ESC suddenly fried?

[Ferruz]

Hi guys, I'd like your advice on this:

Yesterday I've powered up my Manta Ray, a couple weeks since last time I ran it. As usual I've checked that everything worked while holding the car in my hand before driving it, everything ok.

So I put it on the ground and started driving it around but, almost immediately, the car stopped working.

I've checked to find out that the ESC was the culprit: it beeps and flashes red like when the BEC is activated, but there's no current at all going to the receiver (and therefore the servo). Most important, it smells awful like something short circuited inside the ESC. Something must have gove awfully wrong, but I've no idea what.

The esc is the TBLE02S supplied with the kit, worked well for over two years with both brushed and brushless motors. I currently run a 13.5 bluebottle on NiMh batteries, had this setup for 8 months now and never had a problem. It was cold and humid when this happened, but again I drove it in much harsher temperatures so I doubt the issue is in any way weather related.

Now the questions:

-does anybody have an idea on what might have happened? I would love to know, if there's any theory or not... I know that ESCs like the TBLE02S act out like that sometimes, heard a few stories of all sorts so maybe I will never know what went wrong 

-should I even bother trying to fix it? By the smell I guess I can answer my own self on this one ahah

-any advice on what ESC to get now? I would like something reliable and affordable, I don't need anything too fancy but I don't have much experience with ESCs as I guess I've been lucky with the ones supplied so far.

Thank you in advance chaps for any insight ✌ 

[Jonathon Gillham]

I've had a similar thing happen to a few TBLE-02S. Had a great run with them and then and the very first ones I got still work fine, but had 3 fail in a month. Same thing as yours, the BEC fails. I looked at buying an external BEC but they are as expensive as a new ESC.

Brushed - the Hobbywing 1060. I have a couple of these and then a bunch of cheap knockoffs. The HW are better as they have smoother brakes. I tried cheaper because i needed 6 all up and they work, although I think one has failed but not sure if its the cheap receiver, esc or servo thats the problem.

Brushless - anything Hobbywing is good. The 10BL120 seems popular. I don't have one to know how hard or easy it is to program. I have SkyRC TS120 which has similar specs. It uses a program card so is very easy to program and performs really well.

A decent cheap option is the Trackstar 80amp Turbo ESC. They only have a 10.5T limit but with turbo and boost that will be plenty. 

I would do your homework and decide on one then stick to it so you only have to buy one program card. 

[Ferruz]

Thank you very much @Jonathon Gillham !

[Ferruz]

@Jonathon Gillham the mystery deepens. I just cross-checked by plugging the Manta's servo to my Hornet's receiver: it should have worked, but it didn't. Not only it didn't work, it messed up the Hornet's TBLE02S as well 

 Did a nasty servo just toast two of my ESCs??  does it even happen or make sense? I'm confused... my electronics are turning on me all of a sudden! 

Any more light shed on this would be deeply appreciated 

[Jonathon Gillham]

6 hours ago, Ferruz said:

@Jonathon Gillham the mystery deepens. I just cross-checked by plugging the Manta's servo to my Hornet's receiver: it should have worked, but it didn't. Not only it didn't work, it messed up the Hornet's TBLE02S as well 

 Did a nasty servo just toast two of my ESCs??  does it even happen or make sense? I'm confused... my electronics are turning on me all of a sudden! 

Any more light shed on this would be deeply appreciated 

I think that the servo can do that.  On one of mine the ESC and servo went bad at the same time.  Given they both failed at the same time I thought it must've been the rx but was relieved it wasn't as that was an expensive Futaba one.  It was a cheap MG995 servo so I'm not surprised that failed, but I didn't expect it to take the ESC with it.  I assume it was the servo that was the problem as it was so cheap and the TBLE-02S should be better quality.

[Re-Bugged]

Maybe the thawing snow is making its way into your electric's? My Tamiya 104 ESC fried with a splash of water.

Just to add, probably not applicable to you with an older TBLE 02 ESC @Ferruz, but I've noticed that the newer information on those ESC's is that they only go down to 21.5t Brushless motors.

I don't know if Tamiya have actually changed anything in them and are just covering themselves for warranty claims?

They used to be good for down to 13.5t Brushless and I have one in my Wild One. Apart from occasionally thermaling on thick grass has been fine.

As recommended the 1060 Hobbywing ESC are pretty good.

 

[Ferruz]

Thank you very much @Jonathon Gillham and @Re-Bugged for your contribution. In a way it comforts me to know that someone else experienced the same thing, I mean I'm sorry for your car of course but it's good to know that it can just happen and that this is it, it will save me a lot of time and headaches to just accept it and move on indtead of having to find an explanation at all costs.

I feel like excluding the thawing snow factor. In theory it would make perfect sense, but when that happened the only part of the buggy that was touching the snow were the tires (it was the first 5 seconds of the run). The ESC was also crudely but efficiently shielded from the snow, being covered in a bag. Servo was supposed to be waterproof.

