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Fuse before ESC ?

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Old 11-15-2009 | 07:12 AM
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Default Fuse before ESC ?

Pros and cons for a fuse between the ESC and Battery?

Yea I'm New...[&:]
Old 11-15-2009 | 01:15 PM
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From: Bishop\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'s Stortford,
Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

They blow - risk a fuse or risk the plane.
I have never used one yet and cant think of anyone who has.
Old 11-15-2009 | 04:06 PM
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Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

Depending upon the application, the fuse would need to be of a very high current rating. Some of the F3A motors are drawing 80+A during a flight. If the fuse was to blow during a flight then you have a deadstick.[]

If you're using a small electric with a fuse and the ESC has a BEC, should the fuse blow you'll have no power to your Rx. That would be healthy.. [&:]

Adding a fuse will not only add another failure point but will also increase the circuit resistance with the fuse and extra connections needed.

You just don't need a fuse as the electronics these days are pretty reliable.

When something is about to go wrong you usually have a good warning i.e. noise or power lower than normal. When something seems abnormal, land and check it all out.

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Old 11-15-2009 | 04:13 PM
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From: Saffron Walden, UNITED KINGDOM
Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

When something is about to go wrong you usually have a good warning i.e. noise or power lower than normal.
In my experience, smoke is another good indicatorWhite smoke== unhappy battery;
Black smoke== ESC just fried.
Old 11-15-2009 | 04:22 PM
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Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

Funny you should say that... I saw an electric take off with a funny noise and shortly after I asked him when he had the smoke system installed...

He was very lucky to get the model on the ground to disconnect the LiPo. It was a .40 size electric and one thing he didn't have was an external arming pin/connector. He had to remove the battery hatch to disconnect things and risked getting burnt.

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Old 11-15-2009 | 07:09 PM
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Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

To the best of my knowledge you would NEVER put the fuse between the battery and the ESC, between the ESC and the motor YES.
Walt
Old 11-15-2009 | 08:19 PM
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Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

That's unusual...

Normally fuses or circuit breakers are placed between the power source and the load.... The ESC qualifies as part of the load IMHO.

Cheers
Jason.
Old 11-16-2009 | 05:19 AM
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From: Bishop\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\'s Stortford,
Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

Yes. I learnt that having an external connector on the large planes is a very very good idea. You dont want to fiddle around removing hatches if the darned thing starts to smoke. You need to remove the source which even though slightly less pretty is an external connection.
This is to me much more necessary than a fuse. If its in the air you either have a deadstick or if you use a bec then nothing which really isnt a good thing
Old 11-16-2009 | 09:15 AM
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Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

If you put the fuse between the ESC and the battery and you are using BEC you will lose all control.
WT
Old 11-16-2009 | 03:18 PM
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Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

This is true and I highlighted that earlier in this thread. How many F3A controllers have a BEC? I don't believe that any of the big controllers have a BEC so that's probably a mute point for our applications.

Cheers
Jason.
Old 11-17-2009 | 08:54 AM
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Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

Sorry, missed the F3A allusion. Of course you're correct on that point.
Walt
Old 11-29-2009 | 11:22 PM
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Default RE: Fuse before ESC ?

But should your electric plane be weighed at registration with the external plug in or out?

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