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Planet 5 2.4Ghz Radio Control System
Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:58 pm
by anythingsdr
Hello there,
I've just ordered the Planet 5 RC System, to put on my 'Big Big Train' Ruston Battery Engine, Does anyone know how easy / hard the system is to fit or have any advice?
Alistair
Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:04 pm
by Steven.T
I've ordered one, I thought it would have arrived by now (ordered 2 weeks ago, phone call to say it was delayed and heard no more) so unfortunately I can't really help, I have heard though it is very simple to set up, just push a button on the transmitter and receiver and they are bound together.
Apart from that as far as I'm aware it's just like any other radio system, plug in the receiver battery pack, then into ESC
Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 10:11 pm
by anythingsdr
ste234:53649 wrote:I've ordered one, I thought it would have arrived by now (ordered 2 weeks ago, phone call to say it was delayed and heard no more)
Where did you order it from? And to ask a completely dumb question, whats an ESC?
Alistairr
Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 11:25 pm
by Narrow Minded
Electrickery Speed Controller
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 8:06 am
by anythingsdr
Narrow Minded:53653 wrote:Electrickery Speed Controller
And the next dumb question is! Does this come with the kit? Or do I need to find one P.D.Q? Ill get there in the end!
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 4:54 pm
by New Haven Neil
Yeah, they're dead easy to use, and totally immune to all glitching.
The comment above regarding binding is spot on - turn the receiver on, press the button on the side once, turn on the transmitter - and it's done. Simples.
The L&L now has 5 sets, well 5 receivers, just one transmitter as you can bind more than one rx to the tx - good for double headers!
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 4:54 pm
by New Haven Neil
Oh, and yes you need to buy a separate esc! Literally all you get in the box is a receiver and transmitter - no switch or battery box.
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 6:33 pm
by Steven.T
Where did you order it from?
Ordered from Howes, still haven't heard anything from them, might drop them an email...
As for the ESC I'm using a M'troniks Loco, it works well actually, and is only about £25.
Oh, and yes you need to buy a separate esc! Literally all you get in the box is a receiver and transmitter - no switch or battery box.
Do you need a receiver battery pack? I've ordered one because I read somewhere you need one?
Cheers,
Ste
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 9:33 pm
by anythingsdr
Sent Howes an e-mail, aprarently they tried to ring me, the Planets have been held in Customs so they wont get them till Friday / Monday and will post ASAP.... Might Answer your Question Re Howes, But now im totally lost with ESC's and Battery boxes :S Oh Dear!
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:03 pm
by Steven.T
Sent Howes an e-mail, aprarently they tried to ring me, the Planets have been held in Customs so they wont get them till Friday / Monday and will post ASAP
They did ring me about 2 weeks ago, but I haven't heard anything since, thanks for letting me know
But now im totally lost with ESC's and Battery boxes :S Oh Dear!
An Electronic Speed Controller, In simple terms, is a little box which controls the speed of your motor as you move the stick on your transmitter. This is the one I am using:
http://www.mtroniks.net/details1.asp/Pr ... r-loco.htm
Very easy to set up, push the button on it, move your throttle stick on your transmitter all the way up (for forward) then all the way to the bottom, and it's all set up, simples
Some receivers can take their power off the main battery pack (like the one used in a R/C car), however as far as I am aware, the Planet T5's receiver needs a separate smaller 4.8v "receiver pack" to power it.
Hope this helps,
Ste
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:05 pm
by anythingsdr
Looking but struggling! Ill wait for the box to arrive and take it from there, might get there one day!
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:08 pm
by Steven.T
Oh, just realised, you only need an Electronic speed controller if you have a motor, which I just assumed you do
If you are using steam/gas/meths whatever you don't need one, but I think you need servos then
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:10 pm
by anythingsdr
ste234:53686 wrote:Oh, just realised, you only need an Electronic speed controller if you have a motor, which I just assumed you do
If you are using steam/gas/meths whatever you don't need one, but I think you need servos then
Yes! My Little Ruston Battery Engine
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 10:22 pm
by Steven.T
Ah good, Have a look at this for the instructions for the Electronic Speed controller I linked to earlier:
http://www.mtroniks.net/resources/MICROVIPERR_2.pdf
The far right column doesn't apply to this model though, it has cruise control built in instead
Ste
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 7:33 am
by hussra
I just (couple of weeks ago) fitted a MicroViper Loco ESC and Planet RC gear to "that blue diesel". Dead easy, managed to get the old manual wiring removed and the RC set up in 20 minutes or so. (Took a bit longer to get it neat and tidy, though.)
From the ESC there are two wires which connect to the battery; two wires which connect to the motor; a pair pre-wired to an on-off switch; and a servo lead which I plugged into channel 3 on the Planet receiver. Basically that's it! I did add a fuse and a charging socket (not that I've tried that yet), and some wiring to the loco lights.
I would say that the "cruise control" doesn't seem to work with this combination - the receiver has an inbuilt failsafe mechanism that doesn't seem to let the speed controller's cruise control do its thing.
With a railway that's only 4 yards long so far, it has simplified operations quite considerably.
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:00 pm
by Steven.T
Did you need a receiver battery pack? I've bought one just in case...
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 1:27 pm
by anythingsdr
ste234:53700 wrote:Did you need a receiver battery pack? I've bought one just in case...
Unoffical Advice from Howes;
"That the ESC will plug into the battery on the loco, (But not the battery in mine as its 3v
) And then has a reduced feed of about 5v that goes to the reciever"
Does anyone know anything about the motor in the 'Big Big Train' Ruston Dieselly thing? Its been sergested that the 3v is to limit the speed as its just a switch, so running a higher voltage would be ok, but I'm not sure, if anyone has any advice?
Alistair
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 3:43 pm
by hussra
ste234:53700 wrote:Did you need a receiver battery pack? I've bought one just in case...
On my loco, no - the receiver runs off the servo lead from the ESC.
Not sure about the situation on a lower voltage motor. The Big Big here is pretty sprightly on 3V I must say.
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 5:55 pm
by anythingsdr
hussra:53708 wrote:ste234:53700 wrote:
Not sure about the situation on a lower voltage motor. The Big Big here is pretty sprightly on 3V I must say.
Going to try it on 4.5v (3AA's) and see how it runs, if it smeels hot or anything nasty like that, then try 6, and if alls ok, except the supersonic speeds! Hopefully a 4.8v Rechargeable pack will be ok for everything!
Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 9:27 pm
by anythingsdr
Just put 5-6v over the motor for 10-15 minutes with no signs of overheating etc, so sounds like a 4.8v battery pack will work! Just starting to sort out the re-paint!