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speed controller help — Parallax Forums

speed controller help

Jeremy072021Jeremy072021 Posts: 12
edited 2010-03-02 23:25 in Propeller 1
Hi, does anyone have any recommendations for a speed controller for a brushless motor that works well with the propeller chip? I've been trying to build a helicopter for some time now but it seems that nothing is wanting to cooperate lol, so I was wanting to know what speed controllers everyone else is using that works with the propeller.

thank you.

Comments

  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2010-03-02 19:19
    Any standard electric aircraft/heil ESC should work. There are many servo routines in the OBEX.

    The ESC generally accepts a nominal 50 Hz PWM servo input signal whose pulse width varies from 1 ms to 2 ms. When supplied with a 1 ms width pulse at 50 Hz, the ESC responds by turning off the DC motor attached to its output. A 1.5 ms pulse-width input signal results in a 50% duty cycle output signal that drives the motor at approximately half-speed. When presented with 2.0 ms input signal, the motor runs at full speed due to the 100% duty cycle (on constantly) output.

    What do you mean "not cooperating? What have you tried so far?

    Jim

    Post Edited (hover1) : 3/2/2010 7:50:11 PM GMT
  • Graham StablerGraham Stabler Posts: 2,510
    edited 2010-03-02 20:12
    As Jim says any should work fine but be sure to read the instructions, many require that the throttle be pushed to a low position before they will start so you need to include code to emulate this, basically send 1ms pulses for a while, you often then hear a bleep indicating it is armed.

    Graham
  • Jeremy072021Jeremy072021 Posts: 12
    edited 2010-03-02 21:09
    Ive used an odd brand of speed controller that didn't seem to work, so I wasn't sure if maybe there was only certain types you could use with the propeller. Here's the speed controller I used, it came with the brushless motor I bought: http://www.toysonics.com/mystery-30a-brushless-motor-electric-speed-controller-esc.html

    Thanks for the replies, I'll take a look at some of the better known speed controllers this time.
  • hover1hover1 Posts: 1,929
    edited 2010-03-02 23:25
    Jeremy,

    Do you have any code examples that did not work?

    I have to admit that I have not tried to program any ESC from the Propeller. I have just run the·servo signals through the normal Channel 3 Throttle Control.

    I use AXI JETI SPIN (how appropriate), and Castle Creation ESC's. I have to program both by their own interfaces, JETI box for AXI, or USB software for Castle Creation.

    I think the exact programming of the ESC is closed by the companies. I have searched a little for some·information, but did not spend a lot of time on it. I just program voltage cutoffs, braking and such through the manufacturer programing interface and left it at that.

    I know we have a few RC'ers in the forum, maybe they will chime in.



    Jim
    Jeremy072021 said...
    Ive used an odd brand of speed controller that didn't seem to work, so I wasn't sure if maybe there was only certain types you could use with the propeller. Here's the speed controller I used, it came with the brushless motor I bought: http://www.toysonics.com/mystery-30a-brushless-motor-electric-speed-controller-esc.html

    Thanks for the replies, I'll take a look at some of the better known speed controllers this time.
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