gil_mor

Hey all.
I've been flying my Typhoon 2 3d for quite some time now, and yesterday, after couple of flight - this happens:

I change packs, plug it in and - No sound from the ESC.
It happened before, so I just unplugged it and re plugged it.
3 beeps as normal.

I try the throttle slowly - and get some weird response.
At first it felt like "On and Off" kinda thing - the prop wouldn't spin more then 1/8 a spin.
Then when i pushed it further up, it felt like the gears where grinding, then a high pitch scream (like an engine w/o a prop).
Then I've decided something is wrong (the whole thing took about 4 seconds).

I took everything apart, and the next time I've plugged the battery back in - the ESC defiantly smoked.

Now, I get a very low ohm readings from the motor wires (As if they where all shorted).
I know little about these motors, but it seems wrong.
How can I tell what's wrong and what should be done?
Thanks

RedGN

Hmmm.

not 100% sure. Beeping noises come from motor not ESC.

seems almost like bearings have seized ( motor or gear shaft ). This may have fried the ESC.

If it went from 0 to full throttle instantly then it could have stripped gears.

Well you probably have to replace the ESC , motor and gearbox.

Hope this helps

gil_mor

Gear box is fine, ESC is probably gone, Engine might be dead. but, Is there a way to find out without changing everything?

RedGN

Motor should have low resistance around 0.5 ohms between all leads

THe only problem with testing a new esc is that if there is a problem with the motor then you will fry a second ESC. This is why i recommend changing it all. ( if gear seems fine then you can leave it....BUT MAKE SURE YOU CHECK IT WELL)

hope this helps again

RedGN

PS make sure you check all electrical wires.... There may be a short somewhere else. Check the motor leads and make sure no wire exposed that could short. Also check battery leads for shorting possibilities.

gil_mor

I've checked, everything looks normal.

Do you think Horizon Hobby would replace my ESC and/or Motor, I had it for about 6 mounths...

Is there a way to tell if the motor is still good without killing another ESC?

whitecrest

First, check for a short from the motor casing to the motor wires using a DVM.

Next, try placing a low-amp (@ 1-2 amps) fuse in the positive (red) battery wire to the new ESC. Run the motor without a prop, and you should be able to go to full throttle without blowing the fuse. Measure the current consumed while running with no load. It ought to be close to your motor's specs if it's still in good shape. Adjust the fuse rating to be just over your motor's specified idling current. Radio Shack will probably have the fuses. I think you really need a dynamic test to tell for sure, and if it's really shorted, the fuse will protect the ESC. Good luck with the troubleshooting.

gil_mor

I know very little about fuses, aren't they supposed to be X Amps and X volts?
If so, how many volts do i need it to be?

whitecrest

Unless you're going to be using the fuse in a high-voltage line, you don't need to worry about the voltage rating. The current rating is the important one.

For example, I have some .5 amp fuses from Radio Shack for my analog voltage meter. They are rated for 250 volts but will work fine for lower voltage circuits. They are tiny glass cyclinders with metal caps at the ends. You can see the fine wire element inside. Alligator clips on the metal caps would probably be the easiest connection for the test, but I think wires could be soldered to them as well. There are also dedicated fuse holders, including inline designs.

Another possibility might be mini automotive fuses, if you can find a current rating low enough to provide adequate protection. Keep the battery and test leads as short as possible. Without the prop, the motor should operate smoothly through its speed range without blowing the fuse if the windings have not been damaged.

gil_mor

Great, Thanks! I'm gonna get me some fuses :-)

gil_mor

Got another ESC, But I'm not sure how to connect -

Thats my old smoked one



And thats the new one



So how do I connect these? Any Ideas?

Dr Kiwi

Get rid of the MicroDeans connector on the ESC and replace it with three female 3.5mm bullet connectors to match those on the motor. That MicroDeans wouldn't cope with the possible 20A-30A your motor might draw, and your ESC can deal with... so it needs to go.

Just unsolder the connectors you had on the dead ESC and use them to replace the MicroDeans.

gil_mor

Ok, but, which wire goes to which wire?

whitecrest

On the motor side, just attach three wires to three wires. If the motor spins in the wrong direction, swap any two wires. On the battery side, it's red to red and black to black. Be sure polarity is correct on the battery side.

gil_mor

Replaced!
Works ok I think, but...
When I throttle up from off to idle, the motor would speed up, then speed down to the idle speed.
I don't get it, probably something with the ESC settings, right?

Any ideas how can I get a hold of the manual?