./ROV:thruster

From UAFCS

Current draw for Attwood pumps
	Unloaded (A)	Stalled (A)
500 GPH	.280	4.30
1250 GPH	1.2	~10.5

Our Atwood 1250's are rated at 13.6V 2.6A. With our huge props, they pull more like 10A at 12VDC. We tried driving on at an even higher voltage (with two batteries in series, at around 15VDC under load), and it really took off, aerating an entire 5gal bucket almost instantly. Devin suggested we might always run the motor controllers at 24VDC, but normally operate them at very low duty cycle; we could then provide a "nitrous" or "afterburner" button to crank 'em up to full power!

Logan's 2007 experiment showed that approx 15 minutes of full-power operation will burn out the Atwood motors--they stink like burning plastic as the varnish melts, then spray superheated steam out their wiring holes, and finally melt off their plastic case. We might be able to postpone thermal overload (and increase the motors' pressure tolerance) by filling up the motor case with an electrically nonconductive fluid like oil.