E-flite 80-Amp Pro Switch-Mode BEC Brushless ESC, EC5 - Manual (Page 2)

When flying in hot weather, we recommend checking on the condition of the ESC, battery,
and motor after each flight. You may want to consider letting the electronic components
cool to near ambient temperature between flights. We also recommend throttle management
when running near maximum levels of current draw during extreme conditions. It is not
recommended you fly an entire flight at full throttle. If this is done, it is possible to cause
permanent damage to your motor, battery, and ESC.
Using the 80-Amp Pro Switch-mode BEC Brushless Controller
This controller is very simple to use, and for safety, will not arm the motor until the throttle
stick has been held in the Idle/Off position for more than 1 second. The controller will
indicate the soft cutoff voltage setting every time you plug the battery in by first emitting
a low, long tone, to indicate startup. Depending on the selected cutoff voltage (default is
74%), you will then hear the respective number of medium length mid tones to indicate the
cell count or a musical tone for the 74% cutoff, helping you to confirm the setting before
every flight. Proper air cooling is required during flights so the ESC should be place in an
area where air flows over the controller.
We recommend you change your cutoff
voltage to match the cell count of your battery.
Connecting the ESC to the Motor
The three wires from your motor connect to the three female gold bullet connectors on the
ESC. The order of connection to the motor is not important; you can plug any motor wire into
any connector. When you test the system, the motor runs backwards, you can simply unplug
and switch any two of the motor wire plugs connected to the ESC.
Mounting the ESC
Choose a location that has good airflow and offers good protection. Do not cover the the
side with the flat heat shield with hook and loop or tape as this will greatly reduce its
effectiveness. Mount the ESC with a combination of hook and loop, two-sided foam tape,
and/or tie wraps.
Starting Your Power System
1. Turn on your transmitter and ensure the position of the throttle stick is set to Idle/Off.
2. Plug the battery pack into the controller. You will hear 1 low long tone to indicate
startup, then the respective number of medium-length mid tones to indicate the cell
count or a musical tone for the 74% cutoff, followed by 3 rising tones to indicate the
controller is armed.
3. When you move the throttle stick upward, the motor will run. If you continue to move
the throttle stick upward to the full throttle (high position), the motor will run faster. If
you lower the throttle stick below the start-up position, the motor will stop running.
4. Check servo motion as part of your preflight check. It is very important to make sure
linkages are free-moving with no binding.
Remember, when in the programming mode:
Full Throttle = Stick Up
Idle = Stick Down
The default settings (from the package) for your E-flite 80-Amp Pro ESC are as follows:
• Voltage cutoff set at 74%*
• Brake set to Off
• Timing set at 15 degrees
• Throttle Input Range set at 1.2ms to 1.8ms
• Start-up Rate (Acceleration Delay) set at 0.25 seconds
• PWM Frequency set at 8KHz
• Operating Mode set to normal (airplane)
* Note: We recommend changing the cutoff voltage to match
the cell count of your battery.
Entering the Programming Mode
1. With the battery disconnected from the controller, and the transmitter turned on, first
move the throttle stick to full throttle (>1.7ms) position. Leave it in this position and
then connect the battery to the controller.
2. Wait for 5 seconds, and the ESC will give two sets of fast ringing tones to indicate you
have successfully entered the programming mode.
3. Once you hear these tones, move the stick to center (between 1.4 and 1.7ms) for 5
seconds, and the controller will beep 1 time, indicating you are now in Menu 1.
4. The controller will now wait 5 seconds for you to make your selection; your programming
options are either full throttle (>1.7ms) or idle (<1.3ms).
5. When you have made a valid selection, the control will beep once with a lower tone,
and you can move the stick back to center for the next menu item (2 beeps, 3 beeps
and so on). If you do not make a selection within 5 seconds, the controller will move to
the next menu item.
6. If you want to make changes in the programming menus (see specific instructions
below) move the throttle stick to full throttle (>1.7ms) position. You will have 5
seconds to make your selection.
7. If you want to advance to the next menu, allow the programming to skip to the next
menu after the 5 seconds have expired.
