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OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

CycloneC2 & CycloneTC2

SPECIFICATIONS

Input Voltage

4-7 cells 

(1.2 volts DC/cell)

Case Width

1.69 inches [4.29 cm]

Case Depth

1.11 inches [2.81 cm]

Case Height

0.76 inch

[1.93 cm]

Weight 

(w/o heat sinks)

1.33 ounces [37.70 g]

On-Resistance 

@ Transistors

0.00049 

Rated Current

480 amps

Braking Current

160 amps

BEC Voltage

6.0 volts DC

BEC Current

3.0 amps

Wire Length 

(Battery/Motor)

9 inches

[22.8 cm]

Signal Harness 

(replaceable)

9 inches

[20.3 cm]

Minimum Brake Range

0 to 75 % Full Brake

Minimum Drive 

(% Full Drive) 2.0-6.0-4.0 (TC2: 2.0-3.0-5.0)

Deadband 

(% Full Throttle)

5.0-5.0-5.0 (TC2: 5.0-3.0-3.0)

Drive Frequency 

(kHz)

15.6-5.86-7.8 (TC2: 15.6-11.7-7.8)

Brake Frequency 

(kHz)

3.9-3.9-5.86 (TC2: 3.9-5.86-11.7)

@ 25

°

C transistor

junction temp.

The 

Cyclone C2

 & 

Cyclone TC2

 touring edition are all-digital,

microprocessor-based ESC’s 

(Electronic Speed Controls)

 using

advanced components and the best HYPERFET III transistors
available, to deliver the highest performance with compact
size and light weight. Each have three user-selectable
throttle profiles and the ability to store a fourth custom
profile created by the optional 

Pit Wizard

 

(#1035/older Pit

Wizards requires adaptor #5710)

, giving you extreme flexibility.

Novak’s original One-Touch Set-Up™ button now performs
double duty as a 

Combination One-Touch/ON-OFF switch

.

Constant Force Braking

 provides more effective braking at

lower motor RPMs, while a minimum brake adjustment
pot lets you set initial braking from 0-75%.
Novak’s 

Polar Drive  Circuitry

 gives you increased power

and reduced operating temperatures. This means even
smoother throttle response, increased radio system range,
quicker acceleration, and longer run times.
Other features include 

Low-Resistance Solder Posts

 

(minimal

voltage drop & high current handling)

 for quick and easy wire

replacement and positioning, heavy-duty BEC for high power
servos, 

Digital Anti-Glitch Circuitry

™, and 

Radio Priority

Circuitry

™ to maintain steering control after battery dumps.

Part #1775

ACCESSORIES

SCHOTTKY DIODES

The C2 & TC2s have internal Schottky diodes.

 An external

diode is also included and  should be used for optimum
ESC, braking, and motor performance. 

Refer to Step 3

Additional Schottky diodes are available in Novak kit #5640.

HEAT SINKS

Heat sinks are not required with the C2 or TC2, however the
added cooling will increase the ESC’s efficiency. An optional
Heat Sink Set is available as Novak kit #5407. Heat sinks are
recommended for heavy load applications and set-ups with
limited air circulation, or whenever ESC gets excessively hot.

POWER CAPACITORS

An external power capacitor is included, and 

MUST BE USED

to maintain cool and smooth operation. 

Refer to Step 3

Replacement Power Capacitor is available in Novak kit #5675.

SOLDER POST WIRE SETS

Replacement C2 & TC2 solder post wire sets are available in Novak
kit #5537 and includes two 9” pieces of each color power wire.

INPUT SIGNAL HARNESS

The user-replaceable input signal harness is available in both
short 

(4.5”)

 and long 

(9.0”)

 lengths to fit different applications.

4.5” harness in Novak kit #5315, and 9.0” harness in kit #5320.

PIT WIZARD-To-C2/TC2 ADAPTOR HARNESS

To connect to the C2 & TC2’s new DataLink connector, older
Pit Wizards 

(or ESC Profile Software)

 require the 

Pit Wizard-To-C2/

TC2 Adapter Harness

 available in Novak kit #5710.

PRECAUTIONS

• WATER & ELECTRONICS DON’T MIX!

  Do not operate

model in or around water. Never allow water, moisture, or
other foreign materials to get inside the ESC.

• 4 to 7 CELLS  ONLY

  Never use more than 7 cells (8.4 volts

DC) in the main battery pack.

