proportional throttle mod

[payaso]

This is the ultimate mod, giving you proportional throttle. I have all the parts to do this, but I wanted to know first if anybody has completed this successfully before I cut open the patient. Let me know. Thanks

silla

[tinyrc]

We'll be doing a review of this set shortly - but haven't installed and tested it yet.

[retroicon]

kit? what kit? where can I get one?

Icon

[dumboi07]

I think this is the one u r talking about...
www.tapspring.com

[sharpshooter]

theres a bit proportional throttle mod? damn

[Namuna]

Originally posted by sharpshooter
theres a bit proportional throttle mod? damn

It's definitely a cool thing, but it involves a GOOD amount of modification; for one it's a COMPLETE PCB swapout (think LOTS of micro soldering)...ANNNND you're going to need a Digi Propo Controller (the one that comes with the DigiQ kits or the Digi Propo Special for better management of the speed settings).

But think of the possibilites!
- Throw a 3.8 motor in the car and be done with swapping motors! Since you've got throttle control you don't have to swap motors for different tracks anymore
- Throttle control = better DRIFTING control!
- Better battery time too

[sharpshooter]

so basically I just need to buy the digi Q set right? (and obiovusly a soldering kit)

when you mean proportional, do you mean fully proportional or some sort of speed adjustment?

so what about steering? it's the same right?

and whats the general reception range of that IR antenna thing?

I have got to consider this! but i'm afraid i'll screw up and destroy my bit and waste that new digi Q.....:(

[Namuna]

No, you can buy just the Digi Propo controllers by themselves if you want...The regular Propo can be found for super cheap at HLJ (http://www.hlj.com/cgi-local/hljpage.cgi?TAK11763) or you can get the better model, called the Digi Propo Special but those will run you $45US+...If you're going to opt for the better remote, you might consider getting a DigiQ to play with too...They're a good amount of fun. :)

It's FULLY proportional throttle, none of those low/medium/high speed adjustment...The more you pull the trigger, the faster it goes.

IR has a general LOS (line of sight) range of about 20feet...Limitations are that you have to be point the controller in the general direction of the car, and people have reported bad reception in bright light (like sunny day, outside) situations.

It's a definite risk, something to serious think about before trying.

[sharpshooter]

fully proportional? you mean like micro rs4's and mini-z's and stuff? holy damn

can I use another controller? like take the crystal out and put in in another controller? I think the digi-q transmitter looks alittle weird...

and so where do you get the PCV (whatever) board?

thanks!

[payaso]

You can buy it from the link that dumboi07 posted. Check it out

silla

[Namuna]

Originally posted by sharpshooter
fully proportional? you mean like micro rs4's and mini-z's and stuff? holy damn

can I use another controller? like take the crystal out and put in in another controller? I think the digi-q transmitter looks alittle weird...

and so where do you get the PCV (whatever) board?

thanks!

Yes, like the RS4 and MiniZ...For throttle ONLY. It's still the jerky steering of a regular Bit.

The mod is to switch from radio to infrared (IR)...Therefore you HAVE to use an IR Controller. Since the PCB board is using IDs 1,2,3 & 4...You're pretty much locked-in to using the Digi Propo controllers.

The PCB board is available from Tapspring now, and I think TinyRC will be getting them in as well.

[baleisen]

I don't solder the magnet wires to the new RX deck! I solder them to very thin stranded insulated wire. I then insulate and glue the soldered connection to the floor of the chassis with plastic balloons goop. The stranded wire is much easier to handle. I use this same cheap goop as threadlock on my mini-X. BAE

[payaso]

Hey baleisen, got any pics? On a scale of 1-10, (10 being the hardest) how do you rate this mod in difficulty?

silla

[baleisen]

As a thirty year tech(actually longer) I am not qualified to rate this project. I might have burned my first deck. I never buy 1 . Always at least 2. My method brings down a difficulty of a 7.0 down to a 3.0. INHO. Next month I will buy another delux digi controller and modify another Q to go with it. If it would interest people I'd be willing to document the operation and donate it to the TinyRC archives. Do to the extra work involved, I;d like feedback as to the interest. Thank you. BAE

[e_lm_70]

Why spend money for a kit, risk a OEM or a Tomy, when you can get the full working BitChar-Q (the modified version with IR) for 15 bucks remote included ?