Meh! I will try to reset the ESCs just because for some reason I haven't tried it already, then I guess I'll do the homework as suggested and proceed with yet one more order from RCmart 

Thanks again guys

EDIT: just for the record, both ESCs are positively burnt toast ahahah

Poor Hornet it had nothing to do with this 😅

[Fabia130vRS]

high gearing?

[Ferruz]

17 hours ago, Fabia130vRS said:

high gearing?

You mean car geared too high hence thermaling and popping the esc? I don't think so, I have the rally all nylon gears but the ratio should be the same, anyway I ran the car like this for a long time without a problem. It seems like the servo is the main culprit, I had no idea it could take the esc down as well but apparently it just happened  I so didn't need to buy two ESCs and a servo just like that at this moment, but you gotta do what you gotta do...

[Big Jon]

A bad servo can absolutely whack the BEC. We see it fairly regularly on Traxxas RTRs; occasionally it'll burn the RX too. The BEC does seem to be fairly fragile on the TLBE-02S. I've had to return a few that were DOA out of the bag, and, of the ones I've seen fail, all were BEC failures. Still, it's a fine ESC for it's application.

The Hobbywing Quicrun 10BL60 is a great upgrade ESC. It'll handle fairly hot motors, is dead reliable, and is cheap. Superb value. The Quicrun 10BL120 is nice too, although it's pretty big and, if I'm looking for a higher performance ESC, lacks the tuning features I like in a racing type ESC.

@Jonathan Gilliam: the SkyRC Toro TS120 is an awesome inexpensive full race ESC! I absolutely love mine. It's been reliable over years of use, the tuning is fantastic, it's attractive, and it's small enough that I can fit it anywhere. I'd compare it to an XR10 Pro or Tekin RSX. I only have one , because I get a pretty good deal on Hobbywing, Castle, and Tekin, but will snap more up if I see them. Really wish that I could get them through major US distribution.

 

[Jonathon Gillham]

On 3/13/2021 at 3:03 AM, Big Jon said:

A bad servo can absolutely whack the BEC. We see it fairly regularly on Traxxas RTRs; occasionally it'll burn the RX too. The BEC does seem to be fairly fragile on the TLBE-02S. I've had to return a few that were DOA out of the bag, and, of the ones I've seen fail, all were BEC failures. Still, it's a fine ESC for it's application.

The Hobbywing Quicrun 10BL60 is a great upgrade ESC. It'll handle fairly hot motors, is dead reliable, and is cheap. Superb value. The Quicrun 10BL120 is nice too, although it's pretty big and, if I'm looking for a higher performance ESC, lacks the tuning features I like in a racing type ESC.

@Jonathan Gilliam: the SkyRC Toro TS120 is an awesome inexpensive full race ESC! I absolutely love mine. It's been reliable over years of use, the tuning is fantastic, it's attractive, and it's small enough that I can fit it anywhere. I'd compare it to an XR10 Pro or Tekin RSX. I only have one , because I get a pretty good deal on Hobbywing, Castle, and Tekin, but will snap more up if I see them. Really wish that I could get them through major US distribution.

 

I've just had this same issue, a cheap servo making everything go nuts.  It was the same as the one in the Monster Beetle that took a TBLE-02S with it, the cheap MG995.  I had a Surpass brushed ESC, similar to a 1060 in it and that is fine now.  Was crazy though, the servo made the motor go randomly, and the steering was all over the place.  Swapped the servo out with a (still cheap but) better one, (the SPT 4412LV if anyone wants a cheap but decent servo) and its running great.

 

I agree @Big Jon and have a few now, the TS50 (not great admittedly, a 4wd buggy on 17.5T will thermal it but works in 2wd) and then a few TS120 and TS160's.  The TS120 and 160's work really well.  I have bought most of mine from RCMart and one failed but they honoured the warranty no problem, it just took forever because of covid shipping.  RCmart are good like that, I've had 2 warranty claims and both times they've been good.  Strange sending a video of it though, just a video of me pushing the button and nothing happening...

[Re-Bugged]

Interesting with the MG995 servo @Jonathon Gillham, I put one in my cart not long ago to make up an order, if I ever use it sounds like it needs to go in something that has a cheap TBLE 02 and Flysky receiver in it rather than stuff up some good stuff if gives trouble. 

[Jonathon Gillham]

21 minutes ago, Re-Bugged said:

Interesting with the MG995 servo @Jonathon Gillham, I put one in my cart not long ago to make up an order, if I ever use it sounds like it needs to go in something that has a cheap TBLE 02 and Flysky receiver in it rather than stuff up some good stuff if gives trouble. 

I bought 4 a few years ago, they were super cheap. They are a common servo but come under so many brands that yours are no doubt different to mine.

It took out the TBLE-02S but the Futaba rx in that car was fine (huge relief, its a 334SB which are spendy) but in the Boomerang the Surpass 1060 clone survived fine, as did the ARX Sanwa clone rx. So pair it with another ESC that doesnt have the known BEC issue and you should be ok. In saying that, the Monster Beetle with the TBLE-02S just died, thr Boomerang went mental. Depending on what it hits and what breaks I'm not sure what is cheaper, a dead TBLE-02S or a broken car? Or ankle?