[hederjr]

I have recently ventured from electric boats to nitro boats. I have read a few threads where people have lost radio control of thier boats and the boat crashes into something. Is there some type of fail safe availible to prevent this from happening? I have not yet ran my nitro boat and would like to protect my investment.

[mjmsprt40]

Originally Posted by hederjr

I have recently ventured from electric boats to nitro boats. I have read a few threads where people have lost radio control of thier boats and the boat crashes into something. Is there some type of fail safe availible to prevent this from happening? I have not yet ran my nitro boat and would like to protect my investment.

Yes there are fail safes. Usually, the device is connected in line between the receiver and the throttle servo, and you set it so that, in the event you lose your signal (or the receiver batteries get weak) the failsafe causes the throttle to close, shutting down the engine. The one I use has a delay of about a second, so if you get a temporary loss of signal it will give that second to regain control before shutting down.

Incidentally, personally I am far more concerned about hitting someONE with an out-of-control boat than I am of hitting someTHING. If my boat hits an object, I might do some incidental damage to the object and might destroy my boat. Hitting someone, on the other hand, can cause serious injuries at the speeds and weights these boats can attain. That failsafe is just about the cheapest insurance you can buy to prevent such an incident, so don't skimp on this piece of safety equipment.

[CFRACR]

That was good advise! Check around and good a good one, for I have seen a few boats with fail safes that did not work when they were supposed to.

[dannyUAL767]

Check around and good a good one, for I have seen a few boats with fail safes that did not work when they were supposed to.

This is what worries me about failsafes. I have enough "issues" with my boats without introducing another. But honestly, I really would rather use one just for the peace of mind. But if they don't work properly, well, there goes that peace of mind !

[mjmsprt40]

Originally Posted by dannyUAL767

This is what worries me about failsafes. I have enough "issues" with my boats without introducing another. But honestly, I really would rather use one just for the peace of mind. But if they don't work properly, well, there goes that peace of mind !

It's not a bad idea to run a test on your equipment, just to be sure it works when it's supposed to. We do-- or should do-- field tests on our radios to be sure we have control before we start our day's activities. It isn't too much trouble to include checking the failsafe as part of that range check, and being prepared to replace the device if it fails the test.

[dannyUAL767]

When I read about people's glitch problems with failsafes, I think of them kind of like when I get glitches with my AM radios. I don't get these glitches when I range check my AM radios. They are just intermittent and random incidents.

I've never used one so I really don't know how they act when they do act up but what I wrote is what I suppose they act like. Since I've had lots of maddening issues with my nitro engines, throwing a fail safe's potential issues in the stack could drive me completely nuts !

Really, I do think that they are great devices and are necessary. I'm sure that I'll own one (or more!) sooner than later!

[Doubledog]

I've got one thats thats giving trouble now after dunking.

When the boat gets to a turn in my imaginary course, the engine starts to kick out. (figure 150 yds straightaway). She'd almost die & come off of plane then surge right back out of it & run normal till getting to another corner.

Really had me worried about the engine as it had never gave any trouble. Swapped carbs, plugs, moved the antenna. Nothing.

Pulled the failsafe & it was fine. Didn't do it any more. So that failsafe got replaced with one of the cheaper Venoms that you can get on ebay & its worked good so far. Matter of fact, I've had my eye on one of the best out there,... Shark Racing waterproof. Been told its almost bullet proof.

[CFRACR]

Testing your equipment before use is a good practice. I got into the habit when I starting flying, because the outcome of something faulty can be devestating with a plane.

Failsafe should be easy enough to check out. Just start the boat and turn off the radio. The boat should cut out if working properly.

[Ron Olson]

The Shark Racing unit is the best one made for Gas powered boats. The guy that makes them for Carlos Andrade is still making them but I don't know what's up with Carlos, I haven't seen him online in a good year.
I do have one made by RAm, it's a bit large for a lot of Nitro boats, about the size of a credit card and has worked well for me.

[Doubledog]

Originally Posted by CFRACR

Failsafe should be easy enough to check out. Just start the boat and turn off the radio. The boat should cut out if working properly.

Not always as in my case.

Thats part of my warm up routine... turning off the tx & watching what happens. Everything had worked properly till the range started coming into play. Thats the only thing we can figure out. I've done several dry runs.... have someone walk the Tx out a ways while monitoring the boat on the stand. While my bud was walking, he held the throttle full. When the distance came in & it went bezerk. Take a few steps in, it was fine. The only thing was, it wasn't completely chopping, but a surging manner. (glitch)

Pulled the FS & all was good so it got replaced. The Venom is doing fine for the last few runs, but I'm wanting the new one.

[hederjr]

Do you guys know where I can get the shark racing unit? LHS?

