So, does anybody repair ESCs?

[Saito2]

I have this nifty Novak Super Duty XR twin motor, twin battery ESC that promptly died just after Novak closed its doors. Does any company repair these things from defunct manufacturers or is it a paper weight now?

[TurnipJF]

Probably a paperweight, it might be worth giving it a go repairing it yourself.

 

Many (I might go as far as to say most) ESC failures are due to blown FETs or capacitors, both of which are quite easy to change, assuming that you can get to them.

 

I'd try opening the casing, seeing if any components are obviously blackened and blown, and if so, taking it along to an electronics store such as Maplins so that they can identify the correct replacements and sell them to you. Some branches will even solder them in for you at a small fee.

[Jonathon Gillham]

This same question was asked on another forum and the answer was the same as TurnipJF. Basically, a paperweight unless you can diagnose, source the parts and fix it yourself.

BITD people used to make their own and modify ESC but the new ones are cheap and complicated apparently, so that art has been lost

[Wooders28]

Following with interest!! 🙄

If it's of any use, i found this site, although I've not had a chance to split my esc casing yet, and get numbers, so may luck out at maplin!! 

https://www.digikey.com/products/en/discrete-semiconductor-products/transistors-fets-mosfets-single/278/page/3?keywords=&sort=unitPrice-A

[Saito2]

And the answer is.......a bad switch. Easy fix. Big sigh of relief!

[Wooders28]

8 minutes ago, Saito2 said:

And the answer is.......a bad switch. Easy fix. Big sigh of relief!

Lucky! 🖒

[kwkenuf]

I had the smoke of death on one of mine Saturday.  I was going to open it up and see what it looks like.  Maybe attempt to fix it, more for practice soldering on a board than anything.  Not expecting to fix it, but after reading this I think I will document it so others can see the guts of one and decide their plan of action.

[Wooders28]

I've now got 3 esc's that don't work, the max pro from the speed run, a speed passion pro I bought for a fiver and a muchmore that the lights are on but no one home. Surely I can get at least one working out of that lot??!?! 

[WillyChang]

Modern ESCs are mostly unfixable, their parts are too specialised to be easily found at retail. Anything waterproof is usually potted into one lump of epoxy resin, you'd need the Jurassic Park boffins just to change the wires.

I miss Novak  they had great aftersales service  I'd send them my smouldering wreck plus fixed price fee, they send me a shiny fixed one  and when they got too old for 'exchange' they'd offer the newest model at tradeup price.

Novak's switches do get jammed with dirt or roadrashed (& they sold spares, bless em!). The older ESCs with hardwired switches, if ever they needed case opening for surgery it's handy to also change the switch wiring to a 2-prong socket. Put a 2-pin plug on switch lead or use switch from a later model. If switch goes bad and can't be revived on Raceday, stick a motherboard jumper over the 2 prongs & bypass switch altogether.

[Wooders28]

27 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

when they got too old for 'exchange' they'd offer the newest model at tradeup price.

I contacted castle, they've said they'll do a monster X esc for $95, but I've to send them my esc. 

[WillyChang]

20 minutes ago, Wooders28 said:

I contacted castle, they've said they'll do a monster X esc for $95, but I've to send them my esc. 

sounds decent offer, that about half price of new unit?

[Wooders28]

31 minutes ago, WillyChang said:

sounds decent offer, that about half price of new unit?

Not a bad offer! 

Buy the time I cost in postage over to the states, then the shipping, import duty, and other taxes,to get it back here, it's still a fair chunk of cash. I got a second hand max pro and a 7700 4 pole for £65.