Servos

[Kubaliani04]

I know i have been posting a lot of questions but just found another interesting find. I am going to be buying a ESC and a servo, and it is saying that there are 2 different plug types, do i have to buy the same brand of servo as my controller or will they fit or can i get an adapter? and the same thing with the ESC, will the plug fit? are there different plugs or adapters? Thanks

[mfr02]

Most manufacturers want you to lock in to their products. They are a bit stuck with electronics, as the supply industry wants common standards (!), but the have managed in the past to arrange the pins in different order, and to make the plugs different shapes. Most have now settled on ground, positive, signal counting from the outside edge of the receiver, but still insist on the right to have their individual shaped holes in the receiver case, and a corresponding keyway on the servo/ESC/whatever plug. One day they will figure that modelers have things like files and knives and sandpaper, and that plastic keyways are amenable to re-shaping.

[AndyKunz]

If you're buying/own modern equipment you have nothing to fear. If they don't fit perfectly, a knife and/or sandpaper will make them work.

When you plug the ESC and servo into the receiver, the darkest wire (black for Futaba, brown for JR) goes toward the outside edge of the receiver and the lightest color (white or yellow) goes toward the center of the receiver.

The forum is here so people can ask questions. This is a good basic question that needs to be answered from time to time. The only dumb question is one you don't ask.

Andy

[Stu :)]

I've found in that Futaba is the "Problem Child" when it comes to servo plugs, they have an small flange on the plug that is designed to line up with a slot on the receiver case, this makes in hard or impossible to plug into non-Futaba receivers. But as Andy pointed out armed with a sharp knife you can slice off that flange. I got to quiz a an actual Futaba person over this years ago and was told it's there to stop people plugging the servo the wrong way around, which is common sense and fair enough.
However the reverse is easy, a majority of other brands (JR, Hitec, etc) servos will plug quite happily into a Futaba receiver.
I know the Sanwa servos from years ago had really wierd plug, but I haven't seen any new Sanwa gear in my country for at least ten years.
And finally watch out from some of those off-beat brands of servos, Dynam is one; where as the Futaba, JR, Hitec plugs have two corners round off, these ones don't and are quite square, and all but impossible to plug into some receivers.

Stu :)

[Kubaliani04]

So im probably just better off buying a new controller eh? My dad has a controller, a Futaba and it has never been opened or used but it was probably purchased back in the early to mid 90's, or like some have said you can cut or sand the plug ends? I plan on using the servo that comes with the controller but the ESC is the only thing that has a different plug it looks like.

Also i see you can buy extensions, can you just cut the plug end and just swap ends or will that cause something with the resistance of the line? I know a little bit about electrical but have never dealt with small stuff like this, im use to working on the big boats lol.

[james carey]

I researched the same subject when dusting off an old Sanwar Dash 2ch radio set.

He He , my first chance to add something constructive to this great forum. :D

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=392644

Cheers,
James