My apologies if this post is in the wrong forum - I've used the search function here as well as Googled the internet and quite frankly I have a hunch someone here could point me in the right direction - a simple wiring diagram would help.

I fly glow but I'd like to fly electric and take advantage of walking to open spaces around me rather than driving 30 minutes to my local field.

I know very little about electrics. I'd like to keep and use my current radio, a Futaba Skysport 6A (mode 1) for electric planes. I do know an "ESC" is involved, but that's about it. So, in a nut shell this is what I did this afternoon:

I pulled a 32 crystal out of a Hitec receiver in one of my planes (I fly all at 32) and headed to my local hobby shop. Unfortunately the personnel working had less clue than I did, but they were very nice and let me open boxed planes, receivers and servos. So, I popped a 32 into a Hitec Micro 555, plugged in an S74 micro and everythings working fine until - what the heck, where does the ESC plug in? The ESC had it's own battery connection, what powers the receiver? And so obviously I stumbled across the fact that a single battery in the plane powers both the motor and receiver, but interestingly, and maybe it's bad luck, but I can't seem to find a simple wiring diagram on the internet that explains basic electric ESC/receiver/motor connections. So, two questions:

1) To keep it simple a basic wiring diagram for brushless and good quality ESC

2) Advice on ARFs that include a motor and ESC that I can use with my Skysport. I was looking at a Parkzone J-3 Cub that looks like fun - how does it fly? If I bought it, what receiver and battery would it need to work with my radio? - and how would I hook it up?

More Cowbell! Or actually I mean, electric seems like more accessible fun and I'm looking forward to learning more about it.

Thanks

It is simpler than you think.
1) To first order, an ESC simply replaces the throttle servo, so you plug the ESC connector (same as a servo connector) into the throttle channel.
2) Most ESC come with BEC =Battery Eliminator Circuitry. What this means is that the battery for the motor is lowered in voltage to supply the receiver and servos. Most if not all ESC also have a "LVC" =Low Voltage Cutoff", where if the motor battery reaches a defined low value (meaning it is close to being completely discharged in terms of supplying the motor), it turns off the power to the motor. However it keeps supplying power to the receiver and servos. Usually by throttling back to zero, you can re-enable the throttle power in order to limp back to the field. However you shouldn't overdo this, since LVC will be crossed again.
3) The ESC has two wires that plug into the battery. You will need to choose the variety. Personally I use Dean's Ultra for all my e-planes, although I could get away with a smaller connector for less than 10Amp applications. You will need to size the battery to the application.
4) If you are running a brushed motor, you will need a brushed ESC. It will then have two wires that run to the motor wires. You will need to add connectors here too.
5) If you are running a brushless motor ("modern" technology), you will need to use a Brushless ESC. It will have 3 wires going to the 3 wires of the motor. How you hook up the 3 wires doesn't matter. If the motor runs backward, simply switch any two of the 3 wires and it will run the other way.

In both 4&5, you will probably need to add connectors again! I use 3.5mm bullet connectors.

So no diagrams, but I hope this helps.

Alan,

Thank you very much! I wasn't aware of the Low Voltage Cutoff feature, or more accurately, the Battery Eliminator Circuit.

If I understand this correctly, there would be no connection going into the battery connection of the Hitec Micro 555? The receiver is powered through the ESC throttle connection?

E-flight FAQ's

Everything you want to know about electric flight
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7100376/tm.htm

www.ezonemag.com
-> faq

Vriendelijke groeten Ron van Sommeren
• int. electric fly-in, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
• brushless motor building tips & tricks
• diy brushless motor discussion group
• Drive Calculator download & discussion group

Those are two different things.

Correct.
And when using a BEC, you may not even plug in a receiver battery. All the plusses and minusses (including those of the BAT connector) are internally connected. Say the BEC gives you 5.0V and the battery gives 4.8V, you'd have a voltage diffence of 0.2V and no resistance. Not good, you can't have two captains on one ship, recipe for disaster.

Vriendelijke groeten Ron

Thanks Ron!

You have already received some great advice, but here's the diagram you requested.

- Jeff

Thank you Jeff!! The Holy Grail of wiring diagrams that eluded me in over 90 minutes of searching the internet. This wiring diagram should be on the first page of every electric faq. But then if it was I wouldn't have stumbled into this forum and learned more than when I started...

As for function/stick assignments, use the same assignement as your club or your instructor. Otherwise he (she?) cannot help you trim the airplane and do the take-off and landing, the most dangerous phases, for you.

LOL Ron, the most dangerous phases for me are finding new ways to spend money on this great hobby.

I know, 'negotiations' about the hobby budget with the boss/sponsor/better half can be awkward to say the least at times even downright hairy.

Two other e-flight fora:
www.wattflyer.com
www.rcgroups.com

More electric/electronic background information:
http://openbookproject.net//electricCircuits/

Thanks for the links Ron, I'll check them out. I'm still contemplating my first electric. I think it will be the E-flite Mini Ultra Stick or the T-28, both available at my local hobby shop. If the Mini Ultra Stick came with motor and ESC in the box it would be a no-brainer.

Edited to add: I just checked online and evidently there is a "Plug and Play" version of the Mini Ultra Stick, evidently my LHS simply doesn't have it in stock. Does anyone here have the PNP version of the Mini Ultra Stick?

Blue Sky,

Have alook at this link for ESC set up. Pretty good detail.


http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/r...1/powerpac.jpg