02-10-2011, 08:21 PM
As Dave says, linear regs are less efficient - the excess voltage for a given load current is dissipated as waste heat (often just a zener diode to clamp the voltage and a couple of resistors).
Switching regs act much like a simple DC motor speed controller - continuously varying the duty cycle, and hence (generally) waste much less energy, with the trade-off being things like increased cost, complexity, EMI etc.
I've got a Turnigy 5A UBEC from HK that you're welcome to. That said, I've been using a Castle Creations 10A BEC in the mini UAV to drive the servos and run the auto-pilot, on the basis that this was much safer than trusting the no-name ESC - retail about $25.
BTW, you probably already know this, but be sure to remove the red/power wire from the throttle/ESC servo plug before plugging it into the receiver when using an external BEC, lest you let the magic smoke out of one or both as they fight each other to regulate the voltage.
Nice Stuka... did it come with "Jericho trumpets"?
Switching regs act much like a simple DC motor speed controller - continuously varying the duty cycle, and hence (generally) waste much less energy, with the trade-off being things like increased cost, complexity, EMI etc.
I've got a Turnigy 5A UBEC from HK that you're welcome to. That said, I've been using a Castle Creations 10A BEC in the mini UAV to drive the servos and run the auto-pilot, on the basis that this was much safer than trusting the no-name ESC - retail about $25.
BTW, you probably already know this, but be sure to remove the red/power wire from the throttle/ESC servo plug before plugging it into the receiver when using an external BEC, lest you let the magic smoke out of one or both as they fight each other to regulate the voltage.
Nice Stuka... did it come with "Jericho trumpets"?
<table width="100%" border="0"><tr>
<td>
<span title="No longer arboreally challenged!">Parkzone Stinson SR-10 </span>
Extra-300S EPP
<del>F-18 Blue Angels 64mm EDF</del>
<span title="Why won't it die?!">HK Mini Cessna EPO</span>
Spektrum DX6i - Mode 1</td>
<td valign=top>
Parkzone T-28 Ultra Micro
E-Flite UMX BEAST
SRL Index
CloudsFly / AXN Floater
"2x6" basla/ply kit built glider
SBach 1000mm</td>
<td valign=top>
Skyartec Cessna 182 (small UAV)
UAV-168 (bigger UAV)
<span title="2nd-hand; rebuild on-hold">"BigBoy" Hugin (biggest UAV)</span>
<span title="For invading small countries">X-8 flying wing</span></td>
</tr></table>