Programming Menu 1 – Voltage Cutoff
Use this option to set the voltage at which the controller will shut down the motor to prevent
damage to your battery when it reaches the cutoff voltage. You will know your battery pack
has reached auto cutoff when you hear the motor “pulse” repeatedly. We recommend you
change your cutoff voltage to match the cell count of your battery.
1. Move the throttle stick to full throttle (>1.7ms) position to make changes to the
voltage cutoff programming.
a. To select 3-cell low voltage cutoff – You will hear 3 short beeps. Move the
throttle stick to center (between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times,
indicating you have set the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds
to advance to the next selection.
b. To select 4-cell low voltage cutoff – You will hear 4 short beeps. Move the
throttle stick to center (between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times,
indicating you have set the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds
to advance to the next selection.
c. To select 5-cell low voltage cutoff – You will hear 5 shortbeeps. Move the throttle
stick to center (between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times,
indicating you have set the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds
to advance to the next selection.
d. To select 6-cell low voltage cutoff – You will hear 6 short beeps. Move the
throttle stick to center (between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times,
indicating you have set the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds
to advance to the next selection.
e. To select 74% cutoff – You will hear 7 short beeps. Move the throttle stick to center
(between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times, indicating you have set
the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds to advance to the first
selection again.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT 74% CUTOFF: Your battery pack should be fully charged in this
voltage cutoff setting because it bases the cutoff on the start up voltage of the pack. This
option will activate the soft cutoff at 74% of startup voltage or 9.2V, whichever is lower.
For example, if your pack measures 16.8 volts at startup, then the soft cut will occur at
12.4 volts. The 74% cutoff option will check the startup voltage every time you plug the
battery into the controller, so beware of using partially charged packs, as the system cannot
protect your Li-Po batteries if you are using the 74% cutoff and connect a partially charged
pack. You will know your battery pack has reached soft auto cutoff when you hear the motor
“pulse” repeatedly. We recommend you land your model as soon as you hear the motor
pulse (indicating the pack voltage has dropped to the cutoff voltage level) to prevent over-
discharge of the Li-Po battery pack, and to prevent sudden power loss.
Programming Menu 2 – Brake Type
The default setting is Brake Off. This option gives you the choice to have the ESC stop the
propeller during flight (Brake On) or allow it to windmill (Brake Off). Use the Brake On options
for folding propellers.
1. Move the stick to center (between 1.4 and 1.6ms) for 5 seconds, and the controller will
beep 2 times, indicating you are now in Menu 2.
2. Move the throttle stick to full throttle (>1.7ms) position to make changes to the Brake
Type programming.
a. To select No Brake/Brake Off – You will hear 1 short beep. Move the throttle stick
to center (between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times, indicating you
have set the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds to advance to
the next selection.
b. To select Soft Brake – You will hear 2 short beeps. Move the throttle stick to center
(between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times, indicating you have set
the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds to advance to the next
selection.
c. To select Medium Brake – You will hear 3 short beeps. Move the throttle stick to
center (between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times, indicating you
have set the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds to advance to
the next selection.
d. To select Hard Brake – You will hear 4 short beeps. Move the throttle stick to center
(between 1.4 and 1.6ms). The controller will beep 2 times, indicating you have set
the program selection or leave in full throttle for 5 seconds to advance to the first
selection again.
Programming Menu 3 – Timing
The default setting is 15 degrees. As a general rule, lower pole count motors use lower timing
and higher pole count motors use higher timing. Please refer to your motor instructions and
specifications for an indication of the number of poles.
Low Timing Advance
Timing Degrees – 5 & 10
Motor Poles – 2 to 4
Expected Performance – Good balance of power and efficiency
Motor Poles – 6 or more
Expected Performance – Best efficiency and run time (lowest power)
Standard Timing Advance
Timing Degrees – 15 & 20
Motor Poles – 6 to 12
Expected Performance – Good balance of power and efficiency
Motor Poles – 14 or more
Expected Performance – Best efficiency and run time (lowest power)
High Timing Advance
Timing Degrees – 25
Motor Poles – 12
Expected Performance – Highest power, less efficiency