HELP! Having issues with wiring...

[JThiessen]

I've been rewiring my ERevo (http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3928). It was originally set up with a reciever pack and a Traxxas radio. my original wiring was like this:

PIC #1

I purchased a Spektrum radio system, and decided to eliminate the reciever pack at the same time. So on my first attempt, I actually wired the UBEC to only one side of the battery, rather than to both sides, as shown here:

PIC #2

The result the first time was that I burnt up the positive wire connection going to the UBEC. I then found the page above, and rewired it to have the negative go across to the negative of the second battery. I connected both batteries and a big cloud of smoke came up. I had fried the negative wire going into the ubec (before the connector - so the wire actually going into the UBEC is still good).

After taking a step back, cussing for a while, had a cigarette, and a beer, cussed some more, I started wondering if that little tiny wire I have going to the UBEC is capable of the current I have running through it? I would think so, since its the size that was originally running into it. Did I maybe fry my UBEC the first time? How do I check it? Any other insight would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully, I'm not slipping towards Novak Brushless....maybe I should....simple, plug it in, run it......no screwing it up myself with my wiring skills.....

well the ubec goes on the speedo side of the connector, red to the red batt wire..... but on the speedo side.....

so the ubec mite not of been able to take the voltage, what kind is it?

[JThiessen]

I'm not certain of the brand. I bought it from Mike.

When you say "the UBEC goes on the speedo side", you are meaning that the UBEC is between the batteries and the ESC, correct? That's the way I have it. Is it meant to have 14.4 volts coming in? Previously, it was connected to a smaller reciever pack, I beleive it was the stock one from a Revo.

I just noticed that my pictures arent showing up. I followed the instructions on copying and pasting the text from the "calculators" page......

no i mean the wires that come outa the speedo u soldered onto a dean or whatever, well the ubec wires go to that side also, aka the male dean

[BrianG]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

I just noticed that my pictures arent showing up. I followed the instructions on copying and pasting the text from the "calculators" page......

Paste the text as a link rather than an image.

I edited your original post...

that looks corret

[JThiessen]

So now that the pics show up (thanks BrianG!), thats the way I have it wired. When I connected the batteries, the black wire going into the UBEC is the one that fried. What could be the possible causes for this? I realize that potentialy having wires crossed or backwards may be one thing, and I'm going to have to take the time to go over every connection. But what I'm more concerned about is if the UBEC was damaged, and how to tell, or if the ESC was damaged, or if the reciever could be damaged (this last one may be a possibility. Since I'm only running two wires in, how do I determine the orientation of the plug where it plugs into the reciever? I used one of my other traxxas recievers that is connected as a go-by when I plugged it all in.

[Finnster]

Well, you're obviously shorting it somehow. If you have the polarity correct, are you sure you are wiring it in parallel to the batts? Don't connect it to the RX until you get it working properly. Test w/ a voltmeter 1st. I fear you may have damaged it. I was rewiring mine late at night once, did something dumb and shorted it. kaput. At least they are cheap...


Do you have actual pics of your wiring, the diagrams are what you are supposed to do... what you are actually doing is another matter.

For simplicity, I just soldered my leads right to the ESC where the batt wires are attached. red to red, blk to blk. Maybe try that instead tapping into the connector if its causing probs for you.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by Finnster

Well, you're obviously shorting it somehow. If you have the polarity correct, are you sure you are wiring it in parallel to the batts? Don't connect it to the RX until you get it working properly. Test w/ a voltmeter 1st. I fear you may have damaged it. I was rewiring mine late at night once, did something dumb and shorted it. kaput. At least they are cheap...


Do you have actual pics of your wiring, the diagrams are what you are supposed to do... what you are actually doing is another matter.

For simplicity, I just soldered my leads right to the ESC where the batt wires are attached. red to red, blk to blk. Maybe try that instead tapping into the connector if its causing probs for you.

I agree, something is shorting. And yes, its likely something I did!

No, I'm not positive its actually in parallel with the batteries. I have to check that tonight. I'm guessing that the first time I hooked it up, I shorted something inside the UBEC.

[BrianG]

I know that these systems seem to use a common ground. So, if you hook the BEC to the "top" battery in the set, the ground will be floating at half the full battery voltage. Not good. Not to mention shorting something out...