ESC current

[olfajarley]

Can someone please explain to me how 12 awg wire is ok on a 220A speed control. I am not saying that it is not, i just don't get the physics behind it. 220 amps at 14.8 volts is over 3000 watts I know I am missing something here, if someone would take the time to explain I would greatly appreciate it. I have been through Navy schools for electronics, but that was long ago and that might be why I am having difficulty grasping this, because I might have forgotten a few things.

[Awesome-Sauce RC]

i think the esc specs for max current are more for a split second very brief surge not continuous draw, most esc's would probably be running somewhere up to 60A or maybe even less for continual draw during normal use.


tony

[JokersWild]

Well you are forgetting to give us what the continuous of amperage of the motor is? Not the max of the esc.........


http://www.springfieldrcclub.com/electricpower.htm //

[Olle P]

Originally Posted by olfajarley

Can someone please explain to me how 12 awg wire is ok on a 220A speed control...
220 amps at 14.8 volts is over 3000 watts...

The battery voltage is completely irrelevant!

Say the leads are 10cm (~4") long each. Then the total lead resistance is 0.0010ohm.
The total voltage drop due to resistance at 220A is then 0.22V.
The power (heat) developed in the wires at 220A is 48.4W, which by all means is enough to make them hot over time, but as the others pointed out; this isn't continous current but short bursts! (Or a 6Ah battery would be completely drained in a minute and a half...)
I guesstimate the typical battery connector (including the connections between connector and wires) creates more resistance than the wires do.

According to Wikipedia the proper 10s fuse for use with 12AWG is 235A (and 1s bursts of 1,000A is okay), so even by that standard 12AWG is good enough for 220A.