Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Radio Equipment => Topic started by: john1951 on April 02, 2010, 04:37:48 pm

Title: Motor squeal
Post by: john1951 on April 02, 2010, 04:37:48 pm

I'm fairly new to RC boats ie I've built a few, but never got round to sailing any of them yet !
  I built a Revell Snowberry and installed a Graupner 400 motor, along with an Electronize ESC.
   The motor gives off a high pitched squeak/squeal when running.
    Can anyone tell me what's causing this? Is it anything to be concerned about?
     Otherwise, everything seems to work OK

                                                 Thanks     John

Title: Re: Motor squeal
Post by: stallspeed on April 02, 2010, 04:45:02 pm

If it is one of the more recent Electronize ones then you have three frequency options.
If the noise bothers you change the frequency if you can

The higher frequency is better for the motor.

Title: Re: Motor squeal
Post by: john1951 on April 02, 2010, 05:03:45 pm

I bought the ESC about 8-9 years ago, so I guess it's not a recent type.
 

Title: Re: Motor squeal
Post by: DickyD on April 02, 2010, 05:29:45 pm

Are you sure its the motor and not the ESC ?

Title: Re: Motor squeal
Post by: john1951 on April 02, 2010, 05:52:22 pm

I had wondered about that, but when it's running, it's very hard to tell where the noise is actually coming from.
        Thinking on, I've pretty sure I've heard something about noisy ESC's, but it was a long time ago.
            Is this more of an annoyance than a fault ?

Title: Re: Motor squeal
Post by: DickyD on April 02, 2010, 06:00:07 pm

Yes its annoying. You could try another ESC. Preferably another make.

Title: Re: Motor squeal
Post by: john1951 on April 04, 2010, 06:48:44 am

Thanks for the replie's, I'll just live with it!
                                                               John

Title: Re: Motor squeal
Post by: malcolmfrary on April 05, 2010, 11:52:41 am

Simple check, try connecting the motor direct to a battery, if thats silent, then you have a motor responding to the ESC, if not, a bit of oil on the bearings is called for.   Older Electronizes just used the transmitter frame rate (about 50Hz ) as their operating frequency.  At low speeds (and before they offered enough energy to start the motor turning) they gave a low pitched hum.  Modern ESCs use a higher frequency, and tend to whistle.  Much of this depends on the individual motor.  Some will whistle at the least provocation, some seem immune.