On xmas day one of my grandchildren dropped the 6ex and broke off one of the small switchs but worst still damaged the L/H track control so it no longer works correctly. It only works when held over to the right and then only on full power which means the turret will rotate as well if it is plugged in. I have tried trimming it but no joy and have reset the radio control.
I think the electronic switch mechanism must have been damaged.
Can anyone recommend a good 6ex repairer in the UK
FATUBA 6EX DISASTER
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Graham Ord
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Allan Richards
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Graham
I think that Ripmax will repair Futaba radio. Try contacting them.
241 Green Street,
Enfield, EN3 7SJ
England
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44(0)20 8282 7500
Facsimile: +44(0)20 8282 7501
Website: www.ripmax.com
I think that Ripmax will repair Futaba radio. Try contacting them.
241 Green Street,
Enfield, EN3 7SJ
England
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44(0)20 8282 7500
Facsimile: +44(0)20 8282 7501
Website: www.ripmax.com
Allan Richards
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Graham Ord
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RECOVERY
Alan
After much trepidation I decided too look into the back of the 6ex.
This is inside after it was fixed, the bottom red square is where I had to refit one of the yoke bearings back into its hole and the L/H middle square is where the potentiometer?? had been jolted out of its recess. Both tracks are now working correctly so all is well. The small switch that was broken off is not used to control anything on the tank. i should have taken before and after photos.
After much trepidation I decided too look into the back of the 6ex.
This is inside after it was fixed, the bottom red square is where I had to refit one of the yoke bearings back into its hole and the L/H middle square is where the potentiometer?? had been jolted out of its recess. Both tracks are now working correctly so all is well. The small switch that was broken off is not used to control anything on the tank. i should have taken before and after photos.
Graham
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Adrian Harris
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Allan Richards
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Graham Ord
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TRANSMITTER
Alan and a general question to all.
We live and learn especially that children and tanks take some controlling. I should have fitted the neck strap as I have one.
I am currently looking at fitting more powerfull transmitter/receiver batteries as the ones supplied run down very quickly even when fully discharged and recharged.
Are there any drawbacks in fitting higher amp hour ones and will the charger supplied with the Futaba handle them?
I still have a lot to learn about basic electronics.
We live and learn especially that children and tanks take some controlling. I should have fitted the neck strap as I have one.
I am currently looking at fitting more powerfull transmitter/receiver batteries as the ones supplied run down very quickly even when fully discharged and recharged.
Are there any drawbacks in fitting higher amp hour ones and will the charger supplied with the Futaba handle them?
I still have a lot to learn about basic electronics.
Graham
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Adrian Harris
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Graham
> Are there any drawbacks in fitting higher amp hour ones
There will be no difference in using higher capacity ones, except the longer run time.
> and will the charger supplied with the Futaba handle them?
The problem with the Futaba charger is that it has no intelligence or monitoring as to the state of the battery and so will overcharge the batteries if left connected, thus reducing their lifespan.
One option would be to purchase a set of the new low self-discharge NiMH batteries, with a suitable intelligent charger.
Of course the simpler and possibly cheaper option is to buy a couple more cheap NiCads and keep them all charged and ready with the Futaba charger you already have. If you keep an eye on how long they are connected to the charger then there shouldn't be any problem.
One sign that a NiCad is fully charged is that it starts to warm up, so if any of your batteries are ever warm to the touch when connected to the charger, they're ready
Adrian.
> Are there any drawbacks in fitting higher amp hour ones
There will be no difference in using higher capacity ones, except the longer run time.
> and will the charger supplied with the Futaba handle them?
The problem with the Futaba charger is that it has no intelligence or monitoring as to the state of the battery and so will overcharge the batteries if left connected, thus reducing their lifespan.
One option would be to purchase a set of the new low self-discharge NiMH batteries, with a suitable intelligent charger.
Of course the simpler and possibly cheaper option is to buy a couple more cheap NiCads and keep them all charged and ready with the Futaba charger you already have. If you keep an eye on how long they are connected to the charger then there shouldn't be any problem.
One sign that a NiCad is fully charged is that it starts to warm up, so if any of your batteries are ever warm to the touch when connected to the charger, they're ready
Adrian.
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Allan Richards
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Graham,
Bare in mind that the chargers are designed for Ni Cad batteries that are 1.2v per cell. You can get higher capacity batteries such as Ni Mh but these need different chargers. On the receiver side you could split a 7.2v R/C car battery and use the cells from this which will give you a lot more capacity but these won't fit in the Tx so you could search for higher capacity Ni Cad AA size batteries.
This said I am surprised that the radio batteries run down before the main motor batteries. The liniting factor by far in my Tiger is the main propulsion batteries which now last about 3/4 hour when working hard, but they are about 3 years old and haven't been cycled much in that time.
Bare in mind that the chargers are designed for Ni Cad batteries that are 1.2v per cell. You can get higher capacity batteries such as Ni Mh but these need different chargers. On the receiver side you could split a 7.2v R/C car battery and use the cells from this which will give you a lot more capacity but these won't fit in the Tx so you could search for higher capacity Ni Cad AA size batteries.
This said I am surprised that the radio batteries run down before the main motor batteries. The liniting factor by far in my Tiger is the main propulsion batteries which now last about 3/4 hour when working hard, but they are about 3 years old and haven't been cycled much in that time.
