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Friday, November 21, 2014

Zepsus Magnetic BEC

Life, Lipo or more recent Li Ion receiver batteries are usually in 2S so deliver high voltage. However some servos released few years ago have not been designed to support high voltage and can at least reduce their lifetime when used with high voltage, or even can burn. Zepsus, well know for the magnetic switch that became very popular all around the world and equiping lots of F3X glider, recently released a new magnetic switch that includes a voltage regulator.

This Magnetic BEC features an impressive 14A max output current, operates with a 3 volts to 10 volts input voltage, is configurable to deliver 5, 5.5 or 6V output. It is compatible with all chemistry, from a 5S NiMh or NiCd to the more and more used 2S LiPo, LiFe, LiIon. The big advantage of the Lixx chemistry is that they can deliver higher current corresponding to the very demanding modern servos. The voltage regulation is linear, so what I would call RF friendly (ultra low RF noise) at the opposite of the usual U-BEC that can create problem with the receiver depending of the installation. 

Zepsus magnetic BEC is deliver in a small plastic bag with a small magnet and 2 stickers to install on the fuselage to indicate where to apply the magnet to switch on and off the magnetic BEC. It has a dimension of 59 x 26 x 5mm, and has a radiator face to dissipate the heat if needed.



The quality of the Zepsus Magnetic BEC is really nice with silicone JR type extension on the receiver side (2 times 0.5mm2 section). It has 2 connectors to provide some redundancy, but first to allow higher current. On the battery side, it is also large silicone wires (1 mm2 section). I installed a JST connector (crimped) to be compatible with the batteries I uses. On one side you have a jumper allowing to select the output voltage you want. When ON, a bright green LED allow to see the state of the switch. It is so bright that you can possibly see it through the nose cone. A small magnet is provided, but I recommend to use a bigger and stronger magnet like the Jeti magnet. It eases operation greatly from my point of view.

So if you have gliders with LV servos but you still want to migrate to HV batteries that provide higher capacity, low self discharge, higher max current, this Magnetic BEC is definitively the way to go. For small plane there is an smaller version of the magnetic switch delivering 5A, and with a single connection the receiver. I have 4 or 5 Zepsus switches in my competition planes that I uses for several years and I'm very statisfied by the quality and reliability of them. It is so convenient to close and tape the nosecone at the beginning of the day and switch on and off easily with the magnet that I couldn't return to a mechanical switch ! I definitively recommend Zepsus switches and this new magnetic BEC as Zepsus's owner (jesper Christensen) is also a F3F pilot and competitor so he knows what he is talking about !

Magnetic BEC Specifications

  • Input voltage range: 3~10V
  • Designed for 2s Lipo/Liion/LiFe or 5s NiMH/NiCD batteries
  • Output voltage choice: 5,0V/5,5V/6,0V
  • Output current continuously: 14A
  • Output current burst: >30A
  • Ultra low stand-by current: 6µA (micro-ampere)
  • Max power loss continuously: 8 Watt
  • Max power loss burst: >40 Watt
  • Ultra low dropout voltage: 63mV@8A
  • Connectors: JR-type “Double connector to receiver”
  • Wire: high-quality 1mm2 and 2×0.5mm2
  • Weight including cables: 14.5grams
  • Length including cables: 19cm
  • Dimensions including heat shrink: 59 x 26 x 5mm
  • Operational temperature range: -40C to +125C



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