6 replies to this topic

[dalek]

Just thinking about the opportunities available if using brushless motors.

If a raceway was setting up a brushless class, but they found that the performance of a 4500 KV motor was too fast and a 3200 was too slow, I assume they could experiment with ESC programming to get the 4500 to perform as if it were say a 3800 KV motor.

The ESC and the 4500 KV motor could be loan-outs.

I envision an ESC bracket that would attach to the chassis with foam double-sided tape. The bracket might be made out of something like say .030 lexan formed in such a way that an ESC would simply snap into it. You would then plug the five wires into the ESC and away you go.

For a faster class, you could pop out the ESC and snap in a different one that was programmed to allow the 4500 to perform at its full power.

[Bags]

The current esc’s on the market are not programmable like you think, they are factory set.

 

There is one that recently popped up on a Facebook group that can be programmed by the end user you might want to look into.

 

There are 3d printed esc holders being made now.

 

I don’t see any benefit of the track making a loaner combo to let the racer abuse then not pay for after he blows it up for some reason.

Buy your own components and build your own car then it’s on you, not the track to blame.
 

[jimht]

It has been impossible to design a racing class based on motors that falls between "too fast and too slow".

 

Someone always shows up that can drive better or build better or cheat better or spend more.

 

Applying all the failures we've had to brushless and expecting a different result is futile.

[Tim Neja]

The simple solution and MUCH cheaper would be a "Spec gearing" and tire size for the 4500 motors.  That way everyone can be equal and you're not taxing the motors or speed controls anyway!  

[Bill Seitz]

Some early attempts at brushless motors in slot cars used an ESC (electronic speed controller) for an r/c model re-programmed to be constantly at 100% throttle, since slot car speed is regulated by a hand-held controller that varies the voltage applied to the track. The current brushless devices are not speed controls at all, they simply provide the electronic commutation required and are correctly termed ECOM (electronic commutator/commutation). The ECOM may influence the motor speed somewhat, because it sets the timing which influences the rpm, but there's no speed control function to reduce the motor to say 80% of full speed. However, there's a really easy way to change the speed of both brushed and brushless motors if they're too fast - turn down the track voltage. I don't know what track voltage was used in 60's raceways, the AMRC power supplies at least were autotransformers that could be adjusted by the raceway within some voltage range. In the battery era, while the batteries could be as high as 13.6 or so at peak charge, it was much more common for the track to be between 12.6 and 13 volts. Today, tracks are often 13.6 volts and sometimes higher. Higher voltage also burns up the motors faster, brushed or brushless.

[Pappy]

I envision an ESC bracket that would attach to the chassis with foam double-sided tape. The bracket might be made out of something like say .030 lexan formed in such a way that an ESC would simply snap into it. You would then plug the five wires into the ESC and away you go.
 

 

We use velcro to attach the ESC to the chassis, no bracket needed.

[iv_man]

The simple solution and MUCH cheaper would be a "Spec gearing" and tire size for the 4500 motors.  That way everyone can be equal and you're not taxing the motors or speed controls anyway!  

Our club does this (as does our national body for production racing).  Something along these lines for national rules DTM/GT/Saloon & LMP are the same;

 

 - motor (KC 4500KV) and ECOM (WestRock) are specified parts (our club racing does not specify brand)

 - fixed gearing, happens to be 10/36 64p

 - fixed axle height

 - minimum and maximum clearance under rear axle pillars to track

 

The last three of these rules also control over gearing and roll out advantages by wheel size.  They are as important as the fixed gearing.