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#55-1840-1

1-2007

SPECIFICATIONS

Input Voltage .................... 4-7 cells

 (@1.2 volts DC/cell)

 / 2 Li-Po cells

Li-Po Cut-Off Voltage ...............................................6.25 volts DC
ESC Footprint ............................................1.18” x 1.54” 

[30x39mm]

ESC Weight 

(w/o wires)

 ................................. 1.57 ounce 

[44.5 grams]

B.E.C. Rating ............................................ 6.0 volts DC / 1.5 amps
Power Wire 

(Battery/Motor)

 .......................... 14G Super-Flex Silicone

Rated Current ...................... 400A Fwd / 200A Rev

 

@25

°C 

trans.temp.

On-Resistance ........... 0.0014

Ω

 Fwd / 0.0028

Ω

 Rev

 

@25

°C 

trans.temp.

Motor Limit ...................12-turn 

[brush-type motor @ 6 cells

 (1.2VDC/cell)

]

Throttle Profiles ............................... 4 

[2 fwd/brk/rev & 2 w/rev.lock out]

Switched Fan Output .................................................6.0 volts DC

The Rooster Reversible is back, and is better than ever!

The Rooster 12T reversible electronic speed control brings you rugged 12-turn motor handling, built-in 

Smart-Stop Li-Po Cut-Off circuitry, and all the performance you’ve come to expect from Novak.

The ESC also features 

Thermal Overload Protection

high-power B.E.C. 

for strong/fast servo response, 

Polar Drive & Digital 

Anti-Glitch circuitries 

for cool & smooth operation, and 

Radio Priority circuitry 

for the ultimate in control, right down to the 

end of the charge. Add to this the user-replaceable power wires, power capacitor, & input harness, along with power output 

for auxiliary cooling fans that turn on & off with the ESC’s power switch, and the new Rooster 12T has it all

!

To benefit from all of the technical features of the Rooster 12T, PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS

REPLACEMENT POWER CAPACITOR  

[Novak kit #5677]

The Rooster 12T ESC comes with a factory-installed Power Capacitor, and it 

MUST BE USED

 to maintain cool and smooth operation. 

A direct replacement 

Power Capacitor is available in Novak kit #5677.

Note: We highly recommend using Novak Power Capacitors, as we have done extensive testing 

& research to find Power Capacitors with the very best quality factors––other capacitors with 

similar ratings will not provide equal protection.

SUPER-FLEX SILICONE 14G WIRE  

[Novak kits #5500 & 5505]

Novak Super-Flex wire for power wiring. 14 gauge silicone wire in kit #5500

 

(36”red & 36”black)

 and kit #5505

 (36”red & 36”blue).

INPUT SIGNAL HARNESS  

[Novak kits #5315 & 5320]

User-replaceable input signal harness is available in both short and long lengths. 

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

.

MOTOR CAPACITORS 

[Novak kit #5620]

Additional motor capacitors are available in Novak kit #5620.

AUXILIARY COOLING FANS  

[Novak kits #5647 & #5648]

The Rooster 12T comes with power output pins ready to add a cooling fan 

that will switch on & off with the ESC’s power switch.

Novak 25x25x10mm fan with long leads for cooling motor is available in Novak 

kit #5647. Novak 30x30x6mm clear fan that fits perfect over the ESC’s heat sink 

and has a connector already on its leads is available in Novak kit #5648.

WATER & ELECTRONICS DON’T MIX

!

Never allow water, moisture, or other foreign materials to get inside 

ESC, motor, or on the PC Boards. 

Water damage will void the warranty!

NO SCHOTTKY DIODE

!

Schottky diodes must NOT be used with the Rooster ESC.

(Schottky diodes are never used with reversible ESCs, including brushless)

Schottky diode usage will damage ESC & void warranty!

DISCONNECT BATTERIES WHEN NOT IN USE

Always disconnect the battery pack from the speed control when not 

in use to avoid short circuits and possible fire hazard.

4 TO 7 CELLS OR 2-CELL Li-Po ONLY

If using Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries, 

NEVER

 use fewer than 4 or more 

than 7 cells

 

(4.8-8.4VDC, 1.2VDC/cell)

 in the vehicle’s main battery pack.

If using Li-Po batteries, 

ONLY

 use a 2-cell pack for the vehicle’s main 

battery & be sure to use Profile 3 or 4 with the built-in Li-Po cut-off.

NO REVERSE VOLTAGE

!

Reverse battery polarity can damage ESC & void warranty. Disconnect 

battery immediately if a reverse connection occurs.

POWER CAPACITOR REQUIRED

An external power capacitor is installed and 

MUST

 be used with your ESC.

Failure to use Power Capacitor will result in higher ESC operating 

temperatures & possible thermal shut-down.

TRANSMITTER ON FIRST

Always turn on the power of the transmitter first so that you will 

have control of the vehicle when you turn it on.

