What is an ESC? Learn all about ESCs with John from Holmes Hobbies

[@myrclife4374]

Who else thinks that John is such an incredible asset to the RC community? The knowledge that he shares is so valuable and appreciated. I have a friend who has been in the hobby on the racing side since the late 70s early 80s. The kind of knowledge and history these people possess and are willing to share is incredible. Thanks John for sharing.

[@Gibsonlife573]

I couldn't agree more with what you just said

[@pocketfuloducks1062]

Commutation: Explained? Yes, please! Individual components in detail? Also yes! Thank you for great products and videos!

[@justanothercanuck4660]

I started out and still have my 1980s era Tamiya buggies with the rheostat set up . Been out of the hobby for the past 10 years and man how things have changed . I have a full comprehension of PWM turning dc volts to positive and negative replicating an Ac voltage at varying frequencies . Your tech knowledge is astronomical .

[@annmarielong4029]

Always fun to have a new-to-me vocab word to look up! “Linear potentiometer”-Niiiiiice!

[@chrishultman9333]

Had to wait almost until the end, but you finally said what I suspected the entire time. It's magic.

[@astridsactionrc545]

I still have a 1978 RC12E that had a non reverse wiper msc. It has long since been replaced with a modern ESC. I still have the original 70’s electronics for it.

[@dezfan]

The Moped! Best ESC ever!🥴🤣. Patiently waiting gif my new Holmes ESC.

[@Dorkyand40]

Awesome John !

[@Fantaman900]

Back in the 90s I had a nikko buggy. Just on off control and steering only worked while pressing forward or back. Loved it, drove it till death. My dad had a nice touring car, I drove maybe twice. Much later I brought home a HPI Blitz. I tossed out the brushed and in with brushless Castle Sidewinder and 1410 motor combo. Insane power!

[@jakemurphy1838]

Awesome video. So interesting. I’d watch all those extra videos - go for it! THANKS

[@RyantenD]

hey man please do more of these. Sharing your knowledge is priceless!

[@mikellewis2346]

I remember being younger then 10 when I got my first none mechanical esc. Was amazing how we did things back in the 80s early 90s.

[@ShoddyRC]

I really like this series. Thank you!!

[@shawngregory8336]

I've had several with the old msc's, the traxxas trx10 bullet, stampede, and another I think was a rustler. I don't miss them at all, lol. Still have the same stampede, which has since been converted to an esc with a better motor, then upgraded once more to a brushless esc and brushless motor. I'm so glad that even the cheaper rtr's come standard with esc's. Really enjoy your videos, and the time you put into explaining everything. Keep Tiny Truckin!

[@khrisyeet8022]

Love the memories. Yeah my first esc was in a Tamiya Grasshopper. It had some sort of ceramic heat exchanger and a big sweeping arm.

[@hemitj]

Thank you for this very informative video! I do enjoy these videos

[@HolmesHobbies]

Glad you like them!

[@crawlerrc]

Interesante! Gracias por el vídeo. Saludos de #crawlerrcsevilla

[@davehill2709]

Great video! Love the level of detail. The brushless esc’s are basically miniature 3 phase power converters for industrial motors although they convert ac current instead of dc.

[@wademoulton5109]

What a throw back. I'll never forget the time my mechanical speed controll "welded " itself in the full throttle position on an old Tamiya rally car. I thought run aways were only for nitro cars lol.

[@mikemckee8157]

Great job.

[@kenstork5497]

Excellent video, can't wait to learn more about the components involved. Great job as always.

[@sunriserc1033]

I remember my RC10 came with the advanced speed controller with like 9 positions. One day my servo went past and got sick under the resistor. That was my 3 rd RC and I finally got my first ESC. A Novak. Circa 1987.

[@vicdez]

WE need MOAR graphs lol. I believe it would help people visualize the signals and understand better. Interesting though very similar to CPU power delivery on a motherboard.

[@dannygonzalez0861]

I would LOVE if you dive into the MOSFETS more and how they work. Thanks!

