View Full Version : BEC and ESC
Hey guys, I am sitting here in my hotel room in Tampa, FL and decided to edjamicate myself a little by watching some of Finless Bob's videos. So I watched the BEC 101 and I have a few questions. What is the whole purpose of going through the all the trouble of setting up a BEC on the blade with a 6 channel radio? What is the benefit of having an external BEC vs using the built in one on a ESC? Thanks
Pimpy S
07-12-2008, 12:38 PM
Hey guys, I am sitting here in my hotel room in Tampa, FL and decided to edjamicate myself a little by watching some of Finless Bob's videos. So I watched the BEC 101 and I have a few questions. What is the whole purpose of going through the all the trouble of setting up a BEC on the blade with a 6 channel radio? What is the benefit of having an external BEC vs using the built in one on a ESC? Thanks
As far I know, after reading rcgroups.com forum, a BEC will help cool your stock ESC, for the main infos, I let the real helifreaks answer:)
Mon_t
07-12-2008, 01:19 PM
no thats pretty much it, to keep the esc cool.
A bec will also let you run a higher voltage to your servos, usually 5.1V or 6V if your servos and gyro can handle it.
The resultant increase in voltage speeds up the servos and also increases torque.
dhoffroad
07-12-2008, 01:24 PM
yea basicly what he said. it helps keep the stock ESC cool because the ESC is'nt doing ALL the work anymore (once you install the BEC). the external BEC will take the load from the servos/gyro off the ESC thus making the ESC not work as hard. in our case with the 400 I think that the stock ESC should have been a little larger (amp wise) it seems that it's too close to what is needed to run the 400 under "perfect" conditions.
and on a side note installing a BEC is prety easy (some are easier than others) and it dos'nt matter if it's on a 6 channel radio or 2 channel. I run a external BEC on my 2 channel RC rock cralwer to help the steering servo get true solid power it's just more of a decicated power right to where you want it.
audiracerj
07-12-2008, 03:01 PM
Though irrelevant in our case, the first purpose for a BEC is to make it so that you don't need a seperate little battery to power the servos and reciever, gyro etc...
The Sport BEC from Dimension Engineering is really nice, it was fun to install. All you need to do is tap its power leads into the ESC leads. Then you just plug the ESC into the BEC and that into the reciever. Simpler than many others.
A 3rd benefit: I can now say "Look what I got!" :D
ted_wears_a_hat
07-12-2008, 04:03 PM
^ 4th benefit...........
A funky blue LED when running at 5v.
http://www.helifreak.com/picture.php?albumid=827&pictureid=5827
newhelliguy
07-12-2008, 04:23 PM
where are you guys buying your sport becs.
audiracerj
07-12-2008, 06:07 PM
http://www.helidirect.com/product_info.php?cPath=93&products_id=4550
:)
Redfire SVT
07-12-2008, 08:01 PM
Another big plus:
An external BEC is wired directly to the power source (battery). Radio brown outs due to ESC low voltage cut or thermal overload are gone. Heck the ESC could fry and the heli can auto to safety with full radio, gyro and servo control- barring the pack getting shorted/damaged.
newhelliguy
07-12-2008, 09:19 PM
Big thanks audiracerj (http://helifreak.com/member.php?u=57416) I will order tonite
Another big plus:
An external BEC is wired directly to the power source (battery). Radio brown outs due to ESC low voltage cut or thermal overload are gone. Heck the ESC could fry and the heli can auto to safety with full radio, gyro and servo control- barring the pack getting shorted/damaged.
I like this reason the most. Thanks for all the input guys.