Would you like to equip your helicopter or airplane with great sound and light effects? Here is a list of items you need for your project.
Sound Module - Where the MAGIC happens:
Our USM-RC-3 sound module is the perfect choice for you. The sound module has been specially developed for RC model making to equip all types of models with true-to-original and speed-dependent sounds, numerous lighting options and additional servo movements. The sound module includes 45 sounds for helicopters and over 100 sounds for airplanes (civil and military). Sound samples can be checked on the USM-RC-3 website.
Battery - With great Power comes great Responsibility: The USM-RC-3 works with voltages of 5 - 15 V. Nowadays LiPo batteries are mostly used. With the same size, they have a higher capacity than e.g. NiMh batteries. The battery must of course fit into your model and have a similar voltage as the built-in motor. If a battery with a higher voltage is to be used for the power supply, a DC/DC converter can be used, see DC/DC converter LM2596S.
(Optional) Battery Y-Cable - For an easy Connection: With the battery Y-cable the sound module USM-RC-3 can be connected to the battery and the speed controller. It comes with Deans or Tamiya plug connector.
Loudspeaker - Let's get LOUD: The speaker should have an impedance of 4 or 8 ohms and a power rating of at least 10 watts. As a general rule, the larger the speaker, the better the sound quality. Therefore, it is recommended to first measure the available space in the model in order to choose the largest possible speaker—ideally one that comes with a suitable box. A particularly powerful and lightweight speaker is the LS-4R-30W-102.
(Optional) Amplifier - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger: If you need more volume you can use the audio amplifier PV-100W. It operates within a voltage range of 7 to 30 V. However, using a supply voltage below 12 V is generally not recommended, as higher output power can only be achieved at higher voltages. The amplifier can be powered either by the model’s existing battery or by a separate battery. You can connect one or two speakers, each with an impedance of 4 ohms.
Model Lighting - Let the Show beginn:
The USM-RC-3 sound module has 16 switching outputs that can be used to control a wide variety of lighting effects. LEDs, lamps, and even relays can be connected directly to these outputs. This makes it easy to implement realistic functions such as position-, navigation-, signal-, landing- or hazard- lights, flickering effects and more.
For some model types, ready-made lighting boards are available. These boards are often pre-assembled and include the necessary series resistors, allowing for quick and easy installation. In such cases, you only need to connect the wires from the lighting board to one of the switching outputs of the USM-RC-3. We recommend to use the terminal clamp AKL-8 for that.
Alternatively, you can create custom lighting setups using individual LEDs. While this requires a bit more effort, it offers maximum flexibility. Just be sure to include suitable series resistors for each LED! These can either be soldered directly to the LED leads or, for a cleaner and more modular setup, used in combination with our terminal clamp AKL-8-K with constant current or the AKL-8-W with plug-in resistor slots.
(Optional) Data Cable - Convenient Configuration and Diagnosis:
With the K-USB-2 data cable, you can easily adjust settings and transfer sounds to the USM-RC-3—without the hassle of constantly removing and reinserting the SD card between the module and your PC.
The data cable also enables live diagnostics, which is especially useful for troubleshooting and fine-tuning functions in real time.
While the K-USB-2 is not strictly required to operate the USM-RC-3, it significantly simplifies setup and maintenance, making your work faster, easier, and more convenient.
