Afro High Voltage Speed Controller - 20A ESC 3-8s (SimonK)

The secret to long flight times is high voltage. These new Afro speed controllers (ESCs) support just that; while conventional ESCs run at up to 6S (25v), the HV Afro's are compatible with up to 8S (32V). Matched with some low KV motors this makes for a very efficient setup, with flight times pushing over the hour mark possible! Best still it needn't be expensive, while 8S LiPo batteries are expensive and hard to come by, you can just run two 4S batteries in series to the same effect. That way you don't even need a fancy high cell charger.

Afro speed controllers in general are regarded as some of the best multirotor ESCs on the market. Unlike conventional ESCs, they were developed from the ground up for specifically multirotor use. They boast high efficiency, all N-channel MOSFET design, jitter-free hardware PWM input, and exceptionally smooth power response. Not only is the hardware excellent, multirotor specific SimonK firmware comes preloaded! No need to reflash. They are also MikroKopter I2C compatible. A DIY port is available under the shrink wrap which allows using the ESC with MikroKopter hardware. Finally for added convenience the Afro USB flashing tool can be used via the PWM signal lead for future software updates, eliminating complicated flashing jigs or the need to cut open the heat shrink.

To learn more about building a drone for endurance, have a read of our blog post – Efficiency Vs. Performance.