Hi Dave, re independent batteries,- that was my thought too, don't want the boat heading out to South America with the tide 😁 A bit of wiring and testing to do now when I get a minute.

JB

Hi Steve, certainly less for the brain to do with 2 TXs, but a pain if you are trying to do a smooth video, as if you move something slightly, it shows in the editing. Much easier to edit a slight gap out. Probably only be used once in a blue moon, but a fun challenge. The 9X isn't the easiest to change models quickly with, as a bit of button pushing is required, (fumbled it a bit in this vid trying to do a few things at once, and you have to be firm with the buttons or you miss a selection) Should get better with practice.

I was using a camera on each TX, so the video jumped from one to another,- this might fix that problem,- having just one TX and camera doing the work.

Biggest pain is that I just swapped the truck RX to suit another TX (forgot the boat and truck were on the same TX before I found this solution) so I'll have to change it all back (plus wiring up the relays) to try it out. I love wiring☹️ The jeep would be easier to do though, and it has a 'handbrake' for backing which the truck doesn't.

JB

Hi JB
Good news on the remote front. All plain sailing from now on. On waters edge shots will be interesting to see.
I would use independent power supplies in such an installation as it will always be instantly available and avoid any problems any delay may cause.
dave976

Hi JB,
I like the way you have worked out a solution, but I think I would go with the second TX a lot simpler for my brain to manage.

Interesting to see how this setup goes compared to the 2 TX's.

Cheers,
Stephen.

Finally received the 2nd remote, and luckily it's on a different frequency which makes things easy. Now I can switch on the required model, run it, switch it off, select the next model in the TX, switch it on and run that. I could have kept using 2 different TXs, but this was more of a challenge, (not sure which is easier, pushing buttons or just picking up another TX. You can always edit it out, but a 'one stop shop' would be smoother if you don't have an assistant.

The 2 RXs in the models are bound to the 9X TX. I haven't hooked up the second relay for the brushed ESC in the test, as it's not necessary to test the idea (does the same as the switch) I'll be taking the power for the relays from smaller batteries (only requires 5v) I could take power from the main battery, but would want to run a VR or UBEC (more wire😐) Relay can supposedly use from 5 to 30V, but I prefer to go with the minimum voltage which works, for safety.

Using a brushless plane ESC in the boat, and a Quicrun brushed car/boat ESC in the truck, I have to make sure that the throttle is right down when I turn the boat off, so when I swap models and turn the truck on, nothing happens till I move the throttle to the center, as it's FNR),- then it arms. Could turn the boat off, change models and put the stick to center, and it would arm straight away when turned on, but it's an added safety feature, giving you time to engage brain.😁

There would be a small drain on the batteries when the relay is operated in OFF mode (N/O) so an independent source is desirable, depending on how long one model is OFF, (better than a drain on the main battery) I could set the boat relay to N/O (uses on/on on/off button on remote) as a security in case the battery runs down, then the relay, if in the N/O for off, would close and start the boat. Better that than a cold swim.😁

Hi Dave, would be nice to have more channels available, but I like to keep things simple. I have enough trouble running a model I haven't used for a few years, and remembering what sw I assigned to what function😐 My 9X is an early one, so I can bind as many RXs as I need (haven't tried it with the 9XR, as I mainly use that for planes, -has a long range JR module fitted). Handy if you want different simple functions working at the same time and you have run out of channels. Don't do it that often but have used it in the past to get round problems which with the new ones would not be possible.

JB

Hi Dave, I can change models without switching off either TX I use, just safer to turn one model off first to save it taking off in the wrong direction. Will definitely be testing everything out on the table first. I'm also using an aircraft ESC (0-100%) in the Hartley jet boat model and a QuicRun FNR car ESC in the truck, so that would be an issue as well.

Truck also runs 3 ESCs -- the 2 water drive ESCs (siamesed into the left centering elevator stick for throttle with centering rudder stick for water rudders) would not be armed for land use, but could also possibly be included in the set-up. Might not be an issue to leave them armed, as the jet only uses the rudder stick for starting/stopping the air/smoke/water system and it wouldn't matter if the rudders moved briefly, but they would both be turned off anyhow with the RX. All 3 should re-arm when the power comes back on (like a Quad).

JB

Hi Graham, sounds like a clever idea unfortunately no spare channels (actually 1 short for the gizmos in the truck which has 3 ESCs) and my arms are even shorter than yours 😂 (hence the budget option) Also, you've seen my wiring😁⚡⚡ Lovely TX though, think of the possibilities with one of those ! NZ $470 is not too bad compared to a Futaba,- $80 for a spare RX, but as with a lot of these flash radios, (especially from HK) hard to find spare RXs. Only problem would be, remembering where you put things for 2 models on 36 channels!!😮

JB

JB

Possibly Stotty, but I can isolate the signal wires with what I have now, it's just a matter of diverting one wire on each models ESC throttle/RX power lead. With the receivers being live, they would be consuming power, which in the case of my jet boat is at a premium, due to only having a 2400mah LiPo and a big motor (can't fit a bigger battery due to size constraints) Problem with my TX is, I have no spare channels (already sacrificing 1 for the sound unit on a pot where the fire monitor rotator was) and want everything working on both models.

The truck is amphibious as well, and the idea is to launch the boat, 'park' it, unhitch the trailer, drive the truck into the water, 'park' it and use it for a video camera 'stand', drive the boat round, and reverse the process.

With this relay I can just have the fobs clipped to the TX handle to turn off one or both models as required, just selecting the required model in the memory and switching it on. I'd set the NO/NC connection, so if the relay battery went flat, it would power up.

JB

Hi Graham,
That's an impressive bit of kit.

Cheers,
Stephen.

