How to Choose Electronic Speed Controller?

Choosing an ESC is an important part of the bldc motor. You want to ensure that it meets the electrical needs of your brushless dc motor without draining your battery more than necessary. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing an ESC.

What is an electronic speed controller (ESC)?

ESC stands for "Electronic Speed Controller" and is an electronic circuit used to vary the speed, and route and also act as a dynamic brake for electric motors. These are often used on radio-controlled models that are electrically driven, with the most frequent changes being for brushless motors, providing the motor with an electronically generated 3-phase electrical low-voltage energy source. The ESC can be a stand-alone unit that plugs into the control channel of the throttle receiver, or it can be combined with the receiver itself, as is the case with most toy-grade RC cars.

How to choose the right electronic speed controller (ESC)?

The number one significant consideration to keep in mind is to match the Electronic Speed Control to the sort of motor you used. Be sure to purchase the correct ESC for the exact motor: brushed ESC is used for the brushed motor, brushless ESC is used for the brushless motor, never vice versa. Usually, apart from the labels, you will directly know that it’s a brushed motor if it has 2-wires. If the motor has three wires, then it is brushless.

• Current rating of ESC: The ESC's current rating should be 10-20% higher than the motor's current rating. This will prevent it from overheating and provide a little wiggle room at full-throttle operation. You don't want to go much higher than this range to minimize weight. ESCs should be tested in flight-like conditions because the main limitation is heated. High temperatures and low air circulation will reduce the ESC's rating and operating life. Some ESCs have two current ratings: continuous and burst. Continuous current can last a long time, while burst current can only be used for short periods of time.
• ESC Voltage: ESCs have a maximum voltage limit, which may be given as a voltage range or a battery range. For example, an ESC rated for 3S-8S batteries will support voltages from 11.1-33.6V. The ESC may let you set a shutdown voltage that will alert you when the battery voltage becomes too low (3.0-3.4V per cell) so as not to damage the battery. These systems are called Low Voltage Cutoff (LVC) and they will reduce the maximum power the ESC can deliver. Eventually, the ESC will shut down the motor.
• Load power: The selection of ESC must depend on the ability of the ESC, in addition to the compatibility of the ESC with the motor. ESC is not compatible with all motors, it must be selected according to the power of the motor and other parameters, and retain the appropriate margin.
• Different Application: Choosing different ESCs according to different applications (software). For example multi-rotor (multi-axis) UAV, you should choose the corresponding multi-rotor ESC, but not the fixed-wing ESC.

Thus, this is all about an overview of how to choose the electronic speed controller. We hope that you have got a better understanding of this concept. Furthermore, any doubts regarding this concept, please don't hesitate to contact us!