How To Connect ESC To Receiver – A Step-By-Step Guide!

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Introduction

Well as a beginner it’s okay to be in problems like this. Connecting different electronic components can be confusing. ESC wiring to be specific.

But no worries! We have come up with this easy guideline to show you how to connect ESC to receiver!

It is a very basic process. On the receiver, the second channel you see is your ESC wire. There will be wires of 3 colors. Connect the wires in channel 2, and plug the battery. Turn the car and its remote on. You will hear a beep. By then your brushless RC motor will be ready to go. 

This is a brief instruction on how to connect the ESC. However, there’s more to know. And you’ll know that when you read the whole article. So, please have a read.

What Are The Parts Of ESC?

Now, before starting there are a few things for you to understand.

There are different structures and lengths for ESC. Starting from very small ultra-micro 7 amps to 60 amps plus. There’s a thing you’ll find common in all of them. They have some inboard and outboard connectors that are quite similar and used for primary connections. 

Supplementary data recording capacities are available in some ESCs. Engaging them with portable appliances is what you can do. 

Finally, three cords attach to the brushless motor. And 2 cords attach to the flight battery. Moreover, they have a radio system also. 

BEC implies Battery Eliminator Circuit. Most of the ESCs have this. It works by taking out energy from the central flight battery. Then it back feeds through the transmission that comes from the ESC into the receiver. 

So, keeping these things in mind will help you. Always try to review your allowance. Also, your necessary budget is important to review as well. It’ll help you to ensure you’ve arranged compatible capacities of the BEC house to your ESC.

You can also say that ESC is an independent component as well. It gets connected to the receiver on its own. This can also be seen in RC toy autos. 

How Can You Connect ESC To RC Receiver?

You may find it hard to connect the ESC to the receiver. But we’re here for you and we’ll make it easy. We’ve included two easy steps for you to learn how to connect ESC to the receiver.

But remembering a few things will be beneficial before you go into the steps. You’ll get more familiarized if you remember these. These are-

  • There are channels in the RC receiver.
  • The channels are labeled as CH 1, CH 2, and CH 3. There’s also a VCC that connects the power supply.

Now you’re good to go to the steps of connecting ESC to the receiver. So, the steps are-

Step 1 of 2: Wiring ESC And Receiver

This is the first step toward connecting the ESC to the receiver. Make sure that your RC vehicle is turned off. You can also unplug the battery as a safety measure.

On the receiver, you’ll find ESC wire situated at CH 2. The wire will be of two different colors to indicate positive and negative. The brown color will indicate negative and the red will indicate positive. You will also see an orange signal wire. Connect that to CH 2. Thus connect the ESC in CH 2.

If you’ve followed till now, most of the work is done. The ESC is now connected with the receiver. Now it’s time to move on to the next step and see if it works.

Step 2 of 2: Connecting The Battery

Once all your connections are set up, now you’ll have to connect the battery. Plug in the battery and turn on the RC using the remote.

You’ll hear a beep sound and now you can operate the brushless RC motor. In case, your RC motor doesn’t start, unplug the battery and plug it in again. Make sure you’re using a good quality LiPo battery for your RC.

If you’re looking for good-quality LiPo batteries, you can check the ones below.

Product 1 
Product 2 

Hopefully, you’ll find suitable batteries from here. Also, remember to charge your LiPo batteries properly. Thus you can complete the connection process of ESC to the receiver.

So, these were the 2 steps regarding how to connect ESC to the receiver. It has helped a lot of people. We hope it will work for you as well.

The After Effects of Connecting ESC to The Receiver

If you’ve followed the above steps properly, your ESC connection to the receiver is done. So, what happens after that?

Initially, a throttle channel will be created. Then a substantial amount of voltage will be provided by the BEC. This voltage will be used by the receiver to power the radio system.

The positive and negative part of the ESC picks up the power for the receiver. So, make sure that you connect the positive and negative parts properly.

The battery that you connect will energize the whole system. Some ESCs have a slide switch to turn on or off the battery connection.

When all the connections are done right, the RC can throttle. The BEC will energize the servo through the ESC connection. The servo takes the signal from the radio to move or stop the RC.

Thus ESC connections have a big impact on initiating the movement of RC. We hope you understand it well and connect the ESC following the proper steps mentioned above. However, ESCs can be faulty too. So, before using it, you can test the ESC and then use it.

FAQs

Is the receiver powered by the ESC?

No, the receiver is not mainly powered by the ESC. The ESC creates a channel for the receiver to draw power from the battery. Eventually, this power is used for the radio system to work.

What happens if there is no BEC in my ESC?

Some ESCs may not have BEC. However, there’s a solution for that. Some external UBECs can be used as a substitute for built-in BECs. The difference is that they need to be connected manually. The rest of the work is the same as before.

Is having BEC or connecting UBECs necessary?

Yes, having BECs or connecting external UBECs is very important. BEC takes voltage from the main battery which is usually higher in magnitude. Then it converts it into the safety limit range for the receiver and servos. Without this, your receiver and servo can malfunction very badly.

What amount of volts can the RC receiver take safely?

The RC receiver can take 6 volts safely. Above this limit, it’s risky for the receiver. That’s why the voltage from the main battery is converted to this safe limit. The BEC does this work and ensures safe voltage regulation.

Endnote

Hope this article keeps no more confusion about how to connect ESC to receiver. As you saw, it’s not that tough at all! 

However, maintain proper safety while working with the electrical components. And if you still find it hard, consult with someone who’s an expert in doing such work. So, that’s all for the day. 

Have a great time!

About the author

Travis Murray

I am Travis Murray, and my love for RC began in 2017. It gradually turned into a passion, leading me to become an RC enthusiast and blogger. I write in-depth reviews and DIY guides for RC enthusiasts to provide troubleshooting tips and insider knowledge to help starters find the hidden gems in the hobby.
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