What am I doing wrong hooking up the Motion Pak ESC?

[Mike Conley]

I've been building this M4A3 Sherman and I now I can't figure out HOW to get the Motion Pak box to power the motors. I have it hooked up but only one (the right) motor will turn. Or if I trade the motor cables the left will run. Do I have the DIP switched right? It looked easy to hook up but I can't get it right...

I use Futaba 4 channel radios on all my Armorteks and use Sabertooth ESCs. I know which switches to flip on the Sabertooths but can't get this ESC to work. I was going to order a couple more Sabertooths (one for motors, one for traverse/elevation) but Dimension Engineering is backordered for months! So to get this Sherman moving I decided to use a spare Motion Pak ESC I had.

What am I doing wrong with this setup? THANKS!! Mike (the one in Kentucky)

[Adrian Harris]

There are a couple of gotchas with the DIP switches.

The instructions for the Elefant has these as the settings:

SW1, which selects RC signal frame compatibility, is ON for 7ms or OFF for 20ms.

SW4, which selects current limiting on Channel 3, is ON for 60A and OFF for 5A.

You have SW4 off, so that might be why you're not getting anything.

The old manual says LEDs D3 and D4 are over current detection indicators for
"Left Motor" and "Right Motor", with LED D1 showing the RC signal for "Left" and D2 for "Right".

Adrian

[Mike Conley]

Thanks Adrian!

I've been out there trying as many combinations as I can. I've switched the receiver cable, tried the DIP ones, everything I can think ofr. I've even flipped that tiny switch in the back of the radio to try that too. I like to go 'forward/reverse' with radio right lever and 'left/right' with the left lever.

This M4 is two-thirds done but if I have to wait 24+ weeks for DI to get chips for their Sabertooths, then I'll just take out the motors, put the tracks on and roll this someplace (i.e.: back porch) and cover it with a tarp till Fall.

I don't know anything about electrics and GREATLY APPRECIATE the Help!! THANKS AGAIN!! Mike (the one in Kentucky)

[Adrian Harris]

> I like to go 'forward/reverse' with radio right lever and 'left/right' with the left lever.

That will have to be done in the transmitter. I've only ever set up mixes so the same stick goes forwards, backwards, left & right.
I would imagine it would be possible to set up that as a mix, it depends on the options on the transmitter, which looks pretty basic to me.

When you move the sticks, do you get both LEDs 1 & 2 changing brightness in step with the sticks ?

If one side moves and the other doesn't, if you swap over the receiver connections at the MCM Inputs 3 and 4, and the same side moves, but on the other stick, then there's nothing wrong with the RC side of it.

I have repaired several of these modules, as they can blow the drive transistors and the relays.

Adrian.

[Mike Conley]

By switching stuff I've got each separate stick controlling each separate motor: Right stick tells Right motor f/r and Left stick tells Left motor f/r.

Both those tiny red lights to the left of the DIP panel go dim when no motor movement but glow bright when each respective motor runs.

I'll check this radio. I have 7 other radios just like this so I'll try one of them to see IF it's this 'new' radio.

THANK YOU ADRIAN!!! Mike