Castle BEC Digital vs. Analog Interference

[mtnbiker4evr13]

I have a new build of a Gelande Cruiser, I bought a Savox 200oz/in waterproof servo with a new AE-5 ESC and was getting glitching and brown outs so I installed a Castle 10amp BEC. It worked awesome for 5min and then stopped steering and would just sit and buzz with the BEC blinking a green light at all times.

Spoke to Castle and they sent a new BEC with the same outcome so I plugged in one of my old 2055 analog servos and it works perfect. Anyone else have these issues? I am using an old 27mhz Traxxas 3 channel system and NiMh batteries(fully charged). I'm also from a time when 55t lathe motors ruled so my rigs run Integy lathe motors. The Savox steers without the BEC but locks up once the BEC is plugged in. Thanks for any input you guys have "thumbsup" I did research some and came across the 27mhz vs. 2.4ghz radios issue so maybe getting into this century radio wise may help.

 

[Bmxreeves]

It might be that old school radio. Do you have a new-ish radio to try it in?


__________________________
1.9 Ibex tuber - The Merica ibex.

R.I.P Dave Mirra

 

[youngblood]

What voltage is the BEC set at?

 

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Sadly no 2.4ghz radio to try, would have done that if possible. BEC is set to 6v. Just seems odd that it works on my old junk without the BEC but freaks out when its installed. It just ironic that I bought the Savox because it was cheap, had to buy a BEC to run the cheap servo, and may end up getting a Hitec 645MG to replace the cheap servo to work with the BEC I bought to work with the cheap servo. Whew that was complicated.

 

[svt923]

Did you remove the red wire from the ESC plug going into the receiver when you plugged in the BEC?

 

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Did you remove the red wire from the ESC plug going into the receiver when you plugged in the BEC?

I used the HH Y adapter so the ESC powers the receiver and the BEC only powers the servo with dual grounding. I did question the adapter and the rig works with BEC plugged into the BATT slot (no Y adapter) with the red wire intact. Remove red wire and it goes back to not working. At least the solution hasn't been glaringly obvious by some silly mistake I made (still entirely possible).

The Y harness would also solve the issue spektrum Rx's (don't have one but might still apply) have of going into blind mode because there is no signal from the BEC when using the harness. If its a radio issue that's totally fine, should probably upgrade anyway, just didn't want to buy a radio thinking it will solve my issues only to keep fighting them. I run scalers... not really needing huge control or power, would be nice if I decide to start class 1 though.

 

[TacoCrawler]

I say lose that old skool 27mhz radio...
seems kinda silly to mix old technologies with new.

digital servos usually require more voltage
then the old skool analog servos did

servo read...

http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-servos.html

"Y" adapter/RX bypass and CCBEC hook up

 

[mtnbiker4evr13]

The Y harness was hooked up as shown. I speculated the radio was the fault but wanted to get the input of the masters. Nothing wrong with old school, I still have and e-maxx tranny and some TLT axles for my next build haha and some of the old giant trac tires that were all the rage back then. :mrgreen:

 

[mtnbiker4evr13]

It's just strange the servo works without the BEC and with the red wire intact when the BEC is plugged directly into BATT slot. If in those cases it didn't work then the old radio is perfectly logical.

 

[TacoCrawler]

I'm just randomly throwing in my $ .02
'cause without it in front of me...
it's simply just a guessing game.

So there is no radio operating issue ( TX/RX )
when the ESC's internal bec powers the RX ?

It is only problematic when the CCBEC is hooked up ?

Did you check the CCBEC output voltage ?

btw it's not a double ground.
there is only one ground at the RX
So basically the CCBEC/servo share the same RX ground.
they're just simply "Y" split prior to RX input.

You sure your input ground wire
is positioned properly in the plug ends and RX connection port ?

The CCBEC has 3 wires leading out...
but only the black and red are technically utilized.
But must be plugged in correctly.
The remaining CCBEC signal wire is only utilized
when hooking up to the USB link and making PC adjustments.
It can remain in the plug leading to the "Y"... but does nothing.

Unless the CCBEC is wired faulty or is not set for the proper voltage
is should be supplying power to the RX using the "Y" by-pass.

As I said prior... digital servos often require more voltage,
initially, in order for the servo to start up.
If it's not getting enough voltage...
it will often just buzz... but not steer.
This is obviously dependent of the servo's power needs.

If the transmitter works fine not using the CCBEC
and only uses the ESC's internal bec.
Then it has something to do with the CCBEC
or the way that you are connecting it.

The CCBEC is simply an adjustable voltage regulator.
Input voltage needs be 5v - 25.2v ( 2S - 6S )
Output voltage = 4.8v - 9v ( adjustable via USB link )
I power my CCBEC directly from my primary 11.1v battery.

re-check your connections and make sure
you haven't made faulty connections.

Or possibly post up some decent pictures detailing those connections
and maybe someone here will see a fault that you may have missed ?

If the radio were to be blamed...
then it should falter regardless
as to whether the ESC or CCBEC are supplying power to the RX.

Seems to me the fault lay somewhere with the CCBEC/connections.
And it's difficult to determine that fault without visual aide.
Often one can make a connection error... but not realize their mistake.

so be sure the fault is not on you.

 

[drzoo2]

It's just strange the servo works without the BEC and with the red wire intact when the BEC is plugged directly into BATT slot. If in those cases it didn't work then the old radio is perfectly logical.

If you have a meter, put it back together in your "working" configuration with the ESC red wire disconnected. Measure the hot and ground pins at the receiver as they are powered by the Castle BEC and see if your getting the correct voltage. If not, disconnect the servo and remeasure. Continue troubleshooting all the way back.

I didn't catch were your tapping power to feed the Castle BEC? Direct from the battery?

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[mtnbiker4evr13]

If you have a meter, put it back together in your "working" configuration with the ESC red wire disconnected. Measure the hot and ground pins at the receiver as they are powered by the Castle BEC and see if your getting the correct voltage. If not, disconnect the servo and remeasure. Continue troubleshooting all the way back.

I didn't catch were your tapping power to feed the Castle BEC? Direct from the battery?

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Yes directly from the battery, wires crimped and soldered to the power wires for ESC. I will try to get some pictures as Tacocrawler suggested and check voltage in both configurations. Thanks guys!