Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Rcsnowcats. We hope you enjoy your visit.

Join our community

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
RC4WD 10 mode Beacons
Topic Started: Dec 27 2014, 05:18 PM (1,437 Views)
MGuzzi
Member Avatar

Ello m8's...

The RC4WD Beacons arrived this morning..

They are shipped as a pair..

There are no instructions.
They are likely sensitive to polarity, so be careful.
The control wire is blue not green as specified.
Mode change is by grounding control wire to Negative wire or terminal.
The wire length is generous.
Wire runs through mounting shaft.
No plug is supplied.
The last used mode is saved, no reset required.

Top of lens is a slight dome.
Lens colour is dark amber.
LED colour dark amber/orange
Max recommended voltage is 7.4v

Dimensions:
(approximate)

Diameter:
Top of lens- 12mm
Lower edge of lens- 12.5mm
Flair @ base of lens- 13.5mm
Lens base (black), visible roof plate- 11.5mm

Height:
Height of lens- 9.25mm
Mounted height- 12.5mm
Overall- 18.5mm

Mounting:
Threaded shaft OD- 5.5mm
Nut OD- 8mm

Fit and finish.
Generally pretty good.
The glue was not evenly applied to the lens base and is noticeable through the lens. The glue has not seeped on the the lens and a ring of matt black paint will be applied just below the fluting on the lens to clean that up.

The sprue was not cleanly cut on the flair at the lens base and needs to be trimmed.

One light ring is slightly off kilter in the lamp bezel, that is annoying as it cannot be corrected easily.

Tested them with 4 2300mah rechargeable AA's.

Ok they look flippen cool!! (jmo)
I have yet to successfully sync them as a pair and it seems the mode changes need to be done independently.
I think one could use micro momentary contact switches for the mode change.
The modes are really cool! There are a variety of light effects to choose.. Chasing, strobe and mixed mode with 2 speeds for most.

Generally they appear scale on the cab (jmo), though I think to some they may appear slightly too big.
Side by side they are slightly larger than the Axial small round fog lamps.
Installation is very clean.
The visual impact is pretty amazing and brings the vehicle to life even when it is stationary (jmo).

Price point is a bit stiff, but less than some..
Would I order them again, yep, despite a couple annoyances they are a great addition to the SR..

Links:
RC4WD Beacons
Youtube Mode demo

Cheers MGuzzi

Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
Gutzy
Member Avatar

Great I depth review! Let's see some pics of them on your cat. :)
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
MGuzzi
Member Avatar

Here it is with stage 1 lighting, the Axial buckets and Tamiya TLU-01. I'll get the snaps with the beacons up shortly..

Posted Image

Edited by MGuzzi, Dec 28 2014, 07:21 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
PRND21
Member Avatar

Those beacons look like a great alternative to the overpriced pistenking ones. To address the size issue, Im guessing you can reduce the overall height by cutting holes in the roof big enough for the black mount pads to drop through, but not the amber portion. You'd then just glue them in place, and they'll look more appropriately scaled. Can you elaborate on what type of bezels you used for the headlights, parking and tail lights? They look fantastic!
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
MGuzzi
Member Avatar

The beacons seem to have come out pretty nice..
Once mounted they look really good scale wise, at least to my eye, I will leave them as they are. That is a good idea setting them down to the base of the lens though.

Thanks for the compliment on the bezels. I used Axial part # 80045.
They give you a template to cut the shell in the instructions with the bezel set. I trace it on to some scrap lexan and use that.

I think I will use the small round fog lamps on the roof..

Cheers MGuzzi
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
MGuzzi
Member Avatar

The beacons mounted.

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Posted Image

Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
PRND21
Member Avatar

They look perfect, like they came on the model! Will be getting these for sure. How do you plan to wire them up, do they just plug into the receiver, say off a Y adapter for the plow servo? Do you have a switch somewhere for the lights? So far you have the most attractive light setup I've seen on the Blizzard, I'd like to copy it!
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
PRND21
Member Avatar

Just got my RC4WD beacons today, installed them and hooked them up. They really make the Blizzard! I first powered them up on an old 4.8v rx pack, then set the rotate mode by tapping the blue against the black until rotate was set. Finally, I soldered them in parallel and into a Futaba plug, which allowed me to plug them into an aileron extension into channel 6 of the rx. I dunno, with the black plastic bases they almost look more natural than the Pistenking ones. Now I just need those headlights...
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
MGuzzi
Member Avatar

Cool! You got a set... Yea they do seem to look pretty good and most all feedback has been very positive..
It is really neat to change modes, it does look different..

The Tamiya TLU-01 has a switch on it but I will use the HeyOk LED switch for remote operation of both sets.

I will likely run them all off the main LiPo pack...

My wiring isn't settled as I just ordered the Sabertooth so I am waiting for that...
The Dromida M370's are sitting here I will put them in at the same time with the 14T AE pinions, Deans and upgraded wire..

Still haven't settled on the roof light config..

Hope your bucket set comes in soon and best of luck with the install it should look awesome...

Cheers MGuzzi

Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
Small Factory
Member Avatar
Formally Timmy2Tracks
These are on the list: very nice.
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
PRND21
Member Avatar

Im having a hard time deciding on roof lights too, though actual roof lights will probably block the beacons from head on, so im thinking possibly going with mirror mounts instead. The problem is I need them to look scale, so this will probably require some scratch building. Making the stock spotlight functional would be cool too.
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
PRND21
Member Avatar

One issue I found- they don't stay in the desired mode. At first, I had both on fast rotate, which is where I want them to stay. Then, the left one started strobe flashing halfway into a run. I did the whole touch the blue wire against the ground until it went back to fast rotate. Naturally, it started doing it again. I fixed it once more, but this time tied both blue wire together to see if it would make a difference. Yes, so far so good, for around a week. Then, I turn it on yesterday and both are stuck in slow rotate. This time, I cycled them through, but fast rotate seems to no longer be available in either beacon. So, they're both on slow for now. I currently have them plugged into an unused rx channel, should I tie them directly into the sabertooth power supply leads instead? I really wish they came with instructions.
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
MGuzzi
Member Avatar

Yep mine have mysteriously changed modes as well. Though I still have all modes in both lamps.
Mine are still on the temp battery pack.

The Sabertooth came in today, but I still need some bits and the LHS is about 50 miles away, hope to get there Sat.

I will be running all my lights off the main pack directly with the Heyok switch to operate them.
Used a GPMM3141 Deans parallel ESC adapter, lights on one side ESC on the other.

With any luck off the main pack they will stabilize. (4000-5000mah 30-40c, 2c LiPo)

Found a couple micro momentary contact switches, gonna loom those in temp and see what happens with the mode change..

Got a set of the Axial Rigid light bars P# AX31152.. Prolly use the 4 lamp bar. See how those look up there..

I like what Ososlow & Rookie101 did with their light bars, looks great and very practical.. I've seen some vehicles with through glass mounts for things so it should be ok..

Also used an old shock piston for a riser on the beacons, gives them a little lift.

Cheers MGuzzi
Edited by MGuzzi, Jan 22 2015, 06:00 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
PRND21
Member Avatar

I was wondering if increasing the volts would help. So these things are definitely safe to runs on 7.4 volts?
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
PRND21
Member Avatar

Well, just answered my own question, I wired the beacons directly into the sabertooth power input. They still work. Not only that, but fast rotation is back in both beacons, I guess they like the higher voltage. Only time will tell if they lock into this mode or not.
Offline Profile Quote Post Profile
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Electronics · Next Topic »
Add Reply