Powering the RC

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I wouldn't do this. (i.e. above) Temp wiring is always bad but it is made worse when dealing with a $1000+ part. You wouldn't try to lash a makeshift power source to your PC.
Any +12 volt source is capable of powering the RC. Run down to Radio shack and find their section of C or D size battery holders. If they don't have one that can handle 12 volts get two six volt holders and wire them in series. Add the needed 1.5 volt batteries, wire to the RC as you normally would (with a fuse), connect a tether cable and away you go.
Never use a charger for a power source. They are usually unfiltered which means they have a pulsed output that is much higher than the 12 volts needed for the RC. smart chargers are looking for a battery as a load and while doing the check may supply lethal currents to the RC or other electronics.

[SpaceOsc]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

I wouldn't do this. (i.e. above) Temp wiring is always bad but it is made worse when dealing with a $1000+ part. You wouldn't try to lash a makeshift power source to your PC.
Any +12 volt source is capable of powering the RC. Run down to Radio shack and find their section of C or D size battery holders. If they don't have one that can handle 12 volts get two six volt holders and wire them in series. Add the needed 1.5 volt batteries, wire to the RC as you normally would (with a fuse), connect a tether cable and away you go.
Never use a charger for a power source. They are usually unfiltered which means they have a pulsed output that is much higher than the 12 volts needed for the RC. smart chargers are looking for a battery as a load and while doing the check may supply lethal currents to the RC or other electronics.

The OI Adapter is not a Charger as it is design to power the OI for extended periods of time. it doest not burn out or destroy the unit.

As for the makeshift setup, it should be done by someone who feels they could handle it. a few years back i thought about me making a lil robot project. so my advisor allowed me to take home both OI and RC home to tinker (trully the best way to learn about first eletronics is to sit there and play with it for a few days by yourself) but i did not want to take a large 12 volt battery home and have to charge it every so often so i took the adapter. did the wiring i already mentioned and worked, at some points had the rc powered for 3 - 4 hours at a time with a tethered OI and later on 4 Victors connected (NOTE THAT I DID NOT INSTALL MOTORS AS I THOUGHT THIS WAS ALREADY TO MUCH) this was before the RC had a back up battery. this year i did this with our RC to jump start it then remove the power source which allowed the programing guys to do what they needed (ONLY DID THIS WHEN THERE WERENT ANY CHARGED 12v BATTERIES) so i have proven to myself the effective nature of this rig which sounds very sloopy but hasnt failed me yet.


-Osc-