Hobbywing ESC

Im having a go at converting my Black horse twister from ic to electric and im confused with the ESC. Can i use the BEC or will i need to use a seperate RX battery? it is a Hobbywing Pentium 60A from giant cod.

The instructions say the BEC is 5V 3A and will be ok with 5 micro servos, i plan to use 4 standard size Futaba 3004's and Futaba R-617FS reciever.

Will these servo's be ok as i dont know if they will draw more current than micros?

Thought id give electrics a go!

Peter

I forgot to say battery will be a 4 cell lipo

Peter

Hi Pete you need to use a stand alone "S" BEC that will operate at 4 or more cell, take the supply direct from battery +ve, -ve this way you bypass the ESC, Andy will give you the crooks of I'm sure

something like this although there will be cheaper this will run any thing in the future

http://robotbirds.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1873

Thanks for your help Rich

i didnt know there was such a thing as a stand alone BEC till now

Peter

On a 4s lipo pack, I wouldn't use the ESC's built in BEC function, purely because it will get mighty hot, and have a good chance of failing. AS Rich says, what you really want is a seperate S BEC connected directly to the pack. The one Rich linked to at Robot Birds is very good indeed, I'd be happy using that one. The cheaper ones will probably work, but as with everything, you get what you pay for.

Oh, and disable the ESC BEC function, just remove the RED wire/pin from the connector to the receiver....

This wiring diagram is quyite useful, just replace the Castle BEC with whichever one you want to use (the castle ones are excellent too, but not cheap.) http://www.castlecreations.com/products/ccbec_diagrams/ccbec_pro_wiring.html

Shout if you have more questions!
Andy

Hobbywing Pentium esc HERE states that the BEC is switch mode and not linear. Thus, BEC heat should not be a problem. Plus, 3A should be fine for four(4) Futaba 3004 (see Timbo's latest thread on Modelflying Servo current consumption)

Personaly i wouldnt use a stand alone BEC in this model, Id use a seperate rx battery pack.

Remove the red wire from the ESC RX lead (disableing the BEC) then add a switch and 4s nihm pack of around 800-1000mah direct to the RX.

All personal opinion and all methods will work, just thats how i would do it particualy as your lickly to need some weight to get it to balance.

M

If going the seperate battery pack route I've used a 5 cell Ni-mh pack and THESE . No problems with the higher voltage and it certainly improves the performance of the servos. Just to confirm that you have the current version of the ESC and not an older version - does your ESC have the Rx connection lead threaded through a ferite ring, if so it does have a swithed mode BEC.

Good point Pete is on 2.4 so 5 cell RX pack would be better. or lipo and reg.

Dont think ive ever used ESC BEC on a model with more than 4 servos, 3 is about my limit even my shokkies bypass the BEC, 7v through your servos is wicked fast for about 10 flights lol

M

Is that exactly 10(just after landing)? Or is it at 9 1/2 or 10 1/2????? just when you need the servo to prevent a re-kit of the plane!!!!

it varies Allan but the smell of burnning is normaly the hint

AH-HAH! I see, crash and burn eh

The servo wire is threaded through a ferite ring and i think is a switch mode BEC

Im starting to think maybe a seperate Rx battery is safer!

Peter

Ah, if it has a switchmode BEC onboard the ESC, then you should be fine to use that on a 4s battery. The only real downside, is that if the ESC fails for whatever reason, then so does your radio link. On some models that is really not acceptable (where you are pushing the ESC hard for example, like pylon racers). On yours, it should be okay.

A seperate RX pack would be good too, at least it would be if you remember to charge it Don't forget though, you can't operate the BEC and RX pack in parallel, unless you want to release the majick smoke...

Andy

Personally, if there's any question, I would go for a 5 cell rx pack. Of all the options its the least likely to fail. Normal housekeeping applies to installing, charging and condition of the rx switch etc of course