directions depending on which way I want the model to turn.

I have actually used the Action ESC as suggested by Noel above and have it working on the left hand stick in the horizontal axis. The vertical axis is set to the throttle and the rudder is on the left hand stick.

It all works fine.

Colin

[NoelParticipant @noel26080]

if you are going to end up with two ESCs in the vessel, then you have to disconnect the power wire from one of their connections to the receiver I think as you can't have them both providing BEC power to the receiver.

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Thank Noel.

Colin did you disconnect the power wire as per Noel's post on the other action ESC?

Andy

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

The Escs I was using didn't have power wires (BEC) as they were the low power versions but yes, only one ESC should have the BEC wire connected. However, on my larger models I don't use the BEC facility (if present) and prefer to have a separate power supply tor the receiver.

The PICO installation in my QM2 actually runs everything off one 4.8v battery including the motors and thruster as the overall power requirement is very modest so not quite the same thing.

If that all sounds a bit confusing then yes, Noel is correct above. Disconnect one of the BEC wires as per the instructions that come with the ESC (or should do!)

Colin

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Looking at the wiring diagram that Dave produced, it looks like the esc (Action P80) is not BEC equipped , so not a problem. First off I will use the one I have as a test to see if it works. If so, will buy another P80.

Andy

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Okay so that works. Looks like I need another p80.

andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I reckon you need to actually sail it in the meantime..

Ashley

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Now where is the fun in that. It has only taken about a year to get this far. I have been building other stuff, not maritime related. I have a mtronic viper 15 that will do. Might even get this thing finished and down to the pond.

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

So. Finally decided to just get it finished. Only one squirter but a T piece out to two playmobile fire monitors. We are going to take it to the lake, as long as it is not raining too hard, tomorrow. It does at least float. Will bring the goblin/hibiscus down too. May see you there Ashley

Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Noel. You are the man….sailing on the pond at last !!!
Yes, it is a bit grey but it is early yet and I think it may clear by boating time ( 9 ish for the keen, 10 ish for the others)

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sorry… ANDY it should have been . That's reading too may posts¬! Looking much brighter out now.Ashley

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Dha, 10 o’clock, a twelve year old out of bed in time to get there for then, no chance. Will be a bit later than that. Will take some photos as evidence.

Andy

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

So, finally made it to the lake around 12.00 ish. Had Tom’s new fire boat and Izzy’s goblin/hibiscus. Nice bit of wind for the sail boat so Izzy off having fun. Now for the maiden voyage of the LCM/fire boat. Receiver on, battery on and away she motors. So far so good. Heeling over a bit despite the added ballast on the opposite side to the motor. Need an extra washer or two.

Now for the water cannons

One really good the other, not so good.

Will investigate the connections.

Both boats side by side.

I have a viper marine 15 and this works like we discussed earlier so will wire in properly.

Andy

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

A little bit of tidying up, another coat of paint and some red and yellow stripes down the sides and it is finally finished.

I am going to build a little console in the rear housing to hold a steering wheel and another PlayMobile man, yes that’s who is sitting on the rear deck hose unit.

Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Andy. The LCM`s are very light and the weights above the waterline have a disproportionately larger effect on the stability than normal. With a normal tank deck and tank in place, the craft are stable enough. My LCM with AA guns on does wobble a fair bit but shows absolutely no signs of turning over. Just stuff some more lead in, yours will be OK.

​Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 03/10/2017 09:29:46

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Thanks Ashley

Only need to add a couple of ounces. Old obsolete sockets from a 1/2 socket set make great weights.

Andy

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

So, Tom's boat is nearly finished. Details painted on the sides and water cannons no controlled by a separate speed controller to give independent squirting. Some detail to finish at the stern and people to add. Taking to Bushey park for a sail in the morning for further sea trials.

Cheers

Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Good man. Looks ​great. All you need is a fireman Sam on the back (or something better). Firefighters easy to get cheaply, boat 1/32 scale already…no probs.

UNFORTUNATELY it is fine rain this morning so no boating….will keep an eye out but likely to drizzle most of day ho hum.

​Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Fireman Sams are available on e-bay around the right scale, as the car is already loaded I will pop down to Bushey anyway, even if it is for "show and tell".

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Playmobil figures look about right too and have plenty of firemen. Will head on down anyway as Tom wants to try it out again.

Andy

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