BEC/SAVOX servo Question

[lgeldof21]

Hi All, Is a BEC required to run a savox 0231 servo on 3s?

I'm running a AE5 ESC, brushed motor, have been running on 3s.

Stripped the gears on the servo which i replaced, worked for awhile then has decided to not work properly again, checked gears and are fine.

Servo motor runs but not turning??

I have been running the same servo on 3s on my yeti with the vanguard ESC and brushless motor without a BEC with no issues.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Ditchrat]

Originally Posted by lgeldof21

Hi All, Is a BEC required to run a savox 0231 servo on 3s?

I'm running a AE5 ESC, brushed motor, have been running on 3s.

Stripped the gears on the servo which i replaced, worked for awhile then has decided to not work properly again, checked gears and are fine.

Servo motor runs but not turning??

I have been running the same servo on 3s on my yeti with the vanguard ESC and brushless motor without a BEC with no issues.

Any help would be appreciated.

How does a motor run but not turn? Do you mean that you can feel or hear vibrations coming from the motor, but it is not strong enough to turn the gears? Or do you mean the output shaft is turning but the gear is spinning on it?

As far as I can tell on my AE-5 the input voltage (3s here too) does not match the output voltage on the servo channel. I looked in the past and found that the internal BEC if 5v, but nothing published for the channels. (<----- brain farther the receiver is getting the power from the internal bec)

I think I remember my meter telling me channels are 5v.

I ended up putting in a 6v BEC to run the stock servo on my kids truck two days ago. The difference between the ESC and the internal BEC compared to just a 6v bec was noticeable on the winch and servo.

Since that servo you asked about is rated as a 6v, you couldn't run it off 3s without a BEC, well you could put in a resistor but that would be a waste of energy.


Long story short. If your voltage x amperage(=watts) of what you want to power is less than or equal to the voltage x amperage(=watts) of the internal BEC than your fine. (DC only) Anything past that would require power from something larger like a 3s battery, which would then require a BEC to step down the voltage to something more appropriate for the application.

Your servo is going to draw in amps what it wants to draw, when that exceeds the circuits ability to provide it, then the volts must lower and things start to brown out. Watts must always equal voltage x amperage, since the work done is the same something has to give.

[sic1to]

if ya want the full .17 speed with 2080z of torque you will need a bec & set it to 6.0vI run a bec on ever rig I got!

[lgeldof21]

Originally Posted by Ditchrat

How does a motor run but not turn? Do you mean that you can feel or hear vibrations coming from the motor, but it is not strong enough to turn the gears? Or do you mean the output shaft is turning but the gear is spinning on it?

As far as I can tell on my AE-5 the input voltage (3s here too) does not match the output voltage on the servo channel. I looked in the past and found that the internal BEC if 5v, but nothing published for the channels.

I think I remember my meter telling me channels are 5v.

I ended up putting in a 6v BEC to run the stock servo on my kids truck two days ago. The difference between the ESC and the internal BEC compared to just a 6v bec was noticeable on the winch and servo.

Since that servo you asked about is rated as a 6v, you couldn't run it off 3s without a BEC, well you could put in a resistor but that would be a waste of energy.


Long story short. If your voltage x amperage(=watts) of what you want to power is less than or equal to the voltage x amperage(=watts) of the internal BEC than your fine. (DC only) Anything past that would require power from something larger like a 3s battery, which would then require a BEC to step down the voltage to something more appropriate for the application.

Your servo is going to draw in amps what it wants to draw, when that exceeds the circuits ability to provide it, then the volts must lower and things start to brown out. Watts must always equal voltage x amperage, since the work done is the same something has to give.

Thanks for the info,

Yes the servo motor is running but not turning any gears.

So if i understand correctly, a 2s battery would provide the correct voltage to the servo without a BEC?

[HDMM]

NO, the servo will get the same voltage, approx. 4.8 volts through the esc, no matter you use a 2s or 3s. If you want maximum power out of the servo use a BEC. I'm sure it will run fine without a external BEC, the 0231 isn't real power hungry from what I've seen.

