I have 3 of these motors:
I want to connect them all to a single LIPO battery via multiple ESCs of some kind.
How many cells would this battery require and what voltage?
Additionally, can I control gimbal motors with an Arduino Uno R3 and ESCs?
Thanks,
ccg123
3S 2200 - 4000mAh battery (12.54 v Fully charged 3-cell lipo)
I control gimbal motors with an Arduino Uno R3 and ESCs?
Yes , but most people simply call them "brushless" motors.
Use the Servo library and any digital output pin (I think you can even use the analog pins).
It sounds like you might not have any RC experience. If that is the case then I should warn you that if you plan to use the 5V dc
output from the BEC of one of the ESCs , you can only use the 5V from ONE of the ESCs. You MUST cut the red wire on the little
3-wire servo cable of the ESC on the other ESCs that you are not using for 5V. Using the ESC BEC 5V output is a matter of choice rather than necessity. If the ESC is in an aircraft (or quadcopter) it is just plain stupid to use the ESC BEC output to power your uC or your servos because if you overheat your motor and short it out and then burn up your ESC you will have NO POWER for your servos so you will NOT be able to make an emergency "dead stick" landing. For aircraft a dedicated standalone BEC is used because it operates independent of the ESC and you can fry you ESC and still make a dead stick landing because your servos will still have power. If the RC application is anything on the ground then it is a moot point because crashing is no longer an issue.
You can't use an ESC for a gimbal controller. ESCs are designed to spin motors at high speeds, switching each phase full-on or off, and you need to be able to control the motor slowly, on a phase-by-phase basis, and with a sinusoidal wave form.
I suppose an ESC does have all the circuitry you need, but you'd need to reprogram the micro on the ESC to control the gimbal properly. Not an introductory project any way you slice it.
Gimbal motors have special ESCs to drive them. To quote the page:
it’s a perfect match to our range of brushless gimbal stabilization boards and IMUs.
Max voltage 12V implies LiPo configuration of 2S or 3S.
it’s a perfect match to our range of brushless gimbal stabilization boards and IMUs.
(NOTE THE THREE PIN MOTOR CONNECTORS.)
Max voltage 12V implies LiPo configuration of 2S or 3S.
2S , fully charged = 8.4Vdc
3S fully charged = 12.54 V dc