Warning
Schematic issue in versions < v200: Early schematics contained a severe error in the LiPo measurement resistor divider design.
- The divider resistor values were originally selected for 5V ADC operation, but the ADC actually runs at 3.3V (fixed in v200+).
- More importantly, the divider resistors were wired incorrectly with respect to the balancer connector voltage levels (fixed in v200+).
The PCB can still be used, but only if you place/wire the divider resistors according to the corrected v200+ schematics and use the correct divider values for 3.3V ADC operation.
Warning
Encoder footprint mapping issue: The rotary encoder symbol/footprint mapping in my Fusion library is incorrect, so the PCB wiring for A/B/SW is wrong. On affected boards the encoder will not work unless wired off-board or reworked (cut traces + hand wiring). Verify the correct pin mapping before assembly.
⚠️ Work in Progress This project is currently under active development. Features and documentation may change frequently.
RC TOOLBOX is a suite of tools tailored for RC enthusiasts. It is designed to run mainly on ESP32-based boards and provides a versatile platform for RC setup, testing, and measurement tasks.
The full user documentation (features, modules, roadmap, hardware, usage, simulator, ESP32 build instructions) is available here:
👉 https://chiefenne.github.io/RC_TOOLBOX/
- Servo Tester (up to 6 channels)
- Servo Signal Analyzer
- LiPo Checker
- NFC reader/writer
- Tags for batteries (buying date, capacity, charge current, etc.)
- Tags planes (CG location, weight, span, etc.)
- UAS operator ID (EU regulation)
- CG Scale remote
- Flap deflection & angle of incidence tools
- Touch-driven UI (ILI9341)
- User input via rotary encoder with button
- Multi-language UI
- GUI simulator for rapid development
PCB for the RC TOOLBOX
RC TOOLBOX installed in the enclosure
The PCB design sources and manufacturing outputs are stored in the repository under the hardware/ folder:
- Board layout:
hardware/RC TOOLBOX.fbrd - Schematic:
hardware/RC TOOLBOX.fsch - Schematic PDF:
hardware/RC TOOLBOX_Schematic_v200.pdf - Gerbers:
hardware/RC TOOLBOX_Gerber_v432.zip
Direct link: https://github.com/chiefenne/RC_TOOLBOX/tree/main/hardware
Note: The PCB has not been fully validated. Order based on the supplied Gerbers at your own risk.
Note: Some modules (see below) come in different variants (pinouts, and component layouts vary). Before ordering or assembling, verify that your specific module physically fits the PCB footprint and matches the expected connections.
The PCB is designed around a small set of off-the-shelf modules.
- What it does: Main controller module running the RC TOOLBOX firmware and driving the UI and peripherals.
ESP32-S3 DevKitC-1
- What it does: Main user interface with capacitive touch input. Uses an ILI9341 display driver and XPT2046 touch controller.
- Module style: One of the common red Arduino/ESP maker TFT touch displays.
2.4" TFT touch display
- What it does: Converts a 2S/3S LiPo input to regulated rails.
- Outputs: One module provides 3.3V, one provides 5V.
MP2307 based board (e.g., HW133ABC)
Note: If you have problems with these modules, this video might help.
- What it does: Accurate LiPo voltage readings up to 6S using external 16-bit ADCs.
- Capacity: With two ADS1115 modules, 2 ADC channels remain free after the 6S measurement inputs.
- Resistors: For best accuracy, use high-accuracy resistors (1% or better) with low thermal drift in the voltage divider network so the ADS1115 resolution can be fully utilized (see page 2 on the schematic PDF).
ADS1115 16-bit ADC
- What it does: NFC reader/writer module used for tagging and reading data.
NFC reader/writer
Note: Only the I2C bus is wired on the PCB
This project was inspired by following resources: