Please note that this is not a commercial site, but so many readers have asked to purchase my PIC chips that I have decided to price them to encourage readers to build for themselves.
The most convenient way to send payment is through PayPal at www.paypal.com – it's fast, easy and secure.
The link will take you to their secure server for the simple transaction.
But please contact me first with any questions & for my PayPal ID!
The most convenient way to send payment is through PayPal at www.paypal.com – it's fast, easy and secure.
The link will take you to their secure server for the simple transaction.
But please contact me first with any questions & for my PayPal ID!
This page maintained by Barry Mail: Barry@kleefeld.freeserve.co.uk
Barry's Model Control
ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR MODEL CONTROL
Radio Control Mixer Projects
#8069B Standard mixer for normal use. Look no further, this is probably what you want.
#806 Replacement chip for ACTion mixers.
#806H Replacement chip for Hunter mixers.
#826 Replacement chip for ACTion mixers with active centre prop control.
#821 Special mixer for craft with separate rudders fore AND aft of props.
#849 Unique mixer with LiPo sense.
#850 Unique mixer with TWO built in ESCs.
#856 Unique mixer for Flying Bedstead.
#858 Mixer for high speed single engine (fast electric).
#806 Replacement chip for ACTion mixers.
#806H Replacement chip for Hunter mixers.
#826 Replacement chip for ACTion mixers with active centre prop control.
#821 Special mixer for craft with separate rudders fore AND aft of props.
#849 Unique mixer with LiPo sense.
#850 Unique mixer with TWO built in ESCs.
#856 Unique mixer for Flying Bedstead.
#858 Mixer for high speed single engine (fast electric).
Now for the details:
Click on picture for video of mixer in use (2.0Mb zipped file)
Mixers assist (or replace) rudder control of your craft by automatically adjusting speed & direction of Port & Starboard engines.
e.g. Moving joystick rudder control to right will speed up the Port engine while reducing the speed (into reverse if necessary) of Starboard engine.
If no throttle applied, the craft can turn in its own length!
Only a 2 - Channel radio is needed - more is OK though.
e.g. Moving joystick rudder control to right will speed up the Port engine while reducing the speed (into reverse if necessary) of Starboard engine.
If no throttle applied, the craft can turn in its own length!
Only a 2 - Channel radio is needed - more is OK though.
Updated: 03 August 2009 8:19 PM
Compatible with ACTion Supplies hardware, just remove their chip & replace with mine (or build your own circuit) to get the following benefits:
a) A choice of degree of Rudder effort applied to outside engines.
b) Corrects the problem encountered when executing a stationary 180 deg turn
...(Operation of throttle across neutral to correct forward drift results in prop reversal which unwinds the turn!).
c) Original units ignore the 1.00 to 2.00msec recommended control limit specification!
The above "features" were found some years ago and prompted me to make my own - I have not tested their current models.
So if you find that you need to remove these features, this is the way forward!
#806 PIC chip only £8.00
a) A choice of degree of Rudder effort applied to outside engines.
b) Corrects the problem encountered when executing a stationary 180 deg turn
...(Operation of throttle across neutral to correct forward drift results in prop reversal which unwinds the turn!).
c) Original units ignore the 1.00 to 2.00msec recommended control limit specification!
The above "features" were found some years ago and prompted me to make my own - I have not tested their current models.
So if you find that you need to remove these features, this is the way forward!
#806 PIC chip only £8.00
Look no further, this is probably what you want.
Mixers assist (or replace) rudder control of your craft by automatically adjusting speed & direction of Port & Starboard engines.
e.g. Moving joystick rudder control to right will speed up the Port engine while reducing the speed (into reverse if necessary) of Starboard engine. ...If no throttle applied, the craft can turn in its own length!
Please remember that you must have 2 separate ESCs (Speed controls) to control your prop motors.
As well as normal twin prop craft, others are also using on Model Tanks, Bait Boats etc.
I have recently installed this mixer on a "paddle wheeler" - excellent results!
eBay feedback example "a BIG THANK YOU this unit is fantastic and so easy to install"
My eBay id: CaptnBarry
#8069B PIC chip only £7.00
#8069B Fully built & tested (excludes box) £23.50 + Post £2.50 (£5.90 overseas).
Mixers assist (or replace) rudder control of your craft by automatically adjusting speed & direction of Port & Starboard engines.
e.g. Moving joystick rudder control to right will speed up the Port engine while reducing the speed (into reverse if necessary) of Starboard engine. ...If no throttle applied, the craft can turn in its own length!
