Refurbishing electronics

[Frankentruck]

In the hunt for good deals I tend to pick up used ESCs and receivers in need of a little rework.

These 2 Novak ESCs needed the standard case cleanups, wiring unsnarling, receiver connector repair, and power switch replacement. For the switches I wasn't satisfied with the standard options that always seem oversized. Then while doing a micro switch search I'd done many times before, some new options actually started showing up. I settled on the smallest I could, rated 50v and 0.5A.
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Novak used some sort of setup with shrink tubing over the body of the switch and wires. The shrink tubing I have doesn't shrink enough, so I used a couple of sizes and layered them.
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One section over the conductors, another over the switch body with a larger size and roll up the baggy end while still 'warm' (ouch!). Then after it cools off slip over a 2nd piece of the smaller size to clean it up a little.
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The switch won't be confused for an OEM Novak installation, but it's satisfying to have something similar that is Novak-ish.
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[juicedcoupe]

Look up 4:1 heat shrink. Most are 2:1, but 3:1 is pretty common as well.



If you get marine grade, it will have hot glue inside the tube. It seals the wire and holds better but is much stiffer.

Alternatively, the marine grade is helpful is you need the wires to maintain a certain shape.

[Mark Westerfield]

I like restoring the Novak 410 esc's...once you make a couple bad buys on some not working units, you have spare parts to pretty up working ones, lol.