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Manual of Thunder Power Sensor less Brushless Motor Speed Controller ESC

Index:

• Features
• Specification: Thunder Power Smart Guide / LiPo Saver Series ESCs
• Specification: Thunder Power High Grade Series ESCs
• BEC Output Capability
• Programming Features Explanation
• Programming Value Suggestion Special Hints
• Thunder Power ESC Programming Example
• Normal startup procedure
• Throttle range setting
• Programming with the throttle stick on transmitter
• Trouble Shooting
• Protection Function
• Related Info

Features:

• Great innovation of Lithium Battery Balance Discharge Monitoring and Protection Design, which provides real time monitoring of the discharge voltage of each lithium (Li-ion/Li-poly) cell in a battery pack. Never worry about over discharge problem again; your lithium battery pack could have a much longer life. (Important Note: This function is ONLY available for Thunder Power Smart Guide / LiPo Saver Series ESC)
• Extreme low output resistance, super current endurance.
• Full protection features: Low-voltage cutoff protection, over-heat protection, and throttle signal loss protection.
• 3 startup modes: Normal, Soft, or Very-Soft, can be used for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter models.
• Throttle range can be configured, fully compatible with all market available transmitters.
• Smooth and accurate speed control, excellent throttle linearity.
• Microprocessor uses separate voltage regulator IC, with good anti-jamming capability.
• Supported highest motor speed: 210000 RPM (2 poles), 70000 RPM (6 poles), 35000 RPM (12 poles).
• Our pocket-sized eZ Programmer card can be purchased separately for extremely easy programming of the ESC in the field.

WARNING: High power systems for RC models can be very dangerous, so we strongly suggest you read this manual carefully. We have no control over the correct use, installation, application, or maintenance of our products; therefore, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any damages, losses, or costs resulting from the use of the product. Any claims
arising from the operating, failure, or malfunctioning, etc. of the ESC will be denied. We assume no liability for personal injury, property damage, or consequential damages resulting from using our product or our workmanship. As far as is legally permitted, the obligation to compensation is limited to the invoice amount of the affected product.

Specification: Thunder Power Smart Guide / LiPo Saver Series ESCs

Wiring Diagram for Thunder Power Smart Guide / LiPo Saver Series ESC

Specification: Thunder Power High Grade Series ESCs

Wiring Diagram for Thunder Power High Grade Series ESC

BEC Output Capability

Lithium Battery Balance Discharge Monitoring and Protection Adapter:

Each Smart Guide / Lipo Saver Series ESC is provided with a Lithium Battery Balance Discharge Monitoring and Protection Adapter. See LiPo Saver Series table above for the # of battery cells individually monitored by each Smart Guide / LiPo Saver model.

VERY IMPORTANT!
You MUST connect the adapter with the balance charge connector on battery pack BEFORE connecting the main power to ESC.

Programming Features Explanation:

1. Brake Settings：Brake Enabled or Brake Disabled. Default is Brake Disabled.
2. Battery Type：Li-xx(Li-ion or Li-poly) or Ni-xx(NiMh or Nicd). Default is Li-xx.
3. Cutoff Type (Low Voltage Protection Mode)： Soft cutoff (Gradually reduces the output power) or Cutoff (Immediately stops output power, also known as Hard Cutoff). Default is soft cutoff.
4. Cutoff Voltage (Low Voltage Protection Threshold)：Low, Medium, or High. Default is Medium.
   • When NOT using balance discharge monitoring and protection function (i.e. Not plugging the balance charge connector into
     the balance discharge monitoring and protecting socket on the LiPo Saver Series ESCs, the ESC only monitors the voltage of the
     whole battery pack )
     1. For Li-xx battery, the number of battery cells is calculated automatically. Low / medium / high cutoff voltage for each cell is: 2.75V / 3.0V / 3.25V. For example: For a 3 cell LiPo, when medium cutoff voltage is set, the cutoff voltage will be: 3.0 x 3 = 9.0V.
     2. For Ni-xx battery, low / medium / high cutoff voltages are 0% / 50% / 65% of the startup voltage (i.e. the initial voltage of battery pack), and 0% means low voltage cutoff function is disabled. For example: For a 6 cell NiMH battery, fully charged voltage is 1.44 x 6 = 8.64V; when "medium" cutoff voltage is set, the cutoff voltage will be: 8.64 x 50% = 4.3V.
   • (Important: For the LiPo Saver Series ESCs, the low / medium / high cutoff voltage for each Ni-xx battery cell is 0% / 45% / 60%)
   • When using balance discharge monitoring and protection function (i.e. Plugging the balance charge connector on the battery
     pack into the balance discharge monitoring and protection socket on Smart Guide / LiPo Saver Series ESC, the ESC monitors not
     only the voltage of the whole battery pack but also the voltage of each cell). For lithium batteries, low / medium / high cut off
     voltage for each cell is: 2.85/3.1V/3.35V. When the voltage of any cell in battery pack is lower than the cutoff threshold, the low
     voltage cutoff protection function is activated. Note: Only the Smart Guide / LiPo Saver Series provides this feature.
5. Start Mode：Normal, Soft, or Very-Soft. Default is Normal start.
   Normal is good for fixed-wing aircraft. Soft or Very-soft are good for helicopters. The initial speeds of Soft and Very-Soft mode are very slow, usually it takes about 1 second (Soft startup) or 2 seconds (Very-Soft startup) from startup to full speed. But if throttle is closed (throttle stick moved to bottom) and opened again (throttle stick moved up) within 3 seconds after the first startup, the restart-up will be temporarily changed to normal mode to lesson the chances of crash caused by slow throttle response in aerobatic
   flying.
6. Timing：Low, Middle, or High. Default is Low.
   In normal cases, Low timing can be used for most motors. But for high efficiency, we recommend the Low or Medium timing for most motors. For higher speed, the High timing can be chosen. Important: After you change the timing setting, please test your RC model on ground first!

