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Step 7Mount the Radio and Batteries
The radio and batteries simply fit into styrofoam that is tightly fit inside. I used 3 inch thick foam, and cut a block that fits into the rear third, I cut it with my hack saw blade and shaped the sides until I could push it into the back and it fit snug. Then I cut a block that fit into the front, again shaping the sides until it fit all the way to the front. Then simply measure the gap between the 2 blocks and cut one to fit the center section tightly, and push it into place.
I built battery packs from NiCads that I had salvaged. The radio needs a nine volt power supply. A 8.4v RC car battery pack would also work.
The camera system needs 9v to 16v, and should have its own battery. I built a 12v NiCad battery that gives about 6-8 hours of video. The decoy spends most of its time on the water just floating and watching, and needs a heavy duty battery. A 12v Drill battery would work.
When mounted in a model airplane the camera simply uses a 9v alkaline battery, because flight times are less and the weight restrictions of an airplane.
Once you build or purchase your battery packs, place them in the center of the decoy on the foam and trace around them with felt pen. Cut out this area with a hot soldering pencil or hacksaw blade so the packs fit tightly into the foam. They should be resting on the floor of the decoy to keep the center of gravity low. Then cut-out an area for the radio at the rear. Position it so the wires for the off/on switch and antenna reach where you plan to mount them. I placed them on each side of the tail, near the top and outside the outline of the hatch. I mounted wood dowels in the foam but never screwed the radio receiver to them, a tight fit is all you need to hold everything.
Lastly here, the connections to the batteries need matching connections to their systems and their chargers. Buy two female connectors and four male connectors. I use wall wart chargers. A 12vdc 50mA for the camera battery and a 9vdc 50mA for the radio battery. Solder a male connector to the chargers, and female connectors to the batteries. Then solder male connectors to the radio and camera power leads. This all makes sense later when you simply open the back shell, unhook the batteries and connect the chargers. An overnight charge and your ready for a day on the water.
Radio Shack, and department stores have wall chargers, and don't forget second hand stores, they all have piles of them to look through. Both of mine came from old cordless phones I had saved for parts. Just match the polarity and the voltage to your batteries output and don't exceed 50mA so you get a long gentle charge rate.
I built battery packs from NiCads that I had salvaged. The radio needs a nine volt power supply. A 8.4v RC car battery pack would also work.
The camera system needs 9v to 16v, and should have its own battery. I built a 12v NiCad battery that gives about 6-8 hours of video. The decoy spends most of its time on the water just floating and watching, and needs a heavy duty battery. A 12v Drill battery would work.
When mounted in a model airplane the camera simply uses a 9v alkaline battery, because flight times are less and the weight restrictions of an airplane.
Once you build or purchase your battery packs, place them in the center of the decoy on the foam and trace around them with felt pen. Cut out this area with a hot soldering pencil or hacksaw blade so the packs fit tightly into the foam. They should be resting on the floor of the decoy to keep the center of gravity low. Then cut-out an area for the radio at the rear. Position it so the wires for the off/on switch and antenna reach where you plan to mount them. I placed them on each side of the tail, near the top and outside the outline of the hatch. I mounted wood dowels in the foam but never screwed the radio receiver to them, a tight fit is all you need to hold everything.
Lastly here, the connections to the batteries need matching connections to their systems and their chargers. Buy two female connectors and four male connectors. I use wall wart chargers. A 12vdc 50mA for the camera battery and a 9vdc 50mA for the radio battery. Solder a male connector to the chargers, and female connectors to the batteries. Then solder male connectors to the radio and camera power leads. This all makes sense later when you simply open the back shell, unhook the batteries and connect the chargers. An overnight charge and your ready for a day on the water.
Radio Shack, and department stores have wall chargers, and don't forget second hand stores, they all have piles of them to look through. Both of mine came from old cordless phones I had saved for parts. Just match the polarity and the voltage to your batteries output and don't exceed 50mA so you get a long gentle charge rate.
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