Dimension Engineering Park BEC Test

[BrianG]

Mike sent me a Dimension Engineering ParkBEC switching BEC to test.

Meant for smaller-scale projects (1/18-1/12), the ParkBEC is specified to provide 6v at 1.25A continuously, and 1.5A bursts for 60 seconds. If you happen to have two of these, and need more current, Dimension Engineering says you can parallel these units. However, the output voltage will be slightly reduced. This BEC can also accept voltage levels up to 8s.

Here are a few pictures for size comparisons.

So, I hooked it up to my 12v power supply and ran various loads through it to test this little regulator:



Observations:

• Voltage output is very close to the rated voltage, and is very stable across all tested loads.
  
  
• Peak efficiency is quite high at almost 90%. Even at the extremes where there is no load and then exceeding its current rating, efficiency is still over 70%.
  
  
• Temperature stayed a very reasonable level as well, despite my attempt to overload it. Plus, there is a little heatsink as part of the BEC, so that helps keep temperatures down.
  
  
• This BEC supplies a very clean DC voltage, even at high loads. AC ripple on the output was below measureable limits for my Fluke true RMS meter. I did read 1.4mV AC, but I get that value even when I short together the meter leads. So, that noise must be coming from my flourescent bench light.
  
  
• Dropout voltage is almost 2v. So, this is NOT meant for systems running only 2s (6 NiMH cells). For best results, use no less than 3s or 8 cells with this unit.
  
  
• No ESC throttle cable modifications are necessary (cutting/removing the red wire). You plug the ESC into the BEC, and then plug the BEC plug into the throttle channel on your receiver. This allows you to keep the battery and AUX channel slots free. However, if you don't want to insert this device in line with the throttle cable, it can also function perfectly fine when hooked up isolated like any other BEC.