Post by martind on Jan 5, 2013 14:09:38 GMT
Hello all,
Thought i would make a post on a conversion i have just done on a KO Esprit II to take a Spektrum module.
I know a lot of people are running the frsky gear and report it as being great but i already had the Spektrum module for my KO Mars so thought i would have a go at this conversion.
There are a couple of ways to do it, Helger where charging about £60 for them to convert a unit to take the plug in module and there are instructions online of how to install the electronics from the spektrum module inside the Esprit case.
I didn't want to take my Spektrum module apart as I wanted to keep it as a plug in item to use on my Mars.
The conversion I have done is along the Helger line, although I am only guessing as I haven't seen one in the flesh. In total it cost me less than £4.
First off you will need 2 items from Maplins.
A small piece of stripboard and one of these 2x5 IDC PCB Headers. Code JB85G
www.maplin.co.uk/idc-pcb-header-plugs-32803
The header plug needs to be cut down to leave 5 pins and so it sits neatly in the recess of the Spektrum module
Cut down with a craft knife
Careful! those pins bite!!
Nice fit in Spektrum module
Next, remove the rear cover from the Esprit II, be careful as there is a plug that needs to be unplugged to completely remove it. Remove the ariel and unscrew the small circuit board that the ariel mounts to as this needs to be relocated. The battery meter and LED wires will need lengthening so these can be cut and the main connection to the main circuit board can be unplugged and the small ariel circuit board can be removed.
Using a length of servo wire solder onto the bottom left plug of the ariel circuit board as follows,
Yellow to Pin 1
Red to Pin 2
Black to Pin 3
I also removed the ariel mount as i have no desire to switch back to 40mhz.
On the piece of stripboard, mount the cut down header pins and solder the other end of the servo wire as follows
Yellow to Pin 1
Red to Pin 3
Black to Pin2
I have fitted the small ariel circuit board in the space the 40mhz module nomally sits and lengthened the battery meter and LED wires accordinly. I then wrapped it in insulating tape and stuck it with servo tape to the main circuit board (removing the ariel mount helps with space here.)
Next, cover the rear of the case with some masking tape and draw around the Spektrum module, it should be pretty clear where it needs to go as there is only a couple of mm's space either side of where it can go.
Drill holes around the inside of the line then join them up with the craft knife to remove the section.
Then file down to the drawn line so the module is a snug fit.
The next bit is the most fiddley, getting the stripboard with the pins to line up with the module, it took me a bit of trial and error and in the end I used hot glue to fix the stripboard to the old small ariel circuit board mount.
Screw it all back together
I cut down the old 40mhz module case to fill the hole up in the bottom of the case.
and that is it, your radio should now be Spektrum module compatible!!
Thought i would make a post on a conversion i have just done on a KO Esprit II to take a Spektrum module.
I know a lot of people are running the frsky gear and report it as being great but i already had the Spektrum module for my KO Mars so thought i would have a go at this conversion.
There are a couple of ways to do it, Helger where charging about £60 for them to convert a unit to take the plug in module and there are instructions online of how to install the electronics from the spektrum module inside the Esprit case.
I didn't want to take my Spektrum module apart as I wanted to keep it as a plug in item to use on my Mars.
The conversion I have done is along the Helger line, although I am only guessing as I haven't seen one in the flesh. In total it cost me less than £4.
First off you will need 2 items from Maplins.
A small piece of stripboard and one of these 2x5 IDC PCB Headers. Code JB85G
www.maplin.co.uk/idc-pcb-header-plugs-32803
The header plug needs to be cut down to leave 5 pins and so it sits neatly in the recess of the Spektrum module
Cut down with a craft knife
Careful! those pins bite!!
Nice fit in Spektrum module
Next, remove the rear cover from the Esprit II, be careful as there is a plug that needs to be unplugged to completely remove it. Remove the ariel and unscrew the small circuit board that the ariel mounts to as this needs to be relocated. The battery meter and LED wires will need lengthening so these can be cut and the main connection to the main circuit board can be unplugged and the small ariel circuit board can be removed.
Using a length of servo wire solder onto the bottom left plug of the ariel circuit board as follows,
Yellow to Pin 1
Red to Pin 2
Black to Pin 3
I also removed the ariel mount as i have no desire to switch back to 40mhz.
On the piece of stripboard, mount the cut down header pins and solder the other end of the servo wire as follows
Yellow to Pin 1
Red to Pin 3
Black to Pin2
I have fitted the small ariel circuit board in the space the 40mhz module nomally sits and lengthened the battery meter and LED wires accordinly. I then wrapped it in insulating tape and stuck it with servo tape to the main circuit board (removing the ariel mount helps with space here.)
Next, cover the rear of the case with some masking tape and draw around the Spektrum module, it should be pretty clear where it needs to go as there is only a couple of mm's space either side of where it can go.
Drill holes around the inside of the line then join them up with the craft knife to remove the section.
Then file down to the drawn line so the module is a snug fit.
The next bit is the most fiddley, getting the stripboard with the pins to line up with the module, it took me a bit of trial and error and in the end I used hot glue to fix the stripboard to the old small ariel circuit board mount.
Screw it all back together
I cut down the old 40mhz module case to fill the hole up in the bottom of the case.
and that is it, your radio should now be Spektrum module compatible!!
