which speed controllers are better

[Anttazz]

Re: which speed controllers are better

I'll be testing a couple of the Botbitz 25A ESCs in the next couple of weeks on 4 drill motors at 12v, testing them using Cicatrix so will post the results on here soon.

[Ellis]

Re: which speed controllers are better

That would be great. Keep us posted. If they work well, they're much closer to reality money-wise for us. We'd be running the drills hard and at 18v, though.

[Anttazz]

Re: which speed controllers are better

I don't have an 18v battery or any combination of batteries that could produce 18v . I was tempted to try them on 19.2v that I run Cicatrix on normally as the XXL can behave a bit strangely sometimes and they would be a nice cheap replacement for it, but they're only rated at 18v. I'll do the 12v test first so I don't kill them then do a 19.2v test if i'm feeling brave.

[archie2000]

Re: which speed controllers are better

could you use one of these?
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&gl ... WPzE&mvs=0
wow that's some link.
if you build it into a circuit but they.don't handle that many amps.

[leorcc]

Re: which speed controllers are better

When someone told me about people hacking brushless esc's to drive brushed motors I was a bit confused since Castle Creations and Novak 1:8th scale and 1:10th scale ESC's can do that already without any modifications (and probably Tekin ESC's as well but I am not certain about that one).

[PJ-27]

Re: which speed controllers are better

I believe the hack is mostly (if not entirely) changing the firmware on the ESC, physically a brushless ESC is capable of controlling a brushed motor so some companies built in the ability to do both.

[plargen]

Re: which speed controllers are better

i know this isn't quite related but i was just wandering if anyone else finds the 50a blue speed controllers a bit twitchy or is it just that 1 of mine might be naff

[psycho_fling]

Re: which speed controllers are better

they are not the best controllers in the world, plus 2 single controllers are often more twitchy etc compared to a dual speedo

[plargen]

Re: which speed controllers are better

i even tried hooking a gyro up and and it kept turning left a bit then right a bit about 2 to 5 times then stopped so i took that out

the other thing that i wandered might be the problem is the v tail mixer, its the same one on the giant shark website

[knightrous]

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

A - What issues do you find down low? Does it take more stick then you expect to make the robot move? Have a chat to Steve (Marto) on the RoboWars forum, he can probably look at changing the code to make the controllers more responsive to your requirements. I believe at the moment the controllers have a decent size dead band to be more compatible with cheaper radios like the HK TX4A's, so this might also be apart of what your seeing. From my testing, the ESCheap85's were a lot nicer to drive then when I was using Victor883's, but not as nice as my IBC (I loved that controller )

B - Correct, there was originally a programming method built into the controllers by doing stick and beep codes like most brushless controllers, but we were a little worried about people entering programming mode during a battle (caused by power resets) so it was removed. Pretty much everyone we've ever spoken to has preferred braking enabled. If you would like a custom set without it, we can do that.

C - As apart of the programming method, Steve introduced the motor beeping code. When the programming idea was scrapped, he left the beeping code in the firmware to provide another method to alert builders that a robot is powered on. I believe this may have been removed from recent firmware changes as well, I will have to have a chat with Steve about it.

Any other comments or feedback, throw them up on the Botbitz thread on the RoboWars forum, or check out our facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/botbitz/). We're happy to make changes to suit peoples requirements.

[plargen]

Re: which speed controllers are better

I've found another option from china

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T2000-Dual-Mo ... 3610wt_922

[leorcc]

Re: which speed controllers are better

I always smile when I see 75A continuous and 160A peak in the specs, and a Tamiya plug on the battery lead.

[Anttazz]

Re: which speed controllers are better

Tried to test the botbitz controllers today on 9.2v with 2 12v drill motors attached but one of them doesn't seem to be working . I'll have another look at my soldering and see if its that, but it looked ok when I did it. Don't really want to have to send them all the way back to Auz to get looked at

[Mouldy]

Re: which speed controllers are better

FYI - my second pair of botbitz tz85's arrived today... no customs charge

antazz - tried a higher voltage?

Leo- alot of brushed/brushless escs on the market such as the mamba monster max etc seem to have a delay between forward/reverse of 2 seconds or so.... so not really ideal for drive in robots.

[harry hills]

Re: which speed controllers are better

speaking of botbitz, just seen their new motors, looking quite good atm. bigger shaft would be good.