Shutting off a Barracuda ESC??

[Darin Jordan]

On a boat using a Barracuda 80 ESC...

If the boat is all taped up and you've been driving it some, say for testing, and you decide to do a prop swap or strut adjustment... If you turn off the transmitter, does that disable the ESC and make it safe to work on the prop/strut, or is this asking for trouble and one should untape and properely unplug the ESC???

Thanks,

[Twinpowered]

Unplug it. If one of the MOSFET's in the ESC goes short (water, moisture, simple failure, etc), you have a razorblade spinning right next to you.

[kensmith]

I am pretty sure that no ESC can turn off based on radio status.
The only thing you are guaranteed is that you will no longer have a master signal to your reciever and it can now behave as it sees fit (not good for your fingers). I have seen and heard horror stories and don't intend on finding out first hand (pun intended!).

At the very least, you could install a switch on back (as many boaters do) if you use non-BEC gear. That will cutoff power to the receiver and esc. Much safer way to handle the boat in the pits or on way to the water. Even with that, if I am changing props, I untape and unplug!

[Twinpowered]

The only thing you are guaranteed is that you will no longer have a master signal to your reciever and it can now behave as it sees fit
In fact, most decent ESCs cut the power if no signal is received. Problem is: you can't see what is happening inside the ESC. If f.i. water causes a FET to go short (almost no ESC's are more than splashproof), you instantly have full power running to the motor, which isn't what you want to happen if you're changing props.

First hand experience indeed, no damage done as the prop wasn't on. Scary never the less.

[Darin Jordan]

Not too difficult to draw a conclusion from this thread! Thanks guys...

I'll untape and unplug, or install a kill-plug like they are required to do in Europe...

[ben]

hi if you were to turn your transmitter off
you are asking for trouble becuse when your transmitter is switched off your reciver could have a glitch or pick up another frequency from another transmitter which my seem impossible but has happened to me and the prop/prop shaft could spin out of control. my advice would be to dissconnect the batterys from the esc or myby make an external switch