[@BishopsRCCrusade]

Thanks for informative video. In finland we call esc Speed controller = nopeudensäädin And nickname for that = nopari OR noppa

[@satchmotionrc8202]

Very informative information 👍. I would enjoy more esc and motor videos, can't get enough. Never really thought much of motors and esc units. But diving in more and more has given me a better understanding and a greater appreciation for rc vehicles. Thanks!

[@Greywolf74]

I had an original Tamiya Frog with a mechanical speed control and a ceramic resistor that used to burn my hand every time I forgot to NOT pick it up from the back, which of course was every other time I picked it up lol

[@HolmesHobbies]

dang!

[@dkmgm2011]

Keep it comin!

[@TexJJN]

Still remember my dad teaching me about how the variable resistor would work on the RC10. What an amazing way to learn!

[@madsrcbuggy]

Lovely video, definitely nice to hear about this. I do remember that system with the resistor in series, both from RC cars and from other applications. Good thing we moved on from that! It's interesting to hear about, but might be a nice addition of you could draw a simplified electrical diagram to show this, would make it easier for my brain to understand...

[@tenncutt]

still have my gold pan RC10! with the wiper/resister setup! just recently put a cheap hobbywing esc on it. What a difference! good video fellow old fart! I'm 65

[@AddamsPlayground]

My first truck, the Super Blackfoot had an MSC in it, that resistor would get HOT!!! Nothing like cooking away good battery power! I am mostly familiar with brushed motors and ESCs and have a decent understanding about them. I have a very basic understanding about the brushless ones but mostly I trust in the electrical voodoo in them and try not to get the motor too hot! I enjoyed the explanation even though had a few "what he say???" moments in there!!! Thanks for splaining and would like to know more, just use simple terminology 🤣🤣

[@iceman71625]

Love your videos it makes alot more sense now how everything works. Great work on video tutorial

[@andrewsumner5388]

I remember those old speed controls we must be around the same youthful age lol 😂 thanks John for reminding me of the good old days!..

[@3dman875]

Great video today thanks for making it

[@fuhkoffandie]

I have the original rc10 aluminum chassis, and I have an unused original green resistor, variable wiper arm speed control. The last one I actually soldered up, and used, was in 1986, when I got my first aluminum chassis rc10. Shortly after that electronic esc's came out, and the second rc10 I got, that wiper arm speed control never got taken out of its original bag. Believe it or not, I still have the resistor and the wiper, new. I also have a stack of Novak esc's, including my favorite, the mini one with no reverse. Technology. it's a beautiful thing. 😎👍

[@Maikel1500]

You look a lot like Jim Carey, hope you’re doing well. Like these explanation videos, this one is a bit hard but there’s a line I think I get.

[@johnrobholmes]

I'm doing great right now!

[@kenneth_jensen]

I remember those days. I also had an esc which used a servo to move an arm over those coils 😁👍

[@jonlaird5082]

This video was really informative so thanks for making it 😎👍. I need a new esc and I saw your brxl in stock like 2 days ago and went to order it today and saw they were out of stock so just my luck. Hope they become in stock soon,lol. I signed up for the notification so it's all good

[@johnrobholmes]

Check amain for stock. We roll in and out of inventory faster than I like but they but a bulk

[@jonlaird5082]

@@johnrobholmes thanks and I just checked and while they have them in stock,my soldering skills suck,lol. I emailed them awhile ago about a different brand esc and they told me the don't solder connections their. Plus I was hoping to get a motor at the same time with the connections installed.

[@tomlucasrccrawlers9108]

Yes....I've had plenty of 3-step esc's. They worked just fine for the day.

[@lthutchins9473]

Clod Buster! Still have it but have updated it. Still fun!

[@emory442]

My first real rc was a Tamiya Monster Beetle with the MSC. I was a teenager, and it was mostly stock. Had a Mabuchi Black Endurance motor, so I never really had problems with it. And then I started reading RCCA and was told I needed to spend a lot of money to actually have a good time.

