hi! i am looking for an esc in the $60 range. i wanted it to be multi-purpose use, meaning using in a speed boat with a single motor (high speed), and also using it in a scale boat, possibly using 2- stock motors. i am looking at the hitec hfx and hfx-r. i wanted to run 6-12volts, like i said multi-use.
any infos are great.
thanks!

ernest2,
One ESC for everything is going to mean a bigger ESC than what's really needed for each individual application. Since ESCs are rated by current and voltage, select one that will meet the most that you think you will ever need. Most ESCs will work fine at less than their normal ratings, very @#$ few of them will work very long at greater than their ratings. What that means is that you will need to know the max current draw for the 'worst case' application (and voltage too). If you know what the 'hotest' most biggest current draw will ever be, then select an ESC that will handle it. With a $60 limit, don't expect a huge range of abilities, or max current draws. If you can keep your requirements under the ratings of an $60 ESC, that's just fine. If not, then dig a little deeper...
- 'Doc

PS - Don't get caught up in the "turns" ratings for ESCs, they don't mean a thing, worthless.

Jetti 600 or an RC Hydros 6-12 90A. They both cost a little bit more that $60, but you'll more than save that extra money in the esc that you burn out trying to be cheap about it.

doc, i was a little confused about the number of turns. i really don't understand them that much, that some esc with rated 20turns can hadle more amps than some esc rated at 10 or 13 turns.
is the amp rating the more important thing? i mean, the bigger the amp rating, the better it can hadle 2 motors?
and also, is it right that the higher freq the esc has, the better it responds?
thanks!

ernest2,
ESCs have a maximum current handling ability and voltage. Exceding those ratings usually means a dead ESC, or at least damaged. The thing to do is run a 'stall' test on your motor(s). Whatever that current draw is should be less than the handling abiolity of the ESC. For two or more motors, do the test on one then multiply that by the number of motors. That assumes that all the motors are the same. Then you know what the ESC has to handle.
Turns. The number of turns is the number of windings on the armature of the motor. The normal 'average' number of turns is 27. Motors with less than that usually run at a higher rpm, and draw more current. That also means that the wire making up those turns is larger, meaning less resistance, meaning more current carrying ability (and draw). Any motor will draw so much current at a particular voltage level. If the voltage is higher, then the current is less. If the voltage is lower, then the current is more. Rating motors by the number of turns sort of makes sense, but not much. Rating an ESC by the number of turns it can handle is totally stupid, it doesn't tell you a thing about it's actual capabilities. Don't ask me why they do it that way, I'd have to make an uncomplimentary guess.
- 'Doc

so iguess it all comes down to amps, not turns.
does anyone use futaba mc330cr? are they any good?

Do yourself a favor, save some money down the road! Jetti 600 or an RC Hydros 6-12 90A.

Dookie is right! Buy it now or buy it later. If you are going to stay in RC Boating you will eventually buy one or the other or at least some other "high quality ESC" and that means not CHEAP

ernest2, Listen to these guys, they're right "on the money". I run a Jeti600 and and am totally happy with it. Just Do It !

Tony/T3

thanks for all the replies. i do listen, but i'm on the budget right now, and i want to buy it locally (shipping costs too much). but where can i possibly buy it? i look at hobby lobby, anywhere else?
also, does jetti has reverse?
thanks again.

I am not being sarcastic, but if you are on that tight of a budget then do your self a favor and just save your money till you can get the stuff you need and want. Till then just get a RTR boat you can play with, the ESC you are looking for at the price you can afford does not exist.

ernest2, If you can source the June 2005 issue of Radio Control Boat Modeler, they have a large article on reversing speed controls, which will serve the scale boat project. Also, the Perfex esc that comes stock on the Twinstorm 800 can handle 12 cells, has reverse, and a battery eliminator circuit. I'm sure any hobby shop that's a Kyosho dealer can order it for you, but I have no Idea how much it costs.

Tony/T3

i'll look into that, i think i have that issue. thanks!
actually, i do want to have at least 2 or 3 esc so i can have several boats. right now, i only have 1 boat (scratchbuild) and building 2 boats currently. that is the reason i ask for somewhat a multipurpose esc where i can run scale and then also run a fast speed boat. sorry if i'm such a hard headed., but i do take note of advises you make, so maybe i can buy a cheapo esc now and the next one would be the jetti or the hydro.