Homebuilt ROVs Forum

Hello all,
I bought a HobbyKing 12A BlueSeries Brushless Speed Controller in hopes of using it to control my up and down thrusters, two standard bilge pump motors. I was kind of hoping that once it got here I would be able to figure it out...no such luck. Will this work to control these thrusters? If so, then I have two important questions:
1) There are three output wires but obviously only 2 wires for my motors. By switching polarity I plan to control up and down from one controller. How do I wire this end?
2) What do I need to control the ESC itself? I was hoping for some sort of mechanical control but now it looks like I am going to have to use a RC controller.
I would really appriciate it if I could get some guidence on this. Thanks!

I think you need brushless motors (thrusters) for brushless ESC. Top side you need some kind of RC control. Also in order to reverse you need a reverse capable ESC (don’t think the one on your pic is) Think it’s easier for you to go with a relay setup and there is really brilliant people here able to help.


Best

brushless escs will only operate brushless motors. you need a brushed esc like this one to control a bilge pump:





http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... D_ESC.html

however that one doesn't do reverse. reversible brushed escs are becoming difficult to find these days.

Thanks for the info!!!

Hmm...
May have just made my first rookie mistake... of the day...

Is it correct that not all ESC are reversible?

How can I tell if mine is? Is that what "switchable" means?

I have an Arrowind 30A.
http://www.arrowindhobby.com/hobby/en/esc-aircraft.asp
1st one in the 3rd row...

guessing i should have bought the 35A Switch mode?

Thanks for any comment...

**EDITED**

When it comes to the ESC's you noted "switchable" They are reffering to the fact that they can be switched from lipos to Nicad.

Hobbyking sells these for brushless sensorless motors. It is programable with the "key" button or with a progarm card.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... verse.html

So,
Switching = reversible = good for ROV
not switching = not able to switch directions of motor = not for for ROV.

Correct?

Yes and No. The one above is only for "brushless motors" a bilge pump is a "brushed motor"

When you buy a reversing brushed ESC you have to carefully examine the fine print. Most that I have seen say the word "reversible" in the description but they actually mean you can reverse the polarity on the output leads to change the rotation of the motor. You could still use a non reversing ESC and through relays make it work but it would require extra wiring to set it all up.

This is a proper reversible brushed ESC. They are getting harder to find these days as brushless motors are far more popular than brushed motors. And they are not cheap either.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tekin-Inc-B1R-M ... 2571e35695

See here for cheap eBay escs

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=780

as noted, that esc you pointed to is for brushless motors. bilge pumps are brushed motors.

as a general guideline, if an esc has 3 wires for the motor, it is for a brushless motor. brushed escs have two motor wires.

some can do both, but they are rare.