Please remember that you must have 2 separate ESCs (Speed controls) to control your prop motors.
As well as normal twin prop craft, others are also using on Model Tanks, Bait Boats etc.
I have recently installed this mixer on a "paddle wheeler" - excellent results!
eBay feedback example "a BIG THANK YOU this unit is fantastic and so easy to install"
My eBay id: CaptnBarry
#8069B PIC chip only £7.00
#8069B Fully built & tested (excludes box) £23.50 + Post £2.50 (£5.90 overseas).
Compatible with Hunter Systems hardware, just remove their chip & replace with mine (or build your own circuit) to get the following benefits:
a) A choice of degree Rudder effort applied to outside engines.
b) Removes the Hunter's problem of out of control movement at certain throttle settings (maybe mine was faulty?).
c) Original units ignore the 1.00 to 2.00msec recommended control limit specification!
The above "features" were found some years ago and prompted me to make my own - I have not tested their current models.
#806H PIC chip only £8.00
a) A choice of degree Rudder effort applied to outside engines.
b) Removes the Hunter's problem of out of control movement at certain throttle settings (maybe mine was faulty?).
c) Original units ignore the 1.00 to 2.00msec recommended control limit specification!
The above "features" were found some years ago and prompted me to make my own - I have not tested their current models.
#806H PIC chip only £8.00
A mixer to drive the Outer 2 props with rudder mixing assistance as per my type #806 above...
PLUS:
The Inner 2 (or middle one) being controlled to drive ONLY in a forward direction and then only starting after around 1/2 forward throttle stick movement. Further forward stick movement ramps up this motor(s) faster to reach full speed at the same time as the outer props.
This should give reasonably docile low speed control - But lots of welly at full stick!!
Fits in an ACTion mixer socket with a small amount of circuit change as diagram below.
#826 PIC chip only £12.00
PLUS:
The Inner 2 (or middle one) being controlled to drive ONLY in a forward direction and then only starting after around 1/2 forward throttle stick movement. Further forward stick movement ramps up this motor(s) faster to reach full speed at the same time as the outer props.
This should give reasonably docile low speed control - But lots of welly at full stick!!
Fits in an ACTion mixer socket with a small amount of circuit change as diagram below.
#826 PIC chip only £12.00
Controls pairs of "flanking" rudders on American Towboats:
e.g. "Daisy B" , "Tom Behringer" , "Debi Sharp" etc..
Apparently there are tug pusher type craft in USA which push a string of long barges along wide rivers.
To do this effectively, they have twin props with rudders fore & aft of each.
The requirement communicated to me is:
1. In forward direction: Steer as normal using stern rudders - Forward rudders fixed in mid-position.
2. In reverse direction: Steering by forward rudders - Stern rudders move to fixed mid-position.
This unit gives automatic selection of each rudder according to EACH propeller direction (FWD or RVS) i.e. 4 individually controlled rudder outputs!
Two/Three servo lead connection from your receiver to the (simplest yet) PIC board, then 4 independent servo lead outputs for the rudder servos.
(This unit could have even more exiting features - e.g. INBUILT motor mixer type available.)
- However, As I do not have such a craft, I would be pleased to hear from any other interested parties.
- Later...Oh well, I thought there might be ONE person interested! :-( , maybe this site does not reach them?
#821 PIC chip only £15.00
e.g. "Daisy B" , "Tom Behringer" , "Debi Sharp" etc..
Apparently there are tug pusher type craft in USA which push a string of long barges along wide rivers.
To do this effectively, they have twin props with rudders fore & aft of each.
The requirement communicated to me is:
1. In forward direction: Steer as normal using stern rudders - Forward rudders fixed in mid-position.
2. In reverse direction: Steering by forward rudders - Stern rudders move to fixed mid-position.
This unit gives automatic selection of each rudder according to EACH propeller direction (FWD or RVS) i.e. 4 individually controlled rudder outputs!
Two/Three servo lead connection from your receiver to the (simplest yet) PIC board, then 4 independent servo lead outputs for the rudder servos.
(This unit could have even more exiting features - e.g. INBUILT motor mixer type available.)
- However, As I do not have such a craft, I would be pleased to hear from any other interested parties.
- Later...Oh well, I thought there might be ONE person interested! :-( , maybe this site does not reach them?
#821 PIC chip only £15.00
This item combines the functions of a mixer with 3 interesting additions:
1. As users of LiPo batteries will be aware, battery voltage falling below 3.0v on any cell will damage your expensive battery.
