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View Full Version : Spektrum DX2s & Swordfish 200 Amp ESC setup - newbie needs your help please !



Bone
05-17-2012, 04:00 AM
Setup of Spektrum DX2S with Swordfish 200 Amp ESC - Newbie needs help !
As a total newbie to electric boating (but not radio control aeromodelling) I need to ask some seemingly basic questions to the settings required on my Spektrum DX2S radio & the Swordfish 200 Amp ESC.

My DX2S radio has the trigger throttle with the forward part of the throttle trigger arc being the "brake" section (I'm assuming only used by the Tx for cars / trucks etc).

I tried last evening to calibrate my Swordfish ESC with the DX2S & was able to stop the boat motor turning when the trigger was pushed fully forward but upon release to the spring loaded position, the motor leaps into life running at a fair tilt. The Spektrum manual appears to be written predominately for car users who would find the brake function handy, nothing written there about its use or otherwise in boating. So my questions are:

1/. is the "brake" facility on the Tx used for boating?

2/. If not, how do I turn that feature off?

3/. Is it done via adjusting the Travel & Trim settings on the Tx (ie: electronically turned off by the software) ? If so, what are the values I need to input into the Tx ?

Sadly last evening, I blew up my Swordfish 200 Amp ESC during bench testing - made a crackling sizzling sound & emitted the traditional blue smoke. Perhaps the "brake" settings somehow caused grief inside the ESC, causing $110 worth of damage (price of a replacement) - I simply dont know. The BEC function would still power the receiver but that'a all the ESC now does. I tried another ESC (an aircraft one) & the motor works fine, so I have confirmed the Swordfish is now dead for practical purposes.

Need to get this issue sorted before my replacement Swordfish ESC arrives - dont want to fry it as well

As I say, am a total newbie with electric boats & a trigger style Tx - all responses will be most appreciated - thanks.

nata2run
05-19-2012, 10:09 AM
Hi,
There shouldn't be much to it. No idea why it blew. I can help you with the calibration part. Some time ago I couldn't for the life of me get it to work. But now it's easy. Don't worry about the brake or anything. Set all trims to zero/neutral. Hook up the esc to the receiver but don't power up esc yet!! ( have motor connected ) Switch on radio, then hold and keep holing full throttle. Then plug in the battery to the esc. Wait for 4 beeps and let go of the throttle soon as you hear the number 4. Don't wait further, soon as you hear it let go. Esc will make some tunes at this point. Wait for them to stop and then pull the throttle slowly to see if all good. motor should now spool up.

limitedr1
05-19-2012, 02:37 PM
i have a swordfish 200a also but can not for the life of me get it to power the motor. plug everything in and no motor beeps. been through that transmitter/programmer card a dozen times. can get the little led to blink but thats it. but i do remember as nata2run said about programming with transmitter fully "pinned" then pugging in the esc to set the throttle limit to be 100% correct. on the card instruction there is a hard, normal, and soft start option as well but i think nata2run is right on here. check his boats out.....he seems to have alot of experiance here and very nice boats. good luck to ya