[Ron Olson]

Sure, just remember that it's made for Gas boats only but it is the best one that you can get. http://shark-racing.com/ . Carlos is in South America (Brazil?), but ships a lot to almost anywhere. He has a son that I think lives in New Mexico so sometimes he'll ship the stuff to him to forward. I've yet to hear a complaint about him so don't sweat it.
(update) Contact William, his e-mail address is at the bottom of the page. He is the one that builds the failsafes.

[hederjr]

I am new to this so, " gas only" will not work with nitro boats?

[Ron Olson]

On the Shark Racing unit, it does something like cuts off the ignition when it senses a signal loss so it wouldn't work with a Nitro boat. See what the others are having good luck with, I've heard of both good and bad ones out there.
I'll keep my eyes open on this thread too as I should buy some more for my fleet of fuel burners.
In the meantime or as a back-up, use a spring to help return the throttle to the off position in case the battery pack dies which doesn't do a failsafe any good without power. You might find one with a cut-off if the battery starts dying.

[hederjr]

I understand. Thanks!

[MattHiggins]

Hitec makes a receiver with a built in failsafe. I've tested it and it works great. The part number is excaping me right now, but I'm sure you could find it on their website.

[hederjr]

Found the hitec reciever on the tower hobbies web site.
Hitec HIS-03MK Receiver Single Conversion 75MHz . What does FM single conversion mean? I currently have a 75mhz AM reciever. Can I interchange the recievers and still use the same transmitter.

[BoatDoc]

nope, you can't mix AM and FM. and if you're thinking of mixing brands, watch out also. they are not all compatible with each other. even on the same freq's. it has to do with the "shift" of the radio.

[hederjr]

I kinda figured that but wanted to be sure. I have been considering purchasing a programable radio like the hitec crx which should work well with the above mentioned reciever ( im assuming ). There is just some technical jargin i dont understand yet such as "shift" and " FM single conversion" and the r/c books im using as reference material are too basic. I need more information!!! I am like a sponge right now soaking up as much as i can. I just cant find enough. Which brings me here. Feed me Seymour!! So, what is shift and Fm single coversion? Which is better 27 mhz or 75 ?mhz?

[Watercadet]

The Hitec reciever in question will detect which shift to be on and go to that so not to worry there. Also don't worry about the Single conversion part. I think Hitec is the only co. that makes duel conversion surface recievers and with the quality of the Txs and Rxs the extra filtering of the second conversion is obsolete IMHO. Things to match up: The modulation (FM, AM, PCM etc.) and the frequency band (27mHz and 75mHz or 40mHz if you are not in America). Hitec and Futaba are on the same shift(positive I think) and Airtronics, KO and JR are on the other (that would make them negative I believe). To mix things up a little, most of those co.s make recievers that are compatible with the other shifts so read the box which radio the given reciever is for! Another note: 27mHz is universal. In other words there is no shift diff between the manufactures. Please ask more questions.
Adam

[Watercadet]

There are different schools of thought regaurding 27 vs. 75. The 27 band has more "space" between channels than 75 making it less likely to get "stepped" on by a neighboring channel. That is a good thing because there are only 6 channels on 27. 27 is also lower on the frequency chart and that makes them better against the higher frequs. like engine "noise." Also just about every RTR and Radioshack rc is on 27 making finding an open channel more difficult. 75 has what 30 channels? That is a lot of room in it's self, but it suffers from the opposites of listed for 27
More questions please.
Adam

[Doubledog]

Good reading Adam. Thanks for the help.



I've got a question for you now. This Rx is a dual conversion. Can it be used with a single conv. Tx such as my HiTech Ranger? Radio receiver

Also, using a four chan Rx with a three chan Tx? As long as they are on the same conversion etc.?

Reason I'm asking, is you see them going fairly cheap & it would be nice to pick up an extra.



BTW... if anyone wants to order a Shark failsafe let me know. Maybe we can go in together. ?

[hederjr]

Thanks, I have a better grasp on the differences between the frequencys now. But, I still dont know what the terms " shift positive/negative " and " dual/single conversion " mean.

[Watercadet]

DD that is an Aircraft RX. It is 72mHz not 75. But to answer your questions a dual rx will will work with a normal tx because the conversion is a function of the rx filtration internaly; not the tx. Not too sure about the technical jargan but a dual conversion process the signal twice. Just as fast and it is a "clearer" signal. The TX throws its signal out ther the same way no mater what. The rx with more channels is OK too. I don't know what the technical aspects are about shift and conversions either
Adam

[Doubledog]

Thank you.
Didn't realize the 72 mHz thing. Of course we'd look for one that fits our freq. Once again, thanks a bunch. Jamie