On 2015-04-06, Jim Wilkins wrote:
"Ignoramus32423" wrote in
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On 2015-04-06, Jim Wilkins wrote:
If you used an LM317 adjustable regulator for the tracks you could
tune the voltage for best performance while retaining control, and
waste less of the battery's energy as heat. You could put a knob on
the voltage adjustment pot so you have a throttle instead of just
on/off control.


Oh, and why would LM317 waste less energy as heat?

Because you could deliver the maximum acceptable voltage to the track
motors to move fast. Maybe it's 8 or 10V if you don't start or stop
with a jolt that breaks traction.

We used a variable power supply quite a bit to arrive at an acceptable
voltage. Overall, 5v was perfect, anything faster was just too hard to
control.

i