Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Hi,

I'm looking for a 6V voltage regulator and there seem to be lots of alternatives, I was wondering if anyone has any opinions as to which is the best out of the short list I've compiled below. Or if anyone knows which ones (if any) to avoidThen I'm keen to know.

I need a minimum of 5A continuous and would prefer a bit more 'cos I will be running 5 digital servos off it. I'd also prefer a "Safe Switch" facility unless anyone knows a reason not to go that route ?

The lis of the ones I've found is :

MPI,
Radio South,
Fromeco,
Asht Ekelectronics,
Medusa,
Draganfly,
Dawnmist,
Aurorra,
Smart-Fly,
KoolFlightSystems,
Duralite,
MahBlades.

Thanks in advance,

Boo

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

hi boo2

i will recomend mpi voltage regulator because i used them in all my planes.very reliable .

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

I'm a Fromeco fan....

Smart fly is fine too....as is duralite....

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

I'll vote for duralite. great stuff

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Thanks for the answers, does anyone know a stockist in the UK for any of these regs ?

Thanks again,

Boo

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

don't think you can get any of those in Europe. However, you forgot one on your list that is available in Europe (manufactored in Germany), and has a very very good reputation... Emcotec - http://www.rc-electronic.com/

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Where can you get the Fromeco regulators and how much do they weigh?

Anyone got experience with the MPIs?

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Smart-Fly or Fromeco,

Very well engineered, reliable, and awesome customer service. I use them in my jets.

http://www.fromeco.org/

http://www.smart-fly.com/

Mike

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

I've got a couple of the new Flight Power regs and really like them. Adjustable output, dual inputs, fail safe switch.

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

I've used MPI for several years with good luck.

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Thanks for the links. Looks like these are too big for my application. I plan to run a single 2500mAH NiMH 5cell battery in only a 5.6lb airplane, so I was looking for a reliable regulator that weighed <1oz to prevent brownouts with a Spektrum rx and 5 servos.

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Anyone familiar with the Align regulators?

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Castle Creations 10amp BEC if your trying to cut weight. Adjustable through the castle link . I have a Duralite also but if your trying to skimp the weight go Castle
Plus at $24 its cheap,reliable and its Castle Creations ! :)

http://www.castlecreations.com/products/cc_bec.html

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Yeah, all of that Emcotec stuff is lab grade equipment. Very, very nice.

nick

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

I have had excellent results in the Castle Creations 10A BEC. So far, I have 4 of them in use. Set the voltage with computer and go!
I have been using them with Apogee 2Cell/2000 ma lipo batteries for receiver flight pack power. Light weight and potent.

Bruce

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

I bought a CC BEC and installed it. When I turned it on it turned into a light bulb. By the time it got it off it was a molten mass. I took it back to the Hobby shop and was given another one. When I got it home and inspected it I could see bare wires inside of the heat shrink tubing. I took it back and exchanged it for a servo.
I know any manufacturer can have some bad units at some times, and that does not mean they are a bad manufacturer, But, I have decided the best regulator is no regulator. Its just more parts to fail.

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

Not if it's a high quality unit- that's why these $300+ regulators exist. For instance, there is no shrink wrap on any Emcotec unit much less bare wires or any other nonsense. They are built like a tank inside with super thick PC boards, HD components throughout and massive heat sinks. They are made by the same folks who make airbag deployment sensors for BMW vehicles and others. The guy who owns the company decided to also make RC electronics as a side business since he is so into giant scale planes. But once you use that stuff you realize it's one heck of a side business. A servo would be far more likely to fail than any of their regulators.

nick

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

There is no way you can increase reliability by adding parts if you can design a system that works without them. Even adding reundancy is questionable depending on the number of added parts.

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

In our hobby realm, so much of everything is driven by price that we all sacrifice reliability and functionality for components that are mediocre and do the job as cheaply as possible. In the case of hobby RC regulators, more money does buy higher quality and reliability. Guys are using these things regularly in $10k+ aircraft, including myself, and no one is having problems. However, I've read of quite a few problems with both CC ESC's and BEC's. Don't do yourself a disservice and discount a whole useful product/technology just because one manufacturer has had problems.

Thanks for the discussion.

nick

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

There is a cliche (KISS). That is keep it simple stupid.
Check with some of the people that work there for Boeing. You will discover you can't buy reliability with money. 0 parts is always more reliable than any number of parts no matter how much they cost.
I could put you in touch with some of the reliability staff But its been more than 20 year since I have been there and I supposed the people I worked with have moved on.

BTW I think anyone that puts 10K in one of these things has rocks for a brain.

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

I'm out at Boeing from time to time as a vendor. Astounding place. And it's amazing how much money they spend to make things reliable! :)

And, of course I'm familiar with KISS. But, the fact remains, you can indeed buy reliability with money. :D

I'm afraid we won't be agreeing on this issue, dirtybird. I don't have rocks for a brain, but I do enjoy my turbine helis. You enjoy your foamies, right? :D

But in all seriousness to the original poster, I would highly recommend the Emcotec or Power Box units.

dirtybird has pooped in the nest here, so I'm going to leave this alone now.

RE: Best Voltage Regulator ?
 

since I sent in the comments on the Castle Creations VR, I have been playing around testing the use of no regulator with 2 cell LIPO batteries. Seems to work great. I have messed for half hour or more and no smoke. Next step is to fly with 2 cell lipo for flight battery ... no regulator. Think it's going to be a go!

Bruce