Using the Boat ESC Programming Card

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Using the HobbyKing Boat ESC Program Card

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HobbyKing 30A Boat ESC"7+

HobbyKing 50A Boat ESC"8+

HobbyKing 70A Boat ESC"8+

HobbyKing 90A Boat ESC"8+

HobbyKing 120A Boat ESC"8+

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Program Card Panel Layout:,!6)*0(-

Summary of content (10 pages)

PAGE 1
Using the HobbyKing Boat ESC Program Card by Larry Cottrill, AD∅CN – US English - Dec 2016 Version Copyright 2016 Larry Cottrill The HobbyKing Boat ESC Program Card is a low-cost, convenient and effective tool for setting up and changing the running parameters of a wide range of HobbyKing Boat ESCs (Electronic Speed Controllers) that are used with brushless motors in R/C marine propulsion.
PAGE 2
QUICK GUIDE TO HOBBYKING BOAT ESC PROGRAM CARD 1. First make sure your LiPoly (or other) main battery is disconnected from the ESC! 2. Disconnect the ESC's small 3-wire cable connector from the R/C receiver. 3. There are two 3-pin sockets in the rear edge of the Program Card. Connect the ESC's 3-wire connector to the socket that has THREE symbols: – + ⊓ Leave the other socket unused. Make sure the black wire is attached under the – symbol and the white wire under the ⊓ (signal) symbol. 4.
PAGE 3
VALUE Button The VALUE button on the Card lets you choose the Value you want for the parameter (Item) you have selected. Note that the list printed on the right side of the Program Card lists all possible values that can be set for all six parameters. Pressing the VALUE button repeatedly simply scrolls through the possible Values for that Item.
PAGE 4
Item 2. Fixed Area Accelerator [comment: This is just an overly fancy name for what is simply the neutral area or 'deadband' separating forward and reverse throttle ranges] Value 1 – 6 percent Value 2 – 9 percent [Factory Default] Value 3 – 12 percent Item 3. Battery Low Voltage Protection [this is the PER CELL low point where low-voltage protection kicks in – especially important for LiPoly batteries] Value 1 – Non-protection [NOT recommended!] Value 2 – 2.6 volts Value 3 – 2.8 volts Value 4 – 3.
PAGE 5
DETAIL GUIDE TO HOBBYKING BOAT ESC PARAMETERS Note: In the following discussions, I use the proper nautical term 'screw' rather than the more popular common terms 'propeller' or 'prop'. Do We Really Need Braking on a Boat? (Part of Parameter Item 1) These ESCs are capable of a 'Braking' option.
PAGE 6
One problem with reverse operation has to do with outboard motor designs (or any motor arrangement that uses a flexible shaft to drive the screw). The flexible shaft is a very tightly wound wire spiral, wound in the direction that causes it to snug up against itself in the forward direction of the motor. This means that in the reverse direction, it is trying to 'unwind' itself. As long as the motor is lightly loaded, it's no problem – the shaft has enough strength and stiffness to stay together.
PAGE 7
How Much Neutral Range? (Parameter Item 2) What the Program Card labels Fixed Area Accelerator is really nothing more than a choice of how much neutral space you want between forward and reverse throttle commands. The minimum value will provide the largest (and therefore, smoothest) forward throttle range. The largest value will give the most throttle sensitivity, but might make any specific throttle setting hard to hit exactly.
PAGE 8
For some other battery types, you might be able to safely use the lower settings (Value =2 for 2.6V, Value =3 for 2.8V, Value = 4 for 3.0V). Check your instruction sheet. Again, the higher value you use, the safer it will be but the less running time you'll have before protection kicks in.
PAGE 9
It's All About Timing (Parameter Item 6) The modern brushless motors that we use are basically pulse-driven threephase motors. The ESC provides pulses of high-frequency current that are applied to the stator of the motor, and the ESC automatically times these pulses to set the power and rotating speed of the motor.
PAGE 10
know the Entrance Angle design specification. It probably gives 'best efficiency' operation, because it adjusts the Entrance Angle to the actual speed of the motor in real time. So, basically, our choices are: 1. Use the specified Entrance Angle if it is known; otherwise: 2. Use the Factory Default (20 degrees, Value = 5) – this will run all brushless motors and should give good performance for in-runner motors, but probably inadequate performance for out-runner motors. 3.