X1AaronW

I want to build a tugboat strong enough and large enough to tow my canoe with me in it. Basically just for fun and to say it's that strong. I have already considered buying plans from twotugboats.com but I want this to be my own design. It's gonna be big. I plan to hang a 40lb thrust trolling motor for propulsion (Not scale I know) and a 12 volt deep cycle battery but I have hit a problem. I don't know what kind of esc to use.i have considered the pro boats 50 amp but not sure it can handle it. Any recommendations?

mfr02

First thing is you need to know the amp draw under load. Then double that to give you a safety margin, and thats the number to look for. Just check the specs on your candidate to make sure it will handle 12 volts.

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Need a lot more motor spec info to determine.
Take an amp meter and perform this test and then as mentioned go with a higher rated ESC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S96DULhu-s
Also, some motors have internal circuits to regulate speed . If yours has this it would have to be by-passed/removed to operate properly.

X1AaronW

Alright I'll look into it some more.

Tombsy

Once you get the numbers you need, Servo city has some big esc's for robotics. Maybe something for the wheelchair motors that they use a lot.

X1AaronW

Alright I just checked a different forum for the amp draw on a 40lb trolling motor and someone said their 80lb trolling motor had a 40A draw with a 56A fuse. That tells me that a proboat 40A esc would be plenty good enough. Any thoughts?

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Well it doesn't matter what another motor did unless it's exactly like yours. Get a bucket/barrel of water,an ammeter , and determine what current your motor is drawing under load if you want to know exactly what esc to use.

X1AaronW

So not a good idea to get it in the Ballpark? I'll check just curious.

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

Well, we are trying to help but if you are unable to give us specific motor info or perform a current draw test then my opinion would be to go and buy the highest amperage brushed ESC you can find and use it.

X1AaronW

I'll get an amp draw and post what I find.

flyinwalenda

My Feedback: (5)

That's the best thing to do . Otherwise we are just guessing. No need to spend any more money than you need to on the ESC.

mfr02

The important bit is "under load". Any motor will take a given amount of power to just turn itself over, the rest of the power draw is down to the load, in the case of a boat, this is determined by the prop in the water. Different sizes and configurations of prop will give different results, and the requirements for different types of performance means that there is a vast range of possible combinations. The only reliable way is to do empirical testing. Without an ammeter (and common ones are not usually rated above 10A) the simple down and dirty way is to power the motor direct from a battery with a fuse in circuit. Use higher values until you get the lowest value that doesn't blow.