LiPo's and ESC's for brushed motors?
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Yeovil, UNITED KINGDOM
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Haven't really got into the LiPo scene yet, except for some ARF's already kitted out and would like to convert some of my brushed motor sailplanes to LiPo's to save weight. My question is whwther I can use my existing brushed ESC's or do I need special ones for LiPo's?
Tony
Tony
#2
Senior Member

If the amp draw is the same...no change is needed. If you are going to up the amp draw..then you have to be certain that the present brushed ESC can handle it..that is all. Many people switch the Super Cub gear from NiMh or Ni cad to Lipos without changing anything else. Rich
#3

Remember..........
NO running the motor down till it sounds 1/2 power.
No over charging with a wallcharger.
I strongly recommend you get a REALLY safe to use ....FMA cell Pro 4 cell charger...Before you buy OR USE the LIPO's. It WILL SAVE you money & batteries.
Enjoy
EDIT:
I forgot the most important thing!!
read completly the operators booklet. You can practice getting the ability of pushing the selector button to get to the battery type and and setup you want........WITHOUT PLUGGING IN A BATTERY. It took about 7 tries to get the rythem of pushing the button right ,thru all the steps.
NO running the motor down till it sounds 1/2 power.
No over charging with a wallcharger.
I strongly recommend you get a REALLY safe to use ....FMA cell Pro 4 cell charger...Before you buy OR USE the LIPO's. It WILL SAVE you money & batteries.
Enjoy
EDIT:
I forgot the most important thing!!
read completly the operators booklet. You can practice getting the ability of pushing the selector button to get to the battery type and and setup you want........WITHOUT PLUGGING IN A BATTERY. It took about 7 tries to get the rythem of pushing the button right ,thru all the steps.
#4
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Thanks guys for the advice. I already have a good LiPo charger, so OK there but still unsure whether the BEC on my brushed ESC's are safe on LiPo's?
Tony
PS Happy New Year to all.
Tony
PS Happy New Year to all.
#5

1 last POSSIBLE problem. Voltage differences per cell or per pack can affect speed of prop & current the motor will pull. The BEC may have more heating. Also, the safety.....cutoff voltage.... needs to be reset on the ESC for LIPO.......Done.
Enjoy.

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the esc does not know what type of battery you are attaching. all it knows is voltage. The esc will only draw as much current as the motor needs. If the motor requires more current than the esc can handle, it will burn out the esc.
If the esc can handle the voltage (7.4 v 2s or 11.1v 3s) and the motor will not draw more current than the esc can deliver then all should be fine.
brushed esc are relatively cheap.
I ran a 25 amp brushed esc in a parkzone spitfire on stock motor (480) with 11.1v 2500mah lipo with no problems.
hope this helps
If the esc can handle the voltage (7.4 v 2s or 11.1v 3s) and the motor will not draw more current than the esc can deliver then all should be fine.
brushed esc are relatively cheap.
I ran a 25 amp brushed esc in a parkzone spitfire on stock motor (480) with 11.1v 2500mah lipo with no problems.
hope this helps