To BEC or not to BEC..that is the question/

[searay skipper]

Another rooky question.

Do most of you guys use a BEC?

Are there any disadvantages to using one? Any other advantages to using one other than eliminating a battery pack?

[Basstronics]

You can also buy a UBEC or SBEC in place of a separate battery pack.

It just sounds to me most built in BECs fail a lot. So Ive learned to always just use a UBEC.

I use this one. Its nice and small:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...Reduction.html

[Fluid]

I used to run separate batteries exclusively, until Castle came out with the ICE controllers. Now I use their internal BEC, no problems whatsoever in 2 years of running. The Castle ICE BEC is bulletproof. Can't say the same for some other ESCs....



.

[siberianhusky]

Depends on the boat for me, I use a battery in place of lead in the nose of my limited hydro, it needed nose weight so I figured I might as well make it useful weight.
Also depends on the rudder servo, a big high torque digital servo can draw a lot of juice, some of the cheaper escs only have a 3 amp bec circuit.

[BHChieftain]

I used to run separate batteries exclusively, until Castle came out with the ICE controllers. Now I use their internal BEC, no problems whatsoever in 2 years of running. The Castle ICE BEC is bulletproof. Can't say the same for some other ESCs....



.

Hi,
I also use ubecs-- but I just picked up a new seaking 120 ESC (I have never used this brand of controller before) and was wondering if the internal BEC was good enough for use with a UL1 motor, 4S1P... any thoughts on that controller?
Chief

[searay skipper]

"You can also buy a UBEC or SBEC in place of a separate battery pack."

Well.....herein once again lies the problem of not yet knowing all of the terminology and acronyms. Was easy enough to find out what the BEC is but now.........

SBEC???

UBEC???

[G-UNIT]

I would say that the bec in the seaking 120 will work just fine on 4s1p in the ul-1 but anything over 5s I would disconnect it.

[BHChieftain]

"You can also buy a UBEC or SBEC in place of a separate battery pack."

Well.....herein once again lies the problem of not yet knowing all of the terminology and acronyms. Was easy enough to find out what the BEC is but now.........

SBEC???

UBEC???

Some, but not all, ESCs come with an internal BEC. Using the internal one adds additional stress on the ESC which is why many folks will disconnect it and use either a dedicated battery pack for the RX, or use an external BEC device (that's the UBEC). The UBEC solders onto the battery side ESC leads and draws power from the main packs, and steps down the voltage for the RX.

Chief

[BHChieftain]

I would say that the bec in the seaking 120 will work just fine on 4s1p in the ul-1 but anything over 5s I would disconnect it.

Thanks G-unit

[Fluid]

Using the internal one adds additional stress on the ESC...

This is certainly true with the linear BECs that were/are common in many ESCs. They act like a resistor and generate considerable heat within the ESC itself. But this is no longer an issue with Castle's internal switching BEC - it works differently and generates very little heat. Can't say the same thing for some other ESCs though....



.

[searay skipper]

thanks Chief

[BHChieftain]

This is certainly true with the linear BECs that were/are common in many ESCs. They act like a resistor and generate considerable heat within the ESC itself. But this is no longer an issue with Castle's internal switching BEC - it works differently and generates very little heat. Can't say the same thing for some other ESCs though....



.

That is good to know. The seaking esc also uses a switching type bec-- I'll try it... I'm only on 4s...

Chief

[runzwithsizorz]

"You can also buy a UBEC or SBEC in place of a separate battery pack."

Well.....herein once again lies the problem of not yet knowing all of the terminology and acronyms. Was easy enough to find out what the BEC is but now.........

SBEC???

UBEC???

I used to think that the, *U* stood for universal, but noooooo. It stands for ultimate, which I take to mean the ability to run on higher input voltages.
*S* is for switching, which ( I ) took to mean the ability to select different output voltages, (the Himodel allows 5.5/6/7/9 volts). Could be wrong on that though, for Fluid mentioned an internal switching BEC.
On my boat with lights, I use a regulator behind 2S2P/7400mah to power the receiver, servo, and lights, and 4S2P/13000mah for the motor.

[Rumdog]

Hv setups, I run a receiver packs. 6s and lower I use the esc's built in bec. You don't have to run a castle hydra ice controller to use it.

[JIM MARCUM]

What about the parasitic draw a BEC puts on your main LIPO packs? Whether you're running a HV (5+ cells) or =< 4 cell setup, won't using using a seperate 7.2 V battery pack to power the RX & servo give you a slight advantage in usable voltage & amps? JIM