background image

w w w . t e a m n o v a k . c o m

The Rooster 12T has the industry-standard receiver input connector on a 

user-replaceable input harness & 

works with all major radio brand’s new 

receivers

. However, some very old receivers must have the wiring sequence 

in the plastic 3-pin connector housing changed.

 

This is important, because 

receiver & servo electronics may be damaged if the sequence is incorrect.

JR • Hitec • Futaba • New KO • Airtronics Z

JR, Hitec, Futaba, new KO, & Airtronics Z receivers do not need input 

harness re-wiring.

 Airtronics Z receivers have blue plastic cases & new KO 

cases have tabs on the input harness openings as in 

Figure 1

.

• Plug one end of the input signal harness into the 

THROTTLE CHANNEL (#2)

 

of receiver with the 

BLACK wire toward the outside edge

 of receiver case.

• Plug the other end of the input harness into 3-pin header on the front edge 

of the ESC’s circuit board with the 

WHITE wire toward the left side

 of the 

ESC

 (refer to pin-out label on case)

.

Old-style KO • Old-style Sanwa/Airtronics

If you have an older KO or Sanwa/Airtronics, you must change the se-

quence of the ESC’s input harness wires--

Old Sanwa/Airtronics cases are 

black color & Old KO cases do not have tab openings, as in 

Figure 2

 above.

•  Using a small flat blade screwdriver, 

remove the red & black wires

 from the 

plastic housing at the receiver end of the input harness as in 

Figure 3

 below.

• 

Interchange the red and black wires

 in the plastic 3-pin connector housing 

at the receiver end of the input harness.

• Insert modified end of the harness into the 

THROTTLE CHANNEL (#2)

 of 

receiver with the 

RED wire toward the outside edge

 of receiver case.

• Plug the other end of the input harness into the ESC with the 

WHITE wire 

toward the ‘S’ (signal) marking

 on the ESC’s case.

FIGURE 3

  

With a small standard screwdriver, gently lift plastic prong until wire 

and metal socket easily slide out of plastic housing.

changing wiring sequence

 @ 

receiver end

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

New KO

 (with tabs)

Old KO

 (no tabs)

tabs

no tabs

black

red

red

white

black

white

With ESC connected to (at least) a receiver & a charged battery pack:

1. TURN ON THE TRANSMITTER’S POWER
2. PRESS & HOLD ESC’S ONE-TOUCH/SET BUTTON
3. TURN ON THE SPEED CONTROL’S POWER

  With transmitter throttle at neutral, and still 

pressing the SET button

slide the ESC’s 

ON/OFF switch

 to ON position

.

4. CONTINUE HOLDING SET BUTTON UNTIL RED LED COMES ON
5. RELEASE SET BUTTON AS SOON AS LED TURNS RED
6. PULL TRANSMITTER THROTTLE TO FULL-ON POSITION

  Hold it there until the 

green status LED

 turns solid green

.

  Note: Motor will not run during programming even if connected.

7. PUSH TRANSMITTER THROTTLE TO FULL-BRAKES

  Hold it there until the 

green status LED

 blinks green

.

8. RETURN TRANSMITTER THROTTLE TO NEUTRAL

 

Red status LED

 will 

turn solid red

, indicating that speed control is 

at neutral and that proper programming has been completed.

 

NOTE: If transmitter settings are changed, One-Touch Programming must be 

repeated. If you experience any problems, turn off ESC & repeat One-Touch.

REMEMBER: Whenever One-Touch set-up is performed, ESC 

automatically reverts to Throttle Profile #1.

P2

P3

step 

1

connect input harness

step 2–

MOUNTiNG ESC

step 

4

one-touch programming

Be  sure  to  position  the  ESC  with  the  power  wires  away  from  other 

electronics & moving parts in the vehicle. Select a location that allows 

airflow through heat sinks--

If the ESC gets good air flow, it will run cooler; 

and that means it will be more efficient!

1.  MOUNT ESC IN THE VEHICLE

 using the included double-sided tape

.

 

Be sure receiver & antenna are mounted as far from ESC, power wires, battery, 

& servo as possible--these components all emit RF noise when throttle is applied. 

On graphite or aluminum chassis vehicles, it may help to place receiver on 

edge with crystal & antenna as far above chassis as possible.

Note:  Mount antenna as close to receiver as possible--trail any excess wire off top 

of antenna mast (cutting or coiling excess antenna wire will reduce radio range).

2.  MOUNT POWER CAPACITOR IN THE VEHICLE

 using the included double-

sided tape, or secure it to part of the vehicle with a tie-wrap. The Power 

Capacitor can also be tie-wrapped along the battery power wires.

 

If the Power Capacitor becomes dented or damaged, ESC failure 

can occur--replace damaged Power Capacitors immediately.

3.  INSTALL ON/OFF SWITCH

 using a screw or the included double-sided 

tape. Position in the vehicle where it will be easy to access.

If you have any problems with Step 4, adjust transmitter as follows 

and then repeat One-Touch programming in Step 4:

A.

 Set 

HIGH ATV

 or 

EPA

 to 

maximum

 setting.

 

[amount of throw at full throttle]

B.

 Set 

LOW ATV

EPA

, or 

ATL

 to 

maximum

 setting.

