Electrical question

[margandkim]

I have a 6V battery connected to a Futaba speed control connected to
a Billings 6V motor. The problem I'm having is the motor runs
basically at two speeds, fast and faster with really no slow speed.
I have adjusted the screw on the speed control but am still running
into the two speed problem. Without getting into reduction gearing
is there something I can connect in line from the speed control to
the motor or from the battery to the speed control that will assist
in reducing the power output and thereby slowing the motor down or
is this wishful thinking.
Thanks
Kim
Pitt Meadows B.C.

[Derek Warner]

Kim - what is the model number of your Futuba speed controller? - all
esc should be totally proportional from zero to max, the last thing you
need is a huge power hungry resistor to consume current - Derek
Australia

[margandkim]

Derek, the speed controller is a MC210CB Futaba speed control with
reverse. I can't say I don't have slow speed its just when I move
the stick on the transmitter slightly the motor takes off. Now this
is all going into a Billings tug (Canute) which will be carrying a
bit of weight so it might not be a great problem but I thought I
would see if any of you folks might have some ideas.

Thanks again.
Kim
Pitt Meadows B.C.

[margandkim]

Derek, utilizing an old speed control out of my other model boat
which consists of a metal arm running the length of a wire coil, the
motor ran perfectly. Are there further adjustments that can be made
to the Futaba speed control that I'm not aware of?
Kim

[Derek Warner]

Hi Kim - public holiday today in the land of OZ - twenty years ago I ran
a Tamaya brand speed controller as you describe below & they are pretty
good value for money - the only real draw back was that they are a
variable resistor with a center neutral and fwd + reverse off neutral -
they can handle high current drawn, get very hot & that heat is lost or
consumed energy & seemed to kick in at from neutral @ approx 20% of
full motor speed & then pretty good to full speed, but then cut out at
the same say 20% power [same in reverse]

The only real reason I replaced it in 1985 with a Futuba FP-MC5 [zero
speed to full speed] digital proportional motor controller was to get a
more controlled low speed

I am not familiar with the Futuba product of today but some where in the
memory bank may have heard model car people talking about "Futuba two
speed ESC" - again from memory the digital controllers do not reduce the
applied voltage, but provide spikes of constant full voltage which is
electronically smoothed out & the result is lower motor speed relative
to signal input & this method of control

I just tried to look @ Futuba via GOOGLE, but the system is down - when
you get a chance call up the MC210CB on line & come back with the answer
- Derek

[margandkim]

Derek, I solved the problem. I switched speed and directional
controllers from one model to another. The Futaba, I put into a
fishing trawler which has a smaller 6V motor and it runs just fine.
The tug I'm building will use the old controller from the trawler to
operate the larger motor which also is now running just fine. Thanks
again for you efforts as it did get me thinking. The Futaba was
given to me by my son who purchased it 10 plus years ago.
Thanks again
Kim