[@NaughtyGoatFarm]

Oh yes I remember those days having to grease the mechanical speed controller to stop it arcing. I also remember burning myself on the hot resistor that was mounted on the car as part of the system.

[@RCJesus420]

I remember MSCs (Mechanical Speed Controls)!!! I also remember burning my arm on the heat sink frequently. lmao I bought a Futaba MC105 ESC back in the late 80s that cost me over 100 bucks, which would be about $300 in today's money, and it was super basic. lol People have no clue how cheap and good they have it with electronics and RC in general now.

[@johnrobholmes]

Super cheap and feature rich these days!

[@RCJesus420]

@@johnrobholmes for sure! Things were very basic and about 2 to 3 times higher in cost, when accounting for inflation, in the 80s and 90s.

[@jameskauffman8405]

Very good over view. Yes,I would like more in-depth knowledge of the components and how they function together. I think this would help to understand the programming of the controller. Thanks again.

[@ateaserc]

Great video, a little deep for new people but you covered the how and why well. Respect the “HOT” decals on those wiper speed control resistors, lol. Showing the graphs and explaining what’s going on would be a great video too.

[@mistermasada1829]

good stuff!

[@khaosnitro]

mamba x revolver combo ! best setup in the world

[@darkhorsegarage9623]

Blade s of burning death My favorite was the wire that was used to charge the nicad. Just leave it on a car battery till the wire got hot. Took and hour then run for ten minutes. Loved my Sand Scorcher .

[@danweiss4928]

Oh boy do I remember. I have a boat that kept welding it self to high speed all you could do was steer it till the battery died

[@stevebuchanan5773]

And a big hot resister for the control

[@stephenmanley4097]

I remember the mechanical speed controllers fitted to the early Tamiya kits in the 80's. Had them in the bruiser,wild one, bigwig.i also remember Tamiya selling electrical contact grease.

[@oldmanjeepingandbiking9621]

Good ole tamiya 3 speed analog speed control with the resistor that would melt everything near it. Loved those old grasshoppers, hornets, frogs

[@brianellison3525]

I've got a 5 step mechanical in an original RC10. And I've got the early novak ESC.

[@gempursuharto]

I loved those mech speed control from early RC10s

[@djr01974]

I had those mechanical speed controls on my tamiya fox and the grasshopper. Can’t forget the nicd batteries with the timer style charger with the little green light. 🤘 😂

[@daz1975ify]

Got brand new one in the shed ! Wouldn't use it on any car. Great talk to thank you

[@adriannorgate9577]

My first car was the Tamiya Falcon. I remember those days of mechanical 3 speeds....yeah, I'm old.

[@rockwolfdesigns6384]

Hell yeah I remember servo controlled throttle

[@flat-out]

Oh yeah of course back then my mechanical speed control in my car when I had a Tamiya buggy back in 1989.

[@MrLunithy]

Burnt a few fingers on mine 🙃

[@RTmadnesstoo]

I love your teaching sessions! It's even better when I can replay them. And yes, I have a couple of the old mechanical speed controls. So what size capacitor(s) do I need 'in the long run' for this little controller board I got from you and how do I hook it up?

[@AMM0394]

I remember my first stampede back in the day had the old mechanical speed controller. Ahhh The good ol days of early electric rcs

[@PorkinsTheWhite]

My Kyosho Big Brute had a mechanical speed control, somehow lasted the five years plus I had it. I miss that truck, it was so fun. But not the mechanical though. I still remember my next ride (a RC10T) had a Novak M5 in it and I felt I was so high tech. Ahhh memories.

[@rockwolfdesigns6384]

Thanks that was great

[@MrLunithy]

It's rehab Santa yay!!🥳 ....sorry I'll show myself out ....

[@johnrobholmes]

Lol! Santa likes to party!

