Can any one tell me if the RC buggy's steering unit will return to center and if it can be powered via a 9v cable or if it need a motor to power it?

I was thinking i could use it to control a pneumatic valve.

Edited July 4, 201212 yr by Alasdair Ryan

I don't know. The 8475 RC Race Buggy set was one of several that used the RC steering module, shown below in the 8475 Building Instructions. In that set, the 6272c01 "Black Electric, RC Race Buggy Battery / Receiver Unit with Auxiliary Output" mates up to the 6282 "Electric, RC Race Buggy Steering Unit":

On this LUGNet review of the 8475 set, it says:

"The remote control does NOT work like a conventional 27 MHz R/C system. The communication protocol works in a similar manner to the IR remotes used by Bionicle Manas and 4589 RC Nitro Flash. The 27 MHz carrier is pulsed in a short burst encoding the settings of the two joysticks and the finger paddles. The bursts contain different address bits and have different repetition rates depending on the channel chosen, so the main carrier frequency of 27.145 MHz is the same for all channel settings. The transmitted data bits use the pulse length scheme rather than the standard async serial data standard used by Manas and Nitro Flash.

"Control is pseudo proportional, there are three “values” in each direction for the steering and three speeds in forward and reverse for power."

SO, it does not appear that there is "return-to-center" steering capability. However, I don't own one of these -- does anybody have one?

The control unit does actually return to center. MBMC137 made a truck that used the steering output to control a gearbox. However, you need the actual unit, with the antenna.

And does it work also with PFS - M motor on the input of steering unit?

And does it work also with PFS - M motor on the input of steering unit?

No.

Steering unit is just mechanical unit which transforms rotary movement to steering. Everything else is done in Base unit, including return to center.

I have several types of RC units (from RC race Buggy, Dirt Crusher etc...) and they use the same protocol, but work a little differently.

1. RC unit from race buggy and supersonic:

-uses AA bateries

-integrated receiver with 3 channels

-electrical output for main motor(s) with variable speed according to angle of lever on remote.

-steering motor with variable angle - output via axle hole to SEPARATE non powered steering unit. Return to center capability including fine adjustment on steering unit (angle)

-connector for old type (pre PF) motor with full speed forward or backward rotation controllable via "gear change" levers on remote.

2. same as 1, just without output for 3rd motor (from "hot flame" set)

3. RC unit from RC racers (Dirt Crusher etc...)

-uses RC Race pack battery with Tamiya connector

-integrated receiver with 3 channels

-electrical output for EXTERNAL driving motor with variable speed according to agle of lever on remote AND 3 main speed settings with "gear change" levers on remote.

-electrical output for external steering motor. Return to center capability in external steering motor.

As we can see, main differencies are: race buggy has integrated steering motor with return to center and just mechanical output via axle hole, while RC racer unit has external motor with own return to center capability. Other difference is that additional levers on remote control third motor on rc buggy unit, while on rc racers unit they control "gear changes".

And does it work also with PFS - M motor on the input of steering unit?

Yes, but I dont know how you mean it:

-if you mean to control mechanical rc steering unit with pf motor: it will work, but you would need to gear it down, because it only does half turn for complete side to side steering (new servo would be great for that).

-if you mean to connect M motor to steering motor output: its not possbile, because steering output is mechanical. You could connect it to auxillary output but then steering would not work steering commands but "gear change levers"

Edited July 5, 201212 yr by Cwetqo

Hi!

the steering unit from the RC Buggy and Supersonic RC does contain a small spring that helps centering the steering motor, but it is VERY WEAK. In a way, it could be used like the hokey spring i guess, but again: the spring is very weak.

The second function of the steering unit is, that it has a lever to compensate for dodgy steering: if the RC doesn't go straight when the steering motor is centered, you could use this mechanical adjustment to compensate for that. This has nothing to do with the steering motor though.

My guess is that the steering unit would not be suitable for usage with a pneumatic valve, since it is designed to be connected exclusively to the RC Unit's steering motor.

One last thing: i think that the axle in the steering unit has a range of about 30 degrees in each direction, not half a turn. I can measure that if necessary.

Hope this info helps :)

Regards,

legohead

Thanks guys for your answers,It look's like i will just need to use the PF servo's instead.