ESC/radios 101 please

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  • ebfoxbat
    Member
    • Apr 2007
    • 38

    #1

    ESC/radios 101 please

    So I've got some books on the way. I've read the top hundred Google links. But I've got so many questions.

    I have the project in mind, but I'm scared to piece together the parts myself. I'm leaning toward buying a RTR and takeing it apart.

    What do I need to know about radio and esc compatibility. I know the esc needs to be rated for the number of cells and the max current the motor will pull. But what about the radio?

    Will any 2 channel radio work with an esc? How about reverse and stuff? I can't find anything to address my worries. I'd like to buy some reasonably good equipment. So I've bean reading about FMs and stuff but I can't find a good "idiots guide" article.

    I would appreciate advice. Thanks.
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    Just a cheapo EC surfer ...for now
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  • saleens7
    Fast Electric Addict!
    • Apr 2007
    • 1108

    #2
    any 2 channel should work fine, normally the radio system does alloe the trigger to go reverse, but the esc would need to have a reversing feature for this to work...
    saleens7, the wookie of rc boating

    Comment

    • avengersteve
      Senior Member
      • Apr 2007
      • 321

      #3
      Also depends on your budget... how much are you looking to spend?
      restoring the collection

      Comment

      • ebfoxbat
        Member
        • Apr 2007
        • 38

        #4
        $250 or so excluding batteries and the hull. Less is better than more. I need good acceleration and don't care about anything beyond 15-20 mph. I also don't really need range. I was thinking of going brushless because I read it's a bit better power for less battery drain but brushless might be out of my league for a first rig.
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        Just a cheapo EC surfer ...for now
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        • SJFE
          Fast Electric Addict!
          • Apr 2007
          • 4735

          #5
          Ok go for the Hitech Agressor FM 2 channel radio and the Aquacraft Brushless system. That will fit your budget fine. You will be able to order them(if they are in stock) right here with in the next couple days. Keep the hull around 26 inches with that power system. If you want a bigger boat it will cost you another 100$ or so for the next best option in power.

          Comment

          • ebfoxbat
            Member
            • Apr 2007
            • 38

            #6
            I'm going to make a very floaty, self-righting surfer. I had planned to make it longer so I could run in parallel and still be floaty. What's "the next best option in power" ?
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            Just a cheapo EC surfer ...for now
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            Comment

            • SJFE
              Fast Electric Addict!
              • Apr 2007
              • 4735

              #7
              It would be to much power for your app. Honestly I would go with an RC-Hydros 90amp esc and the 700sc for a motor.

              Comment

              • ebfoxbat
                Member
                • Apr 2007
                • 38

                #8
                Would that be a 9.6v setup or more like 14.4v ?
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                Just a cheapo EC surfer ...for now
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                Comment

                • saleens7
                  Fast Electric Addict!
                  • Apr 2007
                  • 1108

                  #9
                  you better get that rc-hydro esc soon...Andy has stopped producing them and he's only got 100 left...although i think its more like 25 or so as that was announced a few days ago.....
                  saleens7, the wookie of rc boating

                  Comment

                  • Fluid
                    Fast and Furious
                    • Apr 2007
                    • 8012

                    #10
                    I strongly recommend that you DO NOT get a cheap AM radio! Sooner or later - probably sooner - you will have problems that will take away from your enjoyment of your boat....issues like glitching, loss of control, etc. If cost is an issue, get a used system off eBay or a swap shop in a car or boat forum. Any good three channel FM system will work, as will a 2.4Ghz radio. I raced a used eBay radio for six years, set a bunch of records with it.

                    For a first rig either 8 or 12 cells will be fine. I'd recommend not going brushless on your first boat - BL motors and ESCs do not like water and most original projects leak like sieves at lest at first.

                    .
                    ERROR 403 - This is not the page you are looking for

                    Comment

                    • ebfoxbat
                      Member
                      • Apr 2007
                      • 38

                      #11
                      Well that's enough for me. FM it is. I'm leaning toward an 8-cell setup. That way I can run 2 or 3 packs in parallel.

                      I'm thinking that I'll have two flat packs of 8 cells that are run length-wise down the hull. That'll be at about 45 degree angles (make then perpendicular to each other). They'll be deep in the bottom of the Vee placed appropriately forward for good balance. I'd like to the place a deck ontop of them and the radiobox on top of that deck. The motor and prop shaft should be behind everything, as should the rudder servo.

                      I'm thinking this very forum might be a good place to chronolog my construction. By the way: it won't be leaking :) I think a brushless setup would be a good upgrade down the road.

                      I'm still trying to secure a source of foam to shape so the radio and motor are a few weeks away. Though the radio could be sooner rather than later.
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                      Just a cheapo EC surfer ...for now
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                      Comment

                      • ebfoxbat
                        Member
                        • Apr 2007
                        • 38

                        #12
                        I didn't realize that RC-hydros ESC doesn't have reverse. That's a problem for me I'm going to try to find a 3-channel (though I only need 2) radio that comes with a receiver, esc and servo.
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                        Just a cheapo EC surfer ...for now
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                        Comment

                        • ebfoxbat
                          Member
                          • Apr 2007
                          • 38

                          #13
                          How's the radio that comes with the supervee? I'm still thinking about cannibalizing that.
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                          Just a cheapo EC surfer ...for now
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                          Comment

                          • GregS
                            Member
                            • Apr 2007
                            • 82

                            #14
                            The radio that comes with the supervee is a cheap AM system with very limited range that is hardly usable. The Profisherman comes with the same radio which is why I'm replacing it. The supervee has been known on many occasions to go full speed into the shore with that radio. With the Profisherman it stalls and glitches constantly and is extremely frustrating.

                            Comment

                            • ebfoxbat
                              Member
                              • Apr 2007
                              • 38

                              #15
                              Originally posted by GregS
                              The supervee has been known on many occasions to go full speed into the shore with that radio.
                              I can see how that may be a problem. I assume an FM swap out of the supervee is pretty straight forward. I may buy the motor and esc from from the supervee from OSE and pair it with that Hitec FM (also on OSE).

                              Thoughts on that? Does the supervee have reverse?
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                              Just a cheapo EC surfer ...for now
                              -----

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