[@nukedathlonman]

Despite my age, I haven't personally used those older controllers - I'm aware of them and have seen them in use. It wasn't until 2008 that I got my first hobby grade RC.

[@jeremycravens6973]

Damm dude, you got my brain spinning!

[@ktmjay9920]

Hell yeah 👍 I remember, how about those super hot resistors that used to burn you every time...

[@RemedyTalon]

My first hobby grade RC ( a traxxas rustler) had a servo that ran a linear potentiometer.

[@Jellybean_191]

One day I might understand.

[@xtyano440]

Loved the beard!

[@fishnrc294]

This is very interesting I’ve been a car stereo upgrader for years & I remember the Amps had MOSFET in them but if you think about it it makes sense only difference is in the auto sound world it is used to read & adjust sound settings vs in the RC world where it controls electronic signals that move mechanical parts or gears. Everything else was just a blur I’ll have to re watch it a few times. 😂 I bet math skills are very important in what it takes to produce your products. That was my worst subject. A’s in English but always just got by the math.

[@galkawarrior]

Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and experience. I just watched your other video on BECs. I'd like to know your thoughts on something, I have a Clodbuster, which obviously requires 2 motors to run, I'm using brushless motors just so I'd have longer run times and less maintenance. I use both the ESCs built in BEC into the receiver, meaning I do not remove/cut the red wire from one of the ESCs. The built in BEC puts out 3A, from my perspective, I'm pumping 6A into the receiver. I've had this set up for about 8 years now (maybe 6 years actual since she's been shelved for about 2 years). I've yet to see any signs of problems, still I want to know , will this hurt the receiver? Or why would I need to cut/remove the red wire from one of the ESCs before plugging into the receiver?

[@mxwizzard]

When I first got in to the hobby there was just a rheostat hooked to a servo it was not really linear but it worked

[@bretrishelrc9789]

over my head ,but I imagine thats what the people making esc's and motors actually talk about so its pretty cool.

[@An9e11]

Good video. How can I compare turns in a brushed motor to kv in a brushless motor? In terms of trying to compare torque and max speed.

[@wrightwayz71]

Have you done any videos for setting up 2- mamba micro x2 speed controllers and outrunner motors for M.O.A. crawlers?

[@MannyGunzz]

Great video man...I have a rcrunning ESC 6s capable I stepped up the punch and it seems a bit slow on 4s in my arms infraction mega ... 20t -57t spur am I doing something wrong or should I get a hobby wing??

[@Spagyr]

The Bob Ross of RC

[@robertocolon8728]

Yes mechanical speed controller in my Losi Jr T, and my original Tamiya models

[@kaineleeabel]

I remember the mechanical speed control in the tamiya and buying my first tekin in like 1993ish

[@AndreHauger]

My kid was watching me scrolling vids on yt. Put on the santa vid he said. What vid? That one! Pointing to your thumbnail. Haha, you are santa now.

[@alfalso434]

Regarding programmable speed controllers. Such as the HW 1080. What would be a appropriate PWM setting there and why? And. Will motor size (can/turns) play into that? Thanks !!

[@bushcrafter6416]

Interesting, A bit over my head, But helped me understand ESC function, I think. LOL, How can I determine if my ESC is blown, A drone, Say Hobbywing F4 AIO with four motors? I try using a multimeter on all pads but get confused. Thanks!

[@jameshankssr466]

I still have a couple of those speed controllers

[@zeekmx1970]

You told me everything I ever wanted to know except how much current they put on the 5 volt line. I know you'll probably say get a multi meter and check it yet I can't even get a voltage reading on it. XL5 Traxxas ESC up to LiPo 3s compatible.

[@HolmesHobbies]

Depends on esc. Normally 2 or 3 amp for normal escs like yours and 5 to 8 amp for the high end fancy ones.

[@savagelife977]

I would love to learn more about ESC and their components thank you for this little lessons in then their is another channel call AVE he does a lot of tear down of power tools called boltr lol but he also try’s to show you how it works if the board is not potted

[@RTmadnesstoo]

AVE will teach you a lot of things but you need to learn Canuk first.

