Using a Speed Controller of a Model Aircraft

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

Hello

is here somebody who has experience with speed-controllers of model aircrafts? Something like this one? http://at.robbe-online.net/rims_at.storefront/46bb1ba5002a5879271c3e0dc146064c/Product/View/1&2D8440

I want to vary the speed of a DC motor of a slot racing car (this is on the motor 14,8V 140mA) by PWM and control the speed of this motor. (so I want to vary the voltage between 0 - 14,8V)

Thanks,

Wim

2

You can use code to drive servo controllers. The kind of motorcontrollers you show in that link, is fully compatible with it.

BTW These kind of motorcontrollers are PWM. They don 't really provide 0-14 VDC.

If the car needs to reverse, you 'll need another type of controller, called a "fyll H-bridge". Airplanes don't reverse...

And these kind of RC motor controllers can be bought very cheap on eBay. Have a look here, for instance:
http://cgi.ebay.nl/ESC-30A-RC-Brushless-Motor-Electric-Speed-Controller_W0QQitemZ140140310061QQihZ004QQcategoryZ294QQcmdZViewItem

3

Thank you,

I did some tests with a small servo (something like the one below ) (pulses of (10-20µs) with a freq of 50Hz) and arduino and it works very fine.

However when I connect this speedcontroller (http://at.robbe-online.net/rims_at.storefront/46bc152e00247390271c3e0dc1460644/Product/View/1&2D8440 )- I can't measure any voltage on the outputs (blue and white wire) . The problem is that I'm not experienced with this components
I did the wiring like this:
http://www.wix.be/stuff/scheme.jpg

Somebody any idea what I'm doing wrong / recommendations?

4

hi

do you have the manual for the speed controller? The red signal wire, in the cable with red-black-white, is typically meant to connect ot 4.8 to 6V. If you connected it to 12V it is probably blown. Check and see what it says, although it may not say much in the manual as those values are usually assumed for control signals.

D

5

Thank You Daniel,

  • I checked it : Receiver Power Supply 4-6 Volts (so I probably blew it up) How can I check it if its really blown?

  • I've seen also something else :
    the manual says: Load Current 30A -
    So I should look for a heavier transfo converting 230V into 12V - and giving the speedcontroller 30A?
    The power supply (a small Transfo) I was using could only supply 600mA...

wimbr

6

hi

yes that sounds like the over voltage might have done some damage.

Don't worry about the current ratings: 30A is the maximum it can handle, but you can pass almost any load current through, as long as it's under 30A.

D