Tamiya TBLE-02s ESC - has the lad fried it?

[Old Falcon Lad ll]

Morning all,

My son’s come back after running his Sand Viper with his mate, and we have ESC issues. Can anyone help? It’s a Tamiya TBLE-02s, which has worked great until now. It’s become detached from the base covering and on turning on we just here two long beeps with green LED long flashes, then solid green LED light.

He’s fitted an after market light kit to confuse matters, but steering servo and all lights still work fine, so assume it’s not the transmitter / receiver (both Carson).

Tried  the instructions for the ESC (awful to the non-engineer) and a Google but can’t find this error code. Any help much appreciated but assuming it’s a new ESC?

He did admit to swapping in his mate’s Lipo battery when his NiMH pack drained – could this be the issue?

Thanks all

[OoALEJOoO]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

According to the TBLE-02S manual, all green flashes report normal operation. Two long beeps and two long green flashes correspond to disabled reverse function and low voltage protection off.

It could be the issue is motor-related, or perhaps the power-end of the ESC. Try checking if the motor is free. If possible remove the motor and check if the ESC can power it detached from the chassis. With the motor out, check that the wheels & gearing spins freely. If there is a jam anywhere, it could manifest in what you are seeing.

Since you have it open, it could also be some dirt short circuiting the ESC. Give it a clean blowing some air. If it has grime on, you can clean it with alcohol and let it dry. Good luck!

[Jonathon Gillham]

Lipo won't have fried it. The issue with the TBLE-02S and lipo is that the voltage cutoff (to protect the battery) is set for LiFe batteries and too low for lipo. 

I have one that always comes apart like that and its been fine for ages like that (I know, i should fix the case but its in my sons race TT02 and it gets put away after a race meet and forgotten about), but it could have taken a big knock and something has physically broken inside?

Every TBLE-02S that has failed for me has been the BEC which means no steering, but the motor runs. The only time I've had those symptoms that you've got was when a stone was stuck on the spur which stopped it, so check the drivetrain as suggested above.

[Old Falcon Lad ll]

Thanks guys, OK so the reset button 'plunger' had come detached and was rattling around inside the ESC - refitted that and case has gone together OK again. Rear wheels spin freely when hand turned so nothing obviously stuck there. Can you remind me the reset sequence as I now have a working button again! 

[Old Falcon Lad ll]

Now sorted - reset the ESC and all works again, thanks all - assume its was 2 reasons, firstly case had sprung apart and I had to refit the loose button, then went through original set up as Lipo might have confused the unit? Either way, thanks for the help.