Hello all,

I am building a radio control lawnmower/snowblower and have everything figured out EXCEPT powering the radio control receiver and servos by the main drive batteries. I'm not well enough versed in this type of thing to know if there was an answer in other forum posts I read and didn't recognize it. So, I will ask here.

If I am powering this contraption with two 12V mobility scooter batteries in series, could I use a Buck Converter to reduce the voltage to power the radio control receiver and servos to 4.8V-5V? The receiver and servos are normally powered by a four cell pack of nicd batteries delivering 4.8V 600mAh.

If you have a better idea of how to do this I sure would appreciate hearing it...other than buying a Dimension Engineering Sabretooth motor drover.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

 

The XL4015 converter is rated at 36V max input, so they would be quite ok to use.




Look on Ebay. There are others with a lower input voltage max so do not use them.

 

The XL4015 converter is rated at 36V max input, so they would be quite ok to use.


View attachment 191464

Look on Ebay. There are others with a lower input voltage max so do not use them.

A THOUSAND "Thank you's" dendad! In three seconds you answered the question that an hour on Google didn't...namely will it work and NOT FRY A R/C COMPONENT.

Searching for an answer did bring up another question. Would there be enough interference generated by the Buck Converter coil to make the radio signal coming into the R/C receiver unreliable? Trust me, the last thing I need to happen is the R/C mower roaring through my wife's flower beds because of an bad signal. The mower, and likely myself, would be on the street looking for a new home.

Again dendad , THANK YOU.

 

Would there be enough interference generated by the Buck Converter coil to make the radio signal coming into the R/C receiver unreliable?

That would depend a lot on the type/model of receiver used. Modern RC kit works at a much higher frequency (e.g. 443MHz, 2.4GHz) than the old-school RC kit (27MHz) so should be less prone to interference problems. Even so, it wouldn't hurt to screen the converter.

 

That would depend a lot on the type/model of receiver used. Modern RC kit works at a much higher frequency (e.g. 443MHz, 2.4GHz) than the old-school RC kit (27MHz) so should be less prone to interference problems. Even so, it wouldn't hurt to screen the converter.

And a THOUSAND "THANK YOU's" to you also Alec_t! I really appreciate you making that point. I had read about the interference frequency range but not connected the dots as to how it related to the really old R/C frequency (27MHz) I WAS going to use. Time to spend a few $$ for a 2.4 GHz system as that will be much cheaper than looking for a new home after I've mowed an admirable swath through a flower bed.
Again Alec_t, thank you.

 

If there is interference, put the power supply in a metal case, like one made from an old soup can so it can be soldered. Then use feed through capacitors on the power in and out. But just adding ceramic caps for bypassing may be all that is needed.
Test and see how it goes.

 

If there is interference, put the power supply in a metal case, like one made from an old soup can so it can be soldered. Then use feed through capacitors on the power in and out. But just adding ceramic caps for bypassing may be all that is needed.
Test and see how it goes.

Again, THANK YOU dendad! That sounds like an easy fix...LOL even one I can understand. Guess what is for dinner tonight...yup, soup.
Thanks!