Turnigy Aquastar ESC 120A, Aquastar ESC 90A User Manual

Warnings

· Strongly recommend to calibrate the throttle range of transmitter when you first use the controller or
when using a new/different transmitter or receiver.

·When connecting the ESC to battery pack, please ensure the polarity is correct. Incorrect polarity may cause
permanent damage to the ESC and such damage is not covered by manufacturer’s WARRANTY.

·When you use the ESC, turn on the transmitter BEFORE powering on the receiver.

·When you finish the running, power off the receiver BEFORE turning off the transmitter.

·Changing the PWM may cause the motor to heat ahead of time.

·Never disconnect the battery pack while the motor is running, as this could cause damage to the speed

controller and/or motor.

·Connectors with low conductivity may cause erratic motor rotations or other unexpected
movements.

·If you do not use the BEC function of the ESC and are using a separate receiver pack or UBEC to power
receiver and servos instead, please disconnect the red wire from the ESC’s receiver lead.

·The controller will automatically power off the motor if the battery voltage drops below the programmed
cut-off voltage (factory preset at ‘6.0V’).

Thanks for purchasing Turnigy® AQUASTAR ESC speed controllers. Turnigy® AQUASTAR ESC are
specifically developed to supply stable and strong power for r/c model boats beyond you expected.
Please read the instruction booklet carefully before use.

ⅠESC Features

·Microprocessor controlled, extremely low resistance

·Water-proof PCB, and aluminum water-cool thermal dissipation

·Full protection soft, include signal lose protection, temperature protection, motor block-up protection.

·Fully program by software on computer, or by

Turnigy

®

LCD program box, or by TX stick

·The firmware of the ESC is upgradeable from Internet as the new version of the software becomes
available.

·Compatible to use with both general board transmitters and pistol transmitters with programmable brake
setting for any competitions.

П Specifications

Ш Using the ESC

- Please solder good quality golden bullet connectors to the wires of brushless motor and the three motor
wires of ESC. Connect the ESC ‘s three motor wires to the brushless motor, swapping any of the two
motor wires connection can change the motor’s rotating direction.

- The quality and discharging capability of battery pack will influence the efficiency and rpm of motor.
Please solder high conductive T connectors to the battery’s (+) and (-)wires.

- Plug the receiver lead (small color wires )of ESC to the receiver (Usually Ch 2).

Models

90A 120A

Voltage

2~6 cells Lithium-Polymer OR
6~20cells NiCad/NiMH

2~6 cells Lithium-Polymer OR
6~20cells NiCad/NiMH

Current/max

90amp continuous/110 amp surge 120amp continuous/150amp surge

BEC

5V, 3.5A switching BEC, max 4A 5V, 3.5A switching BEC, max 4A

Dimensions

90mmx36mmx20mm

90mmx36mmx20

mm

97g (excl. cables) 100g (excl. cables)

Weight

Connect ESC to motor, receiver and battery

TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 2 page / 12 pages

A. Board Style transmitter calibration

- Correctly connect the ESC with brushless motor, plug the receiver lead of ESC into receiver ( usually into
Channel 2);

- Put the throttle to the forward top position, turn on the transmitter;

- Power on the receiver, ESC and motor. There are 3 beeps emitted from the motor, which indicates all
electronics are correctly power on for the setting.

- Then there are 4 long beeps emitted from the motor ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ .

- During or after the 4 long beeps , move the throttle stick to the ‘0’ position you want to set, at this point, you
have calibrated the throttle range of your transmitter;

- Waiting one second, there will be two beeps emitted from the motor

- Calibration of throttle is completed.

Note:1. Recommend the ‘0’ position should not be set higher beyond the 50%.

2. Motor is needed to install for acoustic guide. Meanwhile, please keep the propeller away from human beings or any
objects.

B. Pistol style transmitter calibration

- Correctly connect the ESC with brushless motor, plug the receiver lead of ESC into receiver ( usually into

Channel 2);

- Put the throttle to the forward full position, turn on the transmitter;

- Power on the ESC, there are 3 beeps emitted from the motor, which indicates all electronics are correctly
power on for the setting.

- Then there are 4 long beeps emitted from the motor ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ .

- During or after the 4 long beeps , move the throttle to the neutral position. Two beeps emitting out
indicates calibrating is completed.

- Following two beeps are powering beeps, it is time to go now!

The

Turnigy

®

Aquastar ESC programmable settings:

Note: 1. Parameters with asterisk * behind is the default settings of ESC. LVC Is preset In ‘6.0V’ In factory.

2. The throttle range can be read on PC after installing ‘Turnigy

®

Aquastar ESC’ soft ware. It is Auto changed

after calibrating the throttle range of transmitters.

3. When use Lipo-Polymer battery pack, please carefully set the LVC to efficiently protect the battery against
discharging.

♪

♪

LVC

Auto* 5.0V 6.0V

(2 Lipo)

7.2V 8.4V 9.0V

(3 Lipo)

12.0V

(4 Lipo)

15.0V

(5 Lipo)

18.0V

(6 Lipo)

Brake Type

Close * Soft brake

Timing Advance

Low Middle High Auto *

Cutoff Type

Hard cutoff * Soft cutoff

Startup Type

Soft start Standard * Fast start

PWM Rate

8KHz * 12KHz 16KHz

Throttle Range

640 uS

Program the ESC

Calibrate the throttle range of transmitter

(Recommend)

♪

♪

TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 3 page / 12 pages

A. Program by TX stick

Turnigy® ESC support to fully program by TX stick, please refer to the setting diagram in the last page.

B. Program by Turnigy® LCD Program box

Program box is auto identify the ESC model and clearly display the corresponding programmable parameters in LCD. It is
pocket size and conveniently take to use at fields. Please read the instructions of Program box to correctly set the Turnigy

®

ESC.

C.

Program by software

‘Turnigy® Aquastar ESC’ on PC.

The set-up software of ‘Turnigy® Program’ is recorded in a CD and always attached with each Turnigy® ESC. You must
install the software on PC. Please refer to the Ⅳ

sections.

- After changing the ESC’s parameters, It Is suggested to firstly have a test on the testbed before assembling

It to hull so that to choose appropriate settings for the matched power configuration.

Please always keep the prop far

away from human and objects In testing.

- Reconnect the ESC to battery, the green LED on ESC will light for a second. And two beeps emitting out
from motor while Indicates to successfully detect the signal. Then It Is time to go now.
NOTE: If the LVC of ESC Is set In “Auto’, after the two beeps there will follow beeps to detect the Lipo
cells while the red LED flashing.

It Is ready to go now!

TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 4 page / 12 pages