Strange Brushless ESC / Arduino issue - some ESCs work and some do not.

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1

Hi,

I have done a lot of Googling and but couldn't get solution of my strange problem.
After going thru forums and some hit-n-trial, I managed to put together the following code. The code works perfectly fine on one of my brushless ESCs but doesn't on other two.

I have checked, all of the ESCs are in working order. Here is the stat after several tweakings of "delay" function timing and "arming" timing.
ESC 1 (Dualsky 25Amp) = Works perfect
ESC 2 (Freewing 30Amp) = Doesn't even arm
ESC 3 (unbranded) = Arms after setting the "delay" in arm() to 2000 (I can hear 3 beeps for 3S battery) but stays quiet afterwards.

#include <Servo.h>

Servo myservo;
unsigned long lastPulse;

void arm(){
 setSpeed(0);
 delay (1000);
}

void setSpeed(int speed){
 int angle = map(speed, 0, 100, 0, 180);
 myservo.write(angle);    
}

void setup()
{
 myservo.attach(5);
 arm();  
 
setSpeed(0);
delay(750);
setSpeed(5);
delay(750);
setSpeed(10);

lastPulse = millis();
   
}

void loop()
{   
   if (millis() - lastPulse >= 750)
   {
      setSpeed(15);  
     lastPulse = millis();
   }
}
2

I am not expert but you shouldn't arm ESC with 0. I had the same problem.. So what you need to do:

1: Remove ESC

2: Disconnect motor (important)

3: Turn transmitter on

4: Turn ESC switch on

5: Adjust the "neutral" trimpot until the LED goes out.

6: Pull Trigger to full throttle, and adjust the "proportion" trimpot until the LED just turns to maximum brightness. LED should turn red when you push the trigger. (reverse)

7: Re-install ESC, Re-connect motor and have fun.

And when you will arm the ESC with arduino it should be like this:
myservo.write(90); //position 90 degrees
delay(1000);
myservo.write(30); //position 30 degrees
delay(1000);

Hope it helps!

3

it maybe the throttle range of the ESC.

4

Hi,

As sirbow2 says above, it might be the throttle range.

You often need to program an ESC when it is first used in a new model to set the max and min throttle range. If you have not done this, is it pot luck whether your ESCs will arm. From what I can see, your result so far suggest pot luck is at work.

Do you have access to an RC transmitter and receiver that you can use for the initial programming ?

Do you have the manuals for the ESCs that describe the initial programming process ?

Duane B

rcarduino.blogspot.com