Free flight electric motor timer

[tgg61]

Hi All,
Trying to make a small (p-nut) plane fly with a picco z geared motor and lipo.
I have been looking at some timers on line and all say it is easy to do so I will give it a go. I am no elec. eng. but I do have some skills and I do have a good iron. I would like to keep it very small. I have seen it absolutly tiny. The one I saw had a cap. res.and another do dad IC or "chip" It was started by touching two conacts on the plane with an external device. .. some components and a 9v battery. What exactly are the parts I would need? Where can i purchase/find/extract them from? How do I solder them together? Can I test before I put it in the plane? e.g.bread board. I am very visual so Pics are always handy.. Good books with visual examples are always a plus. The particular timer I saw and liked was at
http://www.aeronutz.flyer.co.uk/Jan04.htm
Thank you all in advance,
Tom

[slipstick]

You need an SMD capacitor (50-100uF) and SMD resistor (1-2M) and the "do dad" is an IRLML2502 MOSFET. The parts for the "starter" are given on the Aeronutz page you referenced. You'll also need some very fine (0.4mm max) solder and lots of practise before you can solder such tiny parts.

BTW these timers have often been discussed in the Free Flight forum. It's all one simple design. The size/weight just depends on exactly what size components you use.

The other problem with tiny surface mount components is that it's difficult to buy them in small quantities (less than about 500 units). I don't know where to get them in your part of the world.

Steve

[tgg61]

Thank you Steve!
I found the discussion in free flight forum. Very helpful info. I have a surplus electronics store in the neighborhood. Before I build the "micro timer" I should maybe start with a "mini" timer? How would I identify the flotsam from jetsam in the bins? I get the caps sort of...They have to be "electrolytic"? I could pull this off some other board i have lying around with 50-100uf printed on it? What value should the "printed" voltage be on the cap? O.K. on to the resistor... Black,Brown, Blue or Black, Red, Blue?(Bands on the resistor). Do I need to order the MOSFET or can I scrounge for that? Are there some ways to tell what I need when I am looking at a hundred different transistors? The pot and diodes too. How can I know what to pick up? Are there "correct" values for these and what would there ranges be?

O.K. There we go a lot of questions and I am so grateful for all the help.
I did pick up a book"Junkbots, Bugbots & Bots on Wheels" that is helping a little.
TIA
Tom

[slipstick]

If you want a peanut size timer, parts from a surplus store are unlikely to be any use. Order the correct parts or don't bother.

If you just want to play with a big heavy timer you may find something but unless you really know what you're looking at you could spend your whole life looking round at random for the right bits.

Steve

[tgg61]

Steve,
Thanks, I'll save time and just order than.
Tom