What is a ESC?

The ESC is an electrical unit that controls the speed of an electrical motor with throttle inputs from the transmitter. The ESC is associated with electrical driven helicopters. You get ESC for brushed and brushless motors.

In small helicopters, the ESC will be build into the helicopter receiver. In larger helicopters you are more likely to find the ESC separate from the receiver. Connecting-up the speed controller is fairly easy and straightforward. Make sure that you use gold plated connectors for connecting the ESC to the brush/brushless motor and Dean plugs for connecting the ESC to the power pack. The brushless ESC have three cables that will be connected to the brushless motor. The ESC for brushed motors will only have two cables that will be connected to the brushed motor.

Then you have two cables (black and red) that will be connected to your power pack(s). For the ESC to get a signal from the receiver you need to pug the JR connector into the receiver throttle channel.

When connecting the motor to the speed controller, you must make sure that the direction of the motor is correct. You can do a test after the motor is installed and the cables connected to the ESC. Take the main rotor blades of before you do the test. If the direction on the brushless motor is incorrect, only swap two of the three cables. If the direction on a brushed motor is incorrect, swap the two motor cables.