Sail winch questions

[Brian Reynolds]

I have a Dumas Lighting (Kit #1110) that I'm thinking of converting to
R/C by using mini/micro servos. I've seen articles on how to convert
regular servos to free running, and I have the electrical skills
needed to do this. Before I dig into a servo I have some questions.

1) Has anyone converted a Lightning before? If so, any pointers?

2) Does anyone make a mini/micro sized sail winch?

3) Is there a way to rig the sail so that I can use a regular servo
without modifying it?

4) If I make the servo free running, how do I know when to stop it
when I've taken up (or let out) all of the line?

5) Does it make sense to add external gearing to the servo so that the
full travel of the unmodified servo will correspond to fully
winding on or letting loose the line? (I suspect this is related
to question 3 above.)

I plan on sailing this boat at a local boat pond, not a large body of
water, so I don't think I'll be dealing with rough water or high winds
(the pond is ringed by trees).

Thanks in advance.

--
Brian Reynolds | "But in the new approach, as you know,
reynolds@panix.com | the important thing is to understand
http://www.panix.com/~reynolds/ | what you're doing rather than to get
NAR# 54438 | the right answer." -- Tom Lehrer

[A.T.]

refer to http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/
scroll down to =
Reviews, Plans, FAQ & Tips

How to Sail fast_ Rig tuning by Bob Sterne
Model Builder Tips & Tricks - Art of the Model Builder
Model testing - instrumentation, scaling laws, test tanks, wind tunnels,
experiments
Props & Shafts - & many other builders tips.
RC Laser RC Sailboats - Tips and Tricks
RC Sailboat FAQ
rcboat.com - RC Website for the RC Racer. Home of The Engine Analysis Softwa
River boats,Towboats etc. - Old River Bill's RC
River Boats, Towboats etc - Towboat Joe.
Servo 180 and 360 degree mods + Fit servos to yachts & boats. =
***********http://www.amya.org/us1mpt4.pdf ****************
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see also =
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sub section =
Servo & TX alterations, calculators, clonepacs, make an ESC or winch, FAQ.
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Airwild Hobbies - MLP (Ali) Servo horns
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Hitec HAS-2MB R/C RX - Modify to 3ch etc
Hitec 535 - amend from 5 to 8 ch.
Hitec 535 & 555 amend from 5ch to 8ch
Hitec 725BB Sailwinch - Adjust turns ***
**** http://homepages.caverock.net.nz/~stball/tx%20modification.htm *****
Introduction to Servos, II
Is your Servo going Bad??
Linear Output conversion
Ranger 3 - Extend to 7 Channel.
Reverser: servo reversing for Y-cord operation Brent's RC
Sanwa = Airtronics Manuals - download pdf.
S148 as a gear box.Servo - How the circuit works
S148 Servo ... How to modify for 360 degree rotation
180 and 360 degree mods + Fit servos to yachts & boats.
Servo basics and driver - Ahmet Onat
Servo Calculator - ensure servo is powerfull enough for the job
Servo Comparison Chart - extensive by Fatlion.com
Servo Controllers, modifications and other uses.
Servos. How they work, leads, PC control for robotics etc.
Servo to power your model boat
Servo. Stop the jitters.
Servo.Troubleshooting problems
Servo Wiring Diagrams
Tonegawa-Seiko



--
Alan's Hobby Web Links
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/
.................................................. .............

"Brian Reynolds" <reynolds@panix.com> wrote in message
news:bam783$dbf$1@panix3.panix.com...
>
> I have a Dumas Lighting (Kit #1110) that I'm thinking of converting to
> R/C by using mini/micro servos. I've seen articles on how to convert
> regular servos to free running, and I have the electrical skills
> needed to do this. Before I dig into a servo I have some questions.
>
> 1) Has anyone converted a Lightning before? If so, any pointers?
>
> 2) Does anyone make a mini/micro sized sail winch?
>
> 3) Is there a way to rig the sail so that I can use a regular servo
> without modifying it?
>
> 4) If I make the servo free running, how do I know when to stop it
> when I've taken up (or let out) all of the line?
>
> 5) Does it make sense to add external gearing to the servo so that the
> full travel of the unmodified servo will correspond to fully
> winding on or letting loose the line? (I suspect this is related
> to question 3 above.)
>
> I plan on sailing this boat at a local boat pond, not a large body of
> water, so I don't think I'll be dealing with rough water or high winds
> (the pond is ringed by trees).
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Brian Reynolds | "But in the new approach, as you know,
> reynolds@panix.com | the important thing is to understand
> http://www.panix.com/~reynolds/ | what you're doing rather than to get
> NAR# 54438 | the right answer." -- Tom Lehrer

