ESC need programming or something else?
 

I'm kind of new to electric RC and today, when I turned my Lazer ZX-5 (Perfex KA-15 ESC/G20 motor) on, it shot off full speed in reverse for some reason :confused:

I tried it with another transmitter and another receiver but it still does the same thing so am I right in saying that the ESC is to blame?

I still have control over steering but literally nothing over the amount of acceleration, and have trawled the internet for information on programming the ESC but none of the ways seem to work, or the ESC is gone?

So would anyone be able to give a definitive way of programming the ESC or help as to how to solve this problem?

The esc setting instructions are included with the kit.
It sounds like you need to go through setting TX and esc from the beggining. That kind of thing can happen if the Tx is reveresd and the esc is set badly.

Failing that i guess there could be an esc fault but i would guess not.

It doesn't have anything in the manual about programming it but I found this (http://www.rctech.net/forum/radio-el...ka-15-esc.html) and following the instructions on there doesn't seem to work :(
Am I definitely doing it right...?

>Switch TX then receiver on
>Hold the setup button for at least 2 seconds then release
>Pull the trigger then press the setup button again (I guess only press rather than hold?)
>Push the trigger then press the setup button again (I guess only press rather than hold?)
>Let go of the trigger then pust setup button

And then it should be sorted straight away, or should I be doing something else?


When you say that the ESC might be set badly, do you mean it might have done this itself as the car has been working just fine for the last week or so, just that yesterday it decided to start playing up?

Hi Mate,

Have you checked the settings on the handset???

There will be switches where you can reverse the throttle to break (this could be why) & steering right to left.
Also you looked at the trimming is all set to neutrel before doing anything with the speedo?

So as it was working ok it could be the servo reverse switch on the tx has been set.

its quite easy for a begginer to think it is the off switch.

so you do this at the end of a run and when you turn on next time the car is going crazy so you try and set the esc with the tx in reverse so it means you will never get it right.

You can download the manual from www.kyosho.com and check out the esc set up info.

I did try with the reverse switch and fiddling around with the trim but no matter what I did, I had no control over the speed. It then seemed to sort of sort itself, apart from the slightly annoying addition that it started smoking when trying to reverse so I'm guessing that the ESC is completely gone now :thumbdown:

So onto looking at getting another ESC, possibly going brushless but I've only just spent £150 on this and its kind of daunting spending almost that much again on the brushless lot so I might just stick with getting another brushed ESC for now

Thanks for the help though :thumbsup:

Hi No Problem to help.

First suggestion is to look for a second hand competition spec ESC as that will be more than capable in your application, provide you an upgrade path for the future and save you some cash. Many people will have brushed speed controllers in their pitbox that they could be tempted to part with for not very much. Also many people will have knowledge of how to set them up if you need help!


Failing that look at the EZ-run range (try ebay for example) as they offer a cost effective entry to brushless.

As an aside a lot of brushless ESCs can be set-up to run brushed motors so you could always do the upgrade stepwise too.

I must say I am supprised at the failure as I've set several for local people at clubs and they have always been reliable and easy to work with on the kit motor and other mild motors too.