Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => BRUSHLESS Motors and Speed Controllers => Topic started by: NobbySideways on June 10, 2015, 11:54:07 am

Title: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: NobbySideways on June 10, 2015, 11:54:07 am
I'll need to set up my Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless speed controller shortly and wonder how I should set up the throttle.


a) No reverse, fully down being stop. The lakes I have in mind are quite large and I doubt reverse would be needed, though I'm happy to be corrected.
b) Up for forward, Middle position neutral, down to reverse. My Transmitter doesn't have a spring return so it won't naturally return to this position. Also Using up 50% of the stick travel for a function that will barely get used seems wasteful
c) Set a neutral position further down the travel; top 75% or so of the stick movement for forward speed, bottom 25% for reversing. Gives better throttle resolution but still allows for a reverse. Not sure if this is achievable but I don't see why not. My Tx might even be programmable for this, not sure yet (Flysky T6)


What are peoples opinions? I did wonder about setting reverse up on a spare channel but I don't see a way of making it work other than adding a reversing motor (no chance!).


All of your wisdom gratefully perused, thanks
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: Plastic - RIP on June 10, 2015, 12:03:05 pm
Why make it difficult for yourself?

I'd go 50/50 centre neutral because, as you say, the lakes are large and you won't actually be touching this control ever if you are happily cruising around the lake at a constant speed.
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: boatmadman on June 10, 2015, 12:35:38 pm
I think the type of boat dictates the answer to this.


If its a fast electric then no reverse because if you inadvertently go too hard astern you will swamp or even sink the boat.


If its a scale boat, then reverse is required!


Ian
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: NobbySideways on June 10, 2015, 01:20:28 pm
Thanks gents, its a Huntsman. My only concern was throttle finesse whilst cornering, hence thinking that being able to have good throttle resolution would be nice.  {:-{
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: boatmadman on June 10, 2015, 01:36:58 pm
Hi,
I run a 41" huntsman on brushless. I have reverse programmed in and dont seem to need any more throttle control than is available from the half range for forward.


Interestingly, I had been cornering mine at full rudder and full speed with no issues with the boat, but, when I took it out I found the rudder bent! So, I now back off a little for cornering.


Ian
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: NobbySideways on June 10, 2015, 01:46:14 pm
I run a 41" huntsman on brushless. I have reverse programmed in and dont seem to need any more throttle control than is available from the half range for forward.


Thats useful to know, thanks. I'll try that (my only really worry is that with the stick not having a spring return I run the risk of inadvertent operation and losing a finger!).
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: canabus on June 10, 2015, 01:58:59 pm
If the marine ones are like the car ESC's I set the start power % to 10 and the reverse force to 25%.
A nice start speed and in reverse not to much reverse power but gives you a good control reverse speed.
I use the car ESC,s because they are smaller, no plumbing and the fan cools the ESC at all speeds.
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: TomHugill on June 10, 2015, 03:32:38 pm
I think your definitely over thinking this....
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: radiojoe on June 10, 2015, 04:14:46 pm
I would defo go for reverse, sooner or later someone will sail across the front of your boat and you'll need to stop pronto, the throttle stick can be made self centring, some makes of TX's can supply the centring arm and spring, I've done my TX's by using the centring arm on the other stick as a pattern to make one for the throttle, three of my TX's are done like that and work fine. :-))
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: NobbySideways on June 10, 2015, 09:09:24 pm
I think your definitely over thinking this....


Oh I don't doubt it. It's a character trait.
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: NFMike on June 10, 2015, 09:48:27 pm
To properly overthink it and have the best of both worlds ... set it up as 0-100% and then have a relay (probably a contactor for the current) controlled by a digital channel to reverse the direction of the motor. (Unless the esc has a switch input that will do this instead of the external relay.)
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: NobbySideways on June 10, 2015, 09:57:43 pm
I like your thinking. :}


I could use a DPDT Relay to swap the polarity of the motor. Except this is brushless, so I would just be swapping the polarity of two of the three field coils. Not sure how they put up with such things whilst running...  %%
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: Calimero on June 10, 2015, 11:30:51 pm
A small servo that would scratch the back of a trained rat. The rat would then take two wires from the BL motor and swap them.


The problem is signaling the rat when to wire the motor back to normal/forward operation. Mhhh. Maybe another servo with a little sign ? But then you'd have to teach that poor animal how to read.






Dammit, that whole thread belongs to the Humour forum !
Title: Re: To reverse or not reverse? (Tunigy Marine 120A Brushless)
Post by: NFMike on June 11, 2015, 01:28:51 am
I could use a DPDT Relay to swap the polarity of the motor. Except this is brushless, so I would just be swapping the polarity of two of the three field coils.

Yep.

Not sure how they put up with such things whilst running...  %%

Not very well probably  :((  . You'd really need an interlock on the boat or tx (might be able to program it) to prevent changeover happening at anything above low speed/power.