Topic: My ESC Melted (Read 12182 times)

l33_garf · « **on:** August 08, 2009, 10:43:54 am »

i had finally got my little bait boat all ready, all new receiver gear and esc, new Yuasa 6v 12ah battery's new hand set.
so set out to my local lake to break a bottle of champers on her hull and give her the first outing....

all was going well on the way out to about 170metres and then on the return trip she just stopped :-(
fortunately i had tied a fishing line to her as it was the first trip so was able to bring her in, but when i had a look inside the esc had melted!!!

the original post on what i was putting in her is found here: http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=16475.0

so what i am asking is why? is it because;

A; it was the wrong esc?

B; it was because i stupidly put the esc back into the fairly tight electronics housing which the original radio gear etc was in? therefore pretty much covering the heat syncs :-(

C; i did not have any cooling going to the heat syncs ie; water cooling?

D; a combination of the above?

i could do really with getting her back up and running asap, so can anyone shed any light on this and/or recommend a replacement esc and some cooling?

all the info i have on the boat is on the original thread.

thanks very much in advance

a very disheartened Lee

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2009, 10:50:49 am »

What ESC was it, and did you fuse the supply to it?

Bob

l33_garf · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2009, 10:59:07 am »

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RC-Waterproof-Resistant-110A-Motor-Speed-Controller-ESC_W0QQitemZ290307740583QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Toys_Hobbies_Radio_Controlled_Vehicles?hash=item290307740583&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1262&_trkparms=|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A30

above is the esc, and no unfortunately i didn't fuse the supply :-(
what would the fuse rating need to be?
thanks
Lee

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:23:35 am »

If you have melted a 110 Amp ESC with that motor there is something seriously wrong with the set up.
Either the ESC is faulty or the wiring is giving a dead short somewhere.
At 110 Amps plus the wiring should be totally "cooked" from the battery to the ESC.
That ESC should be total "overkill" for that motor.

Bob

stallspeed · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:26:55 am »

From http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=12951.msg183350#msg183350

£10 says it was undervoltage,Bob

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:36:40 am »

That one has to be an internal short surely as the battery supply cables aren't fried, nor are the motor cables.

Bob

l33_garf · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:37:59 am »

Quote from: shipmate60 on August 08, 2009, 11:23:35 am

If you have melted a 110 Amp ESC with that motor there is something seriously wrong with the set up.
Either the ESC is faulty or the wiring is giving a dead short somewhere.
At 110 Amps plus the wiring should be totally "cooked" from the battery to the ESC.
That ESC should be total "overkill" for that motor.

Bob

that was what i was thinking, all other wiring was cool, and i mean not even slightly warm! everything else was cold, and everything else worked perfectly the radio gear servo's and latching switcher are still perfect???

i checked all wiring with a continuity metre after the install and the wiring was fine.

do you think its worth contacting the seller? i know i should have fused the supply (now) but surely it should have cut off due to the heat rather than melt itself?

and as shown in the original pics, would putting it into the plastic box have caused it to overheat? i know now it wouldn't have helped, but as you say that esc should have had no problems?

and Bob, how do you mean undervoltage? not enough power form the battery?

thanks
Lee

l33_garf · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:39:03 am »

sorry i had just posted as you did i think, do you mean stallspeeds example?
as mine is the same, no problems what so ever with the remaining electronics or wiring?

DickyD · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:43:02 am »

Is it just me or is £10 a bit cheap for a 110amp speed controller ?

stallspeed · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:44:25 am »

It's in a free trade zone with no middlemen.

l33_garf · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:46:27 am »

to be honest i have no idea if £10 is cheap or not? i have never had to buy one before but it appears that i may need to buy another one in the very near future...

any recommendations as to which one, from the UK preferably.

and should i need some sort of cooling or not?

stallspeed · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2009, 11:52:07 am »

Quote from: l33_garf on August 08, 2009, 11:46:27 am

to be honest i have no idea if £10 is cheap or not? i have never had to buy one before but it appears that i may need to buy another one in the very near future...

any recommendations as to which one, from the UK preferably.

and should i need some sort of cooling or not?

Just keep the volts up so it doesn't happen again.

l33_garf · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2009, 12:04:44 pm »

Quote from: stallspeed on August 08, 2009, 11:52:07 am

Just keep the volts up so it doesn't happen again.

at the risk of sounding completely stupid, how do i keep the volts up? i'm using 6v 12ah yuasa battery's, should these be 12v? or is there something else i should have used?

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2009, 12:05:14 pm »

Being honest if I was you I would PM FLJ (ACTion Elrctronics) and he can supply the ESC and a replacement motor if required and the fuse holders.

Bob

l33_garf · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2009, 12:21:59 pm »

ok, have just pm'ed FLJ so hopefully he has something to recommend.

thanks
Lee

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2009, 02:43:28 pm »

stallspeed,
Sorry, but how can you keep the volts up when using a 6 volt gell cell.
The min BEC voltsge is 5 volts so there isn't much to play with unless you wire in a seperate receiver supply.

Bob

stallspeed · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2009, 03:15:04 pm »

I mean't use 7.2 or 8.4 and find out how to engage the low-voltage protection but he could actually use a 4.8 pack and score through tracks to disable the esc bec.That is not always needed.

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2009, 04:42:35 pm »

stallspeed,
Probably being a bit thick here, but how does undervoltage burn out the ESC. If the BEC goes below 5 volts shouldn't it cut out which will shut down the receiver?

Bob

DickyD · « **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2009, 05:19:42 pm »

Stallspeed or what ever your name is today, have you actually looked at the speed controller specification

Working Voltage :   5-10 cells, 6-12v, NiCd, Nimh Li-po battery
BEC Current :   5v/1A
Low Battery Cutoff :   5v
Continuous Output Current :   110A forward, 40A backward
Reversion :   Yes
Low-Voltage, Cut Electricity Protection :   Yes
Dimension :    54.8 x 40 x 14.7mm
Weight :   59g
Package Weight :    ~84g

stallspeed · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:28:13 pm »

Quote from: DickyD on August 08, 2009, 05:19:42 pm

Stallspeed or what ever your name is today, have you actually looked at the speed controller specification

Yes I did, but the spec is way off.
Any electronic engineer will confirm it has an achilles heel and the 110A rating is hopelessly optimistic too.

DickyD · « **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:34:46 pm »

Amazing, you can tell all this from a photograph

andyn · « **Reply #21 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:49:28 pm »

How on earth is undervoltage EVER going to blow up a voltage regulator

stallspeed · « **Reply #22 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:52:42 pm »

It wasn't.The reg is beside the servo cable.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2009, 06:56:21 pm »

Stallspeed. speaking in riddles does not make much impression on our underdeveloped, ignorant minds.

If you can't express yourself clearly then there isn't much point in posting.

DickyD · « **Reply #24 on:** August 08, 2009, 07:20:23 pm »

Quite right Colin

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Author Topic: My ESC Melted (Read 12182 times)

l33_garf

l33_garf

stallspeed

l33_garf

l33_garf

stallspeed

l33_garf

stallspeed

l33_garf

l33_garf

stallspeed

stallspeed

andyn

stallspeed