One of the most useful tools you will ever have, this device can be used to check any kind or type of servo for proper operation. Check for stripped gears, loose wires, bad potentiometers, and jittering often caused by faulty circuits inside a servo. Provides manual control of the servo, automatic cycling with variable cycle speeds, and also features a centering switch to move the servo to the exact electronic center and hold it there. A must for every bench and flight box, this gadget will save you loads of time at the field troubleshooting a servo problem, and the centering feature makes it great for centering your model's control surfaces while building or adjusting linkages. Also works great for testing brushless motors and ESCs.
Check out the demonstration video in the "Videos/Servo & Scale" section from the main menu.
IMPORTANT: Since the back of the circuit board is open, a short circuit can occur if the device is laid on top of a metal item while connected to a battery. You may want to glue a small piece of foam or balsa to the back to prevent problems, or simply use a small piece of tape.
3D Printed Plastic Case now available for $2.50, check under the options tab at right. We've recently aquired a shiny new 3D Printer (an XYZPrinting da Vinci 1.0 AiO, if you're wondering!) that is going to allow us to provide a lot of new accessories for our products. The first is this Servo Tester Case, available in 5 colors, that will keep the back of your Servo Tester from contacting anything metal that might be laying on your bench. It makes a nice, neat tool that you'll use over and over. Place your Servo Tester in the box, push it down until it snaps into place, and you're ready to go. No assembly required. Look for more 3D printed gadgets in the near future!
DOWNLOAD: Servo Tester Manual
Servo Tester & Brushless Motor Tester
Plug a servo into either one of the 3-pin jumpers at top, and a Ni-Cad, Ni-MH, or Li-Po battery into the other. Note polarity. The new version is regulated, so you can use any battery from 5-16 volts. For manual operation, move the centering switch, located on the right side of the circuit board, to the far right position, with the red slide pointing away from the center of the circuit board. Use the manual control knob, at bottom center, to control the servo. Press and hold the automatic cycling button, far left, and the servo will begin to cycle back and forth. The speed of the cycle can be adjusted using the manual control knob. To center the servo, move the red centering switch back to the left, toward the center of the circuit board. When the centering switch is moved to the centering postition, the red LED will be "On". Note that the servo is not just moved to the center and released, but the tester continues to hold it at center, making it easier to connect control rods while building a model. Also note that while the centering switch is "on", the manual control knob and automatic cycling button are both inoperable. This device cannot be damaged if the servo and/or battery are connected backwards, it simply will not function. Instructions are included.
To test a brushless motor or ESC, connect the ESC and motor together as normal, and connect your Li-Po battery to the ESC as normal. Then connect the ESC's receiver lead to either side of the Servo Tester. You do not need any other battery connected to the Servo Tester. Make sure the centering switch is "Off", and use the Manual Control Knob to control the motor just like a throttle stick!
Weight: 12 grams
