RC servo without the RC?
 

Hey folks,

I'm trying to use an old standard size futaba servo for my barge winch motor.

My question is, can I hook this servo up to four or five volts and use it without the radio RX/TX?

I would love to be able to run it from a few nimh or nicad cells and still use the pot and signal to control the speed and direction.

Perfect installation would be with a control knob on the dock someplace next to the servo and battery to control speed and direction. If the speed was constant that would be okay also. Just need to run either direction, or stop.

I should add, I want to use the old futaba analog servos because I have several just lying around that will not ever get used for anything else AND I thought the low gearing would be pretty good for the barge winching application.

Jim

Re: RC servo without the RC?
 

I was afraid nobody was going to respond without a video link...:rolleyes:

http://youtu.be/RPXu5qRwRTY

I clipped the signal wire out, mover the hot and ground directly to the motor, and remover the mechanical stop from the bottom side of the output gear south would turn continuous.

I still need to install a switch for left, right, stop. So, is there a rheostat or something that will give me left, right, stop with speed control as well? The speed looks ok the way it is but I won't know till I put it in p,ace on the dock with a barge tied to it. A great big switch I could operate with the drag bucket would be interesting!:jaw:

Jim

Re: RC servo without the RC?
 

well before you hack it up too much try finding a potentiometer controller. some are simple on/off and a dial to set how fast in what direction you want it to go.

Re: RC servo without the RC?
 

I'm not exactly sure if this is what you want to do, but how about this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVY6P2TnQ6M

I bet a potentiometer could be substituted instead of the 2 switches. Of course if you want to get more involved you could do the same thing with an Arduino or similar microcontroller. Hope this helps.

Re: RC servo without the RC?
 

Yep found another with a pot. control instead of two switches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N_FXFopjo0

Re: RC servo without the RC?
 

Fin,

Perfect! Going to try one of those!

Jim