ACE / Adams / other magnetic actuators
Posted: 26 Feb 2018, 06:52
My first attempts at using a magnetic actuator (Adams) with a 'bug' style PIC driver in an ACE Guppy showed very little torque. Control authority in flight was poor, however without an original PP system to compare against I was unable to determine if this was normal or not.
Subsequently, I acquired several more mag actuators, as well as a Mattel PP system. Using the Mattel with a Adams "Standard LV" showed respectable torque.
Phil also made me up a couple of GG recoders (for use with Rands I also acquired), these are great, so I decided to 'update' my original PP driver to the same format using the original PIC (I was never really happy with my soldering effort on the bug style construction), and the new bridge.
Torque with the original mag actuator was still poor, so with further investigation I found:
1) The Adams actuator in the Guppy was actually a HV coil for 3.6 to 7.2v operation (56 ohm coil) - trying a Adams "Standard LV" (19 ohm coil) gave good torque.
2) The Ace system with Adams "Standard LV" is meant to draw 150 mA on 2.4v, I measured 240 mA (without RX) at 2.5v on the Mattel system.
3) The Ace system with Adams "Baby Twin" (32 ohm coil) is meant to draw 98 mA on 2.4v (perhaps about 70 mA without the RX), I measured 126 mA (without RX) using the recoder running off a 5v BEC.
I swapped the "Baby Twin" into the Guppy, and the torque is now excellent. I found that adding diodes or a resister dropped torque considerably, so did not use either. Is anyone getting good results using diodes or a resister? I am thinking that 126 mA is probably not going to do any harm?
Picture shows the "Baby Twin" with recoder alongside a GG recoder: I also acquired a different type of mag actuator, it is well made with no markings and quite a hefty beast at 99 grams (compare to a Adams "Stomper" at 48 grams). I have tried it using the GG recoder ad it seems to work well. Does anyone know who it was made by?
Picture shows it beside an Adams "Stomper": A lot of mag actuators have resisters or diodes across the coils, are these of any use when using a recoder or should they be removed?
Subsequently, I acquired several more mag actuators, as well as a Mattel PP system. Using the Mattel with a Adams "Standard LV" showed respectable torque.
Phil also made me up a couple of GG recoders (for use with Rands I also acquired), these are great, so I decided to 'update' my original PP driver to the same format using the original PIC (I was never really happy with my soldering effort on the bug style construction), and the new bridge.
Torque with the original mag actuator was still poor, so with further investigation I found:
1) The Adams actuator in the Guppy was actually a HV coil for 3.6 to 7.2v operation (56 ohm coil) - trying a Adams "Standard LV" (19 ohm coil) gave good torque.
2) The Ace system with Adams "Standard LV" is meant to draw 150 mA on 2.4v, I measured 240 mA (without RX) at 2.5v on the Mattel system.
3) The Ace system with Adams "Baby Twin" (32 ohm coil) is meant to draw 98 mA on 2.4v (perhaps about 70 mA without the RX), I measured 126 mA (without RX) using the recoder running off a 5v BEC.
I swapped the "Baby Twin" into the Guppy, and the torque is now excellent. I found that adding diodes or a resister dropped torque considerably, so did not use either. Is anyone getting good results using diodes or a resister? I am thinking that 126 mA is probably not going to do any harm?
Picture shows the "Baby Twin" with recoder alongside a GG recoder: I also acquired a different type of mag actuator, it is well made with no markings and quite a hefty beast at 99 grams (compare to a Adams "Stomper" at 48 grams). I have tried it using the GG recoder ad it seems to work well. Does anyone know who it was made by?
Picture shows it beside an Adams "Stomper": A lot of mag actuators have resisters or diodes across the coils, are these of any use when using a recoder or should they be removed?