UBEC Questions

[Geordie1]

Hi there, i was just wondering if i really require a UBEC? and what one actually does?
Cheers Chaps

[johnsandywhite]

UBEC stands for Ultimate Battery Eliminator Circuit. This device converts a higher voltage source to a lower consistent voltage. Making it safer to run servos and other devices at a lower voltages.
Compared to older BEC's that were linear and not that efficient. A UBEC uses switch-mode technology which is more efficient.

Do you need one? Not if you have an ESC that includes a BEC. Which in the case of your Blade 400 3D I assume it does, because my Twister 3D Storms do and it is a copy of the Blade.

[cjcj1949]

The Twister Storm esc gives only 1amp before the regulator volts collapse to 2V by design. (7805). I had problems with mine and needed a SBEC (same as a UBEC) My esc also has a gap between one of the FETS and the heat sink which means that that FET will get very hot. 1 amp for four servos and a gyro is pushing things a lot. Fitting the esc under a canopy adds insult to injury. The fets are quite large though and the heatsink is not that much bigger than the area of the fets which may be why it just about works most of the time. (Not within the design limits but by luck). The fets though are 80 amp at 25 degC which is good for a 25 amp esc. It is a good esc if you take the shrink wrap off and check for good thermal contact or take the heatsink off and put good CPU heat compound on, and also use a 2 to 3 amp bec. You'll need a bigger BEC for the better servos and gyro as the originals are a waste of space. (Competition standard gyro on the Twister Storm according to the blurb). It's certainly a competition getting the gyro to hold.

[Geordie1]

Cheers Guys, well i think i will keep my blade as stock as i can as i think it wont be long until i upgrade to a 500 or so.... I do however have a Futaba GY401 fitted and some HB65's on order aswell.... so will this mean that i will need to fit a UBEC to stop ESC going ?
Damn this stuff is complicated lol!!
Carl