Peter, I share your disappointment.

I have had promises made too, but nothing happens. Not sure whether the supplier does not bother or China / Canada Post does not deliver. Although shipments from the US/ Canada and the UK all seem to arrive, which tends to absolve Canada Post.
Apart from advising E Bay, not much else you can do.

The only other thought I have had is to buy Chinese items, but only through Hong Kong or somewhere else in the real world that handles them. Often you find these other sources of supply listed on the E Bay site.
That might Improve chances of a satisfactory recourse.

Your lucky I am in dispute with my
supplier, having not been in receipt of any motor or crocodile clips ordered with them, they keep promising a refund, but get the Impression they doubt my honesty, its not about the cost which is insignificant, just my pride. I trust people and expect the same respect back, should have reported them to EBay, but its not in my psychia, always think the best of people :-)

An update to my earlier post on the fan cooled ESCs from China. I have now have three that work, although had to buy 5 to get there!
Earlier experiences were summarized in my January post, since then I had another short internally blowing the circuit fuse.
My previous thoughts still stand, whilst the controllers are quite competitive, buy at least one extra as a spare. Also make sure they are fused to avoid further damage if there is a short. At the lower end of the voltage range the fan operation is erratic, on 12 volts it is fine. Warranty coverage and delivery are poor.
Think will revert back to the Mtroniks controllers in future. They may cost more but are reliable and, delivery even to Canada, is good.
Caveat emptor!

Have now purchased 4 of the :"New 320Amp 7.2V-16V Brushed ESC Speed Controller for RC Car Truck or Boat D1" discussed earlier.
Of these four have had the following experiences:
1) On one the fan did not work, finally noticed the plug was installed with the polarity reversed and when corrected it was OK. I had earlier asked the vendor to send another fan as everything else worked fine and I would replace the fan. He agreed to send one Immediately but now, after over 4 weeks waiting, nothing has been received.
2) One controller ordered last September never arrived. After a month the vendor did offer to replace it. That one arrived about a month later and worked fine.
3) Did another trial installation of the three ESCs yesterday and after a few minutes use the lead from the RX to one controller started smoking and then burnt through. Fortunately the RX was undamaged. Suspect the ESC had an internal fault.
So far the vendor has suggested I return it and, after receipt (assuming it is defective) he will replace. So will be a 2 month delay before I get another controller.
From my experiences would suggest anybody purchasing these items be prepared for several weeks delay in receipt and questionable quality. Would suggest always order at least one extra controller so you have a ready spare.
When they work they seem fine and the visual quality looks good. Pity the electrical and delivery issues are not to the same standards.

Fair enough will be using them on slower boats anyway and hopefully won't require fast reversing, unless I am being rammed by bigger boat, that is another story 😀

A few of the guys in the Hoylake club have had these fanless cheaper version of the 320A speed controllers.
Snags are that they are only up to 7.2 volts not 16volt like the fan type also they do not respond to reverse quickly enough for boat use and they are reluctant to work on PB lead acid battery pack only seem to work well with Lipos and NH/MH batteries. You can't do a quick astern to stop. I'm sticking to the fanned dual motor version for a couple of quid more!!

Glad to here you got some, plus agree I have always found suppliers on Ebay will bend over backwards to ensure they get good feed back. I got a battery packs (9.6v?) did not charge at first, sent a email to supplier who sent me some replacements no quibble, didn't need me to return faulty battery, felt a little guilty as suddenly it sprang to life and started to excepted a charge, and is still going, no idea why. I am still awaiting stuff order outside of ebay, despite many emails and telephone conversations (W.....urne Models), placed in early may Grr....:-(. I am waiting for another supplier to deliver a 320 amp controller, this time that are designed to run single motors and have no fan, at a cost of around a £5-6, worth a punt, seen them even cheaper since, will report when received and tested.

Just received the three I ordered originally. One was a replacement for the one that went astray.
Two work fine, on the other the fan does not work. Delivery is about three weeks to Canada.
Suppliers seem willing to resolve problems as the first that never arrived was replaced readily and I believe a new fan is about to be shipped

I've had 7 so far for self and friends all working fine so far no complaints. Still getting them at £8.79 in about three weeks.

HI All
Just to add my 5 penneth, I recently bought a simular fan cooled ESC from ' hittime_3c ' ( they had 98.9 positive feedback ), it did cost a little more at £9.52 but arrived in just under 3 weeks here in Dorset and works well driving 2 x 400 brushed motors.
The e-bay link is:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251649550212?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

In case anyone else wants to try them
Regards
Chris

Arrived 2 days early along with 4 minI servo ordered at same time, only snag it was only one, my error teach me to read my confirmations better, Box must have clicked back to 1 un-noticed. Never mind 2 more already ordered, soon have all my fleet ready for instant sail, instead of swapping gear from boat to boat as at present, often at lakeside. Will definitely upping suppliers ratings ASAP.

