Wiring for ancillary equipment

[Colin Stevenson 1Participant @colinstevenson1]

Dear Fellow readers

Wiring problem

I am embarking on a more ambitious model project and need some technical advice to avoid making unnecessary mistakes. This project involves more complicated electrical installation than that used on other models.

Can someone provide me with a wiring diagram and comments for the following installation for a model boat?

I am using a 6 channel transmitter and receiver with a 6 volt power supply for the motor and ancillary items of lights and sound. A bow thruster is also intended

The wiring layout for the battery, speed controller, motor connection and signal connection to the receiver are all understood. As is the secondary linkage from the receiver to the rudder solenoid. Control of the ancillary equipment is where mistakes might occur.

The intention is to create a distribution board for individual lighting arrays. These will consist of single, double and/or maybe three LED bulbs including their appropriate in line resistors. A sound unit is a further unlatched load in the layout. This creates 5 ancillary items plus the bow thrusters requiring power and control.

The design for next stage is causing me difficulty. My queries are

1. The bow thruster unit (yet to be purchased) will require a separate controller. Which joystick channels are required? I can understand how this will be wired into the layout. This leaves a maximum of 3 channels for the other ancillary items.
2. Should I operate the ancillary items from a separate 6 volt battery with the supply running through a 5 volt voltage regulator? If yes where does this regulator fit into the circuit?
3. Light sets will require two of the arrays to be connected to one on/off switch. Two other single arrays to be separately switched. The unlatched sound unit to make up a total of five ancillary functions that the receiver has to control.
4. The 6 channel transmitter has 4 joystick functions (2 x up/down and 2 x L to R) plus two on/off toggle switches. Channels 3 and 4 are allocated to control motor and rudder.
5. Twin function “Mtroniks Switchers” are available. It is assumed that two of these can run from two of the remaining channels. Do these have to be connected to individual relays that will switch their particular arrays on and off? It is assumed that two of these Switchers will cope with 4 ancillary items.
6. The two toggle switches may not be suitable for the Switchers. If so how can this be overcome.
7. The next question is how to operate the remaining function of say the sound unit or a light. Circuit?

I have been examining various options for coping with the above but keep noticing difficulties that might prevent functions from working. I know that I am not doing anything that others have not already solved so I decided to try the Forum to avoid further headaches.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Colin S

[Colin Stevenson 1Participant @colinstevenson1]

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I would suggest that your first port of call should be ACTion R/C Electronics. **LINK**

Check out the sections on wiring diagrams that should answer many of your queries. If you still have questions then come back here and somebody should be able to help.

Colin

[Colin Stevenson 1Participant @colinstevenson1]

Hi John, Thanks for that. I have been looking at ACTion and other sites but was getting a bit punch drunk. I needed a bit of re direction that might come from the forum. I will keep going and will sort it all out in time.

Colin.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

The 2-way MTroniks switches will not work with channels 5 and 6. The best you will get from your 6-channel Tx is three separately-switched lighting circuits and a sound unit (e.g. horn) thus:

I see no advantage to fitting a 5v regulator unless you intend to run the receiver from that battery, in which case fit a regulator to just one set of connections for the receiver and use the full 6v for the remaining loads. A P92 Distribution Board would solve most of your connection problems; this has a built-in regulator for the receiver power.

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 30/04/2014 10:46:02

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 30/04/2014 10:50:47

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