| Improving
performance for under $100 by
Gary Katzer pg.
2 BUDGET SPEED CONTROLLER GUIDE return to pg. 1 |
LRP
AI
Automatic Super Reverse: Part No.: LRP8320 - $49.99 TAMIYA  Not many
people think ESC and Tamiya unless they’re thinking
about mechanical units, but the big T has actually had their
own ESC line for some time. The TEU-10BK is the same unit as
what comes with their XB lineup of RTR cars and trucks and is
now available separately. It’s not a powerhouse, but it
will get the job done with kit-type sealed endbell silver and
black can motors. If you’re looking for something with
a little more oomph, the 302BK can handle down to 23 Turn motors
and even has three different drive profiles.
TEU-10BK: Part No.: 45029 - $39.99
NOVAK
Many people don’t remember this, but the original Rooster was the first Novak ESC that featured a one-touch setup, and the Rooster Reversible carries the nameplate on nicely. The Rooster features smart braking, one-touch setup, and Polar Drive technology that helps your motor run cooler. Additionally, you can use the Rooster in a monster truck or touring car that you want the ultimate in realism with the optional Brake Light Circuitry that can power an accessory light kit without having to cut or splice into the power leads. The Fusion and Dually are quite similar to each other. Both are forward-only units, and both have two different throttle profiles to change the power delivery to what you like. The Fusion is a 4-wire configuration that can handle down to 12 Turn motors, while the Dually has no motor limit, a built-in current limiter, and a 3-wire race configuration. XRS: Part No.: 1830 - $49.99 FUTABA
Many people in the hobby can point to Tamiya as being their first car, but just as many can point to Futaba as being their first ESC (mine was). The new duo from Futaba has a lot of features crammed into a pretty small package. Both ESCs have one-touch setup buttons, a reverse lock-out feature, and an auto shut-off to protect them in case of a short or overload. One of the neatest features the MC series has is what Futaba calls the “Forget Me Not” feature, which sounds an alarm and sends current to the motor to draw attention to the car if the ESC is left on after the transmitter is powered off. MC230CR: $49.99  HITEC
Fresh off a facelift and a couple new additions, HiTec’s speed controllers have the same quality and features that you’ve come to know with other HiTec products. The HFX comes standard with a current limiter, one-touch setup, and a 10 Turn motor limit. The HFX-R actually bumps the drive frequency up a bit over the standard HFX, and also features one-touch setup, reverse, and a 12 Turn motor limit. Finally, the EZX-R is the newest addition to the HiTec ESC family with a 23 Turn limit, one-touch setup, and a very cool integrated on/off switch. HFX: Part No.: HRC41810 - $58.99 DYNAMITE  Not
as well known for their ESCs as their accessories, two entries
from Dynamite caught my attention. First up is the Tazer 19T. With
its pre-wired connectors and 19T limit, it has a lot of upside.
Additionally, the Tazer 19T also has thermal overload protection,
just in case. The Tazer FWD/Reverse ups the ante by providing a
lower motor limit down to 15 Turns, 6 or 7-cell operation, and
of course, forward and reverse functionality.
Tazer FWD/Reverse: Part
No.: DYN4910 - $54.99
TEKIN Good news Tekin fans, they’re back and have revamped their popular ESCs with updated components and new software. The Rebel 2 is a larger footprint ESC with a big heat sink to dissipate heat. It features a single set button to set it up and is fitted with a Tamiya battery connector and bullet motor connector for easy installation. This unit can handle motors down to 10 Turns and 4-10 cells with a stock motor or 4-8 cells with a mod motor. Rebel 2: Part No.: N003 - $74.99 CONCLUSION The trickle-down theory just works. As high-end speedos get better and better, the technology and features get worked into a more budget-friendly package. Take a look at all of the ESC’s features and compare them, then the prices to see what fits in your budget. Everything listed here is great for old ESC replacements or MSC upgrades.
|
When
you think of performance, Novak Electronics comes to the minds
of many of you. After all, you voted Novak Products tops in three
categories in the Voice Your Choice Awards, including Most Popular
ESC with the GT-7. The XRS Sport has a super low profile, but
just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s delicate.
The XRS can handle down to 15 Turn motors, comes pre-wired with
connectors, and of course, has Novak’s excellent one-touch
setup. In fact, Team Losi thinks so much of the XRS that they
include it as standard equipment in their XXX-S RTR 2 and the
XXX-T RTR 2.
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