Programming Value Suggestion Special Hints
Some high KV out-runner motors have very special structures, the space between each alnico is very large, and many ESCs can't start
up these motors. After much R&D, our ESCs have shown to have very good compatibility with these types of motors. But some RC fans
still have several questions about the programming value for these special motors. Therefore, we have provided some suggestions as
follows:

 
Note: When this manual refers to "beep"s or music playing, it is referring to the sound emitted by the ESC.

For extremely easy programming, please consider using the Thunder Power eZ Programmer card.

Thunder Power ESC Programming Example:

The following 4 steps are an example of setting Start Mode to "Very Soft". Please read and understand all 4 steps before attempting the programming. (See also Page 3 for details on setting up all Programming Features.)

1. Enter Programming Mode
   Switch on transmitter, move throttle stick to top position, connect battery pack to ESC, wait for 2 seconds, "beep-beep" tone should be emitted. Then wait for another 5 seconds, and a special tone like " "should be emitted, which means programming mode is entered.
2. Select Items
   Now you'll hear 8 "beep" tones in loop. When a long "beeeeeep" tone is emitted, move throttle stick to bottom within 3 seconds to enter the "Start Mode"
3. Set Item Value
   You will again hear tones in a loop as follows: "Beep", wait for 3 seconds; "Beep-beep", wait for another 3 seconds; then you'll hear "beep-beep-beep", within 3 seconds of hearing the "beep-beep-beep", move throttle stick to top position, then a special tone " " is emitted. Now you have set the "Start Mode" item to the value of "Very-Soft Start".
4. Exit Programming
   After the special tone " ", move throttle stick to bottom within 2 seconds.

Normal ESC startup procedure

1. Move throttle stick to bottom, switch on transmitter
2. Connect better pack to ESC, special tone like "123" means power supply is OK
3. When self-test if finished, a long "beeeeeeep" tone should be emitted
4. ESC begins to play music, ready to fly
5. Several "beep-" tones should be emitted, presenting the value of each program item
6. Move throttle stick upwards to go flying

Throttle range setting: (Throttle range should be reset when ever a new transmitter is being used)

1. Switch on transmitter, move throttle stick to top
2. Connect battery pack to ESC, and wait for about 2 seconds
3. "Beep-beep" tone should be emitted, means throttle range highest point has been correctly confirmed
4. Move throttle stick to the bottom and wait for about 1 second
5. "Beep" tone should be emitted, means throttle range lowest point has been confirmed
6. ESC begins to play music, ready to fly

Programming with the throttle stick on transmitter (see image below):

Thunder Power ESC Trouble Shooting

Protection Function

1. Start up protection: If the motor failed to start up in 2 seconds while the throttle stick is being moved up, the ESC will cut off the output power. In this case, the throttle stick MUST be moved to bottom again to restart the motor. (Such a situation happens in the following cases: The connection between ESC and motor is not reliable, Propeller is blocked, Gearbox is damaged, etc.)
2. Over-heat protection: When the temperature of the ESC is over 1100C (2300F), the ESC will reduce the output power.
3. Throttle signal lost protection: The ESC will gradually reduce the output power if throttle signal is lost for 1 second; further loss for 2 seconds will cause its output to be cut off completely.
4. "VERY IMPORTANT!" Because different transmitters have different throttle ranges, we strongly suggest you use the "Throttle Range Setting Function" to calibrate the throttle range. Please read the instruction: "Throttle Range Setting".

Related Info:

• Buy Thunder Power Brushless Speed Controllers at RCToys.com
• View all Thunder Power products at RCToys.com
• Download this document as PDF file
• RCToys.com Product Downloads and Manuals
• RCToys.com - Draganfly Innovations Home Page

January 26, 2007