2 channel signal mixer?

[FighterCat57]

I have heard of and would love to use a two channel signal "mixer".

Basically Signal A is split into A1 and A2. Signal B reduces A1 or A2 depending.

Sort of like having a volume and balance with a pair of speakers.

Is this something that can be accomplished or is available?

[damfurst]

Look here http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/...xer-units.html

[FighterCat57]

Look here http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/...xer-units.html

So... basically a V-Tail mixer?

I would think it would be the same as what is used on model tanks.

[FighterCat57]

Has anyone tried using a V-Tail mixer to steer a twin drive catamaran?

If it will work, I'm going to use it on my next cat build. I think it will work, as I've had a side fail and it out drives the rudder, so that tells me there is enough side to side influence to do it.

Thoughts? Experiences?

[damfurst]

Most of the twin motor boats from NQD are using what they term as vector steering which is what you are talking about. But it's built into their cheap electronics. I too have wondered about using a v-tail mixer, but didn't know if it would work like ones that I posted to you from Cornwall. One of theirs is for a tank if I remember right. If you do it before I do I'll be interested in seeing the results also.

[FighterCat57]

Well, it's worth a shot, so I have one on order... I just hope that I can get everything to calibrate properly. =)

[sailr]

Interesting idea. Basically a v-tail mixer allows the use of two servos for left-right and up-down on an airplane (aileron/elevator)

Are you thinking about two rudder servos and the other for throttle? Not sure a simple aileron Y harness for the two servos wouldn't work just as well or better and another Y harness for throttle.

Maybe I'm missing what you are trying to accomplish? Keep us posted.

[FighterCat57]

Interesting idea. Basically a v-tail mixer allows the use of two servos for left-right and up-down on an airplane (aileron/elevator)

Are you thinking about two rudder servos and the other for throttle? Not sure a simple aileron Y harness for the two servos wouldn't work just as well or better and another Y harness for throttle.

Maybe I'm missing what you are trying to accomplish? Keep us posted.

Ah, an airplane brain, just what we need.

I want to take the throttle and steering outputs on the Rx and mix them into Port ESC and Star ESC, allowing throttle steering. (no rudder)

Using the finger trigger to go and steering wheel to reduce speed on either Port or Star respectively.

Just like on a tank, only with boat propellers on a twin cat.

[sailr]

hmmm, bit sure how to do that but the mixer might work. Maybe you could go on rcgroups and look for a forum on tanks and ask those guys how they wire it up?

[AndyKunz]

Yes, a mixer is all you need. There is a version of the PiStix circuit which provides mixing. If you get one of them, I can change the mix to anything you want.

Go to this link: http://www.mikessubworks.com/subs_only.html

The item you want is "X-Tail Mixer".

Give it a try. If it doesn't do what you want, let me know and I can reprogram it.

Andy

[FighterCat57]

Very cool!

Thanks Andy!

BTW- The rudderless system is almost a necessity as on almost every run, I've broken a rudder break away... and just broke the tail of the "Das Boot" hull from rudder snags. Mostly turtle strikes. Poor little fellas.

[FighterCat57]

Sweet. Bench Test results are in and so far so good. I'm waiting on the second EDF for the boogie board and the second ESC for the boot to do the water test!

This is way cool.