Spark Arrestor

[detox]

Detox.

So the switch takes over the purpose of the sparkarrestor.
Imagine what happens between the contacts of the switch.........
Exactly the same as between the connectors/spark arrestor.

So you have to change the switch after some time.

Maybe they use a resistor with the switch to weaken the spark? I do know that a better quality switch will correct the factory switch problem.

...

[Gerwin Brommer]

If they use a resistor in the switch, what's the use of the switch ?
The resistor does the job, not the switch.

[egneg]

If they use a resistor in the switch, what's the use of the switch ?
The resistor does the job, not the switch.

Maybe the switch is used to take the resister out of the circuit once the bats are hooked up.

[Gerwin Brommer]

That would mean the amps are running through a switch ?
I would not have that in my boat.

[Jeff Wohlt]

I bought the same resistors...I think but it says 1/2 watt 33K...Is that the same?

[egneg]

I bought the same resistors...I think but it says 1/2 watt 33K...Is that the same?

33K = 33,000 ohms. Here is a calculator you can use ...

http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/_nospark.html

[Jeff Wohlt]

So will it still work or not or should I get some others?

[BHChieftain]

I have a email from Patrick C. at caslte that says while they don't recommned the use of a spark arrestor on their esc's you "can" use a 1 ohm or lower resistor inline to help prolong the life of your bullets. He also said that the spark will in "no way" harm the esc no matter how large it is. He says that a resistor over 1 ohm can in fact harm the components of the esc.
Again I am not going to debate who is right or wrong but I tend to do what the manufacturer says.

Hi,
Trying to reconcile some information:

If no resistor is generally ok (big spark), and 1ohm or resistor inline is ok, why wouldn't a 20ohm resistor be ok?

Reason I ask is this link from MGM recommends 20ohm-50ohm resistor.

http://mgm-compro.com/pdf/en-antispark-d230808.pdf

-Chief

[egneg]

So will it still work or not or should I get some others?

I am not sure but the calculator says at 37 volts a 5 second charge time equates to a 450 ohm resister. I use a 220 ohm resister for a 1 second charge time for 4S.

[tharmer]

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/for...%22+Calculator

[tharmer]

If you have a fairly high resistence resistor you can use a small capacity resistor but it takes longer to charge the caps. On the other hand, using a higher resistence resistor lets you leave it in place and it's effect on power is negligable.
-t

Sorry, I don't remember what the resistences of my spark arrestors are.

[norbique]

The effect of the spark arresting resistor left connected is quite little.

If you connect resistors in series their combined resistance will always be lower than the value of the lowest value resistor.

Here's the equation:

http://www.1728.com/resistrs.htm

try this calculator for yourself. add 0.05 ohm for the main wire and add any other value in the second field for the spark arresting resistor, then hit calculate.

To say in layman's terms, current knows which way to go. It will always go towards the less resistive path.

The main battery wires (including the connectors) will always have less resistance than the spark arresting resistor, thus the wast majority of current will go through the main wires and not through the resistor in series with the main wires.

[FloatDaBoat]

That's the equation for the equivalent resistance of resistors in PARALLEL.

[CornelP]

I think this is what he meant to say... you are actually paralleling the spark arrestor with some pieces of wire plus the connector. These will always have a bigger resistance than your arrestor, so, bottom line, it is ok to leave it connected...

[norbique]

That's the equation for the equivalent resistance of resistors in PARALLEL.

YES sir, the resistor goes in PARALLEL with your main wire.