abborgogna · Jun 14, 2011 12:54 PM
#0 sourceOver the past three months I have been flight testing two KR timers from Keith Renecle in South Africa. I have found the device to be of high quality and works as described. Let me list the functions that the KR timer includes.
1. Governor mode to maintain constants RPM regardless of the load on the motor. This is done with low cost non-governor ESCs.
2. Motor and ESC protection should the motor become stalled. (I have not tested this yet).
3. Low voltage detection that will shut down the ESC if the low voltage threshold is met. (I have not tested this yet).
I have tested function one extensively with two different motors on two different planes. The timer is easy to program with a low cost programmer that KR sells. The programmer allows you to set the RPM, motor spool up delay, and flight time. The programming can easily be done at the field. I find that the RPM programming is much like setting the needle on a gas engine. You bring up the RPM programming function, the motor spools up; you monitor the RPM with a tach and set it where you want. As long as you maintain some head space between maximum RPM and desired flight RPM the timer will maintain the RPM throughout the flight. Now you maybe are wondering how this new timer does this. There is a feedback path from the motor to the timer via a wire that connects the timer to any one of the three motor wires. The timer receives pulses from this motor wire connection and uses the information to maintain a constant RPM.
Until now the only way to get these timers was to order them from KR in South Africa, but now KR has made arrangements with Eric Rule at RSM Distribution here in the US and RSM is now the sole distributor of this product in the US.
On a scale of 1 to 10 I give it at least a 9. There is one thing I would have liked to make it a complete 10. Prop braking at the end of the motor run would be a nice but I think that is something that can only be done in the ESC. Which brings me to the real plus for this timer; you can get governor function without having to buy an expensive helicopter ESC. I have used the inexpensive CC Thunderbird ESCs in both planes and they work great with this timer.
The picture I have included shows the timer, it's small gold device with a wire going to one of the motor wires. I mount the timer with silicone glue; simple and it works.
Andy Borgogna
1. Governor mode to maintain constants RPM regardless of the load on the motor. This is done with low cost non-governor ESCs.
2. Motor and ESC protection should the motor become stalled. (I have not tested this yet).
3. Low voltage detection that will shut down the ESC if the low voltage threshold is met. (I have not tested this yet).
I have tested function one extensively with two different motors on two different planes. The timer is easy to program with a low cost programmer that KR sells. The programmer allows you to set the RPM, motor spool up delay, and flight time. The programming can easily be done at the field. I find that the RPM programming is much like setting the needle on a gas engine. You bring up the RPM programming function, the motor spools up; you monitor the RPM with a tach and set it where you want. As long as you maintain some head space between maximum RPM and desired flight RPM the timer will maintain the RPM throughout the flight. Now you maybe are wondering how this new timer does this. There is a feedback path from the motor to the timer via a wire that connects the timer to any one of the three motor wires. The timer receives pulses from this motor wire connection and uses the information to maintain a constant RPM.
Until now the only way to get these timers was to order them from KR in South Africa, but now KR has made arrangements with Eric Rule at RSM Distribution here in the US and RSM is now the sole distributor of this product in the US.
On a scale of 1 to 10 I give it at least a 9. There is one thing I would have liked to make it a complete 10. Prop braking at the end of the motor run would be a nice but I think that is something that can only be done in the ESC. Which brings me to the real plus for this timer; you can get governor function without having to buy an expensive helicopter ESC. I have used the inexpensive CC Thunderbird ESCs in both planes and they work great with this timer.
The picture I have included shows the timer, it's small gold device with a wire going to one of the motor wires. I mount the timer with silicone glue; simple and it works.
Andy Borgogna