The Paladin is great, and does all you say and more.
I had one for my birthday, still finding my way around it.
Cheers Colin.

JB,
I just read your manual and I understand, now, whiel you are where you are. BTY, FrSky does allow binding to multiple different recievers. That aside, could you condense some of the channels you are using for your truck onto a multiswitcher or multiplexer, thereby freeing up enough channels for your boat?
TD

Should have read the previous posts sorry. It would appear Flysky have removed much of the functionality of the earlier offerings much like FrSky.
They both appear to be forcing purchase of their new expensive kit which is not backwards compatible. Why anyone would want to use the same binding on different models makes little sense and is in my opinion a retrograde step and removes the safety of previous systems.
I switched to a Radiomaster set earlier this year as it supports most types of kit and supports up to 16 channels.

^ you are a yorkshireman then?? ;-D

I understand your predicament. You can get up to 18 channels using s-bus or similar with the correct receiver. I know the Taranis supports this but I suspect you are using Hobbyking Turnigy kit and I have no knowledge of their kit.
As you are switching off your Tx to select a new model you can bind that to the Rx and it won't affect the original model. Switching back to the first model on the Tx should reconnect and you can switch off the second Rx. As I said before a Rx without a bound Tx can get confused and may not rebind correctly. Certainly worth a try to see if it works without any issues. I would also try on dry land at the lake when several other Tx's are switched on just to be sure
dave976

Hi JB,

With a spare channel, this could be done with a custom electronic module on each model fitted between the Rx and the ESC and servos such that all Rx channels pass through the custom module. The spare channel would be used to 'tell' the custom module whether or not to allow the Rx to control the model. Both receivers would be bound to the same Tx channel. Quite tricky but feasible.

Alternatively, if you have deep pockets and long arms you may be able to afford a FlySky Paladin EV which has the ability to control two models simultaneously each with up to 18 channels:
https://www.flysky-cn.com/paladin-evdescription

Unfortunately, my arms aren't long enough to reach that far into my pockets 😂🤣

Graham93

Yes, I accept that, but take it a little further, with 2 boards , one on each item, you could control each using 2 tx channels by 2 pots, turning one pot would activate one stick, and turning the other way on the 2nd pot would activate deactivate the other stick functions, so no interference with each other, 2 relays, 2 pole, could be used to cut/reactivate just the signal wires of the forward/reverse and steering functions, the receivers continuing to be 'live'

Thanks for the info Stotty, but as mentioned above, this type of switch is designed for turning lights etc on and off and is controlled by the RX,- if you turn the RX off you have no more communication. I have similar switches/latching relays you mentioned in some of my boats for turning pumps on etc, along with timers (from Ali Expr) which could turn the RX off, but you are still stuck with the problem of how to turn it back on.

JB

TD, The TX is a TG / Fly Sky 9X with a number of models stored on it, including the boats and vehicles. You can change models ok, but you can't change the RX IDs as there is no provision for that. (Apparently the latest 9X only allows 1 RX at a time to be bound to it which would be worse) I haven't heard of a TX which can run 2 RXs independently, (ie switching off another model completely by selecting another one), as most are designed for running only 1 model at a time. I also have a TGY 9XR which is more capable, (bit like a Taranis) but even that can't re-assign RXs. Not sure if that would even work on 2.4, once they are bound - not like swapping XTals on FM.

TD, I'm going to use a 9X but all the channels are being used for the truck, so will not be able to use the TX to change anything. If you have 2 RXs bound to the TX, anything you do on one RX will affect the other RX if something is plugged into the same channel on both, (I've run 2 boats together on 1 TX, but it was L stick for 1 boat and R stick for the other,- just simple throttle and steering on each). I need an outside source to switch off the RX on one model or the other.

The main problem is, if you turn a RX off with the TX (with the switch control coming from the RX as they do) you wouldn't be able to turn it back on.

JB

So, the Conrad connection is via Conrad.de and the codes are 227390 and 227387, the piece is like a switched servo replacement, stick one way actuates one switch and the other way the other switch output, now one of the 2 boards latches the switch until the stick is then moved in that direction to unlatch. The board would need to be stick or pot controlled!
On the site there are pdf files attached to each code, with an english version being listed
It worked fine on a quad model, one switch controlled a siren and the other a flashing amber light

JB,
What radio system are you using? Will your xmitter store more than one model? Can the model settings be changed?
I am speculating here, but it seems that you should be able to switch from model to model in the xmitter. Doing so should require that you assign different ID #'s to the different receivers in each model. This way you should be able to switch control from one model to another without controlling both at the same time.
It would help if you ID'd which system you are using.

Hi Dave, problem is, all the channels are full (9ch -9X) so you can't use other sticks, that's why I need to turn 1RX off while using the other one. Changing models in the TX doesn't switch off the settings/link back to the previous model, just changes the settings to the new model selected, and will still operate the first model simultaneously, but with the new models settings.

JB

Dave's approach is the easiest way to go. But for the sake of discussion,what radio system are you using and how many channels are available?

I suppose if the tx has a gear facility or a pot control, that could be used to control 2 switches one on each model to actuate a 2 pole relay to cut the signals for the 2 channels etc.
Conrad sell a switch which might be suitable, I have one here somewhere, I'll try to find the leaflet!

Hi jbkiwi
I have used remotes to control lights on my models. Mine are infra red but I do believe they use some sort of code so they only respond to the one Tx.
If this is not the case could you not use two Rx both bound to the Tx and use channels 1&2 for the boat and 3&4 for the launch vehicle. As I assume it will be mostly for sailing you could use one switch to turn off the Launch vehicle.
I always like to hear of modellers pushing the boundaries and hope you find a solution
Cheers
dave976