Needing help replacing my ESC
 

I've got a Starmax MX2 55" and I'm needing to replace the ESC and need some help getting the right replacement. A Internet search shows it having either a 45A or 70A ESC with a 5A UBEC. I find different info on the same plane. I figure to be safe I should go with the 70A? I'm looking at 2 different ones at HK. Which looks to be the best choice and what should I be aware/warned of? Other options?

TURNIGY TRUST 70A SBEC Brushless Speed Controller
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dproduct=19683

Turnigy® TRUST SBEC ESCs have a very flexible and broadly capable MCU, able to run all types of brushless motors.
The large heatsink and simple PCB layout make heat dissapation consistant, enabling the ESC to be run at its limit, without failure.
The ESC is program-card and transmitter programmable with clear and easy to understand instructions included.
Default factory settings are;
Brake: off
Battery: LiPo Auto Detect
Low Voltage: 3.2v (power down motor)

Spec.
Max Motor Current: 70A
Max BEC Current: 3A
BEC Voltage: 5.5v (Switching)
LiPo: 2~6S
NiMH:5~16cells
Weight: 65grams

Programming Options.
Battery Type
Forward/Reverse
Soft Start
LV Setting (Ignore, Reduce Power, Stop Motor)
Timing (Auto, Med, High)
Switching (8,16kHz)
Factory Restore

Or HobbyKing 70A ESC 4A UBEC
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...arehouse_.html

Specs:
Constant Current: 70A
Burst Current: 100A
Battery: 2-6S Lipoly / 5-18s NiXX
BEC: 5.5v / 4A
Motor Type: Sensorless Brushless
Size: 70 x 32 x 17mm
Weight: 74g
Programming Functions:
Battery Type: Lipo /NiXX
Brake: On / Off
Voltage Protection: Low / Mid / High
Protection mode: Reduce power / Cut off power
Timing: Low / Medium / High
Startup: Fast / Normal / Soft
PWM Frequency: 8k / 16k
Helicopter mode: Off / 5sec / 15sec (Start up delay)

[QUOTE=DCDetector;894822]I've got a Starmax MX2 55" and I'm needing to replace the ESC and need some help getting the right replacement. A Internet search shows it having either a 45A or 70A ESC with a 5A UBEC. I find different info on the same plane. I figure to be safe I should go with the 70A? I'm looking at 2 different ones at HK. Which looks to be the best choice and what should I be aware/warned of? Other options?


Castle Creations has a wide variety of ESC's with switching power supply type of BEC's. These units are several times more expensive though. I've got 10 of them, and all of them have been flawless in operation over the past five years. For what it's worth, these ICE series of ESC's also has data recording that records RPM, Watts, Amps, Volts, ESC Temperature, and a few other things. You download the info to your PC with the Castle Creations USB dongle. The CC software shows the information in a graph type of display. Or it can be downloaded to an excel spreadsheet.

http://www.castlecreations.com/produ...oenix_ice.html

How many forums you post this on?

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1802535

Many of us are active users of both forums.

Mike

What's the difference to how many forums he posts on he will get more answers to his question to a specific plane that someone else will have.;):)

Those ESC on the starmax are not the best I replaced the one on my Starmax A1 skyraider after hearing others had problems with them. I went with a 60 amp from hobbypartz, and a separate UBEC to power all the servos.

DC did you ever check the watt's and amp's with the original setup?
That is a problem with starmax some of the planes seems they throw in whatever sizze esc they have on the assembly bench. Mine was a topfire 70 amp first run up it got hot and it was only putting out around 55 amps on the watt meter I tossed it.

No. Unfortunately, I hadn't even had a chance to fly it yet. I bought the plane and battery but the charger didn't get here until Friday. The connectors on the plane ended up being those bullet things instead of the XT60 like the pictures showed and I got batteries with XT60 ends. Had to order ends and build an adapter. I screwed up because I thought red would go with red and black with black. Apparently not. Shorted out the ESC when I connected the adapter.

Note to self: When connecting a battery to the ESC red does not connect to the red wire.

http://www.detectorplace.com/RC/bullet-connect-1.jpg

Ya that is reversed for sure I can't say I am not guilty of doing something similar myself. :oops:
Well you won't make that mistake again at least that's what I tell myself.:rolleyes:
New ESC and you will be on your way, and it looks like Dr.Kiwi gave you advice he knows power setups he does a lot of power testing.

Good luck!

Every esc I've ever used were red to red? That's just weird

Not what I expected for sure. The above photo is of untouched connections from a LiPo(left) to the ESC(right) as they were on the original plane.