Q-90: I like the electric motor speed controllers (ESCs) that allow
you to program in special features, like the voltage cutoff point, motor timing,
brake on or off, soft start, and other features.
The only problem I find is that doing this programming requires that you count
blinking LEDs sometimes in a long sequence. This approach is tedious to say the
least. I heard recently that certain vendors are now offering ESCs that can be
programmed by your home computer. Can you steer me in the right direction?
A-90: One ESC manufacturer is offering a computer-driven device that
allows you to program your electric motor speed controllers more easily. This
basically involves a special cable that you connect between your ESC and a spare
USB port on your PC. If you own a laptop PC, you can do this programming at the
flying field.
In addition to the cable, you will need special software that really makes the
concept work. I recently picked up a PHX-Link cable and software from Castle
Creations (www.castlecreations.com), which is intended to work with its Phoenix
line of brushless motor ESCs manufactured after August 2003. The PHX-Link
sells for $24.95 and is compatible with operating systems for Windows 98SE,
98ME, 2000, or XP.
The software is simple to install on your PC. It will let you view the current
status (settings) of your Phoenix ESC. Under the “Basic” category you can set
the low voltage cutoff point for the type and number of cells of your battery
pack. It will also let you set up the brake strength, throttle type, and
soft-starting of the motor.
In the “Advanced” category you can set such things as motor timing, current
limiting, and PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) frequency. There are also plans to
provide software revisions and enhancement via the internet.
To use this “link,” download the Castle Creations software into your PC. The
instructions are excellent. Connect the servo cable coming from your Phoenix ESC
into the PHX-Link. Plug the cable with the Mini-USB connector into the PHX-Link.
The other end of the cable goes into a spare USB port on your PC.
The rest of the programming is easy to do with your PC keyboard and mouse. Any
programming you input stays in the ESC memory until you change or delete it.
As I was writing this, I also heard about an ESC programming device that Hobby
Lobby will soon offer for its Jeti ESCs. Instead of using a PC, there is a
handheld microprocessor device. From what I gather, you move shorting plugs
around to establish your desired programming information, and then this
information is introduced into your Jeti ESC at the press of a button.
I think variations in ESC programming techniques will soon replace the older and
more tedious method with “blinking” LEDs.