[@CDubs720]

Great video. What is that blue battery in the background?

[@johnrobholmes]

Ebike, 36v 5ah

[@CDubs720]

@@johnrobholmes oh lol, I thought it was for an RC

[@zippit47]

1986 Tamiya Wild One, mechanical speed controller used a servo.

[@hilltoprccrawlers1979]

A Brushless motor question. What is the minimum motor input lead length and why is it important? (same question as applied to ESC's) Thanks for the info. Great video. :)

[@johnrobholmes]

No minimum as long as the phase wires are properly terminated. The bundle of magnet wire that makes the coils is insulated and typically is joined to a tab plate, but sometimes is direct soldered to regular stranded wire.

[@hilltoprccrawlers1979]

@@johnrobholmes ...So, as long as the winding (Phase wires) are the same length and properly terminated, then the stranded lead wires can be as long or short as they need be?

[@aarondickinson6304]

I do remember those day's

[@ChiefRickyRC]

I remeber the year I bought a OG Stampede it was the year or next when they just came out with a Digital ESC option. The price was way too much more, so I got the mechanical esc. Looking back I had one of the rc's ahead of its time tho

[@coolcycles]

How does the feedback work for non-sensored brushless setups, so that controller and motor spindle stay in sync under load, please?

[@brianbrigg57]

My Tamiya Hornet and Hotshot were blessed with three speed mechanical speed controllers and NiCad batteries. Who else had the resistance wire quick charge adaptor which could charge the battery pack off a car battery?

[@MikeyTwoCrows]

Let's get down this rabbit hole!

[@paulschryer9571]

- Ahhh..... Yes !!! I "do" remember those ol' dinosaurs !!!! - They we're called "mechanical..... - " ope !!.... John got it right, "a mechanical 3-step speed controller". Wow, that was a LONG time ago !!!! 🤨😆👍😉😁

[@willyschanke399]

We call it a regulator here in Norway =)

[@jasontate6183]

I still have a machanical speed control from my Tamiya Stricker R/C Buggy from the late 80s.

[@fuhkoffandie]

Oh I still have the ones out of my midnight pumpkin, and my Tamiya hornet. It had three pads that the Servo arm would go across, two of which connected to a resistor mounted up top to cool it. And the Ebike thing isn't true. The first bike I built, used a 70a bosch relay, hooked directly from the lawn tractor battery, to the 2 wire motor, via a toggle switch. Isn't technology Grand...🖖🙄👍

[@PFinkoloTL87]

HolmesHobbies, thanks for sharing all the info. I do have a question. My ESC (a BLX185) seems to have a pwm processing issue and I am wondering what component is responsible for it. This is what happens (on 6s the issue is very clear, on 2s it is barely noticeable but there): All is fine till around 7% throttle while slowly increasing rpm - then at about 7 or 8% throttle input/pwm the ESC tells the brushless motor to reduce rpm a little bit - then as I extremely slowly increase throttle input signal/pwm the motor rpm stays exactly the same for about a 3-5% pwm range - then after I gently push through these 3-5%, the ESC tells the motor to suddenly increase rpm, but only as far as if it wanted to make up for the "lost 3-5%" of the pwm band. After that in the entire throttle range right up to 100% everything is fine and goes like a bat outta hell. So there is some miscommunication going on somewhere. Which component might be the cause in your opinion? (Edit: Tried with 2 different receivers - issue remains)

[@HolmesHobbies]

Probably just a poor esc code that doesn't smoothly operate

[@brucemello1471]

Are u still making videos im looking for some edvice on a motor swap and servo change along with a esc change?🤔 on my trx 4 high trail🤔

[@brucemello1471]

I liked the video with the ford bronco im looking for a set up that will crawl have good drag braking and will have that punch can u set me up with a system for my trx 4 high trail ?🤔👍i dont know were to get one🤔 can u help me please!