GP ElectroStik 50

[Intruder38]

Please don't laugh. I've been in RC (Glow) for many years. The ElectroStik is my first try at electric. After reading the assembly instructions several times I have a couple of questions. A trial and error approach leaves me in fear of the puff of blue smoke so before that happens, will anyone take me by the hand here?
1. It's my understanding that I can power the receiver/servos from the LiPo battery through the ESC. How is that accomplished?
2. If I can use the LiPo, can/should I wire a standard ON/OFF switch into connection to the receiver? If I do, how does throttle control get to the ESC?

Thanks for any help you can provide to a not-so-swift senior citizen.

[Marc]

Many ESCs incorporate a battery elimination circuit (BEC) into the design of their ESC. In this case the pigtail that plugs into channel 3 of your receiver supplies 5 volts at perhaps 2 or 3 amps to the receiver and servos. The signal wire of the pigtail sends the throttle speed to the ESC.

If your ESC does not have a BEC, you will need to purchase a universal battery elimination circuit (UBEC). The UBEC is wired to the LiPo and its pigtail is plugged into a vacant channel of your receiver. If your ESC has a BEC but you choose to use a UBEC instead, you must remove the red wire going into channel 3 from the BEC.

Some modelers wire an ON/OFF switch to the receiver, but most do not. With such a switch in the OFF position there will be a slight drain on the LiPo anyway, but the main reason for not having an ON/OFF switch is that anytime that the LiPo is connected to the ESC the motor should be considered armed and dangerous.

Here's a link that explains everything http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/_wiring.html, but it is apparently designed around a mode1 transmitter.

[cliffh]

Marc is correct. I just helped a friend yesterday with an ElectriStik conversion. What Marc said is much easier to do than to explain!

I'd strongly suggest finding someone local to help you with the connections. They are easy and only take a couple minutes to hook up, but can be confusing when you start adding a UBEC. In particular if you are using a 4 channel receiver as we did and have to use a Y-cord for the ESC and UBEC.

Cliff

[Intruder38]

Thanks for the rapid replies. The ESC that comes with the RxR does include a BEC, but the assembly instructions say it is not needed for this plane. That was one of the factors in my confusion. I appreciate your explanations and they will help, but I will also call on one of our club electrons to be sure I do it right.