Electronic Speed Controllers - Alternative

damonjackson_spl · #1 03-24-2009, 01:37 AM

Ok, have a E-Push Trailer in the works, have a solid 12v motor and a Odyssey deep cycle battery
from my old Car Audio Competition car ($650AUD!?!?!?) and all I need now is a suitabke ESC..

I have got quite excited and it must be too good ot be true, but can you use a RC BOAT ESC controller?

looks like they will suit, 180AMP, can plug in my twist throttle from my 250W ebike kit and I think
they can go 6-14v!!

can someone who is has some knowledge with ESC or even RC's to clarify is this is possible?

damonjackson_spl · #2 03-24-2009, 01:55 AM

also this exact unit cant be used as my motor is brushed..

but there are many brushed ESC's out there!

hope they can be used!

deacon · #3 03-24-2009, 07:14 AM

I can only tell you what I have been told..... how many amps is that controller... are you sure the 180 is amps it seems that it would be milliamps. Rc would hardly need that mammoth circuitry. If it's milliamps it will burn up. What is the wattage of the motor.

damonjackson_spl · #4 03-24-2009, 08:12 PM

well the motor i want to use the manufacturer said up to 400AMPs, but the motor I have is a starter motor from a 1uzfe Lexus V8, so untill I get it i can put the multi meter on it and work out the current draw and wattage etc/

yeah milliamps sounds right doesnt it!! no way a RC car could draw 180Amps, but on some covers it will have 60A but advertised as 180A

hmm

deacon · #5 03-24-2009, 11:06 PM

Funny but I saw one on ebay that said like 100amps that was for rc cars. Maybe I'm wrong.

OzzyU812 · #6 03-25-2009, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonjackson_spl

I have is a starter motor from a 1uzfe Lexus V8, so untill I get it i can put the multi meter on it and work out the current draw and wattage etc/

see post # 10 here: http://motorbicycling.com/f9/frictio...ment-6751.html

possum440 · #7 08-13-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deacon

I can only tell you what I have been told..... how many amps is that controller... are you sure the 180 is amps it seems that it would be milliamps. Rc would hardly need that mammoth circuitry. If it's milliamps it will burn up. What is the wattage of the motor.

You are uneducated in the ways of RC young padawan (grin)

In these "modern" times (cough) RC has grown in leaps and bounds in the last 20 years. Most of my boats or helis NEED 250-300 AMP controllers, not milliamps, thats just funny. 14s6p, 60 volt boats that are 8 feet long using 14 hp brushless monsters (lehners) require these monster esc's, and even with these sometimes the amp draw is so high the controller is crispified, sometimes taking the lipos with it, the results are spectacular fires. (this only happens ocassionaly)

Never ever compare the RTR stuff you can buy off the shelf with the hi tech masterpieces alot of the racers and competitors build and use in the RC sport.

cheers.

deacon · #8 08-13-2009, 05:46 PM

I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time. But since you da man tell me something please.

I run two ebikes one has a 350watt motor with just a switch no controller. It works pretty well that way.

I have a 500 watt motor on a similar bike with a controller that seems to not do as well. I am wondering if the controller also limits the amps to those specified. IE a 500 watt motor should pull about 20amps according to the books. When pulling a hill it will actually pull more. I have blown 40amp fuses with the 500 watt before I put the controller on.

PS I had a controller on the 350watt but took it off because the performance seemed to suffer.....

possum440 · #9 08-13-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deacon

I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time. But since you da man tell me something please.

I run two ebikes one has a 350watt motor with just a switch no controller. It works pretty well that way.

I have a 500 watt motor on a similar bike with a controller that seems to not do as well. I am wondering if the controller also limits the amps to those specified. IE a 500 watt motor should pull about 20amps according to the books. When pulling a hill it will actually pull more. I have blown 40amp fuses with the 500 watt before I put the controller on.

PS I had a controller on the 350watt but took it off because the performance seemed to suffer.....

Hi deacon, i know enough to hurt myself and thats about it, i am not a power biker, doing studies with a college project on why esc burn up so often, just cruising by and saw your post.

I can give some advice. Your example of a 500w motor pulling 20 amps, that is in a perfect world. Real life will indicate otherwise. Your current weight, day to day, air temp, road surface (this includes wet or dry) Grades, motor condition and how long it has been running, battery pack condition, max continuous and avg rated output of your esc.

ALL of that needs to be figured into your calculations for an avg AMP draw for a particular application. unless you have an amp meter to make some test runs to see exactly what you are pulling (and it will freak you out because the hi draws wont be when you expect them) you wont be able to make a good choice for motor or esc.

My suggestions: get an amp meter (or borrow one) and grab a cheapo motor or one you are familiar with and batery pack and esc, run a normal routine for a week, avg your amps, batt usage and motor temps (look at batt temps too)

with your readings purchase the best quality components you can afford that exceed the avg peak amp readings you recorded and avg peak temps (again the avg)

Keep in mind, throwing stuff together without doing the math (and there are tons more knowledgeable folks than i) even with a bike will result in alot of component failures or poor performance.

A cheat i use is this, see what working with folks with similar applications and copy it, then ask why it works. You will never gain knowledge or become an expert at anything unless you ask questions.

Good luck D!!

deacon · #10 08-13-2009, 06:25 PM

I will ask anyone a question in a minute. I do a lot of experimenting so I just need the direction to go in.

For instance I know when the fuses get blown without a controller. Without a controller the 500watt motor will pull in excess of 40amps on a hill with me on board. I know because that is the size fuse I blew. I know that with a controller it does not blow a fuse but the bike wants to stop. I'm thinking the controller limits the draw to prevent fuse blowing.

Now I also know that on a 350 watt bike, it will not blow that same fuse. It slows down a lot but it still pulls the hill at least as well as the 500 watt with a controller. Well now I can't say that yet since I am waiting for another drive exactly like the one on the 350 watt test bike. I plan to hold off an anything until I can test the motor and controller with that drive configuration.

Anyway thanks for the help.