| SubTech's ADC-1 is a device that uses a
pressure sensor to set and hold a predetermined depth for RC
submarines. It uses a proportional control, meaning that you can
adjust the depth via radio control. Setup and installation is easy
and I found that it works great. |
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| I decided to install the unit on my Sheerline
Akula because it has separate front and rear dive planes. Although
the ADC-1 will work on subs with only rear dive planes, I decided to use
it on this boat since it is already equipped with a APC-3 (Automatic Level
Control) which is required if you plan on using the ADC-1.
In my setup, the ADC-1 controls the front dive planes and the APC-3
controls the rear planes. A hole was drilled though the front cover
of the WTC and a brass pipe (not supplied) was glued in place. This
is where the pressure sensor will be attached. |
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| One end of a hose is attached to the brass tube
glued to the WTC and the other end is attached to the pressure sensor of
the ADC-1. The front dive plane's servo plugs into the ADC-1 and and
ADC-1 plugs into the receiver channel for the dive plane. |
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| A multi-position switch is located inside the
ADC-1. It is used to set the initial depth of the controller.
I selected the second position. In this position, my submarine's
sail was just under the water when the controlling channel's slider was in
the middle position. When the slider was moved up, the boat would
surface completely, with the slider moved down, the boat would go to about
1.5 feet in depth. This turned out to be perfect for me since I run
my subs in very murky water and I don't want it to go to far down. A
switch can be added so that the depth controller can be turned off.
If I had access to very clear water, I would add a RC controlled switch so
that I could turn off the ADC-1 and dive the boat deeper then the
setting I use for murky water. |
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| My ADC-1 was under water for a week and the
circuit boat was damaged by corrosion. I did not feel it was serious
enough to seek a replacement board so I just added a jumper to the damaged
circuit trace. I added a coat of circuit board varnish to protect
the board from any future problems. It may be a good idea to added
the electronic varnish to the board before installing it in a submarine. |
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| I found that with the ADC-1 in my boat, I could
run it hands free probably until the battery ran flat and hold the set depth
perfectly. In turns, my boat did rise slightly because it would torque over a bit
causing the dive planes to become less effective since the controls where
no longer horizontal. At very slow speeds, the boat would slightly
porpoise for a while but would eventually even out and travel
smoothly. At full speed, I did not notice any level problems.
The ADC-1 makes running the boat so easy that anyone can drive the
boat. Although some people may say that it takes all the sport out
of running a submarine, I like it and recommend it. |
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