Electric Pig Race?

[Mike Doyle]

Today my Son brought home a walking, oinking, electric pig that his school is holding a race for. Like a good experienced PWD Dad, I've read the rules which basically allow anything except rocket motors or mounting it to a R/C car chassis.

Internal modifications are allowed and encouraged, the question is, have any of you guys got "speed secrets" for these?

[Darin McGrew]

Anything? Including a trebuchet?

[gpraceman]

Never heard of that. Know of any photos of this type of race?

[Randy and Son]

Anything? Including a trebuchet?

You mean like ... "When pigs fly"?

Randy

[ohiofitter]

When pigs fly....who would have thought it would come true

[TAL]

By electric do you mean useing batteries?

If it uses batteries , What size and how many?

How does it function?

Is there a motor that turns a gear inside to make the legs move?

[TAL]

Anything? Including a trebuchet?

I like that idea! But be sure to aim for the finish line.

[Go Bubba Go]

Today my Son brought home a walking, oinking, electric pig that his school is holding a race for. Like a good experienced PWD Dad, I've read the rules which basically allow anything except rocket motors or mounting it to a R/C car chassis.

Internal modifications are allowed and encouraged, the question is, have any of you guys got "speed secrets" for these?

Any pics of the pig / model number?

How are they going to start the race?

How 'bout a propellor car, with the props painted and/or covered to resemble spinning curly pigtails?

Or mount Porky on a hand held belt sander disguised to look like a barnyard scene? Aim carefully

Bubba

[Mike Doyle]

Here's a pic, I should have included in my first post. He uses two "C" batteries and has basic circuitry so that after a few steps he stops and oinks and wags his tail, then takes a few more steps.

My first thoughts are: bigger motor & upping to voltage while bypassing the oink & wag phase.

Any thoughts or ideas? I know this forum has the expertise to make things go fast!

[TAL]

He uses two "C" batteries and has basic circuitry so that after a few steps he stops and oinks and wags his tail, then takes a few more steps.

My first thoughts are: bigger motor & upping to voltage while bypassing the oink & wag phase.

In the little r/c experience I have, the quikest and cheapest way to get more speed is more batteries. Then, not a "bigger motor" but a faster motor.

Same size Electric motors gain speed with less winds on the armature.

I absolutely love the idea of bypassing the oink stage.

Also keep in mind that a standard C battery has 1.5 volts while a rechargable sub C battery has only 1.2 volts.

Can you consider getting a 6 or 7 cell Sub C rechageable battery pack with 7.2 or 8.4 volts? If so keep in mind that Milliamps in the battery are only the run time of the battery, not power.

It would be nice if you could bypass the stop/ oinking method until the pig crosses the finish line then after he crosses the finish line he oinks and jumps/wags tail.

[Go Bubba Go]

...My first thoughts are: bigger motor & upping to voltage while bypassing the oink & wag phase.

I may or may not have built a car recently utilizing a small hi-speed motor I found at Radio Shack that runs 18,000 rpm when powered by two 9V batteries in series.

I think it was about 4 bucks IIRC.

At that speed, though, you may need to add rubber boots or some such to have enough traction to keep him from jogging in place...

They also had a small 3A potentiometer you could wire into the circuit to tone it down a bit if needed. I may or may not have used that as well...

Bubba

[sporty]

I use to modify our kids power wheels with different gears and bigger motors and more juice to have more faster power wheels.

While a faster motor may be the key, don't forget about the torq. some motors just do not have a high enough rating to handle it.

But I will guess that the likely upgrade to you're unit might be in the gears and as you mentioned adjusting and tinkering with the wires and circuit, so that the pig does not stop walking.

My kids have one of those pigs also. They won at school for selling so many school goodies.

I should ask him where it it and see if he will let me take it apart.

Edit: I went and found it, but I better not take it apart until I ask.

Sporty

[gpraceman]

Do the rules prohibit you from mounting it to a chassis that is not RC controlled?

[TAL]

How about putting the pig on a skate board or roller skates that are motorized but not R/C.

[sporty]

Mr. piggy.

how to take apart video.

I put together a ruff video of how to take it apart.

I will post some more.