Warning: Vigor VS2 servos

Your Reviewer

My Credentials
So who's doing this reviewing then?

Well I've been building and flying or driving radio controlled models for over 40 years and during that time I like to think I've built up a reasonable amount of knowledge.

I'm also a qualified electronics engineer who has worked in radio frequency, analog, digital systems and software for more than three decades. In fact I designed and built my first RC set back in 1969.

For the past nine years I've also been involved in the design and manufacture of some rather sophisticated engine technology and UAV flight control systems.

So, chances are I've been there, done that and have a huge pile of tee shirts to prove it.

Right now I'm heavily into 3D flying and enjoy all aspects of the RC hobby. I may be old but I don't feel it.

In the Pipeline

Here's just a little bit of what's to come on this site...

RC explained: Demystifying terms such as PCM, PPM dual conversion, single conversion, full-range etc., this feature will explain it all.

Cheap Chinese Engines: Just how good are those cheap Chinese glow and gas engines that sell for half the price of their "brand-name" equivalent? I put several to the test.

Build your own radio gear?: Back in the old days, building your own RC gear was not uncommon and now the arrival of 2.4GHz has made it practical again.

Vigor VS2 Servos Fatally Flawed

VIBRATION WILL KILL THEM

12 Jan 2009
Yes, another problem with a cheap Chinese servo has surfaced.

When testning the Vigor VS2 servos (currently sold by HobbyCity for an incredibly low price, it was discovered that a rather foolish decision had been made to mount a large capacitor on the circuit board with no means of support other than the wires which provide electrical connection.

It is easy to see that having such a heavy component suspended only by two frail copper wires is asking for problems if these servos are used in any engine-powered models where there is bound to be vibration.

After very little flight-testing in a .46-sized trainer, all of the servos being tested did indeed fail when the component either broke a wire or vibrated totally free of the circuit board and began rattling around in the case.

As can be seen in the picture above, the electrolytic capacitor needs to be glued to the circuit board so that it doesn't vibrate on its leads and cause the copper wire to fracture due to fatigue.

All the servos that failed have been repaired by resoldering the capacitor to the board and then firmly affixing it with epoxy or hot-glue.

If anyone has purchased these cheap (and otherwise perfectly good) servos for use in a glow-powered model, they are well advised to open them up and add the glue now -- before it's too late.

Dismantling the servo is a simple task, requiring only that the four screws be undone, the gears and center gear-shaft be removed, and that the motor and feedback potentiometer be pressed out of the case. A screwdriver inserted into the slots either side of the feedback pot will allow enough pressure to be applied that the pot comes out the bottom.

A full review of the VS2 will appear here shortly as part of the mega servo shootout article that has been a long time in coming.

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