Using a car ESC in a boat

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31 January 2012 at 10:24 #33230
Trevor Holloway
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@trevorholloway99134
Can someone please explain why I should not use one of these >> http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RC-ESC-20A-Brushed-Car-Motor-Speed-Controller-1-16-1-18-/260807927562?pt=AU_Toys_Hobbies_Radio_Controlled_Vehicles&hash=item3cb95d270a << in a model boat ?

OK, it may not be waterproof but the inside of the boat hull should be dry anyway !
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31 January 2012 at 10:24 #5156
Trevor Holloway
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@trevorholloway99134
31 January 2012 at 11:29 #33231
Charles Oates
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@charlesoates31738
I expected to read that it didn’t have reverse, but this one does!. All I can think of is that some of these controlers have poor slow speed reolution, you might find it dificult at slower speeds, but I am guessing.

If you get one let us know what it’s like please.

Charlie.
2 February 2012 at 16:58 #33248
wayne quigley
Participant
@waynequigley28540
could it not be that due to the ESC being in a hull it may over heat which is why i us a water proof in and bring it out up top
2 February 2012 at 17:39 #33250
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Trevor. I think Charlie may be correct in the low speed control observation. Basically there would be no reason not to use a car ESC unless the unit is drawing max power and so would need additional cooling of some sort due to the confines of a boat hull.

Car ESC`s have additional features on them like a brake function and so on which is not needed on a boat unit..other than that??

The unit your link points to handles both Lipo and Nimh. It would be important to set the ESC up to take NiMh as the Lipo setting has voltage cut off points and all sorts.

Ashley
2 February 2012 at 18:04 #33255
Trevor Holloway
Participant
@trevorholloway99134
Have ordered two to see what I get !

Will check if it gets warm when installed and relocate / add heatsink if necessary.

Will definitely be using the 7.2v stick batteries for one and AAA’s with the other due to lack of hull space inside a 1:40 Waveney lifeboat !
3 February 2012 at 14:16 #33263
mike farrell
Participant
@mikefarrell21522
Ops . Sorry for that , as a former driver of radio controlled cars I had a spare 21 amp esp and used it in my 50s style cabin criuser. No affect at all Jonson tin can motor does not draw enough power to overhead the esp .S econdly all Mtronic esp are waterproof(used them outside in all weathers) I would however never use one where a continous draw of near the capasity of the ESP
27 February 2012 at 10:17 #33530
Trevor Holloway
Participant
@trevorholloway99134
Two have now arrived in just under four weeks.

First impression is that they are no way water or even vapour proof – being bare circuits with surface mounted components in a clear heat shrink sleeve. The power wires seem thin for the 8.4 v and 20a rating (can be replaced or fused to 10a).

For £16.50 the pair delivered from Hong Kong they look good so far – will try one out in the small lifeboat (1:40 Waveney) tonight and report again.
28 February 2012 at 09:18 #33541
Trevor Holloway
Participant
@trevorholloway99134
Rigged one up in the life boat last night.

It does work.,it does have reverse, is small and is light.

Not a proper test as I am sure my radio gear does not like the boats at the bottom of the cast iron bath as it seems to mess up the signal.

Overall a very promising start.
28 February 2012 at 11:25 #33543
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Trevor, even more promising to see it on the water on Sunday !!!

I might bring my small converted Severn lifeboat out for an outing if you are going to bring a lifeboat too.

Ashley
28 February 2012 at 11:30 #33544
Trevor Holloway
Participant
@trevorholloway99134
Might bring it along – however its not really ready for the open water yet (deck not yet on).
28 February 2012 at 13:11 #33547
ARTHUR COLLETT
Participant
@arthurcollett48040
Hi guys

I am using a old Novak Rooster (forward reverse) in my Smit Nederland for the past few years. I have drilled two 5mm holes in the heat sink and running two copper pipes connected to a Graupner water pump. The speed controler reacts very well at slow speed as the drive frequency is very low. I assume that controllers used for heavy duty trucks etc. would be better than the one's used in racing cars due to the drive frequency. This tug works very hard and i never had a thermal cut out. In fact it it is running luke warm only. If you can keep it dry it will last a long time.

Regards

Arthur
28 February 2012 at 14:04 #33549
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Arthur. it strikes me that a boat esc has it relatively easy, compared to a truck or car one, as the initial surge to get things moving on a car compared to a boat is very different. The boat one is powering a prop, of fairly low initial resistance at low throttle openings, whereas a truck one has all the inertia and mass of a truck to get going, requiring much more throttle for the comparitivly low initial speeds, the power requirements probably easing off as the thing gets going.?

Sounds good to me !!

Trevor, clingfilm makes a good temporary deck !!!

Ashley
28 February 2012 at 14:07 #33550
Trevor Holloway
Participant
@trevorholloway99134
Also the trucks / cars could be subject to hill starts – not something I have seen a boat try – yet !

OK, I will try the cling film and double sided tape – unless it is windy.
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