• SCHOTTKY DIODE RECOMMENDED

  An external Shottky

diode should be properly installed on every motor to further
reduce radio interference and obtain the best performance
and efficiency from your CycloneC2 or CycloneTC2.

• POWER CAPACITOR REQUIRED

  The external power

capacitor must be used with your CycloneC2 or CycloneTC2.

Failure to use Power Capacitor will damage speed control !

• NO REVERSE VOLTAGE!

  Reverse battery polarity can damage

speed control––Disconnect battery immediately.

• DON’T LET TRANSISTOR TABS TOUCH

  Never allow the

two transistor tab banks to touch each other or any exposed
metal. The short circuit will damage the ESC.

• DISCONNECT THE BATTERIES

  Always disconnect the battery

pack from the speed control when not in use.

• TRANSMITTER ON FIRST

  Always turn on the power of

your transmitter first so that you will have control of the
radio equipment when you turn on the speed control.

• DON’T GET BURNT!

  Transistor tabs can get hot, so be careful.

If transistor tabs get extremely hot use optional heat sinks.

• INSULATE WIRES

  Always insulate exposed wiring with heat

shrink tubing to prevent short circuits.

1. DETERMINE BEST ESC MOUNTING LOCATION

Speed control should be positioned away from the
receiver and antenna as shown in set-up photo 

(back page)

.

Choose a mounting position that will keep power wires
away from the receiver and antenna, and will provide
maximum airflow through transistor tabs or heat sinks
to allow for proper cooling.

REMEMBER:

  Choose a mounting position where it

will be easy to get to the combination One-Touch/
ON-OFF switch on the top of the speed control. You
will need to get to this to turn the ESC on and off.

2. INSTALL THE SPEED CONTROL

Use the included double-sided tape to mount ESC.

3. INSTALL THE RECEIVER AND ANTENNA

Mount receiver as far from ESC, motor, power wires,
battery, and servo as possible. These components all
emit radio noise when the throttle is being applied.
On graphite or aluminum, it may help to place the
receiver on edge with the crystal and antenna as far
above the chassis as possible. Mount the antenna close
to the receiver and trail any excess wire off the top of
the antenna mast*.

*Cutting or coiling excess wire will reduce radio range.

STEP 2

MOUNTING INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 3

HOOK-UP INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 3

HOOK-UP INSTRUCTIONS 

(Cont.)

4. CONNECT SPEED CONTROL TO THE RECEIVER

Configure input harness wires and connect ESC to the

THROTTLE CHANNEL

 of receiver as described in Step 1.

5. CONNECT SPEED CONTROL TO THE BATTERY PACK

Cut the 

BLACK

 wire to the desired length and strip

about 1/8”-1/4” of insulation off each end. Solder to
the 

negative

 side of a completely charged 4 to 7 cell

battery pack and the other end to the 

BLK

 solder post.

Cut the 

RED

 wire to desired length (to go from ESC to

battery positive to motor) and strip about 1/8”-1/4” of
insulation off each end. Strip a short section of insulation
(1/4”-3/8”) from the middle section of the 

RED

 wire

where it will attach to 

positive

 of battery pack. Solder

the stripped section of 

RED

 wire to 

positive

 of battery

pack and one end to the 

RED 

solder post.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

   

DO NOT OVERHEAT POSTS

Prolonged or excessive heating of the solder post or the
solder joint on top of the solder post will result in the post
desoldering from PCB and short-circuiting inside ESC.

6. CONNECT SPEED CONTROL TO THE MOTOR

Solder the free end of the 

RED 

wire to 

positive

 motor tab.

Cut the 

BLUE

 wire to desired length and strip about

1/8”-1/4” of insulation off each end. Solder to the

negative

 tab of the motor and to the 

BLUE

 solder post.

TIP:

 Twisting the BLUE & RED motor wires one or two times

around each other as they go to motor can help reduce any
radio noise that may be emitted from the power wires.

7. USING PLUGS FOR BATTERY & MOTOR CONNECTION

High-quality/low-resistance connector plugs, such as
Dean’s Ultra Plugs, can also be used to connect the
motor and battery pack. Note--while connectors make
component changes quick and easy, they will never have
as little resistance as a good solder joint.

Use connectors that can not be connected backwards!

It is good practice to use female connectors on battery
packs to avoid shorting the connector and the battery.

If using connectors for both battery and motor:

Use a male connector on the ESC
wires going to the battery and a
female connector on the wires going
to the motor 

(Shown here in Figure 6)

.

