Starting Point

**psycho_fling** · 19th November 2009, 07:51

i really think you might aswell get a dual controller i find the elctronize a real pain and found it so much easier once i was on a different controller

if we are talking about overkill i used an rs80d with 2 drills

but it was intended for the speed 900s

**craig_colliass** · 19th November 2009, 09:30

I have found with Tron (a 4 drill feather robot) the Sabertooth 25A per channel did not work very well, I never used it in a fight it was that bad!
The drills were 9.4v over-volted to 14.4V, In the end I fitted the Sidewinder (75A per channel) this stopped all the messing about.

You can go about in circles with all of this, if you want a reliable speed controller it has to be over spec and expensive. :shock: :shock:

**zoll** · 19th November 2009, 09:46

how much is a sidewinder and do they sell them in the uk or do i have to get one from abroad?

**teamshock** · 19th November 2009, 10:02

We used to run Whirlpool with 4, 12v drills running at 15.6v on a single scorpion XL (with 2 small fans for cooling).

When we changed to 18v motors we added an extra Scorpion XL using one for each side.

Eventually we put a sidewinder in there (only because we are using the XLs in Heatwave and Whirlwind) and it has run without any problems at all.We got ours from http://www.robotmarketplace.com

Heres a quick video of Whirlpool when it ran with 4, 12v motors on a single Scorpion XL (it ran like this for almost 2 years without any problems)

**zoll** · 19th November 2009, 11:22

Yeah getting slightly confussing but you recon the XXL should run 4 motors fine also, or do u recon id be best getting 2x XL or is it really worth making a bit of an investment and getting a sidewinder

**craig_colliass** · 19th November 2009, 13:51

Speed controllers are the most expensive part in most robots, my experience of the Sabertooth is not a good one, but it could be I just had a duff unit (itâ‚¬â„¢s back in the USA at the moment being fixed!!)
Sidewinders I think my unit was Â£275, Sabertooth was Â£92 and Wotty100 Â£190.
But I think I will be the first to be using this unit in a feather when it comes next week, the wotty100 is a new design, so I am expecting some teething problems with it and so canâ‚¬â„¢t recommend it at the moment, but I think it will be the new standard for feather speed controllers soon.
I would suggest you get the best quality unit you can.

**leorcc** · 19th November 2009, 13:58

Originally Posted by zoll

Yeah getting slightly confussing but you recon the XXL should run 4 motors fine also, or do u recon id be best getting 2x XL or is it really worth making a bit of an investment and getting a sidewinder

If you use 4 12V motors, and Will could run his setup on an XL, then the XXL should certainly be able to handle it.

But, it is a bit like comparing apples and oranges really. No 2 brands of drill motors are alike so what works for one set might not work on another set, and what works on 12V might not work on 14.4V or 18V or 24V.

Sidewinders are a more robust option, but more expensive. The Wotty 100 might be an option though not tested in the field yet.

**muchalucha** · 19th November 2009, 17:27

seeing as a saberooth 10 A willl run 2 drill motors over volted to 14.4 V just dandy , you could use 2 ) 1 on the front 2 motors and 1 on the back 2 ) and then use 2 y leads to connect both the inputs togehtor , no soldering and it comes in at about 90 quid

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