Radio Control: Electrics
MORE photos and somewhat less text than usual are features of this month's column-this 'cause I have an abundance of the former, and less of the latter is needed! Fuses and connections. There is what I consider to be a risky situation existing with some Electric products and installations. It has to do with fuses. In particular it's the lack thereof! In the early days of my Electric endeavors, the only readily usable fuses were the round glass cylindrical ones. These fuses and their associated holders were quite bulky and, for small models, quite heavy. Also, at the time I did not see much value to fusing, so I didn't. Well, things change!
Radio Control: Electrics
FOLLOW UP. My September/October 1987 columns offered information on how to modify the Astro Model 102 DC/DC Super Charger. The modified charger features current-regulated performance, i.e., the charge current, when set, remains relatively constant over the duration of the charge cycle. The modification also allows the charger to be used when connected to an automobile electrical system with the auto engine running-something not possible to do with any degree of safety with any other type of charger, otherwise. Reader response to this offering has been quite positive and also quite inquisitive. Here are answers to some popular questions.
Radio Control: Electrics
THE MODIFIED Astro DC/DC Super Charger-still more! The article on modifying this charger, which appeared in the September and October 1987 issues, continues to bring in reader response. This month there's one common problem and one frequent question to discuss. Some readers have experienced a peculiar form of operation with their modified chargers wherein the charger seems to work OK with the HI/LO switch set to HI-but won't work at all in the LO setting. It turns out that these folks got the transistor in the circuit 180º wrong. Admittedly, the lead arrangement on some of the recommended transistor options is easy to confuse, and so some readers accidentally got the collector and emitter interchanged but had the base connected correctly. This "rotation" just happens to put the transistor in the so-called "inverted mode," and some transistors can actually function-a little-which explains the "almost right" charger operation.
