Lucky to get an Sdkfz-222 - Looking for Advice

[Leonard Rose]

Picked up a built model that has the sound and drive modules installed. There is a connector labeled 24 volts. From search of this forum, found that the recommended batteries are two 12 volt 4.5 Ah units.

Have a couple questions regarding the installation of the batteries and hope to receive some assistance and advice. Due to the limited space, what has been for preferred locations and the means to mount the batteries. For charging, it would seem that it would be beneficial to charge the batteries in place rather than removing them from the vehicle.

Thank you in advance for any advice,
Leonard

[mark lawson]

The batteries are located in the front of the hull these go in through the turret ring then the body is attached to the chassis, once the chassis is attached to the hull its not possible to remove the batteries due to the gun mount, batteries are taped together for strength.

[Leonard Rose]

HI Mark
Thanks for the information, will need to remove the chasis and then wire a harness that will also allow charging the batteries in place.

[Leonard Rose]

Electrical Question

Have the '222 just about ready to go, have all functions except for the main motor operation. Have the batteries wired for 24 volt, the fuses are fine, have three lights operating on the main fuse box, and the throttle hold has not been set on the transmitter. Looking for any suggestions on what t check next.

Thank you in advance for any help or suggestions.

[Adrian Harris]

Can you plug a servo into the receiver to check that the channel is working correctly ?

Which motion pack do you have ?

Adrian.

[Leonard Rose]

Hello Adrian
Plugged a spare servo into the receiver and it operated fine. Had not thought of performing that test.

The '222 has the following;
VTX-40-24
4QD DMR 203
Electronize 488-2W
Armortek 222 sound module
Armortek main fust / power unit with two fues (1) 40 amp and (1) 5 amp. Three lights that do operate and the main on/off switch.
Receiver has a separate on/off switch with a 4.8 volt nicad battery.
main power is from (2) 12 volt batteries wired for 24 volts.
Can provide photos if that would be helpful.

thank you for your assistance.
Leonard

[Adrian Harris]

One thing I recall about the 4QD set up is that you have to use the controller 1 ports if only using it with one VTX40, so Input 1 and Output 1 should be the ports in use for a 222.

If you're currently running it through the sound module, I would try it with the DMR203 straight into the receiver, to check that that works as expected.

The DMR input lead uses odd colours. The green wire is the negative, red is the positive and blue is the data connection. So the green wire goes to the same pins in the receiver as the black wire on Futaba colour coded cables and the brown wire on JR colour coded cables.

If it works directly but not when going through the sound module, then you have to make sure the inputs on the TBS5 are daisy-chained. This is explained on page 5 of the manual, which you can download here: http://www.benedini.de/TBS5E_5.pdf

Adrian.

[Peter Silcock]

Hello Adrian
Plugged a spare servo into the receiver and it operated fine. Had not thought of performing that test.

The '222 has the following;
VTX-40-24
4QD DMR 203
Electronize 488-2W
Armortek 222 sound module
Armortek main fust / power unit with two fues (1) 40 amp and (1) 5 amp. Three lights that do operate and the main on/off switch.
Receiver has a separate on/off switch with a 4.8 volt nicad battery.
main power is from (2) 12 volt batteries wired for 24 volts.
Can provide photos if that would be helpful.

thank you for your assistance.
Leonard

Not related to your problem, but one thing I would suggest Leonard is to ditch the Nicad for the radio and wire in a 24v Battery Elimination Circuit. Turnigy do one for about £8 on ebay. Saves having to charge a radio battery and even if the 2 main batteries do lose charge there will still be enough to power the radio. I have always been a fan of the VTX 40 - shame they are not made anymore.

[Leonard Rose]

Hi Adrian
Thanks for the info, have printed out the linked instructions and will review one evening this week. Will let you know what I find and will change out the receiver battery.

Leonard

[Leonard Rose]

Hi Adrian

Checked the Q4D and it is wired with the ouput 1 and input 1. Tried bypassing the VTX speed controller and the motor operates. Has there been any cases where the VTX has failed and needed to be replaced? If so, would be be possible to purchase a replacement?

Leonard

[Peter Silcock]

Hi Adrian

Checked the Q4D and it is wired with the ouput 1 and input 1. Tried bypassing the VTX speed controller and the motor operates. Has there been any cases where the VTX has failed and needed to be replaced? If so, would be be possible to purchase a replacement?

Leonard

Leonard - one thing I would check is whether the positive or negative spade terminals have pulled off inside the VTX. Take the case off and check. It's fairly easy thing to happen - ask me how I know

[Adrian Harris]

The black plastic casing is just held on with double sided sticky pads at each end.

Adrian.

[Leonard Rose]

Hi Adrian

Checked the terminals and the lines are properly connected. Must have taken you awhile to track that issue done. I did check online concerning the 4QD DMR-203 and there is a comment that the yellow wire should not be connected to the terminal. Is that correct for our application? On my '222 the yellow wire is active.

Link to 4QD: https://www.4qd.co.uk/docs/dmr-203-use- ... ntrollers/

Thanks for your assistance.
Leonard

[Adrian Harris]

I've checked a couple of 4QD VTX40-24 controllers which came out of a running Sherman and they have the yellow wire connected at the plug.

I haven't taken the tops off to see if the other end is connected.

Have you been through the fault finding page on the 4QD website ?

https://www.4qd.co.uk/docs/fault-findin ... qd-series/

Adrian

[Leonard Rose]

Adrian

Am able to read 24 volts into the VTX. with the transmitter throttle engaged, am not reading any voltage on the two leads to the drive motor. Did not see any fuse holder within the VTX unit. The motor throttle is controlled by the standard elevator gimble. Steering is on the aileron. Sound has on/off control with the rudder gimble.

Leonard