INSULATE WIRES

Always insulate exposed wiring with heat shrink tubing or electrical 

tape to prevent short circuits, which can damage ESC.

NO SOLVENTS

Exposing the speed control’s case to any type of 

solvents will damage the plastic.

NO CA GLUE

Exposure to CA glue or its fumes can cause damage to internal 

components of the speed control and result in premature failure.

trouble-shooting guide

Steering Channel Works But Motor Will Not Run

• 

Red LED flashing:

 Speed control has thermally shut down––Allow ESC to 

cool down––Use milder motor or smaller pinion gear––Check for adequate 

cooling to ESC’s heat sink.

• 

Red & Green LEDs alternately flashing:

 Smart-Stop Li-Po circuitry has shut 

off throttle output––Use a charged Li-Po battery. Using Ni-Cd or Ni-MH 

batteries with ESC in Profile 3 or 4––change battery type or ESC Profile.

• Check motor connections. Check motor and brushes. 
• Make sure ESC is plugged into the throttle channel of receiver. Check 

wiring color sequence of receiver signal harness (Refer to Step 1). 

• Possible receiver damage––Check operation with a different receiver.
• Possible internal damage––Refer to Service Procedures.

Receiver Glitches/Throttle Stutters During Acceleration

• Receiver or antenna too close to ESC, power wires, battery, or motor.
• Bad connections––Check wiring, connectors, & sensor harness.
• Motor capacitors broken or missing––Refer to Step 3.
• Excessive current to motor––Use a milder motor or a smaller pinion gear.
• External Power Capacitor damaged/not installed––Replace Capacitor.

Motor and Steering Servo Do Not Work

• Check wires, receiver signal harness wiring & color sequence, radio system, 

crystals, battery/motor connectors, & battery pack.

• Possible receiver damage––Check operation with a different receiver.
• Possible internal damage––Refer to Service Procedures.

Speed Control Runs Excessively Hot

• Gear ratio too low––Increase gear ratio.

Model Runs Slowly/Slow Acceleration

• Gear ratio too high––Reduce gear ratio.
• Check battery connectors––Replace if needed.
• Incorrect  ESC/transmitter  adjustment––Refer  to  Step  4  &  Transmitter 

Adjustments sections.

• External Power Capacitor damaged/not installed––Replace Power Capacitor.

Motor Runs Backwards

• Motor wired backwards––Check wiring and reverse.
• Backwards motor timing––Reverse motor end bell.

ESC Is Melted Or Burnt/ESC Runs With Switch Off

• Internal damage––Refer to Service Procedures.

*For more assistance call our Customer Service Department or check our website.

service procedures

Before sending your speed control in for service, please review the 

Trouble-Shooting guide and instructions. Speed control may appear 

to have failed when other problems exist.
After reviewing instructions, if you feel that your ESC requires service, 

please obtain the most current product service options and pricing 

by the following ways:

WEBSITE: 

  Print  a  copy  of  the 

PRODUCT  SERVICE  FORM

  from  the 

CUSTOMER SERVICE section of the Novak website. Fill out the needed 

information on this form and return it with the Novak product that 

requires servicing.

PHONE/FAX: 

 

If you do not have access to the internet, please contact 

our customer service department by phone or fax as listed below.

WARRANTY SERVICE:

 

 For warranty service, you 

MUST CLAIM 

WARRANTY

 on the 

PRODUCT SERVICE FORM

 and include a valid cash 

register receipt with purchase date and dealer name & phone# on it, 

or an invoice from previous service. If warranty provisions have been 

voided, there will be service charges.

•ESCs returned without a serial number will not be serviced under warranty•

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Dealers/distributors  are  not  authorized  to  replace  Novak  products 

thought to be defective.

• If a hobby dealer returns your product for service, submit a completed 

PRODUCT SERVICE FORM

 to the dealer and make sure it is included 

with the product.

• Novak  Electronics,  Inc.  does  not  make  any  internal  electronic 

components 

(transistors, resistors, etc.)

 available for sale.

roOster 12T--INstructIons

PRECAuTIONS

optional accessories

P1

P4

product warranty

The Rooster 12T ESC is guaranteed to be free from defects in materials or workmanship for a period of 120 days 

from the original date of purchase 

(verified by dated, itemized sales receipt)

. Warranty does not cover incorrect 

installation, components worn by use, damage to case or exposed circuit boards, damage from using fewer than 

4 or more than 7 Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cells 

(1.2 volts DC/cell)

 or fewer or more than 2 Li-Po cells input voltage, cross-

connection of battery/motor power wires, overheating solder tabs, reverse voltage application, damage resulting 

from thermal overload, damage from incorrect installation of FET servo or receiver battery pack, not using or 

incorrect installation of a Power Capacitor on ESC or from using a damaged Power Capacitor, using a Schottky 

diode, using non-Novak Power Capacitor, splices to input or ON/OFF switch harnesses, damage from excessive 

force when using the One-Touch/SET button or from disassembling case, tampering with internal electronics, 

allowing water, moisture, or any other foreign material to enter ESC or get onto the PC board, incorrect instal-

lation/wiring of motor/battery connectors, input plug plastic, or auxilliary cooling fan, allowing exposed wiring, 

pins, or solder tabs to short-circuit, or any damage caused by a crash, flooding, or act of God.
Because Novak Electronics, Inc. has no control over the connection & use of the speed control or other 

related electronics, no liability may be assumed nor will be accepted for any damage resulting from the 

use of this product, including battery packs. Every Novak speed control & motor is thoroughly tested & 

cycled before leaving our facility and is, therefore, considered operational. 

