For quite a while, people have been wondering
- When will ESCs be readily available with SimonK firmware pre-flashed?
- When will some easily obtainable ESCs support I2C, so that flight controllers can read motor status?
HobbyKing has provided the answer, with the newly introduced AfroESC. It's licensed from both SimonK and timecop.
I've started collecting information here, and will update when more information is available.
http://eastbay-rc.blogspot.com/2013/07/afro-esc-simonktimecophobbyking.html
Highlights:
- SimonK preflashed
- Open Source software
- licensed
Comments
@Stephen Gienow @R_Lefebvre: It's no big issue to hook up several linear regulators in parallell as long as you do not draw more current than ONE of the BEC reg's can provide. The reason is that you cannot expect them to share the load equally or at all between BECs. The absolute precision for output voltage might be 1-2% or even 5% between any two regulators. So one can output 5.2V, the next 4.88. The problem is in their individual working range, the voltage sag might be 50 to 100mV between no load and MAX load output voltage.
In essence that means one reg is already cooking before the next reg is even providing any current b'coz in it's own opinion the voltage is already/still "too high".
If one reg flakes out though (but doesn't go into some short circuit) then the next would step in.
I have yet to see any weird oscillation due to parallell multiple reg's, maybe others have had that?
One way to FORCE them to share load is to set a low ohmic serial resistor on every BEC output to increase the difference between no load and full load, but measure reg's individually before that, check if the ouput voltage is somewhat similar. It's not the easy nor pretty solution.
@R_Lefebvre: Isn't that how they already work? I always attach my 5V leads from the ESCs in parallel to the APM by just plugging them all in.
I think an awesome arrangement for multirotor ESC's would be if they each have a small BEC, switching or linear, I don't really care. But have them designed specifically to be able to run in parallel. I'm pretty sure it can be done. So you plug them all into the flight controller, and they share the load, and give redundancy. If one of the regulators fail, you should still be able to fly as if nothing happened.
I'm with you in principle and I'm with you on the culture clash part but I've found that dealing with HK "customer support" is futile. I buy a lot of stuff from them as well, way past $900, and I guess I just have accepted that some of their stuff is crap. The worst one for me was a 9x radio that lasted three weeks and then one of the gimbal pots died. No parts. I've waited months for the new Frsky Trananis radio to come out but I've given up and will order a 9xr Monday. I feel your frustration.
@ not2fast : Well, it's a $20 frame with one defect arm. Worst case they send a complete frame set $20, or they send one arm, $5 or something.
Yes, but quietly accepting that they do not give a crap is a slippery slope, next time it's something more expensive, and you get the same treatment? Where will you draw the line in the sand?
I get pssed off by this neglect when they bombard customers(and me) with mantras like "We value you as a platinum customer, we give you priority, we fix warranty claims fair and fast!" and then just don't give a fly's ass about you as a customer. It's a bunch of BS, I can't take it being fed a bunch of BS lies, even if they came with a smile and low price. Maybe it's a culture clash, but I like the truth and I'm willing to pay honest people what it costs.
i would like them to be for 6S....
It's still a $5 part. Throw it a way. For the $900 you've spent an HK you could have spent $3000 at your LHS and I'm sure your LHS would appreciate your business.
Aaaah, what a pity these ESC's wheren'r released a few weeks ago, when I had a trust and confidence in HobbyKing. I have had so much trouble with a REALLY SIMPLE and TINY $5 - $20 warranty issue taking a month so far(and still counting..) and no parts shipped to solve it (even though they had parts in stock since they became aware of my issue!). I can't shop from them anymore. I will find a new supplier for my needs, if they do not want my next 1000 dollars, some else will.
I've spent $900+ in 2 years, so if they make such a fuzz with a small claim, I can't imagine what kind of crap they'd pull if I have problems with something expensive.
They must've gotten so big they just do not need to care anymore.
@ Stefan Goffereje: The fuse needs to be much bigger than the steady-state consumption because it's a very fast acting fuse to protect semi-conductors. During start-up conditions when powering all caps on all boards the rush of current would present a wear on a "perfectly sized" super fast fuse, it would eventually lead to a failiure in the field.
I agree in so far that fuse would offer the best possible protection though.
The ESC already has a very powerful switching supply (the motor outputs), so the added EMI from a 2-3A switcher would probably be negligible. I assume they are worried about conducted noise instead of radiated noise. Noise on the power supply goes directly into the radio module, whereas radiated noise has to go in via the antenna.
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