ESC recommendations

[T00TY_FRU1TY]

Hi all I am using two my1020 24v motors overvolting to 36v.

Any recommendations for speed control?

I am using an ackerman steering setup so channel mixing not necessary.

Would these be suitable? I suspect not able to stand up to physical shocks associated with robot wars.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F252932329711

[typhoon_driver]

I wouldn't recommend those controllers. The current capacity figures are hobbyamps (not true amp ratings) plus interfacing them with radio gear would be a pain.

Some examples of heavyweight controllers used these days,

- Vantec
- Roboteq
- Vex victor BB
- Ragebridge (these probably won't take the full 36v you plan)

In short, they aren't cheap but if you buy cheap you'll end up spending more cash when they blow.

[maddox10]

That is a heap of capacitators... Don't believe that will fair well in our mechanical gladiators.

I agree with Gary. Buy cheap is to buy a lot more. And still end up with one of the more expensive ESC's.
On the other hand, it could be you did find a hidden gem.

Robot Power Vypers look good too.

Our friendly German electronics wizzard is also working on a heavyweight ESC, the IBF4.6. But that isn't commercial ready yet.

[blazerbotics]

If your only looking for single channel and cheap, you could go old school with 4QD controllers

[Theo]

At 500w, you could keep them at 24v and possibly go with a pair of TZ85s, the chapest heavy ESC you can get (£62.50 each on Ranglebox iirc). But they can't really handle any more than that.

[T00TY_FRU1TY]

I thought the capacitors wouldn't take the kind of shocks the robots receive.
Thanks for the recommendations.
4qd seem to be extortionate where I see them. Where can I source cheap ones?

[maddox10]

What do you call cheap? ESC's that are difficult to control? Lacking fine control, making the machine unsteerable? Or blowing up every fight some demand is placed upon them?

A good ESC is something you don't have to replace after 2 fights (unless you did it wrong).
Our Sidewinders survived years of abuse in Hannibal( fried 1 there, lack of current limiting on 1 channel, later rectified by Robot Power) Mantis, Obsidian, kan-Opener and Bullfrog.

[typhoon_driver]

What is your overall budget for a heavyweight because I get the feeling you may have underestimated the costs involved?

For reference, a typical heavyweight will set you back several thousand pounds.

[Garfie489]

Yeh its best to give information in Quantitative rather than Qualitative terms.

Cheap for me and cheap for you are going to be two different things, best to work out a budget and specifications and then give a rough idea of what your looking for.

[T00TY_FRU1TY]

All parts and spares I have purchased except weapon system and esc. Even the priciest ESC is within budget for me.

What I meant by the cheap comment was all 4qd I can find are as expensive if not more so than others with less features therefore not good VALUE unless cheaper than others as was suggested by blazer.

vyper or osmc were the two I have been looking at for a while, sabre tooth I have heard mixed reports and 4qd I have known about since 90s robot wars.

The reason I opened this thread was because I was on eBay, these cheap kart and scooter controllers popped up and were showing surprising power handling numbers dirt cheap so seemed too good to be true.

I really wanted to know if anyone had tried them being as that is the main uses of 4qd (golf cart controller). Thought these may be a modern cheaper 4qd.

I am more interested in reliability over price or features but I don't want to pay for fancy features like mixing ect if I don't have to as if good value could put towards more spares

[cosmin]

interfacing them with radio gear would be a pain.

They seem to support RC input out of the box, so that shouldn't be an issue. But those ESCs aren't reversible, so they wouldn't be usable for drive anyway.

[Eventorizon]

Its up to you, but I believe the consensus these days is 'Buy once, buy right'. You are better off buying a decent pair of controllers which you can reuse and transfer into future machines than tying to buy cheap. Combat is way outside what most ESC's are designed for and you will probably find you have spent as much on replacement cheap parts as you could have on one really good one.
We use Brushless in our HW's I'll admit so its not my area of expertise, but a pair of Vypers, shock mounted would be a good say to go. Alternatively, drop your voltage to 24V and go with TZ85's... though do expect them to get very hot.

[team death]

After our Rangebridge 2 blew I am looking for an alternative-£180 is a
lot for me and to have another blow at that price would be traumatic.
Many speed controllers are very pricey and apart from lack of engineering
skills, the cost is a major issue to new roboteers
I'm considering buying a scooter esc too, to do some experimenting on
ie possible ways of reversing-.

[maddox10]

If cost is a hindrance, start smaller. A heavy will cost you a 2de hand car in the run of a few years. It ain't a cheap hobby.

On the other hand, it's a very satisfying hobby that will boost your skills faster than most educational courses and will give you a leg up in a technical profession.

[T00TY_FRU1TY]

I have experience building large and small robots at home but absolutely none with the combat robot and the kinetic shocks these machines are subjected to!

You can't try before you buy and very pricy for trial and error
Also my main stress is finding products to deal with current draw in a pushing match without burning out!

Thanks for the recommendations guys!

Any experience with cytron controllers anyone?
https://www.robotshop.com/uk/cytron-...iABEgLnZPD_BwE