By the act of connecting/operating 

speed control, user accepts all resulting liability. 

In no case shall our liability exceed the product’s original 

cost. We reserve the right to modify warranty provisions without notice.
©2007 Novak Electronics, Inc. • All Rights Reserved • No part of these instructions may be reproduced 

without the written permission of Novak Electronics, Inc. • Rooster 12T ESC, Polar Drive Technology, 

Radio Priority Circuitry, & One-Touch Set-Up are all trademarks of Novak Electronics, Inc. • All Novak 

speed controls are designed & manufactured in the U.S.A., and are lead-free & RoHS compliant.

Li-PO cUt-off ciRCUitRY

AuXilliARy Fan connection

Your Rooster 12T reversible speed control is Novak’s first ESC with built-in 

Smart-Stop Li-Po Cut-Off Circuitry for safe, worry-free operation when 

using Lithium Polymer batteries. When the speed control is in Profile 3 

or Profile 4, the Smart-Stop Li-Po Cut-Off circuitry is active.
The Smart-Stop Cut-Off circuitry constantly monitors the Li-Po battery’s 

pack voltage. When the pack’s voltage begins to get close to the critical 

safety voltage, the Cut-Off circuitry will start interrupting, or ‘blipping’ 

the throttle output. This ‘blipping’ acts as an early warning to you that 

the battery voltage is getting low, and that the throttle output to the 

motor will soon be completely shut off.
When the battery pack’s critical safety voltage is finally reached, the 

Smart-Stop  Cut-Off  circuitry  will  completely  shut  down  the  throttle 

output signal to the motor to keep the battery voltage from dropping 

further

 (Red & Green LEDs will alternately flash--you will still have steering control)

Re-

charge battery pack after Smart-Stop circuitry shuts off throttle.

After a short resting period, the battery’s voltage will rise back above 

the critical safety voltage, and the ESC will operate normally again for a 

short period of time.

 This is not good for the battery pack, as reaching 

the critical safety voltage too many times can also cause damage to the 

cells.

 

DO NOT CONTINUE TO RUN VEHICLE AFTER THE SMART-STOP 

HAS SHUT DOWN THE THROTTLE OUTPUT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

If Profile 3 or Profile 4 is used with Ni-Cd or Ni-MH type batteries, the 

cut-off circuitry will shut off the speed control’s throttle output very early 

into the battery pack’s runtime, due to the different characteristics of 

these batteries––Change ESC’s Throttle Profile to Profile 1 or Profile 2 

for use with these batteries.

The Rooster 12T reversible speed control also features a set of power 

output pins for running auxiliary cooling fans. This allows you to add 

cooling fans to either the motor, the speed control, or both, and the 

best part is that they will automatically switch off when you turn off 

the speed control’s power switch.
These pins output 6.0 volts DC (the same as the BEC), so you will get 

maximum output from your cooling fans.

The Rooster’s pin-out label located on the front lower section of the 

ESC’s case

 (under the pins, push button, & LEDs)

 shows the location and the 

polarity of the fan power output pins. They are the 2 pins on the front 

edge of the circuit board--Positive

 (+)

 is on the left, and Negative

 (–)

 is 

on the right.

 The set of 3 pins behind them are for the user-replaceable input 

signal harness, and the polarity of those is the same--Positive in the middle, 

Negative on the right, and the extra pin on the left is signal.

The Novak 30x30x6mm clear cooling fan that comes on the GTB speed 

control 

(Novak kit #5648) 

not only fits the size of the Rooster’s heat sink 

perfectly, it also comes with the connector already on it for directly 

plugging  in.  Fans  that  do  not  have  the  proper  connector  on  them, 

will need a connector

 (one end of an old receiver input harness would work 

well)

, or will need to be soldered to the pins--

Take extra care if attempting 

to solder to the fan power output pins

--Do not overheat the pins or the 

circuit board,  and do not allow any solder or wire strands to cause a 

short circuit with other pins or the heat sink.

Novak Electronics, Inc.

(949) 833-8873 • FAX (949) 833-1631

Customer Service e-mail: 

[email protected]

Monday-Friday:  8:00am-5:00pm (PST)

pin-out label

positive

fan pin

negative

fan pin

w w w . t e a m n o v a k . c o m

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