| > Yes. Simply cut the positive wire from the ESC to the receiever and plug
| > a battery (or UBEC or SBEC) into a spare channel.
| >
| That does NOT actually disable the on board BEC it just makes it so the
| ESC's BEC is just powering the ESC and not the full radio system.
That's true, but since the ESC uses very little 5v current (coming
from the BEC), it's not really a concern. The heat generated by the
BEC will be very minimal since the current is very minimal, even if
the voltage involved is high.
| That may be acceptable. If the unit has an on/off switch having it
| in the off position usually disconnects the internal BEC from the
| electronics, usually......
In the ESC+BEC's that I've seen that have an on/off switch, the switch
was wired to disconnect the positive wire. So there is no
(electrical) difference between cutting the wire and turning off the
switch.
In case somebody isn't aware, turning off the ESC switch is not a good
way to turn off your plane (though it's probably ok for the walk from
the runway to the pits.) The ESC is still powered, so it'll slowly
discharge your battery, and I imagine that in an extreme case (extreme
RFI perhaps?) it's possible (though unlikely) for the motor to roar to
life, even with that switch off. Instead, disconnect the battery and
be sure.

Signature
Doug McLaren, dougmc@frenzy.com
My inferiority complex is not as good as yours.
James Beck - 21 May 2004 17:19 GMT
> | > Yes. Simply cut the positive wire from the ESC to the receiever and plug
> | > a battery (or UBEC or SBEC) into a spare channel.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> (electrical) difference between cutting the wire and turning off the
> switch.
That depends on what wire you are talking about. Cutting the + lead
from the receiver connection would still leave a hot ESC and BEC as long
as the battery is connected and a much greater chance of RFI causing an
unexpected motor run.
> In case somebody isn't aware, turning off the ESC switch is not a good
> way to turn off your plane (though it's probably ok for the walk from
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> life, even with that switch off. Instead, disconnect the battery and
> be sure.
That is most cetainly true.
Jim
C W - 27 May 2004 12:07 GMT
I have not had much success with BEC over the years.
The trouble is many ESC's have too small a heat sink - and at part
throttle some ESC's heat up more than on full throttle. So the
regulator chip gets warm from the main FET's- and most regulators
have thermal protection so they shut down - and so you then have
no power to the Rx and servos. Friendly or what ?
C W
>| > Yes. Simply cut the positive wire from the ESC to the receiever and plug
>| > a battery (or UBEC or SBEC) into a spare channel.
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>life, even with that switch off. Instead, disconnect the battery and
>be sure.
>>>I have a speed controller (60A/BEC) which is currently used in a glider with
>>>12 cells and 3 servo's. I want to use it in another glider with 6 servo's.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> off position usually disconnects the internal BEC from the electronics,
> usually......
Not on any unit I have seen it doesn't.
> Jim
James Beck - 24 May 2004 21:50 GMT
> >>>I have a speed controller (60A/BEC) which is currently used in a glider with
> >>>12 cells and 3 servo's. I want to use it in another glider with 6 servo's.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Not on any unit I have seen it doesn't.
Does on every JETI and FMA.....
James Beck - 24 May 2004 22:00 GMT
> > >>>I have a speed controller (60A/BEC) which is currently used in a glider with
> > >>>12 cells and 3 servo's. I want to use it in another glider with 6 servo's.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Does on every JETI and FMA.....
In fact, I just looked at a FMA 50A w/BEC and the switch removes the
output of the internal BEC from the internal electronics. SO.... if you
just cut the red wire going to the radio you will still have a HOT ESC
if the ESC switch is turned on which it would have to be because you cut
the red wire from the radio that would now be supplying power to the
ESC. It would be VASTLY better to remove said switch in its entirety
(that way it is ALWAYS off) and use the add on BEC to power everything.
Name an ESC that is different.
Jim