Phew!! So glad for that, as previously said, the low feed back was probably due to a holiday glitch :-), mine should not be long standing by letter box as I type 😎 .

My 4 speed controllers arrived yesterday no problems.
Thanks Peter for this new source of supply; despite the not so good feed from this supplier, mine arrived quick and are all OK.
(4clubs) Max

You were right, 4clubs finally, duck in to my den ok small box room, and tried temporarily wiring my twin motors (540ish) on my Vosper MTB, using separate leads as suggested, instead of wired together through on one set of leads as previous, and it all worked as the tin said :-). to be honest I first tried on 2 smaller Motors with same result. Trying to figure best fuse to use as further protection, get my whiz kid Brother to figure it out electrics is his thing.

Looks like the speed controllers are beginning to arrive. Lets hope they all survive the hard work we put them through.
The original ones I purchased are still all performing well despite one getting salt water ingress through the join and leaving a slight salty deposit on the circuit board; viewable through the transparent back.
It was NOT in one of my boats I might add!!!

Good to hear that my order took less than a week, just waiting three more from another supplier. Always thought Canada was closers than us to China, it must be ourTea Clippers are quicker :-P

Vendor has shipped another FOC, so have just purchased two more. Hope they all arrive, fortunately not much sailing during a Canadian winter!

Ahead of you on that having recently started to use plastic food trays to mount my equipment after many years of Ignoring the likelihood of water ingress, fortunately with out loss, one of my first boats 200th scale Biscmark, had bearly 1 1/2" freeboard and superstructure plugged loosely in, was sent out in equivalent of Force 10 gales and survived over 20 years, only succumbing to a being stored in a leaky shed over winter and rotting a way, her Motors survived and now power my Brothers Shop bought "Bismarck". Thanks for the tip any way :-)

Hi! Peter
glad your speed controller arrived OK. I suppose you know, but just in case, I had better warn you they are NOT waterproof make sure you mount it well away from the bilges. Water can seep in through the join and onto the printed circuit board.
Otherwise they seem to preform excellently, I don't have any complaints and have had six of them up to now with another four on order from your suggested supplier
1 p cheaper.
Cheers
Max (4clubs)

I have received my initial ordered £8.80 speed controller (4Clubs recommendation) within a week of ordering, out the packet looks well built, well chuffed, now to find time to test it, but also waiting to see how long it takes for the 1p cheaper purchases takes and if they are of the same quality 😯

HI All

Had a look on ebay, there is an ESC going for £8.50 blue anodised case but it doesn't say that it has reverse and it is only 50amps, the ones I have are 50amp with 20 amp reverse

Mark

As I said I do hope you have no problem and the goods work and are as specified.
I use E-bay frequently but try to avoid sellers who have adverse feedback.
I agree it may be about a 1150:1 chance and E-bay/PayPal will reimburse but this takes ages and you could be well into Christmas before you get a refund.

That's out of 219,000 and bear in mind it holiday time in China, The italians use to take 8 week breaks, every year, I worked in stores in fridge trade and dreaded summer time as a lot of compressors where made in italy and nobody stockpiled them, so when they went wrong we had to do a lot research, to find suitable replacements, still have hot sweats from that time :-) So not too worried and EBay and Paypal have a robust reimbursement system in place :-)

Don't depress me now Dave. I will let you know if I get them OK. The last lot arrived within 3 weeks and were fine but admittedly it was a different dealer.
I am a supreme optimist!!
Cheers
Max

Just had a look at this seller's profile. 190 negative feedbacks in the last month, mainly for poor communication, non delivery and poor quality. I do hope you receive the goods.

No trouble, you know what think I'll chance my arm too, rather than wait for first order to come through, save swapping equipment around in my fleet.
Many of them run on 540 type or less, as the blurb say it will run twin 540's (bit confused how to work out how large a motor you can get away with on 320A). My largest motor is the 600 powering my RAF Fireboat.

Well done Peter, I was not able to find an alternative supplier but you have cracked it at 1p cheaper. I have ordered four, just got to wait now.
Many thanks
4clubs
Max

Just been to E-Bay and did a search this link popped up still same price and in stock - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320A-7-2V-16V-Bidirectional-Brushed-ESC-Speed-Controller-RC-Car-Truck-Boat-T5-/400556979559?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts_13&hash=item5d430e7567 - have sent for one over a week ago, but that is normal, patience is a virtue :-). Did order some parts from Westbourne Models in May, emails got bounced repeatedly and finally got through on telephone, but despite many assurances and a promise of owner personal email, Zilch so far, the cost involved is minimal so not too worried, but its the lack of service and broken promises that is the most upsetting, belief others have had similar experiences with this shop on checking around web, so in no rush to order any more stuff from that site :-(

Its a good idea to clamp the motor shaft so it can't rotate and connect the battery you are going to use via an ammeter directly to the motor, this will measure the stall current. Then insert a fuse of a slightly smaller rating in circuit to protect the electrics. I.e if the stall current is 10 amps put a 7 amp fuse in circuit. if the prop then gets stuck with weed then the fuse will protect the speed controller and the wiring.
Teaching you to suck eggs probably --but Hi! Ho!

By the way these speed controllers are now out of stock at £8.80 post paid, but can still be obtained at £14.89 if you are desperate. I am waiting till they are back in stock, they must have been a bargain 'cos they have all gone.
Cheers
4 Clubs

BY GUM !!! I certainly started something with these Chinese speed controllers.
Hope it arrives real soon.
Cheers
4clubs

HI All

Sorry for the bum info, it is a holiday but not new year, Thanks to Dave M

Regards

Mark

HI Rowen
The Chinese New Year is on Feb 19 2015 so should not affect your delivery.

Thanks Mark, had forgotten. Will wait until end of the month when the Mai-taI should be just a distant memory
Rowen

HI Mate

Don't be sup prised its chinese new year, takes a week or two to get back in gear

Regards

Mark

Thanks for your thoughts. Have not alerted supplier yet, will give them until next week.
I live in Canada and usually China purchases arrive within 2 - 3 weeks

HI Rowen
China delivery times to your part of the world can take longer than deliveries to Europe. I hope your ESC arrives safely but check with the website to see their predicted delivery times.

I have had a few of these, they should only take about 2 to 3 weeks any longer you should chase up on Ebay. Sometimes they go adrift but the suppliers are only too willing to send replacements as it affects their reputation and star rating on Ebay

I ordered the ESC suggested by 4 Clubs about 5 weeks ago, still waiting. if you need this quickly, suggest try something else.

Hi! Colsie334
We never found out what you eventually ended up using as a ESC (speed control)????

HI Alec
Hopefully you have found a suitable ESC after receiving some good advice.
If you have an ammeter on your meter you may be able to measure the current between the battery and ESC. Free running is likely to be about 2 amps or less. You can work out the Watts by mutiplying the current by the battery voltage ( 2 amp x 7.2 volt = 14.4 Watts).
The China version is interesting but probably shows how some ESC ratings are overstated, and probably relate to an instantaneous peak rather than a sustainable average. The wiring and battery connector on the ESC should give you a clue.
For your motor, however, this ESC should be OK, given that others have bought and used.
If you don't want to wait for China post there are several UK firms offering suitable ESC's such as Component Shop, Electronize and Mtronik. Most have web sites and will be available to help should you need any after sale help. 😀

HI Alex

4clubs is right, have a look round ebay, watch out that they are for Brushed motors!!!! not brushless!!!!!

I have used these and others to great effect,

Mark

This item obtained from Ebay will cover most needs
has dual motor output too if wanted. its small and fan cooled, less than 2" square at £8.80 its a bargain! No I'm not on commission. Proportional forward and instant reverse.
Listed as "New 320Amp 7.2V-16V Brushed ESC Speed Controller for RC Car Truck or Boat D1 From China £8.80
Free Postage item Code (321456973071)
Member ID dealex2011 "

HI Alex

A way of checking is to run the boat at full speed until you notice a drop in performance, this is very crude but if your battery is 5000ma and it runs for 30 minutes you are drawing 10 amps.

Like I say very crude but if total accuracy is not needed then its good enough.

Mark

HI Mark.
Thanks for your reply, I am running a geared Torpedo 500 in a 36" trawler on 7.2v battery and a 40mm prop, how can I find the motor power consumption.
Thanks again.
Alec

Weather brushed or brushless, you need to know what the motor power consumption is, in watts. Then for peace of mind add extra capacity for the ESC, if you are running a power motor like a hot 540 racing type then you could be looking at 100 watts, on the other hand a scale model with mild motors could easily use a small 20 - 50 watt controller, which with care will last for years in many boats.
I have 2 Electronize ESC which are 20 years old in my tugs, both running on 24 volts and a big 80mm props.
Try to find out the wattage of the motors you are looking at, its on the box normally, then as a rough gauge double the value.

Hope this helps

Mark

Are we talking about a brushed motor or a brushless motor Colsie?

Alan