TinyRC has it: http://www.tinyrc.com/shop/product.php?pid=133
Gif4All in London Airport has it (all the 4 ID)
ToyEast was having it time ago, maybe they will come back !

P.S: As far I can understand from the BitChar-Q, that I belive use same HW then the Kit, the throttle has around 8 step (4FW+4RW), but the signal to the engine isn't progressing continous power with different voltage, but is a square wave with the up time increasing, so with full throttle the square wave is a continuous signale, with minimum throttle the engine recevie some voltage spike.
So the car is far more noisy while half power then in full power !

[dumboi07]

to have a good car with a good controller, because its sucks to have a car that cant do $#!+. Plus i heard its a 8,000 rpm motor- haha lmao

[docphi]

Ok gang. I took my Z-car and swapped in a Tapspring board. It requires basic small wire solder skills. I'm using the digital controller from MicroIR. The Z-car charging dock is soldered to the pads inside the controller. Works perfectly. The car itself has the 2.4v battery mod, micro springs for the front suspension, upgraded steering magnet, 3.8 motor, Z-car cruise gear (yellow), micro switch for on/off. Runs like a champ!

[payaso]

That's great news... How does the throttle perform??? Is it bad to the bone or what? More details please... Welcome to the forums..

silla

[docphi]

The throttle works great. I dialed down the steering and acceleration to make the car handle to my liking. It does take 10 minutes to charge and I'm getting about 10 minutes of run time. I think I can get a longer run time if I swap out the 3.8 motor for something more mild.

[e_lm_70]

Hi docphi,

Cool mod.

But How much has cost U ?

I put a 2x1.2V nano (12x6mm each) cell plus a 3.0 motor on my smartland.
It run like a hell !
It has cost me just:

12$ Car & controller.
3$x2 Bat
5$ Motor.
3$ Bit Tires set.

= 26$ !

e_lm_70

[docphi]

Cost was $20 for the board. The controller is $47, but, you can get a standard one for $19. The benefits are longer run time and proportional throttle. Plus, there's always the "Hey cool! It works!" factor. ;)

[e_lm_70]

Smartland controller are not compatible with Digi-Q controler !

Why spend 20$ for a PCB when for 12$ you can have the full car ???

If you don't like the smarland car, just take out the PCB and put on your Bit. The Smarland PCB is smaller then Bit PCB

With smarland you also gain a 100mAh NiMh battery that can be putted inside the car !

No sense to spend 20$ for a PCB !!!!

BTW I payed less then 40$ for my Digi-Q Special Controller !

The Digi-Q is fast just for the double engine and dual battery !

Just got 2 iRacer, it is a cheap version of Digi-Q, I hate that the controller doesn't work with recargable AA battery !
Payed just 15$ for each full set (Car+Controller) not bad for increase my collection:

1 OEM
Some Tomy Bit & Booster Bit
4 Smartland
1 Digi-Q
2 iRacer

I'm till looking for some OEM with 40 and 49MHz.
Looking for the Atomic Z-Cars (but difficolt to find in EC)
And maybe the Yokomo Puchi Maru

[docphi]

To each his own...

[baleisen]

It might be a good idea to consider why one would pay for a substitute IR deck. It has flashing lights, turn signals and whatever on the board already. I like the quality of Bits. Combine that with the Digi Propo and an IR deck and you have an incredible toy. If only steering was proportional also. BAE

[r.c.dealer]

Would be neat if Tomy ditched RC in favor of IR for longer indoor range and proportional speed control. I have a few smartland IR cars and there pretty good.

I myself am contemplating getting a few tapspring IR pcb's and converting all my bits to IR. Of course I would need a Digi Propo controller, but I love the DIgi Propo special controller:D
This will probably be a winter project for me.:eek: