Originally Posted by
jz37
... I am new to this ...
If you don't have flying experience I would forget about EDFs for a while.
Training/trainer suggestions:
Advice for getting into flying RC airplanes, and how not to - The Ampeer
Originally Posted by
jz37
... even though the LiPo reads 20v ...
If a motor starts and stops after a while it usually is a battery issue.
6 cells in series (summing their voltages), no_load and you measure only 20volt?
No_load voltage of a single empty LiPo cell is 3.7volt, you'd be killing your battery.
Originally Posted by
jz37
... A few hours ago, I powered the ESC with my lipo and it made 3 beeps. ...
It's the motor that does the beeping, not the ESC.
The controller is trying to tell you something in beep/morse code, using the motor as a poor loudspeaker.
Look up or google (make/type manual/instructions beep code) the code, several codes.
In case you have a Futaba transmitter, they need to have their throttle channel reversed.
The ESC is using the motor as a poor and cheap loudspeaker, no buzzer/speaker needed. In a loudspeaker a coil moves in/because of changes in magnetic field, same for motor. In a motor magnets move because of changes in magnetic field.