View Single Post
  #29   Spotlight this post!  
Unread 28-12-2015, 09:00
electroken's Avatar
electroken electroken is offline
Electron Tamer
AKA: Ken Pontbriant
FRC #0230 (Gaelhawks)
Team Role: Mentor
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Rookie Year: 2012
Location: Shelton, CT
Posts: 177
electroken is a jewel in the roughelectroken is a jewel in the roughelectroken is a jewel in the rough
Re: Motor Controllers

Quote:
Originally Posted by aldaeron View Post
REV Spark at $45 is a new low cost controller with some nice looking features.

Reliability: This is brand new this year. Preliminary test data looks positive. It has a plastic case, which will not transfer heat as well as aluminum. It claims not to need fan cooling, which is being tested in lab conditions (I believe results release soon). Obviously the real test is to see it during the season. Be cautious about switching to a new controller with limited testing unless you can afford to replace the controllers. It is a bit larger than the Victor SP and Talon SRX. For the price it looks promising.
Part of my own evaluation of the SPARK was having a look inside. While much of the case is plastic, the SPARK label in the center is covering a heavy c-channel shaped slug of aluminum with heat transfer pads to encourage cooling of the 4 MOSFETs and 3 electrolytic capacitors under it. My gut feel (with nothing but experience to back it up) tells me this device will survive a 2-minute pushing match just fine.

The footprint is close, but not identical to that of the Talon SR.
Reply With Quote