How do I wire dual ESC, CC BEC, and servo?

[mdowney]

I've been searching like crazy and I can't find a consistent or understandable description/diagram of how to wire my kit up. Please help!

Here's what I have:
- HH BR-XL ESCs (x2)
- HH 45T motors (x2)
- Castle 10amp BEC
- Hitec 7980TH servo
- Futaba R614FS (the new, smaller, 4ch Rx for the 4PKS)
- 3S lipo

I see builds with references to "Y connectors" with no pics nor details, posts that say I should cut two of the three wires off the BEC that plug into the RX, posts that say I should pull out the red wire from one of the two ESCs, etc.

Here's what I think I need to do - please tell me if I'm correct:
1. Plug the servo into the Rx as is, Ch1
2. Plug ESC 1 into the Rx as is, Ch2
3. Pull the red wire from ESC2, heat shrink the tip, then plug it into the Rx, Ch3
4. Plug the BEC into the Rx with wires as is (no modification), configured for 7.4v via the CastleLink on my PC, Ch4
5. Connect the - from ESC1 to the + of ESC2 with a bullet connector
6. Solder the + from ESC1 and the - from ESC2 to a male deans plug which will then plug into the battery
7. Connect the BEC's +/- to the same male deans plug's +/-
8. Connect motor1 to ESC1 and motor2 to ESC2

Is that it? Am I forgetting anything or missing anything?

I am thoroughly confused and I don't want to start cutting/pulling wires out of these expensive electronics until I'm sure I'm doing it the right way.

Please help!

Moderators: Please make this specific setup a sticky in the electronics section. There is nothing on wiring Dual ESC with an external BEC in the "Definitive Radio, Power Wiring, BEC and Servo Threads-- RCC's Top Tech Threads!". Thanks!

[mdowney]

FYI - Harley just gave me some tips here, in case anyone else is looking for the same info.

[mdowney]

I finally figured it out, thanks mostly to Harley.

FYI - in case anyone else is as confused as I was, Harley's diagram is incredibly useful:
http://www.harleydesigns.com/images/wiring_4pk.jpg

[slowngreen]

Same one I used. Harley for the win.

[mdowney]

I'm not clear on how to physically wire the two ESC's battery leads to the single deans battery connector.

I tried connecting ESC1's negative to ESC2's positive then the other two wires straight to the battery but when I did that ESC2 had no power and never turned on. Now I'm trying a parallel connection, both positives to one deans prong and both negatives to the other deans prong, but the wire is so thick that it's really difficult to get a solid connection to the deans plug. Any tips?

[Agama]

Here is what I use:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPTT6&P=M

[slowngreen]

I soldered my esc's together then soldered my battery leads to them and shrink wrapped the joint then just soldered the battery leads too the deans...

[DRCrawlGood]

Originally Posted by mdowney

I'm not clear on how to physically wire the two ESC's battery leads to the single deans battery connector.

I tried connecting ESC1's negative to ESC2's positive then the other two wires straight to the battery but when I did that ESC2 had no power and never turned on. Now I'm trying a parallel connection, both positives to one deans prong and both negatives to the other deans prong, but the wire is so thick that it's really difficult to get a solid connection to the deans plug. Any tips?

I just wired esc 1 up to a deans plug then took jumpers from +/- of esc 2 to the +/- of esc 1.

[mdowney]

Originally Posted by Agama

Here is what I use:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPTT6&P=M

Ah! That's perfect! Thanks.

[mxracer33x]

Here is how I will be wiring mine in. I like my BEC to power my Servo exclusively. (even though I only run my measly 9156 @ 6.0v) Some recievers shouldnt be powered above 6.0v, so I would think this would apply there, as well as to leave the 4th channel available for the cutting brake.

Image credits to harley! This is my adaptation, immitation, not the Awesome original


Now for the Clean wiring of the ESC's, yo ushould look at this post from Holyrollers Build. Holy Roller's XR-10 Build Notice how you can just jump a short wire from the front to rear ESC. No need for a bunch of wire and more connectors.

Sample from Holyrollers Build thread

[Spiitz Travsky]

Here is a wiring diagram I created for setups that wire the BEC directly to the Rx



Here is a wiring diagram I created for setups that wire the BEC directly to the Servo



Please let me know if I made any mistakes!