AC-to-DC adapter for controller - Page 3

Nightwing · #31 10-11-2002, 02:19 AM

One thing would be is if the bat gets hot. If it gets too hot you can and will have an explosion.

If you want to use a volt metter alone instead of a amp meter just measure across R15 the 0.22ohm resistor. Use the old current/voltage/resistance formula to find for current.

I = E/R

I= Current in amps.
E= Voltage in volts.
R= Restance in omhs.

So it would be:

I = ?/.22 With ? as the voltage measured.

Its the same as the shunt in the meter you are using but wont affect the circuit with added resistance.

Since charging any batter is how much current vs time you apply I am leaning back to the circuity, AAA battries and timer have been picked to keep from blowing the battery, car etc up. IE the circuit IS the fuse!

Oh here is the spects on the Q4 transistor:
http://nte01.nteinc.com/nte/NTExRefS...9?OpenDocument

Click on PDF spects to see max values etc.

Warnning! Even though the spects are for a generic replacement, that little transistor absolute Max Ratings collector current is 1 amp constant and 2 amp peak! So the 750ma makes sense.

A good friend thats delt with more PS than I will ever know, passed some info on a company that has some special charging IC. Since people are hyping up their cars, may be worth looking for a better charging circuit to replace this one.

So for those with fresh battries but cant charge could be that either or both the Q4 and R15 got tosted.

Mattydiah · #32 10-13-2002, 02:02 AM

Ok, I will be attempting this mod in about 10 minutes. I bought all the stuff at radioshack today. I got the coax jack and the 3V 1000mA adapter, but I found out you dont have to buy a plug to go in the adapter. Radioshack gives away a free adaptaplug with every power adapter, and it turns out that Adaptaplug "M" (PN. 273-1716) will work with the Coax power jack (PN. 274-1582).

No big deal, but it will save you a few bucks if you are doing this mod.

Mattydiah · #33 10-13-2002, 03:09 AM

Well, I just finished this mod. Took me slightly under 20 minutes to do. It is very easy if you follow the picture that magz provided on page two.

Now, instead of glowing red when charging, my controller glows orange from the extra voltage!! It gives the car more low end punch, and seemingly extended battery life. Plus, the best feature of all, now the batteries in the remote only get used for controlling the car, not charging it, (since inserting the adapter cuts off the batteries) which I'm sure will make a big difference in battery life. One more thing, now you never have to worry about your car being slower because of dying batteries!!

Very good mod!! I recommend it to anyone with soldering ability!

joeNuggetz · #34 10-20-2002, 10:35 AM

but what would one use for a 4.5 volt mod?

spradlinb · #35 10-22-2002, 12:30 PM

Definitely a great mod, and the picture of the inside of the controller with the wires hooked up was perfect for me to work out where to solder! My Micro Q controller now has power from a wall jack and works perfectly. Unfortunately, I only had one of the jacks left in my parts drawer, and when I went in to RS for another pack I found that they have reorganized and removed a HUGE section of their electronics parts selection. Needless to say, they no longer have the sub-mini jacks I need, and neither does their online website. I guess I just won't be adding this mod to my ZZ controller after all

Cheers.

gRC · #36 10-23-2002, 11:11 PM

I recently redid the mod using jacks with switch so I don't need to remove the batteries. I follow Mattydiah's advice to use the adapter for charging especially. Thanks to everyone for contributing to this thread.

Nightwing · #37 10-24-2002, 12:54 AM

spradlinb, you mean they are not stocking Power Jack#274-1583 and plug #273-1717?

spradlinb · #38 10-24-2002, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nightwing
spradlinb, you mean they are not stocking Power Jack#274-1583 and plug #273-1717?

They still have those parts online, but you can only find them if you do a search for those specific part numbers... they don't appear in their "categories" anywhere on the site, which is yet another reason I really don't like their website. The store in town doesn't carry them anymore either, as their parts have been cut down dramatically in the last week. Where there used to be two small cubicle walls full of electronics parts there is now a dresser-sized box with a few generic parts in large drawers instead.

I was actually using a different power jack, a sub-mini jack that's much smaller than the part you used but still has the on/off switch inside it so that I could keep my batteries installed while charging. It uses the power plug that looks like a small headphone plug, for those that don't know about it. I don't have the box it came in anymore for the part number, and I already mentioned how "helpful" their website is... I guess I'll try again later to see if they get new stock in since they're still rearranging stuff in the store from the change.

Cheers.

Nightwing · #39 10-24-2002, 01:16 PM

Like you had to go digging in their new storage system. I know the people working they are getting tired of this almost constant rebuild. It getting tiring going around boxes to get to stuff.

It looks like they are dropping the smaller jack. I hope they dont totaly drop parts even though that is a hight thief item.

Hum. Wonder if this would be a nice item for the sites that stock speed parts for Bits/ZZ? The wall warts would be a local pickup item but the jacks could be offer on site. Just an idea.

hawaiiboy · #40 10-28-2002, 05:06 PM

I am new to this Micro RC thing and after burning through $20 worth of batteries in 2 days I figured I would try this AC adapter mod. It worked great yesterday after I finished but today when I tried to charge my ZZ it began acting alittle peculiar. The light blinked off when I attached the ZZ to the charger then came back on and remained green, I played around with the connection and it started blinking green. Any idea what this could mean? If I try to charge it with just the batteries and it workes fine. BTW I used the switched plug to avoid having to remove the batteries....any help would be great.

gRC · #41 10-28-2002, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hawaiiboy
Any idea what this could mean?

I'm not sure. I have never seen a problem like that.

What are the voltage and amperage ratings of your adapter? Perhaps the adapter is faulty.

hawaiiboy · #42 10-28-2002, 09:39 PM

After making the first post I tried a few more times and it still didnt work, however after about 45 mins I tried it again and it worked normally. I got the recommended 3v 1000ma rs#273-1754.

On a hunch I got up and went and tried it again just now (the experiences above were about 4 hours ago) and it did it again, blinked off green and then solid green about 3 times and the fourth time it went to red and it seems to be working fine.

I guess I will open it up and maybe check for loose connections. _

Nightwing · #43 10-29-2002, 01:28 AM

Some questons.
Does the power plug fit snug in the jack?
Double check the solder connections.

grimoire · #44 11-04-2002, 09:38 AM

It appears to be clear that this mod is a great way to enhance my enjoyment of my ZZ with respect to chargin' that sucker up (esp if I also go with the 2.4V dual batt mod).

Here's another question tho...does this increase the range of the controller any? In other words, if I leave this puppy plugged into the wall while I'm driving my 27MHz Porsche around, will it cause the transmitter in the controller to pump out more power?

I've already added at 17 3/4" antenna to my controller, which increased my range quite nicely. But, I'm greedy

Nightwing · #45 11-04-2002, 09:58 AM

That would be greate but sorry its does not add one inch to range.

It may act like a ground wire { Helps ballance the signal from the antenna } but does not increase range.