[Stagis Family]

It's easy and I can and will describe it here - but in my opinion, you don't
need to. That's a pretty small boat and you could almost positively get
away with an arm winch - but it'll be harder to hide than a drum.

Pop the servo apart.

The gear train will drive a feedback potentiometer which tells the servo
what position the arm is in. You can 'fix' the pot in the middle position.
You can grind off the tab a/slot b thing that drives the pot. You can put a
(see Alain's sites for this one) remove the pot and put in a component (the
name escapes me but I think it's a resistor).

This will give you a continuously-rotating drum - you'll have to watch the
sail position to stop its movement.

Go to http://www.amya.net then AMYA Links, then Technical Links and look at
the 1-meter construction site - it has rigging diagrams that should fulfill
your needs for both drums and arms. As a tip: A Victoria, when rigged
properly and frictionlessly, can use a standard arm servo for its sails.

Good luck and send pictures - I'm thinking of doing Dumas' Snipe.
"Brian Reynolds" <reynolds@panix.com> wrote in message
news:bam783$dbf$1@panix3.panix.com...
>
> I have a Dumas Lighting (Kit #1110) that I'm thinking of converting to
> R/C by using mini/micro servos. I've seen articles on how to convert
> regular servos to free running, and I have the electrical skills
> needed to do this. Before I dig into a servo I have some questions.
>
> 1) Has anyone converted a Lightning before? If so, any pointers?
>
> 2) Does anyone make a mini/micro sized sail winch?
>
> 3) Is there a way to rig the sail so that I can use a regular servo
> without modifying it?
>
> 4) If I make the servo free running, how do I know when to stop it
> when I've taken up (or let out) all of the line?
>
> 5) Does it make sense to add external gearing to the servo so that the
> full travel of the unmodified servo will correspond to fully
> winding on or letting loose the line? (I suspect this is related
> to question 3 above.)
>
> I plan on sailing this boat at a local boat pond, not a large body of
> water, so I don't think I'll be dealing with rough water or high winds
> (the pond is ringed by trees).
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Brian Reynolds | "But in the new approach, as you know,
> reynolds@panix.com | the important thing is to understand
> http://www.panix.com/~reynolds/ | what you're doing rather than to get
> NAR# 54438 | the right answer." -- Tom Lehrer

[HBW]

Rather than modifying your servo, rig up a small motor geared to the winch.
Use the unmodified servo to pull or push a switch making the motor go
forward or backward winching and unwinching the sail's sheet.
"Brian Reynolds" <reynolds@panix.com> wrote in message
news:bam783$dbf$1@panix3.panix.com...
>
> I have a Dumas Lighting (Kit #1110) that I'm thinking of converting to
> R/C by using mini/micro servos. I've seen articles on how to convert
> regular servos to free running, and I have the electrical skills
> needed to do this. Before I dig into a servo I have some questions.
>
> 1) Has anyone converted a Lightning before? If so, any pointers?
>
> 2) Does anyone make a mini/micro sized sail winch?
>
> 3) Is there a way to rig the sail so that I can use a regular servo
> without modifying it?
>
> 4) If I make the servo free running, how do I know when to stop it
> when I've taken up (or let out) all of the line?
>
> 5) Does it make sense to add external gearing to the servo so that the
> full travel of the unmodified servo will correspond to fully
> winding on or letting loose the line? (I suspect this is related
> to question 3 above.)
>
> I plan on sailing this boat at a local boat pond, not a large body of
> water, so I don't think I'll be dealing with rough water or high winds
> (the pond is ringed by trees).
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> --
> Brian Reynolds | "But in the new approach, as you know,
> reynolds@panix.com | the important thing is to understand
> http://www.panix.com/~reynolds/ | what you're doing rather than to get
> NAR# 54438 | the right answer." -- Tom Lehrer