which speed controllers are better

[plargen]

I've been mainly looking at 2 different 1s the electronize FR30HX http://www.electronize.co.uk/model_elec ... frames.htm and the botbitz ESCheap85 http://www.botbitz.com/ , it roughly works out about the same in cost but the botbitz will probably have the import tax and VAT added on top also not sure weather the botbitz controller are rated at peak or cont

dose anyone have any bad thing to say about the botbitz ESCheap85 as i haven't heard much on the forum about them but i have herd some of the problems people have had with electronize

[Danjr1]

Re: which speed controllers are better

The botbitz controllers offer a lot more control/accuracy over the electronizes. Personally think its down to the fact they have a brake-type function. I never had any tax issues with them either

[archie2000]

Re: which speed controllers are better

i hope botbitz are good.
they handle much more current.
they're both trusted escs though,
pointless post but I'm on a coach to Alton towers and I'm bored.

[Eventorizon]

Re: which speed controllers are better

From my experience import tax only applies to products that could be sold for profit and are shipped in bulk. So buying 2 esc's is fine but if you ordered say 20 then you would probably get taxed.

My flat mates ordered some servos from japan, one ordered 4 the other ordered 30. The order for 30 got taxed and the others didn't so there is another example.

I would go with the Botbitz ones. I use electronize but they are really twitchy and slow to respond on occasion so the sooner they die the better.

[typhoon_driver]

Re: which speed controllers are better

Anything over £50 is due tax by the taxman. If you get the guys in australia to put toy robot parts in the customs decleration then you will likely avoid it as I believe toys can slip through the net

[ewan]

Re: which speed controllers are better

I've found 'gift' works even better than 'toys', though suppliers may be less willing to put that.

All other goods
If you order or send purchased goods other than alcohol, tobacco, perfume and toilet water from a country outside the EU then you:
-don't have to pay Excise Duty
-may have to pay Customs Duty on goods with a value that exceeds £135
-will have to pay import VAT on goods with a value that exceeds £15
Note that on all goods from outside the EU, Customs Duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is £9 or under.

Beyond me why you'd want to import 'toilet water'...

[leorcc]

Re: which speed controllers are better

Beyond me why you'd want to import 'toilet water'...

Eau de Toilette (literal translation is water of toilet) is a lightly scented perfume used as a skin freshener.

[plargen]

Re: which speed controllers are better

ok thanks i'm thinking of using them in my 4x4 robot as I've just bought 4 ryobi drill to replace the Argos 1s and the ryobi 1s work out slightly cheaper for the 4 so i think i will stick with them for my robots now

[Mouldy]

Re: which speed controllers are better

Think im the only person using the bot bitz esc's in the uk so far...

I dont like electronize, there good for beginners, but there control is pretty lame... due to being relay based.

The bot bitz are good for a cheapo solid state esc, Only problems are;

A) Super slow speed control isnt that great.... but when do you ever drive a robot at less then 1/8th throttle? - its kind of a non issue...

B) You cant turn the brake function of to my knowledge... but i like having the break function.

C) When you initialy power up the esc- as with any brushless esc it pulses the motor.. meaning the drive wheel attached will roll forwards and back a small amount, not enough to really move the robot...more to make it just shake... i took a video showing this, its on my youtube page...

Anyhow, i personaly see A.B and C as non issues, and id go with them any day over electronize.... i ordered 2 more last week, ill let you know if i get taxed... i dont think i did on the first set.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BODQ0bt ... ature=plcp

[Ellis]

Re: which speed controllers are better

The in-built breaking would cause problems for a robot, would it not? E.g., drills often favour one direction over another a tiny bit (at least in my experience), meaning the robot never drives quite straight until you fiddle with trims. The problem I had with Tormenta was that, one side of the drive would stop before the other, meaning I oversteer or just the steering in general is a bit funky, unless I keep the power on and drive more binary-style. It made driving slowly in a straight line almost impossible.

With breaking I can see that characteristic might be worse. If you're turning in a wide arc, once you come off the power the inside motors will break a little sooner than the other side, spinning you round in that direction, right? I can see that actually not aiding the driver, but making things worse, if anything?

I am really very tempted by these ESCs, though the Electronize have done us well and after 2 years they're still good as new. If they're not going to be perfect, though, I can't justify the money, even if they are remarkably cheap.

[PJ-27]

Re: which speed controllers are better

@Ellis,
The breaking on one side and not the other you're experiencing with the Electronizes is a feature I've experienced and I believe it's down to the Relays.
On Bitza sometimes when the stick centralises on the Tx it'll swap the motor direction (the relay clicks over), which feels like breaking, only it would only do it on one side.
Why? I don't know, annoying? Yes!

Electronic breaking is good for control, but it'll make your ESCs work hard.

[PJ-27]

Re: which speed controllers are better

@Dave,

Ah the bedroom workshop, we've all been there.

[PJ-27]

Re: which speed controllers are better

While we're on the subject of 'Which ESC' I bought a couple of super cheap Chinese ESCs the other day.

£13 each on recommendation from Guileherme, can take up to 14v (18v with a simple mod) and he runs 2 drills on one so plenty of amperage.
Built in BEC, Li-Po prtection etc... Came in just a few days.

I do have an issue though where there is a major delay between fwd and rev if anyone has any insight into why?
Guileherme hasn't experienced this with his.

[Mouldy]

Re: which speed controllers are better

PJ- it's warmer then the shed lol...

Ellis, I think if you got them you'd find tormenta drives much better... Electronizes are ghetto. Fact.

[Ellis]

Re: which speed controllers are better

Lmfao, the robot was made out of wheelbarrow inner-tube and chopping boards, ghetto iz how we do. :wink: