Tekin took a bit of a hiatus, but they're back in RC full force nowadays. Tekin set out to produce a race-worthy, mini ESC to grab a slice of the mini/micro pie, and most importantly, win some races! Their new B1 and B1R (reversible) ESCs have just hit the market, and they seem to offer everything that a racer could ask for. How does this generation of ESCs measure up? It's time to find out.
Words:
Michael Wortel
Issue 144 (November 2007)
Installation/Performance
The main instruction manual fails to address it, but Tekin includes a power capacitor that must be installed before attaching the wires. Be careful, because the power cap is polar. The vertical soldering posts are very easy to use, and the solder attracts and bonds well to the surface. Just make sure not to use too much solder, as it could drip down onto the ESC case. Performance-wise, the ESC exhibits smooth throttle control and response, as well as reactive brakes. The adjustable drag brake feature is appreciated, as well as the voltage cutoffs, because nobody wants to ruin a perfectly good Li-Po. The onboard temp indicator sounds like a good idea, but since you have to pull the car off the track and look at it, it's a bit of a redundant function. All of the other program features, however, proved useful.
Conclusion
If you're racing in a brushed motor mini class, or you simply want to upgrade the electronics on your basher, this ESC deserves a close look. But for the money, you could also buy one of the many brushless ESCs that are on the market (Tekin even makes one of their own). If you plan on staying in the brushed realm, however, you will definitely appreciate the size and many features of Tekin's B1 ESC.
HITS
• Very small footprint
• Plenty of profile characteristics
• Li-Po cutoff
• Includes zero-loss motor connectors
MISSES
• Brushed motors only
• External power cap
• Instructions are a bit cramped
• Same price as most brushless ESCs
CONNECT
MANUFACTURER:
Tekin
WEB:
www.tekin.com
PART NUMBER(S):
#TT1080
STREET PRICE:
$85-$90
Source: