advice on speed controllers needed

[Sam EvansParticipant @samevans47801]

Me and a friend of mine are thinking of building a model RC electric racing boat from scratch (with the sole aim of going very fast). We are pretty sure about how to make the hull, but we’re designing it as a catamaran with two motors and props (one on each hull). this made us think about the fact that instead of using rudders on servos, we could have a separate speed controller on each motor and steer the boat by varying the speed of each motor (so to turn right you put more power into the left hand motor or less into the right hand, and visa versa).

 

does anyone know how we could achieve this with a two channel controller, using a forward-back stick to control the overall forward speed, and a left-right stick to steer like with a servo, but with the system mentioned above? I know it has been done before.

 

thankyou 

Edited By Sam Evans on 01/02/2011 21:21:30

[Sam EvansParticipant @samevans47801]

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

if going as fast as you want it to go, and i imagine that you want it QUICK………LIKE MENTAL QUICK, you’d never have the steering control by using motors alone to steer her……

 

you’ll definately need twin rudders linked together and working as one……………. steering basically relies upon water to pass over a steering object [ i.e. a blade……rudder] to have steerage …………..and to take away that “mechanical” object of steerage by just using motor propulsion……….err would lead to disaster, not only for your boat, but for others on the same lake…….that is unless you go down the road of water jet drive.

neil.

 

 

 

http://www.justgiving.com/lochnessscalesail

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 01/02/2011 22:29:53

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 01/02/2011 22:30:24

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

http://www.action-electronics.co.uk/pdfs/Twins%20Ver2.pdf

DM

[David MeierParticipant @davidmeier28154]

Hi Sam.

If you are wanting fast, I would use rudders for steering.

 

Some of the cheaper ready to run speed boats use the motors for steering. To turn left the LH motor stops, this works quite effectively but the boat drops to half speed during the turn.

 

Turning uses more energy than going straight, so you can see that if you are wanting to go fast, steering with the motors is not the best idea.

 

Cheers.

David.

[ARTHUR COLLETTParticipant @arthurcollett48040]

Hi

I dont think a two channel will do what you want. Twin motors, two speed contols. I agree with advise given already. Go for rudders and hopefully two brushless systems with li-po pac’s

Best

Arthur

[Author]

Posts