Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => The "Black Arts!" ( Electrics & Electronics ) => Topic started by: RyanB on September 05, 2010, 12:38:03 am

Title: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: RyanB on September 05, 2010, 12:38:03 am

can anyone help me please?

I have 2 ESC's but need to run them off one battery. Do i simply connect the red and black power leads from the ESC's together in to one plug and cut one of the red BEC's to the RX?

I have read many reviews on the boat im building and they all say to run 1 battery not 2 due to weight. The boat is the Sentinel by the way..

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks Ryan

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: barriew on September 05, 2010, 06:38:38 am

YES :-))
Barrie

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: DickyD on September 05, 2010, 08:01:48 am

I'm with Barrie, yes.  :-))

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: Shipmate60 on September 05, 2010, 08:53:44 am

Or if you want independent fuses and tidy wiring you could use one of these ACTion Distribution boards.

http://www.action-electronics.co.uk/pat.php

Bob

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: dougal99 on September 06, 2010, 04:43:59 pm

I run my Sentinel on two batteries and have no problem with speed and you may find the extra weight helps with stability.

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: Peter on September 06, 2010, 04:52:50 pm

Bob,

Thanks for the link, some neat bits of kit there.

Peter

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: DickyD on September 06, 2010, 05:52:50 pm

I run my Sentinel on a 7.2v 4600mAh battery pack and electrics from Dave at Action .

http://www.action-electronics.co.uk/pdfs/Slipway%20Sentinel.pdf

(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/Sentinel/DSCF0046.jpg)

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: RyanB on September 06, 2010, 08:06:03 pm

Thanks for the reply guys, really appreciate it. I think I was thinking about it too much, therefore I had to ask to make sure. I did initially want to run it on 2, but I was informed it would be too heavy and also there is not much room. Still not sure how I'm going to run it yet but at least I know how to now..

Thanks Ryan

PS Do you happen to have any pictures of the internals of yours Dougal?

Cheers Ryan

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: DickyD on September 06, 2010, 08:17:15 pm

One battery takes mine down to the water line.  :-))

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: RyanB on September 06, 2010, 08:25:59 pm

Thats what I have been told dicky, but i was unsure of power on 1 battery and also how to wire it, but that has now been sorted..

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: dougal99 on September 07, 2010, 09:34:30 pm

I've included a couple of photos of the inside without the batteries. They fit along the centre line from between the motors aft. The rear ons has to be offset slightly to port to counter the weight of the RIB. Aslo a picture of my boat on the water (with two batteries fitted - trust me  8) ) as you can see on the waterline. A point of interest maybe that I didn't use all the white metal fittings, particularly on the superstructure. I replaced them with scratch items of plastic, wire and balsa.

She sails OK and at speed.

Doug

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: RyanB on September 25, 2010, 07:15:37 pm

sorry for the late reply guys, been off it for a while...

thank you so much for the advice and pics, I have sorted the lay out now, with 2 stick packs and it sits perfect.... just need to build it now....

Just to note I have had to connect both BEC's or it does not work.... not sure why but hey....

cheers Ryan

Title: Re: 2 ESC's and one battery?
Post by: malcolmfrary on September 25, 2010, 08:01:13 pm

Quote

Just to note I have had to connect both BEC's or it does not work.... not sure why but hey....

Either BEC should work the entire system, so perhaps one of the BECs isn't doing its thing.  If you connect one ESC does it work? If you connect the other instead, does that worK?  This would indicate if both ESC's BECs are working.  Normal accepted wisdom is that one BEC per power run does the job, more than one becomes prone to problems.