Any concerns using the IR Receiver connected to a Buwizz 3.0?

[shroomzofdoom]

I was able to get a Pybricks Mindstorms with a ColorDistanceSensor to fire a PF Infrared Receiver V2 and PF L Motor. link 

It worked great with a PF battery box so I tried Buwizz 3.0 as the power source.  I'm quite excited that this works because I want to use it in a design.

Buwizz controls are set to simple on/off button in ON condition, the Hub/ColorDistanceSensor is just sending 'red' to the IR V2 receiver to switch it on.

It looks like the IR receiver would be switching the Buwizz 3.0 -- 9v or 11.2v output https://buwizz.com/tech-specs. I'm thinking of using it to power 2 PF XL Motors or 2 Buwizz Buggy Motors.

Thanks to @Philo's work, we know that the PF battery box @ 9v "doesn't provide enough current to allow V2 reach its full potential"  However, his testing shows the PF battery box is the limiting factor and of course, I'd like to give it more.... Given how hard to find the V2 receivers are I didn't want to damage it so I figured I'd see if anyone was doing this.

Edited August 9, 2022 by shroomzofdoom

[Toastie]

On 8/9/2022 at 6:50 AM, shroomzofdoom said:

Given how hard to find the V2 receivers are I didn't want to damage it so I figured I'd see if anyone was doing this.

If I get this correctly, you want to power the PF receiver off from a BuWizz output. When that is correct, you can surely do what you want. The PF receiver easily handles 12V - as I have these operating 12V trains. I also do not have any issue with 15V, but others may know better.

Whatever you hook up to the receiver is save. When the receiver can handle it (amperage-wise) it will do. If not overload protection kicks in.

Again: As I know from my PF operated trains, fed by 15V DC.

Best,
Thorsten

[shroomzofdoom]

18 hours ago, Toastie said:

If I get this correctly, you want to power the PF receiver off from a BuWizz output. When that is correct, you can surely do what you want. The PF receiver easily handles 12V - as I have these operating 12V trains. I also do not have any issue with 15V, but others may know better.

Good to know--- thank you @Toastie!!  Yes I am powering the PF receiver from the Buwizz output.

I've also found that I don't need to pair Buwizz via bluetooth or even use my phone for this!

When connected in this way, the Buwizz 3.0 acts similar to a PF battery box - allowing the PF IR receiver to control the motor while the Buwizz supplies the drive motor with operating voltage! 

 

There are two separate subsystems which are linked via IR:

1) The pybricks/mindstorms hub controls steering, connects the PU remote, and fires a PU Color Distance Sensor which sends signal 

TO

2) the PF IR receiver, which controls a PF XL motor powered by buwizz 3.0

I built it all and then found out that Buwizz 3.0 support for speed modes is planned (Ludicrous, etc). However, it was fun to build and I learned alot while doing it.

Here you can see the final results. (Sorry for the background thumping, my wife is learning drums)

 

Each of the hubs/controllers has its own drawbacks so merging the two systems in one model seemed like the best way to go:

Buwizz:
-center steering logic is...uh....errr....needs work

-lacks robotics functions to operate a gear selector (planned)

-No support for remote control (phone apps=yuck)

-But it has GREAT power output!

Mindstorms hub:

-doesn't support PF motors

-power output is not great 

 ** MVP award goes to @Pybricks for flawless implementation of steering logic, support for PU remote, and using color distance sensor to bridge the gap between PU and PF. Plus, it's so easy even a caveman could do it!

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by shroomzofdoom
type first, think later

[MIKEYSTECHNICBUILDSYT]

From these photos you are using a buwizz 3.0 (so it may be different) but I was using a 2.0 with the same idea with a buwizz motor plugged into the ir receiver and the truck it was powering didn’t even move. I tried it again whilst only using the buwizz (no pf receiver) at it moved quite quick.

so I think it might supply less power though I’m not sure how as from my understanding the receiver just takes the power from the source and then chooses when to send power through. I’m probably wrong though if that is how it works then the motors should have the same power? 

This probably won’t help your problem but I thought it was worth saying.

[Aurorasaurus]

Good solution to your problem. However, have you heard of brickcontroller 2? it allows you to use a gamepad as a remote. From my experience the stepper motor function doesnt work in it, so maybe it wont be great for the gearbox thing, but everything else works fine, especially the steering calibration, you can add an offset to account for imperfections.

Also, if you're having problems with the center steer module in the Buwizz app, try remaking the profile. As for the gearbox module, it assumes steps of 90 degrees for the wave selector, and it requires physical limits to work as intended. As in, you need to stop the axle that controls gearbox shifting from rotating continuously.
 

Hope this helps