This mixer has a 3 point sensor connection for monitoring the state of the INDIVIDUAL cells.
Should any of the cells fall below 3.2V the effect of the throttle will dramatically decrease.
The driver is thus warned, while he still has battery power, to head for the shore.
Users of Brushless motors & ESCs will be aware that the ESCs will cut off dead at 9.0v (on a 3 cell battery) - this does not give individual cell protection or time to run for home!
The function can be enabled/disabled with a link or DIP switch should, for example, you want to use NiCads etc.
2. Response curve.
With this mixer, the mixed propeller steering differential falls off at high speeds to aid stability & controllability.
3. Auto reset.
With some Brushless ESCs, reduction of throttle to the point of motor stopping requires the complete pull back of the throttle stick before the motor will restart. With this mixer, if the throttle is pulled back to nearly off (1.10MSec) the output is set to fully off, thus resetting the ESC making it respond immediately to further throttle movement.
I must add that this is my experience with some of the ESCs I have been using so far and may not be true in your case. Please let me know of your experience.
The function can be enabled/disabled with a link or DIP switch as needed.
#849 PIC chip only £20.00
1. As users of LiPo batteries will be aware, battery voltage falling below 3.0v on any cell will damage your expensive battery.
This mixer has a 3 point sensor connection for monitoring the state of the INDIVIDUAL cells.
Should any of the cells fall below 3.2V the effect of the throttle will dramatically decrease.
The driver is thus warned, while he still has battery power, to head for the shore.
Users of Brushless motors & ESCs will be aware that the ESCs will cut off dead at 9.0v (on a 3 cell battery) - this does not give individual cell protection or time to run for home!
The function can be enabled/disabled with a link or DIP switch should, for example, you want to use NiCads etc.
2. Response curve.
With this mixer, the mixed propeller steering differential falls off at high speeds to aid stability & controllability.
3. Auto reset.
With some Brushless ESCs, reduction of throttle to the point of motor stopping requires the complete pull back of the throttle stick before the motor will restart. With this mixer, if the throttle is pulled back to nearly off (1.10MSec) the output is set to fully off, thus resetting the ESC making it respond immediately to further throttle movement.
I must add that this is my experience with some of the ESCs I have been using so far and may not be true in your case. Please let me know of your experience.
The function can be enabled/disabled with a link or DIP switch as needed.
#849 PIC chip only £20.00
Here we have another mixer. This item takes all 4 channels and mixes to give full helicopter-like control to a 4 engined VTOL craft.
Simply:
1. Connect the 4 servo leads to your receiver Channels 1-4
2. Connect your 4 Brushless ESC "servo" leads to the 4 sets of output pins on the PCB
to give:
1. Lift (Throttle)
2. Pitch Control (Fwd/Back movement)
3. Roll Control (Left/Right)
4. Yaw Control (Face Left/Right)
You do not need servos or swivelling motors to change any attitude!
Yaw control needs Front & Rear Motors to rotate anti-clockwise, Left & Right clockwise.
This project is undergoing trials at the moment. (Software: Good, Pilot: Bad)
Further information will be published on request as this is possibly too specialized for most users!
#856 PIC chip only £28.00
Simply:
1. Connect the 4 servo leads to your receiver Channels 1-4
2. Connect your 4 Brushless ESC "servo" leads to the 4 sets of output pins on the PCB
to give:
1. Lift (Throttle)
2. Pitch Control (Fwd/Back movement)
3. Roll Control (Left/Right)
4. Yaw Control (Face Left/Right)
You do not need servos or swivelling motors to change any attitude!
Yaw control needs Front & Rear Motors to rotate anti-clockwise, Left & Right clockwise.
This project is undergoing trials at the moment. (Software: Good, Pilot: Bad)
Further information will be published on request as this is possibly too specialized for most users!
#856 PIC chip only £28.00
Based on 18 pin PIC Chip (Type #850a Cost £20.00)
This item combines all the functions of my mixer AND delivers full PWM output to 2 MOSFETS driving Port and Starboard motors.
Saves you buying 2x ESC and 1x mixer - You solder & you save - but NOT for newcomers to construction!
I have been asked on numerous occasions if I could combine the functions of my mixer with a pair of speed controls.
This cuts down on construction wiring and makes sense by cutting out 4 lots of coding/decoding between devices.
Finally, I had a project which prompted me down this path... So here it is, all on one board.
Relays are for reversing and should be chosen for the required motor amps, as should the MOSFETs.
