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Unread 04-12-2013, 23:15
Ian Curtis Ian Curtis is offline
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Re: lightweight, inexpensive speed controllers

Quote:
Originally Posted by efoote868 View Post
If I were to approach this problem, I might start by looking at what's available to the average consumer / near hobbyist level. I believe brushed DC motors are used on the popular Syma S107G model and knockoffs, and searching Ebay I can get a pair of them from China for $6 (including shipping).

One could also try to cannibalize more of that helicopter to get appropriate (and proven) gear ratios, as well as mounting hardware.

Controlling a brushless DC motor is not trivial, which is to say that as a hobbyist you wouldn't build one from scratch as you might an H-bridge or other brushed DC motor controller.
It is about 100 times easier to do it properly and just buy the correct hobbyist gear. The pager motors used to drive the $30 mall helicopters are nothing compared to the brushless hobbyist motors that are *very* easy to use. This stuff is meant for casual users, so it is way easier than trying to hack the cheapo helicopters. (not that that isn't fun too)

General note for people purchasing R/C toys: Buy the real thing! A $100 beginner heli from Horizon Hobby is more durable and orders of magnitude more controllable (and thus more fun) than the cheap-o ones at Brookstone.

/Soapbox
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