Esc help
 

What is this esc?

ESC is short for Electronic Speed Controller.
In the RC world it is a device that plugs into the 'throttle' channel in the radio receiver so the speed of the electric motor can be controlled by the transmitter.

Many ESCs also have another part built in it that provides a constant 5V supply to power the receiver and servo as well so everything is powered from the main battery. It is referred to as the BEC or Battery Eliminator Circuit.

A further clever bit is that the ESC monitors the battery voltage all the time and if it falls below a pre-set value (Low Voltage Cut off or LVC) it cuts (or greatly reduces) the power to the motor to keep the remaining battery power available for the radio and the servos.
This feature is especially important for Lithium Polymer batteries that can be irreversibly damaged if they are run down completely.

It's also one of the parts that contains the "magic smoke", While this smoke can be exciting to watch when released ,the results are not so good for the plane!