Allan Richards
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Graham Ord
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BATTERIES
Alan
Just the opposite on mine, the main tank batteries seem to last forever, the transmitter ones last about 3/4hr, you can watch the display going down as you use the them.
What I really want is a recommendation for a decent supplier in the UK and some part numbers or full descriptions.
My current transmitter batteries never get warm even when charged overnight, perhaps they are past there working life.
Just the opposite on mine, the main tank batteries seem to last forever, the transmitter ones last about 3/4hr, you can watch the display going down as you use the them.
What I really want is a recommendation for a decent supplier in the UK and some part numbers or full descriptions.
My current transmitter batteries never get warm even when charged overnight, perhaps they are past there working life.
Graham
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Adrian Harris
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>transmitter ones last about 3/4hr, you can watch the display going down as you use the them.
I've done some testing with the batteries which came with my transmitter and they will last in excess of three hours with the transmitter left on but idle.
A fully charged battery should register about 11V when first switched on, then drop quite quickly to about 9.8 - 10v and stay there for the duration of the use, before dropping off at a steady pace until the transmitter beeps.
I will be buying Vapextech NiMH batteries to replace my NiCads once I get into postion of having something to run - unless anyone has any horror stories about them
Adrian.
I've done some testing with the batteries which came with my transmitter and they will last in excess of three hours with the transmitter left on but idle.
A fully charged battery should register about 11V when first switched on, then drop quite quickly to about 9.8 - 10v and stay there for the duration of the use, before dropping off at a steady pace until the transmitter beeps.
I will be buying Vapextech NiMH batteries to replace my NiCads once I get into postion of having something to run - unless anyone has any horror stories about them
Adrian.
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Allan Richards
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Graham,
I fear that there is a problem with your transmitter batteries, they should not discharge this quick. It sounds as it they are past their sell by date!!. I think a new set of ordinary Ni Cad batteries would be ok, they should last around 1.5 hours as has been said. This is assumng that the charger is ok, so if possible try somebody else's charger first.
.
I fear that there is a problem with your transmitter batteries, they should not discharge this quick. It sounds as it they are past their sell by date!!. I think a new set of ordinary Ni Cad batteries would be ok, they should last around 1.5 hours as has been said. This is assumng that the charger is ok, so if possible try somebody else's charger first.
.
Allan Richards
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Graham Ord
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TO SUM UP
From the various replies and thank you for them it would seem:-
A, keep to the same but new ni cad batteries
B, upgrade to a higher capacity ni cad
C, upgrade to a higher capacity ni cad (with a new charger?)
D, upgrade to a higher capacity ni mh with a new charger required
And one other possibillity taking the power for the ariel only from the 24v main power batteries via a transformer? See latest post in Armortek forum.
A, keep to the same but new ni cad batteries
B, upgrade to a higher capacity ni cad
C, upgrade to a higher capacity ni cad (with a new charger?)
D, upgrade to a higher capacity ni mh with a new charger required
And one other possibillity taking the power for the ariel only from the 24v main power batteries via a transformer? See latest post in Armortek forum.
Graham
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Adrian Harris
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> And one other possibillity taking the power for the ariel only from the 24v main power batteries via a transformer?
To do this you need something called a Battery Eliminator Circuit, which is usually shortened to BEC. You can pick them up from RC shops or Ebay but make sure the one you choose can handle at least 24 volts at the input as quite a few on the market can only go up to an annoying 23 volts
Adrian.
To do this you need something called a Battery Eliminator Circuit, which is usually shortened to BEC. You can pick them up from RC shops or Ebay but make sure the one you choose can handle at least 24 volts at the input as quite a few on the market can only go up to an annoying 23 volts
Adrian.
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Armortek
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Graham
It has been our experience that the standard NiCad battery pack supplied by Futaba with the 6EX radio lasts about 45minutes. This has been the case with all the sets we have used. On our demo sets we have replaced the batteries with NiMH which give about two hours. This is not surprising because the NiMH batteries have two and a half times the storage capacity. You simply do not need to buy a new charger. Most modern chargers will cope just as well with either type of battery.
For powering your receiver (not your aerial) you could use an off the shelf BEC unit or you could upgrade to the new Armortek control box which has this built in. A transformer is something completely different and will not work at all.
Mark
It has been our experience that the standard NiCad battery pack supplied by Futaba with the 6EX radio lasts about 45minutes. This has been the case with all the sets we have used. On our demo sets we have replaced the batteries with NiMH which give about two hours. This is not surprising because the NiMH batteries have two and a half times the storage capacity. You simply do not need to buy a new charger. Most modern chargers will cope just as well with either type of battery.
For powering your receiver (not your aerial) you could use an off the shelf BEC unit or you could upgrade to the new Armortek control box which has this built in. A transformer is something completely different and will not work at all.
Mark
Armortek
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Graham Ord
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Batteries
Thanks to all who helped.
I have now ordered a 4.8v 2600mah and a 9.6v 2400mah both ni mh batteries from
http://www.vapextech.co.uk/acatalog/cop ... eries.html
at a very reasonable price with free first class postage
I have now ordered a 4.8v 2600mah and a 9.6v 2400mah both ni mh batteries from
http://www.vapextech.co.uk/acatalog/cop ... eries.html
at a very reasonable price with free first class postage
Graham