Featherweight Speedos

[big_nipper]

Featherweight Speedos

One is now in Little spinner as of last weekend, but has not been to an event using it, allthough we are taking it to an event in 2 weeks just to test the drive.

We have fitted 2 heatsinks to it though, one for the mosfets and one for the voltage regulator which gets very hot with a battery voltage around 28V and using the BEC.

Still need to do some work on it as the Spectrum sometimes enters failsafe when we turn the spinner on, even with a 0.5 seconds slow turn on. I assume this is due to a combination of the BEC in the Scorpion XL and not much storage capacitance, but will look into it as there seems to be alot of noise on the 5V line.

[leorcc]

Featherweight Speedos

Thanks for the info Mark. The nipper team is going to be at XFM with it?

[woody]

Featherweight Speedos

Mark ... Are you aware of the recent mods to the XL?

http://forums.delphiforums.com/THERFL/messages?msg=2640.18http://forums.delphiforums.com/THERF...es?msg=2640.18

[big_nipper]

Featherweight Speedos

Thanks woody, but we should have the new versions as they work with the spectrums just not when the weapon is on, but will check the voltage regulator at the weekend.

Leo, Yes

(Message edited by big_nipper on May 24, 2007)

[jamesb]

Featherweight Speedos

having spoken to Mark it sems the huge current draw of the magmotor is causing the voltage to drop suddenly from 28v to 3v for a fraction of a second. This triggers the scorpions on board failsafe.
Mark is working to fix this, and a seperate reciever battery may cure it.
This may be the same thing that was happening to Cyberon at Northampton last weekend.
All scorpions supplied through me have the updates mentioned by Woody, so should work fine with the Spektrum.

[teamshock]

Featherweight Speedos

I will just use this thread instead of making a new one.

My dad is about to start making his robot and is wondering what speed controllers to use.

He is using 4, 18v drills and we were told by robot power that the scorpion XL would not handle them. Would running 2 scorpions be ok?

if not what speed controllers would be the best option?

Also my dad has just asked me what would be the most powerful drive, 4, 18v drills or 2 gold motors?


Will

[leorcc]

Featherweight Speedos

Is it going to be a pushbot? Go for the Sidewinder. with 4 18V drills or 2 24V gold motors youll be thankfull you did.

[RogueTwoRobots]

Featherweight Speedos

Drills vs Golds - Personally Id go for golds if you can afford the cost of them, the drive train, and batteries to supply them with enough oomph.

Obviously the drills come with the whole gearbox attachment so its just a case of bolting them to a chassis, but with golds you have much more flexibility over desired speed and pushing power. One particular example that sticks in my mind is Team Mads Omega. If youve seen that in action youll know its a more-than-able pushbot (its on a 3.4:1 reduction I believe).

I think Omega also uses 15A microprocessor Electronizes for control (is that correct Alan?) so that controller or anything above in terms of rating should be sufficient to control them. The extra costs of the drive-train and motors is kinda balanced out by the possible use of low-cost speedos

[grant_ploughbot]

Featherweight Speedos

I would go with the drills as the gold motors are pretty heavy, and 4 drills should be more powerfull and much easier to create 4wd/easier to get hold of and cheaper.

[geeza]

Featherweight Speedos

Will you should have noticed by now that Whirlpool can out puch DB5. So drills win, but I think that my drive is now more reliable than drill gearboxes.

[dragonmaster_1]

Featherweight Speedos

Or you could try EV warriors with Sidewinder control

[blazerbotics]

Featherweight Speedos

Yep, Omega currently has 15amp CPU Electronize in (Alphas old ones), they have been very reliable and took alot of abuse. Its drive is 3.4:1 running on 100mm wheels (with extra bit of tyre on them). Alpha use to run the golds with great success, depends if you can afford the weight, but gives you better flexability than running drills.

[Ianshock]

Featherweight Speedos

Guys. I said it wouldnt happen but as Will (Whirlpool/shockwave) has dragged me along I have been bitten by the bug. You know its happened when you start staring at shopping trolley wheels !

The dilema we have is that we bought 2 scorpion XLs, 1- for whirlpool and 1 for new robot with 4 x 18v drill motors for my one. Will pinched 2 motors for shockwave and after whirlpools problems with the early version of XLs, we found out that we would have been pushing our luck to drive 4 x 18v anyway....so do I buy 2 more 18v drills and another scorpion XL ?(1 to drive each side) or do I buy 2 golds and all the associated gears/chains etc and start again - perhaps even considering electronizes (almost same price of 1 XL if I buy in UK). My aim orginally was to try and do a 4wd low pressure flipper but I know that would be a challenge with weight with Golds !

Of course needless to say we would install as many blue LEDS as we could !!!!
Cheers, Ian

[maddox]

Featherweight Speedos

If you want a good weapon in a feather, stay with 2wh on batterydrills.

The Scorpion XL will drive this with good results , especialy if you add a minifan to keep m cool.

My personal opinion about the Electronizes is that they are very big, and use relais for reversing. In other words, I rather spend a serious wad of money on a sidewinder than to use electronizes.

[Guest]

Featherweight Speedos

Hi,

Maybe this has been discussed before so my apologys for not searching the complete topic for it. Does anyone have experience with the marine speedcontrollers from http://www.xbotz.comwww.xbotz.com ? Please let me know!