Running LEDs from Rx

[karajabola]

I understand this question may be hardware specific, but I will ask anyway. I'm curious what the full voltage range of the signal pin is on a receiver.

Is it 0 - 5V?
Is it 0 - Rx supply voltage (in other words, the ESC internal BEC voltage)?

Why am I asking? I'd like to do a poor mans light controller (i.e., no light controller) and hook my LED harness positive lead to the signal pin on my AUX channel instead of the positive pin. That way I can turn the whole LED harness on or off with my radio.

If that doesn't work, I suppose I could use a relay or transistor and use both the + and signal pins on the Rx, but I'm trying to keep it simple. :-)

Any thoughts? I will tear my setup open if I need to, but I thought I would ask first. The other followup question is if the current carrying capacity is the same on the signal pin as it is on the positive pin.

Thanks. I hope this is clear, hard not to be wordy!

(For reference I'm running a Sanwa/Airtronics RX-462 and a HH BRXL ESC which has a 6V internal BEC)

[Jeepy84]

I don't believe just hooking up the lights straight to Rx works, regardless of pin, but I can't imagine the voltage output of the signal circuit is very high.

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[heyok]

You can get receiver voltage from your receiver - what I mean by that is the voltage supplied by your ESC's built in BEC or your external BEC. Yes, you can take it from the Aux channel connector or any channel's connector. The usually red and black (sometimes red and brown) wires on a servo connector are the power connections. The remaining pin is the servo signal and often has a white (sometimes orange) wire going to it.

This might be helpful:
How to wire LEDs

[mikemcE]

Yes that will work.....BUT if your draw is too much you will have glitching or brownouts.
The rx is usually at 5 to 6v from the bec in your esc.

Holmes has a cable that allows you to run higher bec voltage for lights

http://holmeshobbies.com/electronics...ry-output.html

[84yoda]

Rx voltage is whatever your esc bec voltage is, so in your case 6v. You can pull power from any open channel on rx, but you won't be able to turn on/off unless you have some type of light controller hooked up.

Mike, for leds to cause brown outs, you would have to run a sh-t ton of leds to do that. Meaning enough to pull a few amps and that's highly unlikely anyone would run that many.

[karajabola]

Thanks for all the input everybody. There are a few suggestions I will need a light controller, however, no comments about the signal pin itself. I think I will investigate the signal pin before I commit to a controller. The goal here is that if the signal pin outputs an analog voltage between 0 and 5 or 6V, and it carries sufficient current, I could use it in place of the the positive wire.

Something tells me though I will find my plan is flawed. Perhaps the signal is not analogue, but instead PWM. I will post again if I find out anything useful.

[mikemcE]

Originally Posted by 84yoda

Rx voltage is whatever your esc bec voltage is, so in your case 6v. You can pull power from any open channel on rx, but you won't be able to turn on/off unless you have some type of light controller hooked up.

Mike, for leds to cause brown outs, you would have to run a sh-t ton of leds to do that. Meaning enough to pull a few amps and that's highly unlikely anyone would run that many.

With leds correct, add a winch or other do dads, then too much draw..... it's always the amperage not voltage


Hang up and Drive

[mikemcE]

The signal pin gets power from your esc....


Hang up and Drive

[karajabola]

Originally Posted by heyok

This might be helpful:
How to wire LEDs

Well, my plan is definitely flawed. The signal pin is not a simple analogue output. It's a PWM signal that, by my radio, varies between about 9% and 20% duty cycle at about 100Hz.

So, that explains why everyone uses a LED controller when they want to control their lights with their radio

So, now I'm in the market for a simple LED controller. Heyok, I read your thread you posted earlier and I am interested in your wares, do you have a site or thread somewhere I can look at? I'm looking to power a harness from my radio, I don't need braking/turning functions. Just on/off. Compact and waterproof would be awesome.

Do any others have LED controller recommendations? Thanks.

[84yoda]

Ebay. You can find them for about $7 bucks.

Example:
1. Link
2. Link

[magic_yeti]

I use these https://hobbyking.com/en_us/dr-mad-t...ff-switch.html to control my head lights and my gear indicator on my little monster. Only thing is u have to waterproof it by yourself.

[Jeepy84]

https://www.freewebstore.org/heyok-p...3_1630387.aspx

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[heyok]

Originally Posted by karajabola

Well, my plan is definitely flawed. The signal pin is not a simple analogue output. It's a PWM signal that, by my radio, varies between about 9% and 20% duty cycle at about 100Hz.

So, that explains why everyone uses a LED controller when they want to control their lights with their radio

So, now I'm in the market for a simple LED controller. Heyok, I read your thread you posted earlier and I am interested in your wares, do you have a site or thread somewhere I can look at? I'm looking to power a harness from my radio, I don't need braking/turning functions. Just on/off. Compact and waterproof would be awesome.

Do any others have LED controller recommendations? Thanks.

This light controller fits the requirements you listed:
Remote Switch For LED Lighting

This one is good if you have a three position channel:
Dual RC Switch for LED lighting or ?

You can find all my parts here:
HeyOK's RC Electronics items (all in one place)

If there is something you would like, send me a PM, or you can look through my web store:
https://www.freewebstore.org/heyok-performance

Thanks,
Al