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All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Brushed/Brushless motors, speed controls, gear drives >> ESC/BEC Problem
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ESC/BEC Problem - 9/3/2008 3:57:45 PM   
snewpy


 

Posts: 51
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: Crofton, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi all, I have an issue with the brushless ESC I'm using. It's a 60A Sky-Wing with external BEC. I'm running it in a 78" powered gluider with a little outrunner that only pulls about 20 amps max, a 3s LiPo and full size reciever with 2 standard sized servos. The problem is the BEC gets very warm and seems to shut down the receiver sometimes. I flew it yesterday for the first time and narrowly avoided a bad crash. Also the rudder servo is very glitchey. Any advice/info would be welcome.
       Post #: 1

RE: ESC/BEC Problem - 9/3/2008 6:27:31 PM   
whitecrest


 

Posts: 92
Joined: 8/8/2007
From: Orleans, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Perhaps one of the servos is stalling. I'd look for a binding linkage or defective servo. Disconnect the linkages and try the servos individually and see if you're BEC is still overheating. Each servo should work smoothly with no load. You should not be overloading the BEC with just two servos driving normal loads. Possibly, the BEC is defective. You might try driving the receiver and servos with a separate receiver battery (4.8 volts) to eliminate this possibility.

I would definitely not attempt flight again until your servos operate smoothly with no buzzing and no BEC overheating. Good luck with the troubleshooting.

_____________________________

Some things that count can''t be counted, and some things that can be counted don''t count. << A.E.

(in reply to snewpy)
       Post #: 2

RE: ESC/BEC Problem - 9/4/2008 5:00:21 AM   
snewpy


 

Posts: 51
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: Crofton, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		I think the servos and linkage are fine. The entire reciever power shut down (no throttle or flight controls).
The BEC gets very hot even just while the flight pack is plugged in in my shop. I suspect the severe servo glitching may be causing too much load for the BEC.

I'd like to power the reciever from a separate 4.8V pack but how do I do it? I can't see how to disable the BEC. Do I just cut it off and put a new connector on or would that send full flight pack voltage to the receiver? Here is a link to the ESC I got (it was cheap from Ebay) ESC

< Message edited by snewpy -- 9/4/2008 5:01:28 AM >

(in reply to whitecrest)
       Post #: 3

RE: ESC/BEC Problem - 9/4/2008 5:50:54 AM   
jdetray



Posts: 1257
Joined: 12/7/2004
From: Napoleon, OH, USA
Status: offline 		To disable the BEC, disconnect the middle wire of the 3-wire cable the goes from the ESC to the receiver.

One way to do this is to pop the terminal out of the connector at the receiver end of the cable. Then put a piece of tape or heat shrink over the exposed terminal.

Another way to accomplish the same thing is to get a short servo extension, remove the center conductor from the extension, then insert the extension between the ESC and receiver.

The receiver battery can be plugged into any open connector on the receiver.

- Jeff

_____________________________

My other hobby: www.AstronomyBoy.com

(in reply to snewpy)
       Post #: 4

RE: ESC/BEC Problem - 9/4/2008 7:12:06 AM   
whitecrest


 

Posts: 92
Joined: 8/8/2007
From: Orleans, MA, USA
Status: offline 		Try just connecting the flight battery to the ESC making doubly sure to observe the correct polarity. Everything else should be disconnected. Use a little tape around unconnected plugs for insulation. Check the BEC for high temperature. If it's OK, it should not heat up much with no load, and you should measure around 4.8 volts between the red and black wires of the throttle plug. According to the specs, the BEC is rated for 3 amps which should provide plenty of power for the receiver and several servos.

Next, plug into the receiver with the throttle plug and check the BEC again for high temperature. If all is well (the receiver is not shorted), try each servo alone and see if it can be controlled smoothly without overheating the BEC. You mentioned that one of them had been glitching, and this might be causing the overload. A stalled servo draws a lot of current.

If the BEC is indeed bad, use a separate 4.8 volt battery to power the receiver and servos to verify their operation. If everything is good up to this point, or you have found one (or two) bad servos, connect the motor to the ESC and see if you have throttle control.

_____________________________

Some things that count can''t be counted, and some things that can be counted don''t count. << A.E.

(in reply to snewpy)
       Post #: 5

RE: ESC/BEC Problem - 9/4/2008 7:43:42 AM   
jdetray



Posts: 1257
Joined: 12/7/2004
From: Napoleon, OH, USA
Status: offline 		One minor additional point: If the motor is disconnected, the ESC will not beep. The ESC utilizes the motor as a "speaker" to produce sound. A lack of beeps when the motor is disconnected is normal.

- Jeff

_____________________________

My other hobby: www.AstronomyBoy.com

(in reply to whitecrest)
       Post #: 6

RE: ESC/BEC Problem - 9/4/2008 5:27:44 PM   
snewpy


 

Posts: 51
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: Crofton, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		I 've got 10 volts coming from the BEC. I guess it's a dud. I fried at least one receiver before checking voltage. Lesson learned.

(in reply to jdetray)
       Post #: 7

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All Forums >> Electric Aircraft Universe >> Brushed/Brushless motors, speed controls, gear drives >> ESC/BEC Problem
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