Keep us updated on your testing.

Martin555.

I guarantee it won`t blow my seals Martin.
All will become clear before the test.
Peter.😀

When you have your Gato trimmed correctly it should only be about a mug full of water, maybe less.
But even pumping that amount of water in to the tank the air pressure will definitely be enough to to pop seals.

Martin555.

Hi Martin.
Yes I suspect you are right. This is what I will be testing keeping a close watch on the amp draw during filling. If the pump dies, then failure. I will have to get a high pressure pump. More money!!.
I know you have said that it does not take too much water to submerge the sub, this will determine the back pressure produced. It might be lower than expected. If so, Success!!. If not,🤔😂

I don't know what pump you will be using but pressurising the air in the tank could severely damage the pump.

Martin555.

Thanks guys.
I have bought a cheap solenoid valve which is for the test only, unless it works well of course. I intend to pressurise the cylinder by compressing the air within so my test will mainly be to see how much water I can pump in before the pump stalls. Following one of your earlier comments Martin, I hope that I can get enough water in to sink the submarine which I believe is not too much. I hope to get all of the parts required for this test this week but I do have to do a fair bit of turning and drilling and tapping to prepare the cylinder to withstand the internal pressure. This might not be ready for a couple of weeks but I am hoping for a successful outcome. We will see.😊

Hi Doug,
I think the valve that Peter is talking about is a solenoid shut off.
As for the night valve it has to be an expensive one as the cheaper ones tend to leek LOL!

Martin555.

"Can I wire two brushed 360 motors into one ESC"
Yes you can Peter,
That's what I did with my U25.
My motors are 385s. The blue thing stuck to the starboard hull side, with two little white trim pots on it, is the ESC.
The board bolted to the engine room forward bulkhead is the power distribution board to the motors and includes the spark suppressors.
Cheers, Doug 😎

"Did you need a non return valve or shut off valve for the bladder."
Martin may not Peter
but I could sure use one at night 🤔
😁😎

Hi Peter,
You can fit a solenoid valve.
It will stop the water from working it's way back through the pump.
I have not fitted one to my Gato as if something went wrong like losing power to the valve or pump then my sub will surface on its own after about two minutes.

Martin555.

Hi Martin.
Did you need a non return valve or shut off valve for the bladder.
Thanks. Peter.

Peter,
I understand the thinking behind it but you will find that you will not use less than full speed in and full speed out.
As it's a small pump and the volume of water involved.

Martin555.

Thanks Martin.😊
The reason I bought a cheap ESC for the pump was so that I could control the speed of the motor.

Hi Peter,
Firstly the ballast pump dose not need it own ESC, a simple forward/reverse switch system will do the job perfectly fine.
You will find that when you fill the ballast tank it takes a bit of time to get deck's awash so to use a speed controller will be a waste of a controller.

Secondly you can use the pump ESC to control the second motor.
Or just have the one ESC to control both motors.

You can use the three position switch on your TX to control a servo to operate a switch system for the pump.

Martin555.