dcsd01.zip

This is the first entry so it's more of a test than anything else. The above circuit serves as high-voltage BEC, converting any voltage 8-35V to a steady 5V (for powering servos, a receiver, etc.). At high voltages, it's more efficient than the linear BECs included in most ESCs.

Building up these boards is not too difficult for a hobbyist with a soldering iron, multimeter, and some minimal electronics know-how. Surface mount parts have been avoided whenever possible, in favor of through-hole parts

Two web resources you will need to build these designs are www.expresspcb.com to provide circuit boards and www.digikey.com to order parts. All the designs include a .pcb file for use with ExpressPCB's layout software and digikey part numbers for every part except for some resistors. For resistors, you can get a large bag of mixed resistors at a radio shack. You don't have to use the digikey part numbers provided, you can use cheaper parts if you can find them, but if you do this it is recommended to read the datasheet first (especially any IC datasheet) to determine if the parts used fit the recommended guidelines.

When ordering boards on expressPCB, I recommend the "miniboard" deal which gets you 3 board for under $60. without silkscreen. The silkscreen on these designs is for reference only to show part placement. If you get the boards with silkscreen, you are more likely to end up confused than assisted by it.

Many of these boards are smaller than the standard "miniboard", so you can combine multiple designs onto a single miniboard and then cut them up later with a nibbler or band saw.