Programming the ESC

= Programming the ESC =

Programming the ESC can be done without a programming card. Some changes do need to be made to the Turnigy 18A-SL default values to work with the OpenROV.

The settings should be set to the following(bold items need to be changed from default):

A few things to know before you program the ESCs. First, You want to program the ESC by connecting power to the battery pack plugs (the thicker black and red wires, not the three pin plug that would connect to the receiver). Next, if you do not have a motor connected to the ESC the ESC will not beep. You can still program it; however, by watching the LED lights.

While holding down the red button next to the black switch switch the black switch on. When this is done the Red LED will stay on solid for 5-7 seconds. Continue to hold the switch down and the Red LED will flash for 5-7 seconds (And beep if your motor is connected). Continue holding down the switch and the Red LED will switch to a Green LED. The Green LED will flash for each setting as you scroll through the possible settings. The Green LED will flash 1 time and pause for 3 seconds. It will then flash 2 times, pause for 3 seconds, and continue. This process is stepping through the 10 settings. At the 5th setting the Green LED does not flash 5 times. Instead it will flash one long flash. So from this point you count the long flash as 5. 6 will become 1 long flash and 1 short flash. 7 will be 1 long flash and 2 short flashes.

Once the ESC has produced the number of green flashes for the setting you are looking for you can release the red button. Now the ESC will flash the Red LED to indicate the value for that specific setting. Each time you press the button and quickly release it the Red LED blinking (and beeping) will increment by 1. So if your current setting is 2 the Red LED will blink 2 times, pause, blink 2 times, pause, and repeat over and over. If you press the button once quickly it will start blinking 3 times, pause, 3 times etc. When you reach the highest value it will reset at 1 and blink 1 time. Press the button the number of times required to have the Red LED blinking for the value you want set. Once you have confirmed that the setting is correct you can slide the black switch to off. Next, Hold the button down and repeat for the next setting. You will need to do this 10 times to set all 10 settings to the required values. Once completed you should configured as needed. Congratulations!



= Calibrating the ESC = The ESCs need to see what the signal is from the Arduino @ different speeds to work properly. If your motor is spinning when it should be idle, it is because the system is not calibrated. The steps below were used with the ESCs in the KIT but should work for any ESC.

1. With all of the ESCs switched off, go ahead and power up. Nothing should happen on the motors, if you are getting motors spinning be sure to remove the Servo Power jumper)    2. Connect with the cockpit software and open the diagnostic pane.     3. Hold the reset button on the ESC while powering on the first ESC using the switch on the ESC... it should start beeping and the red LED flashing... let go of the reset button. (It will keep beeping which is fine).     4. Press reset once and the green LED should come on and you should here a single beep.     5. Move that motor's slider all the way to the right and then press the reset on the ESC again. You should get 2 beeps.     6. More that motor's slider all the way to the left and then press the reset on the ESC again.     7. Switch off the ESC     8. Move the next ESC and repeat...

The motors match to the ESC's as follows:

After calibration, you should be able to leave all of the ESCs switched on.