Speed controls

[stewart]

Hi. I built a build 9 years ago and use a bobs board on a servo as a speed control. As i've looked at ship sites i've only seen speed controls. is that the only way of controlling speed these days?

[Eric B]

I'm assuming that you had a mechanical speed control, these work. But they are not good. There not nearly as effiecient, and they produce a lot of heat. Yes you can still buy these but I dont think anyone would recomend it. I know that ESC's seem expensive but its well worth it. Or you could try somthing along the lines of this: http://members.tripod.com/~TrEbOr69/speedcnt.html

I'm trying this and I will post with results

Hope this helps

Eric

[stewart]

Do you know if these below are any good.

4653 ROBBE 8417 Controller 6v-9.6v BEC 5Amp Forward and Reverse 40mm x 25 x 8mm

4657 Mtroniks Marine Controller 6v-12v 20Amps Continous 30 Short Term BEC Forwards and Reverse One touch set up 42mm x 34 x 19.4mm

I've noticed some are forward only, what is the point of this, are they intended to for planes.

[twmaster]

Originally posted by stewart
Do you know if these below are any good.

4653 ROBBE 8417 Controller 6v-9.6v BEC 5Amp Forward and Reverse 40mm x 25 x 8mm

While Robbe has decent products, that one is underpowered for your application (At least it seems so from your picture)


4657 Mtroniks Marine Controller 6v-12v 20Amps Continous 30 Short Term BEC Forwards and Reverse One touch set up 42mm x 34 x 19.4mm

This will probably be fine for your application. It looks like you have a scale boat, if so you will not need a high powered ESC.


I've noticed some are forward only, what is the point of this, are they intended to for planes.

Who needs reverse in a race :) But seriously, the forward only are generally for race boats. You really do not need reverse for racing hulls. Scale hulls on the other hand reverse is nice and almost a necessity IMHO.


Cheers,

[eddieh]

Stewart, in my scale stuff I run an astro 208 with reverse, it will handle 12 cells and is rated at around 30 amps, it has been used for over 5 years, and even with twin motors on gear drives without a hitch, you might also check with rc hydros as andy was thinking of coming out with a reversing speed control as well, cheers eddie

[AndyKunz]

Reverse will be a while yet, probably for Christmas.

Right now I'm working on two new custom forward-only ESCs for other people.

Andy

[Eric B]

Sweet I will buy that for christmas for myself.