How To Make a 180 Degree Mod for any servo

Easy and cheap way to make a nice 180 degree throw for a Pan servo for FPV

[Paul-jevx]

I've modified two hxt900 servos like this and each one needed different value resistors to get it to center and have symmetrical travel. 1st one needed a 2k2 + 2k7, and the last one I did needed 2k2 + 3k9. Some experimentation might be required, put the higher value on the side of the pot with the least travel. Another option would be to stick two 5k trimpots to the outside of the servo and make holes on the casing for the wires, then you can adjust the trimpots until it's perfect.

[FPVREVIEWS]

so I was confused too, but found a solution after some trial and error. here it is: I wanted at least 180 degrees rotation and bought some DS3218MG servos, standard size digital 2kg/cm from DSservo out of china. they are super common, very good quality, and can work from 4.8-6.8v. They have just a standard rotation, despite what some ebay sellers claim. I added two 2.2K resistors to each of the potentiometer outputs, one to each side, on the outside. i did nothing to the center wire. left it hooked up. now i get about 2000 degrees, which i can easily program down to exactly 180 by limiting the end points on my Futaba radio. These servos have no mechanical stops in them, so nothing to modify there.. if your's do, you need to take them out first, otherwise you'll be likely to break something. They work great. I'll be using them for air brakes on my Gemini V-2 UAV. just wanted to share, so hopefully this makes it more clear, and gives some people a clear path forward. Cheers, Everyone!

[Glydaire]

Worked perfectly with 2.2k resistors on an old Hitec analog servo. Thanks!

[TheBeladog]

Thank you. Far out. Just finished my stand alone wireless head tracker! This will cap it off nice.

[skippickens]

you can use either a 2.2K carbon or film resistor or as I did, SMD 2.2K which left me lots of room.

[trxplay]

Thankyou, you are a can finally sort out my steering angle I hope!😁

[mornestofberg]

Good day, thank you for your video, it help me alot, I changed my servo from 90 degrees to 180, with a 1, 8kU resistor, well done thank you, but I struggle now, i would like to bring down the speed of the servo. can you please help with this, can I put in more resistors or what do you suggest ??

[haigjansz]

I modified two old Futaba analogue servos. They both had an increased range, but they both had trouble returning to the centre position. Also one of them rotates 90 degrees to the right but when you push left it goes past 90 degrees and will keep rotating right around until you stop with the stick and then it goes back about 90 degrees. How can I fix this problem.

[bebela]

Worked perfectly. Thanks for the video and the education.

[KreasiWSM]

does this method work for servo 360° to 180° ???

[rodher]

Great mod.. i'll try it in a few servos.. thank you man!!

[FabrícioAeromodelismo]

thank you guy!..You are the best !..I used 4K resistors.

[Bricksfaction]

Great video thank you . Could you please give the specs for resistors.

[Lee-At-Green-Pheonix-Rc]

Hi mate I need ur help I'm looking for a servo with max of 1kg push or pull force with two wires as I'm splicing it with a rc free spool winch so one way the servo will pull a pin in the winch to engage the free spool then wen the control on the transmiter is released the servo will go back to position ready for the controle to be pushed the opersite way to engage the real in funtion on the winch winch will stop then control is pressed the opersite way engages the servo to pull the pin for free spool and if not ther is a spring the engages the winch clutch wil the sprill pull the servo manually with no electricity or even ad a return damper or shock/spring I'm planning on putting the servo and winch motor into one micro two pin jst male plug so plugs into a mother board room am using

[covalencedust]

Can a servo modified like this still hold a load? Can it keep its position even though a load is being applied to it?

[dasoltab.d]

i have soldered them but it make be continous and cant stop. whats wrong?

[nicholasjacobs]

Great idea! Thank you. I would suggest removing a section of wire equal to the length of each resister to gain back some space, if its tight in there. Also some may find it easier to solder to the wires instead of the tab. Still, heat transfer may loosen the wire at the tab :< Anyway, fantastic mod. Not sure why this works as the swiper does not travel the entire resistance path. Say you have a 5k pot, you add 2.2k to each side, its only moving 1/2 the total resistance. Am I missing something ?

[TheJclone]

Good video, i have some old servos that id like to try this out with.

[jeremyred]

Why not solder the resistor to the other end of the wire or at the circuit board side. /:

[JamesDowningFPV]

I did this mod to an older futaba servo, and it ended up throwing off the center of the servo.  I found that for some reason my servo was only supplying around 2 volts to the potentiometer instead of the full 5v input into the servo.  I'm guessing this is why it acted so odd.  Oh well, I was able to adjust it out in my radio mixer.  Thanks for the idea, saved me from buying a premade 180degree servo.