Wiring help and advice

precious-2 · May 5, 2015, 10:11pm

Hi! My nickname is Precious…due to my level of patience. Patience is Precious, but Precious is not patient. I am waiting on a delivery of the below mentioned goods and am looking for guidance in the meantime.

I am building a large scale StringRay as seen on youtube here. youtube.com/watch?v=I6AIL09Bonc

I just bought 2 brushless motors, 2 electronic speed controllers and an RC servo from the RobotShop. I am a novice with enough confidence to make irreversible mistakes. Therefore, I am asking for help before I fry my goods.

The servo is here. robotshop.com/en/rc-servo-esc-tester.html
The ESC’s are here. robotshop.com/en/m20a-20a-mu … r-esc.html
The motors are here. robotshop.com/en/uav-brushle … 800kv.html

Seems to me that I want to connect 6Volt power to the RC servo input. First question…Why does it have 3 inputs and 3 outputs? +, - and “s”? I feel confident that I know how to connect + and - but not the “s”.

Then, I suspect I connect the servo output to the ESC’s…which has 3 wires on one end and 2 wires on the other…so it seems based on the image.

Then connect the ESC’s to the motors with the polarity reversed on one motor.

Does this sound correct? Based on number of wires, i imagine I could connect the power to the servo using two wires for + and - . Connect three wires from Servo to ESCs. connect 3 wires from ESCs to motors?

Did I mention I was a novice? 42 years old and still learning! Can anyone help this guy out before he does something stoopid?

Anyone with knowledge in this field is encouraged to share some of that knowledge.

Thank you, Precious

dialfonzo · May 6, 2015, 5:14pm

ESC’s are made to be connected to a RC type controller. Originally use for Hobby planes and such.
The servo tester you got will generate that signal for you. It’s the side with the 3 wires connector.

RC Signal / 3 pin connector (small wires)
Black: Negative
Red: Positive (it will Output 5V on that wire)
Yellow/Orange: Speed signal

3 motor power (big wires). You connect any of the 3 to any of the motor wires.
If the motor don’t turn the right direction, un-power everything and swap two of those 3 wires to change the direction.

Power cables
Black: Negative DC voltage (Battery / Supply)
Red: Positive DC voltage (Battery / Supply)

Here is a manual about the Maytech ESC manual but is true for most brand of ESC’s.

Note: if you need your motors to turn different speed (independent) you will need two of the servo controller. To get both to turn from the tester, just use the same signal for both ESC’s.