[lgeldof21]

Ok, I apologize for my lack of knowledge:

Will i burn out a servo that does not have a BEC connected to it? Despite running on 2s or 3s or is it that the BEC provides the appropriate volts/energy it needs to function at its full potential?

For some reason i have been running the savox 0231 in a yeti (3s) without a BEC for almost a year without issues. Installed the same servo (new one) in a bomber with stock ESC, then my issues started with this servo.

[TacoCrawler]

Originally Posted by lgeldof21

the servo motor is running but not turning any gears.

I'd suspect a slipping center gear...
as that is usually compromised of two gears compressed together.

Occasionally the compression of the smaller cog gear
to the primary center gear can become loose and spin free.
Especially if a hard hit occurs or is faulty due to production.

I've had this occur with several of my servos
tho' not with my Savox 1230's... yet

If this C gear failure occurs... the motor will operate fine...
but the steering will not engage the servo's output gear.

A failed center gear compression
is not generally something visible like a broken gear tooth.
And the C gear will need be removed for further determination.

As far as an external BEC...
I use an external BEC regardless as to whether the ESC's internal voltage
is enough or not.
I also use the Holmes Hobbies RX by-pass "Y"
so the ESC powers the RX
and the ext. BEC powers the servo directly and while by-passing the RX.

The Savox functions best having 6v
Majority of ESC's do not have an internal BEC that supplies 6v.

Tho' I'm not sure if lack of voltage is your current problem.
As the Savox should operate in the range of 4.8v - 6v
Tho' the lower voltage will produce less torque.

6 volts would offer the Savox servo's highest output rating.
And few ESC internal BEC's will supply the necessary voltage.

[Ditchrat]

Originally Posted by lgeldof21

Ok, I apologize for my lack of knowledge:

Will i burn out a servo that does not have a BEC connected to it? Despite running on 2s or 3s or is it that the BEC provides the appropriate volts/energy it needs to function at its full potential?

For some reason i have been running the savox 0231 in a yeti (3s) without a BEC for almost a year without issues. Installed the same servo (new one) in a bomber with stock ESC, then my issues started with this servo.

If you connect the servo directly to a power source greater than what the servo os rated for, ie 6v servo to a 2s or 3s battery then you will burn up the servo if it gets to hot.

If you hook up a 3s battery to your ae-5 and plug your servo into the reciever then you will not damage the servo because the reciever is only getting feed 5v from the internal bec. So it cant put out more then it grlets in.

I think thats what you asking.

[lgeldof21]

Originally Posted by Ditchrat

If you connect the servo directly to a power source greater than what the servo os rated for, ie 6v servo to a 2s or 3s battery then you will burn up the servo if it gets to hot.

If you hook up a 3s battery to your ae-5 and plug your servo into the reciever then you will not damage the servo because the reciever is only getting feed 5v from the internal bec. So it cant put out more then it grlets in.

I think thats what you asking.

Yes thank you!

[lgeldof21]

Originally Posted by TacoCrawler

I'd suspect a slipping center gear...
as that is usually compromised of two gears compressed together.

Occasionally the compression of the smaller cog gear
to the primary center gear can become loose and spin free.
Especially if a hard hit occurs or is faulty due to production.

I've had this occur with several of my servos
tho' not with my Savox 1230's... yet

If this C gear failure occurs... the motor will operate fine...
but the steering will not engage the servo's output gear.

A failed center gear compression
is not generally something visible like a broken gear tooth.
And the C gear will need be removed for further determination.

As far as an external BEC...
I use an external BEC regardless as to whether the ESC's internal voltage
is enough or not.
I also use the Holmes Hobbies RX by-pass "Y"
so the ESC powers the RX
and the ext. BEC powers the servo directly and while by-passing the RX.

The Savox functions best having 6v
Majority of ESC's do not have an internal BEC that supplies 6v.

Tho' I'm not sure if lack of voltage is your current problem.
As the Savox should operate in the range of 4.8v - 6v
Tho' the lower voltage will produce less torque.

6 volts would offer the Savox servo's highest output rating.
And few ESC internal BEC's will supply the necessary voltage.

Thanks for the great info, i'll have a closer look at the gears!