I use 48Amp 30Volt MOSFETs (supplied in the kit) together with a pair of cheap 5Amp relays (not supplied) for my current project.
As you can see in the picture, the output to the twin electric motors is at the bottom of the picture - there is just a pair of temporary bi-colour LEDs shown connected in the picture, as it is easier to see drive speed & direction by the brightness & colour (Red/Green) when testing.
On this unit I have also built in the 5v BEC (not in kit) - so you can see how few components there really are.
A year later... My idea has now been produced commercially (without BEC) by a well known UK supplier, so you can see what a good idea it is! Does not use my chip unfortunately :-(
1. Connect unit to the Rudder & Throttle channels on your radio (CH1 & CH3 normally).
2. Connect battery for the motors (design includes 5v power for the radio - BEC)
3. Connect motors - and away you go.
#850a As illustrated, uses 2 relays for reversing.
This item combines all the functions of my mixer AND delivers full PWM output to 2 MOSFETS driving Port and Starboard motors.
Saves you buying 2x ESC and 1x mixer - You solder & you save - but NOT for newcomers to construction!
I have been asked on numerous occasions if I could combine the functions of my mixer with a pair of speed controls.
This cuts down on construction wiring and makes sense by cutting out 4 lots of coding/decoding between devices.
Finally, I had a project which prompted me down this path... So here it is, all on one board.
Relays are for reversing and should be chosen for the required motor amps, as should the MOSFETs.
I use 48Amp 30Volt MOSFETs (supplied in the kit) together with a pair of cheap 5Amp relays (not supplied) for my current project.
As you can see in the picture, the output to the twin electric motors is at the bottom of the picture - there is just a pair of temporary bi-colour LEDs shown connected in the picture, as it is easier to see drive speed & direction by the brightness & colour (Red/Green) when testing.
On this unit I have also built in the 5v BEC (not in kit) - so you can see how few components there really are.
A year later... My idea has now been produced commercially (without BEC) by a well known UK supplier, so you can see what a good idea it is! Does not use my chip unfortunately :-(
1. Connect unit to the Rudder & Throttle channels on your radio (CH1 & CH3 normally).
2. Connect battery for the motors (design includes 5v power for the radio - BEC)
3. Connect motors - and away you go.
#850a As illustrated, uses 2 relays for reversing.
PIC chip only £20.00 - All parts excluding relays £30.00 (including 850a PIC, 48Amp MOSFETs, Vero, Servo Leads, Resistors, Caps etc)
Other versions have evolved:
#850b Drives a pair of Microchip TC4424a H-Bridge ICs - Simpler to construct, but only 3Amps.
PIC chip only £22.00
#850c Drives 8 discrete MOSFETs (twin H-Bridge) - Nightmare to construct!!
PIC chip only £25.00
Picture to the immediate left has just been made by a constructor in Canada
Here we have yet another type of mixer (for single engine speedboats or any other use you can think of?). This unit adjusts the throttle channel between receiver and ESC to reduce speed automatically on corners - e.g. Round course buoys.
The rudder movement is not changed, being fed through as on a “Y” lead.
You can set it up to your own requirements with the adjustable preset (top right in picture) from 0% through to 100% - I suspect that about halfway would be about right.
If your motor speeds up instead of slowing, simply remove the red jumper in the middle - this option allows for Transmitters which are set with the RVS switch On or Off.
You can then concentrate on winning!
Simply:
1. Connect the 2 servo leads to your receiver Channels 1,3
2. Connect your ESC "servo" Throttle lead to the upper set of output pins (Marked “T”)
3. Connect your Rudder servo lead to the lower pin set (Marked “R”) - Rudder unaffected.
4. Adjust the preset to suit your driving style.
#858 PIC chip only £8.00 - Fully built £28.00
The rudder movement is not changed, being fed through as on a “Y” lead.
You can set it up to your own requirements with the adjustable preset (top right in picture) from 0% through to 100% - I suspect that about halfway would be about right.
If your motor speeds up instead of slowing, simply remove the red jumper in the middle - this option allows for Transmitters which are set with the RVS switch On or Off.
You can then concentrate on winning!
Simply:
1. Connect the 2 servo leads to your receiver Channels 1,3
2. Connect your ESC "servo" Throttle lead to the upper set of output pins (Marked “T”)
3. Connect your Rudder servo lead to the lower pin set (Marked “R”) - Rudder unaffected.
4. Adjust the preset to suit your driving style.
#858 PIC chip only £8.00 - Fully built £28.00