Davis_Krawling
Newbie
Starting my first Crawler build I knew that I wanted a winch and was going to end up with Lights on the rig. At that time I had an un-modified Turnigy GTX3 (same as Flysky gt3b), only 3 channels and channel 3 is only a 2 position toggle.
The first Problem the winch controller. So while there are some great wireless winch controllers out there that operate on a FOB, I did not want a FOB that I have to attach to the radio, or keep in my pocket. So no FOB, that still leaves a controller like the HEYOK 2 and 3 position winch controllers. I have a buddy running the 3 position on his Crawler works great, only good to 6V though, and I had already ordered the yeah racing winch good to 12.4V. (Going back and writing this I see he has higher voltage ones available)
Second Problem, Lighting. This really seems to come down to what you want. The simplest setup that I have seen, is the lights are wired into the wire harness or BEC so whenever the car is on the lights are on. Second Simplest, a switch of some kind, car mounted, FOB or channel 3 relay to turn everything on or off. Then there are several fancier ones, that tap the Throttle and steering channels, to toggle brake / reverse lights and turn singles. So it comes down to what control you want.
So As I was saying with the winch controller, I don’t like FOB's. so that leaves me with Channel 3 or an switch on the car. I'm not going to direct wire lights or put a switch on the car. Then watching through some for RC Medic's Unveiling of the SCANIA Wrecker, (link below). The control of the lighting and other features is great, but it got me thinking there should be an easier way. Then talking with a co-worker, he started telling me about his green house which he runs with an Arduino. Then to control it he as a Bluetooth shield and a simple app he wrote.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94G3w8Dr-Yk
Ok, Arduino + Bluetooth + Android APP. Arduino equals out to as much control as you could every want. Bluetooth only has a 30ft range, on its best days, ok but we are talking lighting, and winch, how often do you need to control these at more than 30ft. Bluetooth is not going to be the fasted control, but lights on or off, you don’t need speed. Android App on a cell phone, as long as the app works well should be good. The only down side to an app on the phone that I can see at this time is that if operating the phone and controller at the same time, is not going to work well. So using a winch will be best on channel 3. But at the same time if I pass the winch through the arduino controller I can get variable speed on my winch or do some other fancier things with it.
The Goal
A lighting controller with the ability control several channels independently, that can be controlled by a phone or other bluetooth capable device.
For the proto type build I chose the arduino pro mini. 20 digital IO lines (6 analog - which can be used as digital) (6 of which capable of PWM) capable of 40 milliamps at 5V. PWM, Pulse Width Modulation, for those who are not familiar can be used for dimming, or motor speed control. With the pins being limited to 5V it means the LED’s need to be wired in parallel. Now your standard LED is 20ma each, being combined with parallel means a limit of 2 leds per pin, which is not going to do. So I’m going to have to buffer the output pins through the transistor, which will allow me to run a higher voltage, and current. So the el cheapo’s off of ebay, 40V 200ma will do great, and will keep the pwm channels usable. I then throw a couple 5v voltage regulators on it so I could skip using a BEC.
The motor controller part of this build, I picked up the motor control shield off of ebay, good for 27V and 43 Amps. yes it's overkill but it will allow me to have variable speed winch control. There was a heatsink on it, but I took it off figuring it was not needed unless until 25+ amps.
So in summary
9 outputs at 200ma per channel 5 of which are dimmable
Motor controller 6S compatible 42 amps
4 inputs
Bluetooth control
So controller wired up into my crawler
The Body
So what I have going on in the body for lights
Headlights
Roof rack
RGB Tail Lights
If you can't tell the RGB tail lights really show off the capabilities of this setup.
Red = running lights
Red+Green = Yellow turn signal
Red+Green+Blue = White reverse
Red then Blue cop lights.
Ect....
Yes I do have the greens wired independently so i get individual turn signals.
The first Problem the winch controller. So while there are some great wireless winch controllers out there that operate on a FOB, I did not want a FOB that I have to attach to the radio, or keep in my pocket. So no FOB, that still leaves a controller like the HEYOK 2 and 3 position winch controllers. I have a buddy running the 3 position on his Crawler works great, only good to 6V though, and I had already ordered the yeah racing winch good to 12.4V. (Going back and writing this I see he has higher voltage ones available)
Second Problem, Lighting. This really seems to come down to what you want. The simplest setup that I have seen, is the lights are wired into the wire harness or BEC so whenever the car is on the lights are on. Second Simplest, a switch of some kind, car mounted, FOB or channel 3 relay to turn everything on or off. Then there are several fancier ones, that tap the Throttle and steering channels, to toggle brake / reverse lights and turn singles. So it comes down to what control you want.
So As I was saying with the winch controller, I don’t like FOB's. so that leaves me with Channel 3 or an switch on the car. I'm not going to direct wire lights or put a switch on the car. Then watching through some for RC Medic's Unveiling of the SCANIA Wrecker, (link below). The control of the lighting and other features is great, but it got me thinking there should be an easier way. Then talking with a co-worker, he started telling me about his green house which he runs with an Arduino. Then to control it he as a Bluetooth shield and a simple app he wrote.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94G3w8Dr-Yk
Ok, Arduino + Bluetooth + Android APP. Arduino equals out to as much control as you could every want. Bluetooth only has a 30ft range, on its best days, ok but we are talking lighting, and winch, how often do you need to control these at more than 30ft. Bluetooth is not going to be the fasted control, but lights on or off, you don’t need speed. Android App on a cell phone, as long as the app works well should be good. The only down side to an app on the phone that I can see at this time is that if operating the phone and controller at the same time, is not going to work well. So using a winch will be best on channel 3. But at the same time if I pass the winch through the arduino controller I can get variable speed on my winch or do some other fancier things with it.
The Goal
A lighting controller with the ability control several channels independently, that can be controlled by a phone or other bluetooth capable device.
For the proto type build I chose the arduino pro mini. 20 digital IO lines (6 analog - which can be used as digital) (6 of which capable of PWM) capable of 40 milliamps at 5V. PWM, Pulse Width Modulation, for those who are not familiar can be used for dimming, or motor speed control. With the pins being limited to 5V it means the LED’s need to be wired in parallel. Now your standard LED is 20ma each, being combined with parallel means a limit of 2 leds per pin, which is not going to do. So I’m going to have to buffer the output pins through the transistor, which will allow me to run a higher voltage, and current. So the el cheapo’s off of ebay, 40V 200ma will do great, and will keep the pwm channels usable. I then throw a couple 5v voltage regulators on it so I could skip using a BEC.
The motor controller part of this build, I picked up the motor control shield off of ebay, good for 27V and 43 Amps. yes it's overkill but it will allow me to have variable speed winch control. There was a heatsink on it, but I took it off figuring it was not needed unless until 25+ amps.
So in summary
9 outputs at 200ma per channel 5 of which are dimmable
Motor controller 6S compatible 42 amps
4 inputs
Bluetooth control
So controller wired up into my crawler
The Body
So what I have going on in the body for lights
Headlights
Roof rack
RGB Tail Lights
If you can't tell the RGB tail lights really show off the capabilities of this setup.
Red = running lights
Red+Green = Yellow turn signal
Red+Green+Blue = White reverse
Red then Blue cop lights.
Ect....
Yes I do have the greens wired independently so i get individual turn signals.
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