Problems with electronic speed controller

[Gerard]

Hi,

I've put together a Tamiya Baja King "for the kids"... Ahem.

It came bundled with a Futaba T2ER transmitter, FP-R122JE receiver,
2 S3003 servos (only one used, for steering) and the Tamiya TEU-101BK
electronic speed controller. I used the motor supplied in the kit.

I've programmed the ESC as per the directions.

The model generally performs OK so long as only low speeds are attempted.
When full forward or full reverse is attempted model usually refuses to move
or may jerk unpredictably. Going from forward to reverse usually also causes
the motor to just stop until the control is returned to the neutral position
and
then moved back into the reverse position.

I am using fresh battery packs in the car and the transmitter seems to be
working as the steering channel can be seen to operate.

The ESC has heat and overcurrent protections built in but I don't think it's
likely either is an issue as I am using only standard batteries and the
standard
motor, and the ESC is not getting particularly hot to touch.

Thanks in advance,

Gerard

[Frater Mus]

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 at 08:25 GMT, <lfismdlfk4e@hotmail.com> wrote:

> It came bundled with a Futaba T2ER transmitter, FP-R122JE receiver,
> 2 S3003 servos (only one used, for steering) and the Tamiya TEU-101BK
> electronic speed controller. I used the motor supplied in the kit.
>
> I've programmed the ESC as per the directions.
>
> The model generally performs OK so long as only low speeds are attempted.
> When full forward or full reverse is attempted model usually refuses to move
> or may jerk unpredictably.

Bad/loose throttle pot on the transmitter maybe?

Can you borrow or use another TX to see if that's it?

Assuming this is a 0-degree timeing motor you could test this by
wiring the motor backwards and act like you're trying to give it
reverse (it would go forward because the motor is wired backwards).

You could also just swap the 1 and 2 servo plugs at the RX and give it
throttle with the wheel for testing purposes. (might want to put it on
a stand).

If it seems to work ok I'd say the throttle pot is bad.


> Going from forward to reverse usually also causes
> the motor to just stop until the control is returned to the neutral position
> and
> then moved back into the reverse position.

Some ESCs work that way on purpose. Keeps users from ripping trannys
and ujoints out. :-)

--
http://cbsrmt.mousetrap.net/RMTdb/ CBS Radio Mystery Theater database
CBSRMT uploads each day in <news:alt.binaries.sounds.radio.cbsrmt>
http://greyhound.mousetrap.net/altus/ our ex-racer greyhound
http://www.mousetrap.net/~mouse/cs.html How to get good phone support

[mike]

Apart from the other excellent suggestions, I would be tempted to try
another motor. I recently had a similar problem to yours and ranted and
cursed the esc, but the problem turned out to be the motor.
MIKE

"Gerard" <lfismdlfk4e@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:bC6Dd.106260$K7.70735@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> Hi,
>
> I've put together a Tamiya Baja King "for the kids"... Ahem.
>
> It came bundled with a Futaba T2ER transmitter, FP-R122JE receiver,
> 2 S3003 servos (only one used, for steering) and the Tamiya TEU-101BK
> electronic speed controller. I used the motor supplied in the kit.
>
> I've programmed the ESC as per the directions.
>
> The model generally performs OK so long as only low speeds are attempted.
> When full forward or full reverse is attempted model usually refuses to
move
> or may jerk unpredictably. Going from forward to reverse usually also
causes
> the motor to just stop until the control is returned to the neutral
position
> and
> then moved back into the reverse position.
>
> I am using fresh battery packs in the car and the transmitter seems to be
> working as the steering channel can be seen to operate.
>
> The ESC has heat and overcurrent protections built in but I don't think
it's
> likely either is an issue as I am using only standard batteries and the
> standard
> motor, and the ESC is not getting particularly hot to touch.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Gerard
>
>

[Gerard]

Thanks for this advice.

I'm not quite sure why, but the problem seems to have largely resolved.

I have done some more testing and I agree that the ESC is generally
preventing going straight from FWD to REV. I remain unsure of why
it was refusing to respond to full forward or reverse control inputs the
other day, but today it is zippy enough and behaving well.

I suspect part of the problem might have been movement of the trim
pot on the transmitter, effectively resulting in control inputs beyond
those programmed into the ESC.

Cheers,

Gerard



"Frater Mus" <FraterMus2004@mousetrap.net> wrote in message
news:41dd4588$0$2961$8b463f8a@news.nationwide.net. ..
> On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 at 08:25 GMT, <lfismdlfk4e@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> It came bundled with a Futaba T2ER transmitter, FP-R122JE receiver,
>> 2 S3003 servos (only one used, for steering) and the Tamiya TEU-101BK
>> electronic speed controller. I used the motor supplied in the kit.
>>
>> I've programmed the ESC as per the directions.
>>
>> The model generally performs OK so long as only low speeds are attempted.
>> When full forward or full reverse is attempted model usually refuses to
>> move
>> or may jerk unpredictably.
>
> Bad/loose throttle pot on the transmitter maybe?
>
> Can you borrow or use another TX to see if that's it?
>
> Assuming this is a 0-degree timeing motor you could test this by
> wiring the motor backwards and act like you're trying to give it
> reverse (it would go forward because the motor is wired backwards).
>
> You could also just swap the 1 and 2 servo plugs at the RX and give it
> throttle with the wheel for testing purposes. (might want to put it on
> a stand).
>
> If it seems to work ok I'd say the throttle pot is bad.
>
>
>> Going from forward to reverse usually also causes
>> the motor to just stop until the control is returned to the neutral
>> position
>> and
>> then moved back into the reverse position.
>
> Some ESCs work that way on purpose. Keeps users from ripping trannys
> and ujoints out. :-)
>
> --
> http://cbsrmt.mousetrap.net/RMTdb/ CBS Radio Mystery Theater database
> CBSRMT uploads each day in <news:alt.binaries.sounds.radio.cbsrmt>
> http://greyhound.mousetrap.net/altus/ our ex-racer greyhound
> http://www.mousetrap.net/~mouse/cs.html How to get good phone support