homemade speed controlllers (for school project)

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by greencactus3

if you know how to use a servo, and understand the concept of resistors and how to read the lines you can make a clumsy mechanical real easy.

The problem with that is that you are not pulsing electricity, you are converting electricity into heat. The lower the voltage (speed) the higher the heat. You are making a constant power draw. The difference is the ratio of heat energy to kinetic energy.

So what I'm basically sayingis generally speaking a mechanical speed control will run down the battery faster than an electronic one, and it will get very hot. Electronic is better.

[greencactus3]

So what I'm basically sayingis generally speaking a mechanical speed control will run down the battery faster than an electronic one, and it will get very hot. Electronic is better.[/quote]
yea i know but its so simple. not sure he said he was going to use a battery actually. if its unlimited power supply and littel heat isnt a problem id just make a mechanical.