This will help prevent you from cross
connecting the battery and motor
outputs of speed control, and causing
internal damage.

To Motor

{female}

blue wire

red wire

FIGURE 6

1. MOTOR CAPACITORS

The CycloneC2 and TC2 have motor capacitors installed
inside the speed control.

 Capacitors are not required on motor

.

Note: Many other ESCs still require that these capacitors be
installed on every motor to help reduce radio noise.

2. INSTALL SCHOTTKY DIODE

Solder the lead

 CLOSEST 

to the silver stripe on the body

of the Schottky diode to the 

POSITIVE

 (+) motor tab.

Solder the lead 

OPPOSITE

 the silver stripe on the body

of the Schottky to the 

NEGATIVE

 (–) motor tab.

If installed backwards, a Schottky diode will be destroyed. The
body of a bad diode will normally crack open. Replace only with
Schottky diodes that have a minimum rating of 35 volts / 8 amps.

FIGURE 4

  

(Extra Schottky diodes available in Novak kit #5640)

Negative (–) motor tab

Schottky diode

Positive (+) motor tab

3. INSTALL POWER CAPACITOR

WHY POWER CAPACITOR IS NEEDED:

  The power capacitor

drops the ESC’s operating temperature by 10-15

°

F, and dissipates

noise & voltage spikes from the ESC’s high switching speed. You
MUST use Novak capacitors. Other capacitors with similar ratings
will not provide the same protection. We have done extensive
research to find capacitors with the very best Quality Factors.

• Determine best place to mount Power Capacitor. If

mounting capacitor standing on end, bend capacitor’s
leads flat along top of capacitor (Figure 5A).
If mounting capacitor laying down, bend capacitor’s
leads flat along top of capacitor, then down over the
side of the capacitor (Figure 5B).

• Cut capacitor’s leads so that both leads will be equally

held by PowerCap Harness. Insulate the exposed leads
of the capacitor with the included vinyl tubing.

• Attach PowerCap Harness to the leads of the capacitor.

Insert 

negative lead

 

(–)

 

{marked with stripe} 

into the opening

leading to the 

BLACK

 wire. Insert 

positive lead (+)

 

{un-

marked} 

into the opening leading to the 

RED

 wire.

• Use the included double-sided tape to hold capacitor

against side or back of ESC, or onto chassis (Figure 5A/5B).

FIGURE 5

[A]

[B]

red wire

black wire

neg. lead (–)
{with stripe}

Refer to Set-Up photo on back

STEP 1

CHANGING THE INPUT HARNESS

The CycloneC2 & CycloneTC2 ESCs come with the industry
standard connector on a user-replaceable input harness.
This connector works with all major radio brands. However,
with some older style receivers the sequence of the wires in
the plastic connector needs to be changed. 

This is an

important step, because the electronics inside the receiver
may be damaged if the sequence is incorrect.

 Changing

the wiring is easily accomplished as described below.

JR • Hitec • Futaba • New KO • Airtronics Z

If your receiver is a JR, Hitec, Futaba, new KO, or an
Airtronics Z (blue case)  you do not need to change the
sequence of the ESC's input harness wires. New KO cases
have tabs on the input harness openings as in Figure 1.
• Insert one end of the input harness into receiver with

the 

BLACK wire toward the outside edge

 of receiver case.

• Insert opposite end of input harness into ESC with the

WHITE wire toward the ‘WHT’ marking

 on the case label.

Old-style KO • Old-style Sanwa/Airtronics

If your receiver is an older KO or Sanwa/Airtronics, you
must change the sequence of the ESC's input harness
wires. Old Sanwa/Airtronics cases are black in color. Old
KO cases do not have the tab openings (See Figure 2).
• Insert one end of input harness into ESC with the 

WHITE

wire toward the ‘WHT’ marking

 on the case label.

• Interchange the red and black wires

 in the plug plastic at

the opposite end of input harness as in Figure 3 below.

• Insert modified end of the harness into the receiver with

the 

RED wire toward the outside edge

 of receiver case.

FIGURE 3

  With a small standard screwdriver, gently lift

the plastic prong until the wire and metal socket easily
slides out of the plastic housing. Repeat for each wire.

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

New KO (with tabs)

Old KO (no tabs)

tabs

no tabs

black

wires

red

wires

Part #1777

To Battery

{male}

red wire

black wire

white

wires

black

wires

white

wires

red

wires

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