1st feather bot build

[cnc_machinist_andy]

Ive started reading back through the posts going back to 2003 when technology was more mechanical. Im not electronically minded but i am willing to learn.

My point is. If you don't use ESC for brushed motors what can you use?
I've seen Spark speed controller ( the white blocks ) anyones opinions?
What else has been used

[Garfie489]

Unless you want to build your own bang bang controller i dont see any reason not to use an ESC.

[cnc_machinist_andy]

Whats a bang bang controller? And any recommendations for an esc for brushed motors either bec ubec or otherwise ?

[mattsdragons]

It's a general term for contact controllers where by as soon as they engage it's full power or nothing. I would recommend the botbitz TZ85 controller, they will last you for years and can power pretty much any brushed motor you could find for featherweight combat.

Ranglebox is the UK distributed for them, just keep an eye on when they come back in stock.

[cnc_machinist_andy]

Cheers mattsdragons. i take it those on ranglebox are the hacked ones?

[Giles]

Yea botbitz are hacked brushless ones converted to work as brushed. They are good from what I know, I only use the smaller ones. If you can't wait for Ranglebox to stock them, I think there was a tutorial out there somewhere on how to convert them yourself.

[R9000]

Here's the thread for that conversion, I'll be doing that once they finally arrive from Hong Kong (grumble shipping times grumble): http://www.fightingrobots.co.uk/thre...hlight=hacking

I got the cable from HobbyKing for programming the chip directly, means you don't have to solder on separate programming wires, the only electronic mod you need to do is bridge the on/off switch.

[cnc_machinist_andy]

Thanks Giles. I don't know yet what i need. I've got 6 18v drill motors n gearboxes and working out a bot. But say i want to use 4 motors for drive what amp rated esc do i need?

[R9000]

I was told you could get away fine with one TZ85 for each pair of drill motors (one for left, one for right). I'm working on a 4WD 18v design too.

[cnc_machinist_andy]

I expect it would need 4 esc`s? But i can't see how a 4wd system would be any better than 4 motors wired up 2L and 2R with belts or split system

[R9000]

I'm pretty sure the two motors would draw more current through the ESCs, just as if you were to connect a larger, higher-powered motor in there. Thus, you get the full power from all four motors, but you only need two ESCs to control them if they can handle the current draw (like TZ85s). But yeah, you could do a belt system I guess. Seems unnecessarily complicated when you could just have one motor per wheel.

If someone knows I'm wrong here, please tell me, but I'm fairly certain on that.

[cnc_machinist_andy]

Either way I'd still fix a drive belt to each wheel either from each motor or from a common side so the motors dont direct drive the wheels