Blinky Buster
 

I have contacted Reilley Motorsports about buying a Buster from them with no results. Does any one have one or have knowledge how to build one? I have heard about using an oscilloscope but that seems impractical to use at races. was there a problem with the Reilley blinky buster and that's why they don't make them anymore? Any help would be appreciated.

Side note. I really don't want to get into a big discussion about what could be done to stop cheating and all that. please stay on the topic of making or purchasing a blinky buster or something that might replace it.
Thanks!

I had to look up what the blinky buster was. It doesn't measure timing, it measures current, so I don't think it's particularly suitable for the job.

I've seen a prototype from Phat Dad Racing (user PDR on rctech) that should do a better job. Not sure when it'll be ready.

The Blinky Buster does not read esc timing to determine if in legal Blinky mode as stated above it reads current and is by no means an indication of if someone is cheating by secretly using timing to cheat. As stated above,it reads current and this is not a fair test and here is why. It is based on known current values for brand H esc when no timing is being used, it is possible for other brand of esc to have a higher power output due to things like internal materials used and have been made in total accordance to ROAR rules and offer more legal power. Different esc’s can have different power outputs at zero timing while being made totally legal why this tool is a joke

The first prototype implements, in purpose-built hardware, essentially the same approach described by ROAR for an oscilloscope. It successfully detected any amount of timing advance across the three ESC's I tested. The first standalone version has been assembled and I've been time poor to do the testing I need to do (excuses, excuses, I know). I remain cautiously optimistic that I can complete this in the next month or so. No guarantees, but the approach is sound and success will depend on me implementing that properly.

If you think Dieselgate, there is no silver bullet, but I'm hoping this will be a more practical tool than what's currently around.

Couple of pics. One shows the measured time between sensor and motor phase firing, one is the first (slightly error-inflicted) PCB version and the remaining one is what may be shown if you've done things right.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...144de5a52e.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...48ca088b6a.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rct...b3551f35ad.jpg

Interesting subject so I did look it up:
LiveRC - Reilley Motorsports Blinky Buster ESC tech tool

So what I see is that he had a power supply and a motor inside that box and a zero timing should give a 2A current draw. As many topics here go about setting the motor timing to a certain current on a motor analyser he has a base reading and and extra timing should draw more current.
You can create such a setup by your self.

Why a power supply and no battery?
Easy, a battery will drop in voltage over the time, a PSU will stay constant all day.

In the search I found this:
Yes, I was right, a motor and power supply with which he knows the base amps for a zero timing setting.

That'll only pick up steady-state blinky. This won't pick up the softening function that recently caused ROAR to ban older firmwares on a couple of ESCs (Hobbywing and R1).

Spec racing is becoming about too much policing and who can cheat the most. I blame the sanctioning body for letting it get out of control. Time to undilute the classes and run them open. The “Pro” stock racers will have to suck it up and run with the big boys. Unfortunately not everyone gets a trophy and some gonna have to work to stay outa the B Main

And he is a doing only a full throttle test, so in midrange rpm you could add some timing.

We already have a mod class. Go run it.

I do but it is definitely more fun to race against 30 guys instead of just 6
The 17.5 cars now are so fast that we might as well open it up and undilute the racing. Keep a stock class for true beginners only and suddenly 3 current problems in the Rc industry today are instantly solved.
1. Racing less diluted
2. Eliminate a lot of tech and ability to cheat
3. Newcomers now have a class that is just for them and not have to feel intimidated by either jumping into a “stock” class where cars are more heavily modified then mod cars are these days or by running mod against seasoned vets. This isn’t hard to figure out but I get it,these days everyone must get a trophy. It’s absolutely absurd that we have “professional” stock racers but the truth is that they don’t have the stones to run mod on the national level

You've literally described mod, and also stated that nobody runs it.

People like racing stock class. People aren't cheating (even though you seem to think they are). So stop complaining about something that isn't broken, stop trying to force a rule change on people that are enjoying their racing, and focus on running the class that you enjoy.

First of all stock/spec racing is not only for starters as many it would like to see, it is just a choice of class....

And the organisations are to blame that it is getting out of hand?
Why not the racers who go beyond the limits of the rules to go faster? They are the cause of much more policing than needed....

Stock/spec racing was not only to slow down the cars but also to make them more equal so that it comes more to the setup and driving. The ETS did start with the concept of one type motor/esc combo with an FDR limit. To be sure the motor will not be altered they have a handout motor, a concept that goes way bay with also brushed motors.
And still people managed to to fool the technical inspection wit other firmware, FET boards, separate blinking LED's add extra sensor timing even up to other brands pulleys and other numbers of teeth count stamped in the gears.

Funny thing is that on my Facebook yesterday a picture was shown as a memory on that date years ago showing Ji-Hyun Jang from Muchmore working on my build FDR meter that was used on the ETS for the 1st time. On that race the tool detected from the top 15 in total of 3 cheaters with their FDR. Honestly, I do love that that it comes out that several so called expert racers are nothing more than cheaters.

If people aren’t cheating then what is the reasoning behind esc’s with secret firmware and rewinding their motors?

Do you have any idea how difficult it would be to rewind a brushless motor or change the firmware of an ESC?

Show me some hard evidence of cheating (pictures of a rewound motor, circuit boards and oscilloscope readings of hacked ESCs, races where drivers have failed tech and had their results removed) and I'll believe you. Otherwise this is just trackside rumour which has been around from day one of blinky racing and is mostly a bad reaction to getting beaten.

Or you are racing against people who cheat the old fashioned way, and put a 13.5 motor in their car and cover over the stickers. Or run a bit of boost because nobody is watching (or because they believe the rumours that everyone else is doing it).

We've had the same claims made in the UK, and as far as I know the random impounding/scrutineering of racers equipment at nationals has never found a problem.

- A clubmember does rewind motors, but as he is a modified driver he may do that, it isn't that hard, for sure not taking one winding out.
- With the GM120 there was a blinky firmware around where you still could change settings.

Do not tell me about cheating..... with the 1st ETS set from Speed Passion people did a lot. Because the same concept was also adopted by my club a fellow nitro racer wanted to do some electric clubracing. His car was the slowest of them all while there was nothing wrong with the setup, gearing etc.

But a list of known (and I even have seen) tricks
- There was a GM rotor with more magnetism looking the same as the SP one and of course well used...
- People mounted the +20 degree sensor board instead of the 10 degree one. It had a different colour that could be easily coloured....
- there are even some topics here on this forum how to shift sensors to the far edges of the solder pads.
- The slot that limited the sensor timing on the SP motor could easily milled a bit further (my friend did to come closer)
- The used (by then) Speed Passion 35A ESC had also a 80A version so the FET board was changed.
- I myself took over an used Hobbywing 3.0 ESC but came in a box of the juststock with programmer, in the box a new high power FET component was lying around, someone was busy with changing FET's what is easy to do with the right solder tools
- a guy was caught with some soldering to the PCB, it seemed he placed a blinking LED
- In the Tamiya cup some people do soak their tires in WD40 long before they need to race, they will get a larger diameter going faster with the mandatory gearing.
- As mentioned, in the ETS due a difficult control on the FDR the inspection did rely too much on the known internal ratio and the numbers on the gears giving a lot of room to change brand pulleys and blanc out the numbers on the gears up to even laser engraving other numbers.

But hey, people do not dare to cheat.......