ORIGINAL: mkruse
..........So my question is do I look for an esc that will match the max constain amp draw or the max burst draw of the motor or do I calculate what power I am using with what prop I will be applying to the airplane I choose to fly.
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Make life easy for your esc, they can be easily fried if kept working at max Amps.
It's all about temperature; hence, ventilate each component as much as possible.
The load that your prop and plane impose to the shaft of the motor determines how much Amps or current of electrons will go through the system, and how much temperature will rise up.
You may have read this:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...rticle_id=1344
"Hardware Amperage Limits - 10 amps, 25 amps, 35 ampsÂ…
Unfortunately, amperage limitations are not always black and white. Here's a list of considerations that determine the current an ESC can handle successfully:
There is a current above which the silicon inside the FETs or the metal legs or connections on the FET break down and fail. Damage from excessive amp draw takes place in an instant. Think of a fast acting fuse, except and ESC is not usually considered to be expendable. It is very hard to anticipate high currents and shut the controller down in time to prevent the current spike from damaging the controller.
Partial throttle operation generates more heat as does high PWM rates.
The amperage capability of an ESC is limited by the ability of the device to dissipate the heat generated by the resistance of the FETs and circuit boards. If a controller is making more heat than it can dissipate, a "runaway" condition occurs which can lead to thermal destruction of the controller - the solder holding the components to the boards literally melts and the parts are free to float away.
A great way to rate a controller is to determine its "steady state amperage." That is the maximum current it can carry at its rated voltage without experiencing further temperature rise. This can vary a bit as the temperature rise is dependent on the ambient air temperature and the amount of cooling airflow over the ESC. A dangerous way to rate a controller is to state its "surge" or "burst" capabilities. These are an indication that the controller may be able to handle higher currents for short periods, but these periods are sometimes shorter than the pilot would hope. This is another area where manufacturers can rate their products' based upon their own, often ridiculous, definition of a controller's duty cycle. Always read the fine print."