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Simple Servo Tester

The Simple Servo Tester is a must have tool for anyone into RC modeling. It will control up to two digital or analog servos without using a transmitter or receiver. All you need is a battery pack. Use it to check your servos before installing them into your models. Use it to center your servos when setting up linkages. It can operate a servo throughout a wider range than most RC systems. Approximately 0.800 milliseconds to 2.200 milliseconds pulse widths. It can be tuned to precisely center your servos. Some manufactures consider 1.520 milliseconds to be center others, 1.500 milliseconds. Use it anytime you want to operate a servo but dont want to get out your RC equipment.

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Assembly Instructions
Before you begin:
Make sure you have all the parts 1 2 3 4

5 8

9 11 10 1 12

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Knob Green LED NPN Transistor Right angle pin header (9 pins) 555 Timer Chip Potentiometer Trim pot Capacitors (2) 0.1 F Rectifier Custom PCB 220k ohm resistor Red-Red-Yellow 10k ohm resistor (3) Brown-Black-Orange

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Step 1:
Press the knob onto the Potentiometer

Step 2:
Insert the 555 timer chip

Be sure that the notch faces to the right as pictured here.

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Step 3:
Insert Capacitors and Resistors

Bend the leads by holding onto the component with one hand and fold the leads together with your fingers.

Insert the capacitors at C1 and C2, they are not polarized so it doesnt matter which way they go in. Insert the four resistors. The 220k ohm (red-red-yellow) goes on the right. The other three 10K ohm go in the other spots. These also are not polarized - but I like to put them in with the gold bands at the bottom. It makes no difference at all - just personal preference.

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Step 4:
Start soldering!

I like to use blue tape to hold the components in place.

Snip the leads after soldering.

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Step 5:
Install the right angle pin headers

Snip apart the pin headers so that you have three of them with three pins each.

Solder just the center pin of each header. Then pick up the board and reheat the center pin while applying pressure from the other side to snap it in place. This is an easy way to insure that the headers are flush and straight.

Dont forget to solder the rest of the pins when you are satisfied with the alignment.

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Step 6:
Install the NPN transistor, trim pot and diodes

Bend the center leg a little bit toward the flat side of the transistor. Insert the transistor in the board so that the flat side faces the 555 chip.

Insert the rectifier diode as shown with the band facing to the right. Place the green LED so that the shorter leg goes in the lower, square hole.

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Insert the trim pot as shown then solder them all in place.

Step 7:
Solder in the Potentiometer

Place the potentiometer in position and solder just one pin at first - same as with the pin headers - so that you can adjust it to be straight and flush with the board before soldering it in for good.

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Operation:
Hook up power
Always check for a green light before plugging in a servo. ! The Simple Servo Tester has reverse polarity protection for itself but it will not protect an attached servo if you manage to hook up the power backwards. The green light will indicate that the polarity is correct.

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Operation:
Hook up your servos

Plug in your servos, the polarity is marked on the board. The Signal line is usually White, Yellow or Orange depending on which brand of servo you are using.

Test for proper operation. If there is erratic movement, or no movement at all it is most likely because of a bad solder joint or bridge. Unplug the battery and servos and inspect all joints. Re-solder any connections that looks suspicious.

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Calibrate:
Adjust the center setting

Center the knob by lining it up with the line printed on the back of the board

Using a small screwdriver, adjust the trim pot until your servo is centered. I have found that 1/8 to 1/4 turn clockwise is needed to center the servo.

All Done! Enjoy your new tool!