when do power distribution boards become necessary

[kevinjulieevan]

i know everyone has different opinions on setups but most of my flying buddies have used regular receivers without any power distribution systems (smartfly, powerbox, etc...) we now have a 50cc and 100cc plane both are running dual batteries and unregulated two cell lipos to high voltage servos with no issues thus far but i'm thinking about adding a matchbox/servo matching box for the aileron servos on the 100cc plane and i'm wondering if powering two high voltage servos through one output channel of a receiver will be too much and maybe it's time to add a power distribution system. anyone have any experience/opinions regarding this? any tips or advice are welcome.

kt

 

[nebwake]

If you set everything up right and with a large enough normal receiver, you wont need it at all. I run wolverine switches with 2 batts and 2 power cables to the rx or a spectrum powersafe on evrything up to 40%

 

[jtec-radiowave]

running two HV servos through one channel will be fine and if you are using something like a matchbox/msa-10 you can also power them directly to make sure those aileron servos are get the voltage you want. For many years we ran three aileron servos through a matchbox (without direct power) without issue but I picked up the idea of powering them when seeing it done by Andrew Jesky in his competition airplanes.

 

[SleepyC]

jtec/radiowave;5199 wrote: I picked up the idea of powering them when seeing it done by Andrew Jesky in his competition airplanes.

Ahhhhhh what's he know.

:brian-dancing-banan



Besides... EVERYTHING!

 

[thurmma]

I run dual rx's, regulators and separate batteries for each on my 42% Edge. I have matchboxes in each wing with separate power leads from the regulators. Have had no problems as of yet

 

[exeter-acres]

To answer the subject question.....



and this is just my very humble opinion and would never tell anyone it is the right answer and your answer is wrong.........



but for me.... never.



One option you have...if you use an MSA-10/Matchbox etc.

You can run a power lead to that so the ail servos get their power there.



That is what I do on my 125" Extra.

Battery, to switch, to regulator... all heavy duty wires with deans connectors...

then out of the regulator I have three standard wires with standard servo connections.

Two of those into the RX and one into the MSA-10



Works for me



I will add that the distribution products are excellent products and I'm sure they do just what they advertise that they do....

I just feel comfortable based on my experience and data not using one.

 

[Flatspinjim]

Every piece of electrical equitment you add, is another point of possible failure.

 

[-Rick-]

New to the bigger stuff, maybe a dumb question, but the more "stuff" you add between the rx and the servos. Won't that slow the signal to the servo?

 

[Ohio AV8TOR]

nebwake;5198 wrote: If you set everything up right and with a large enough normal receiver, you wont need it at all. I run wolverine switches with 2 batts and 2 power cables to the rx

Thats been my setup except I went with the 3 power leads to my rx from the Wolverine switch and I feel good about it.

 

[stangflyer]

-Rick-;5376 wrote: New to the bigger stuff, maybe a dumb question, but the more "stuff" you add between the rx and the servos. Won't that slow the signal to the servo?

No question is dumb if a person is looking for correct information. To answer your question. In a word, "NO". Power distribution boards, (i.e. Power Box, Smart-fly, etc.) are designed to carry heavier loads so as to "allow" your servos to receive full intended voltage and amperage, thus allowing them to operate to their fullest of potential. I personally use Smart-Fly boards on all my planes. Others have their preference. Reason being, I can now use higher voltage servos, higher voltage batteries and in the long run, getting a much more powerful and far cleaner signal for added reliability. JR, Futaba, Hitec and others do now design their receivers with the capability to utilizing higher voltages than what we were used to in days gone by. However, I like not having my receiver compromised by a sudden massive drop in voltage due to a combination of high demand servos interrupting clean consistent voltage. Yes it is true that the more you over take the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain. However, using good clean systems, Keeping it "SIMPLE" and using quality products, "RARELY", if ever do you encounter a problem that will bring down a plane. In over twenty years, I have lost "ONE" plane due to set up. Bad Ni-Cd out of the box a few months after I began this hobby. And "that" battery showed good upon taking it off the charger. One cell reversed right after take off. In every situation, there is always a risk. My personal set up??? ONE Smart-Fly board, "ONE" pin and flag fail safe switch. No extra harnesses, no other switches, no other hardware other than normal setup.