3.5) Compatibility of servos, speed controls, and receivers
There is a standard three-wire interface between receivers and servos (also receivers and speed controls): +5 volt power, ground, and signal. This receiver wiring harness originates in the servo (or speed control) and plugs into the receiver. But there is no standard for the colors of the three wires, their arrangement in the plastic connector body that plugs into the receiver, or the shape of the plastic connector body.
Novak and Tekin have dealt with this situation by providing the necessary plastic parts and instructions for converting the receiver wiring harnesses of their speed controls to work with all common receivers (Futaba, Airtronics, JR, and KO). The conversion is simple and takes only a couple of minutes. Similarly, while Novak and Tekin receivers are designed for Futaba connectors, they include plastic parts and instructions for converting the receiver wiring harnesses that plug into the receivers.

The servo manufacturers (all of whom make receivers) aren't so helpful. If you buy a servo from one manufacturer and a receiver from another (other than Novak and Tekin), you'll need help doing the wiring harness conversion.

Here is a key to the wiring of various servos:



Futaba: Black (-), Red (+), White (signal)
Airtronics: Red (+), Black (-), White (signal)
JR: Brown (-), Red (+) Orange (signal)
KO: Red (+), Black (-), Blue (signal)

(JR wins the non-conformist prize for choosing Brown for the ground wire!) Thus you can plug a JR servo directly into a Futaba receiver, but you must reverse the power and ground wires on Airtronics and KO servos before plugging them into a Futaba receiver or you will fry the servo.