 

[amount of throw at full brakes]

C.

 Set 

EXPONENTIAL

 to 

zero

 setting.  

[throttle channel linearity]

D.

 Set 

THROTTLE CHANNEL REV. SWITCH

 to 

opposite

 position.

E.

 Set 

THROTTLE CHANNEL TRIM

 to 

middle

 setting.

 

[adjusts neutral position/increases or decreases coast brakes]

F.

  Set 

ELECTRONIC  TRIGGER  THROW  ADJUSTMENT

  to 

50% 

throttle

 and 

50% brake

 throw

--best for reversible ESCs

.

 

[adjusts trigger throw electronic/digital pistol-grip transmitters]

G.

 Set 

MECHANICAL TRIGGER THROW ADJUSTMENT

 to position 

with 

1/2 throttle

 and 

1/2 brake

 throw.

•NOT ALL TRANSMITTERS HA

VE THESE ADJUSTMENTS

transmitter adjustments

SET

-UP PHOTO

ON/OFF

switch

Power Capacitor tie-wrapped

along power wires

One-Touch

Set-Up

button

User-replaceable input 

signal harness (Ch.2)

Black power wire

(battery negative)

Status LEDs

Trail excess wire off top

of antenna mast

Red power wire

(battery positive)

Blue power wire

(motor negative)

(–)

(+)

4 to 7 cell

battery pack

Yellow power wire

(motor positive)

Tamiya-style

battery connector

Servo

plugged

into

steering

ch. (#1) 

12-turn or higher

brush-type motor

The ESC is equipped with 

4 user-selectable Throttle Profiles

 to choose from:

 

PROFILE #1:

  Forward, brakes, & reverse.

 

PROFILE #2:

  Forward & brakes only.

 

PROFILE #3:

  Forward, brakes, & reverse.

 

PROFILE #4:

  Forward & brakes only.

NOTE:

  ESC is factory set to Throttle Profile #1.

selecting throttle profile

:

With ESC on & connected to a charged battery (transmitter ON or OFF):

1. IF TRANSMITTER IS OFF, DISCONNECT ESC FROM RECEIVER

 

To avoid possible radio interference from other transmitters, remove 

the ESC’s input signal harness from the receiver.

2. PRESS & HOLD THE ESC’S ONE-TOUCH SET BUTTON

  Continue to hold SET button

 on ESC 

until both LEDs turn on

.

3. RELEASE SET BUTTON AS SOON AS BOTH LEDs COME ON

 

Once released, the 4 status LEDs will flash to indicate what Throttle 

Profile  is  currently  selected

.  The  number  of  times  the  LEDs  flash 

indicates the Throttle Profile selection 

(1 of 4)

.

4. QUICK PRESS

 

(& release)

 SET BUTTON TO CHANGE SELECTION

  Each press will change to the next consecutive Throttle Profile. 

 

*** Note: there is a time constraint during this selection process. ***

5. ESC STORES SELECTION & EXITS TO NEUTRAL

  If SET button is not pressed for 3 seconds, 

ESC stores selected Profile

 

into memory & the red LED will come on solid. The speed control 

is at neutral & is ready to go.

NOTE:  Whenever One-Touch set-up is performed, ESC reverts to Throttle Profile #1.

throttle profile selection

step 3–

motor & battEry cONNEctiON

1. MOTOR CAPACITORS

  Electric motors generate RF noise that causes interference. The included 

0.1µF (50V) non-polarized, ceramic capacitors must be used on all motors 

to reduce motor noise & prevent ESC damage.

 

Note: Some motors come with capacitors built-in. If your motor 

only has two capacitors, you need to install a capacitor between the 

positive & negative motor tabs––If you experience radio interference 

when using only built-in capacitors, install external ones.

 

Solder 0.1µF (50V) capacitors between:

  • POSITIVE (+) motor tab & NEGATIVE (–) motor tab.
  • POSITIVE (+) motor tab & GROUND tab*.
  • NEGATIVE (–) motor tab & GROUND tab*.

  *If motor has no ground tab (below), solder the capacitors to motor can.

   

Negative (–) motor tab

   

**NO SCHOTTKY DIODE**

   

0.1µF Capacitors

   

Positive (+) motor tab

   

Ground / motor can

 

Extra 0.1µF capacitors are available in Novak kit #5620.

2. 

DO NOT USE SCHOTTKY DIODES

 

Schottky  diodes  must  NOT  be  used  with  reversible  ESCs  (including 

brushless). Schottky diode usage will damage the ESC & void warranty.

If you are going to use connectors on the ESC’s motor wires, we highly 

suggest Dean’s Ultra plugs or other low-loss connectors--do not use 

crimp type connectors. 

Note: If you plan to change the battery connector, 

be aware that this can void the warranty if not done properly.

To prevent possible cross-connection of motor and battery wires:

• Use connectors that cannot be plugged in backwards. Reverse voltage 

will damage the ESC and void warranty.

• Use a female connector on battery packs to avoid shorting.

For additional information on connector usage, visit our website.

connector usage

3. FACTORY-INSTALLED POWER CAPACITOR REQUIRED

  The ESC comes with a factory-installed Power Capacitor, and it MUST 

be used for proper operation and protection.

 

If Power Cap. becomes dented or damaged, ESC failure can occur

--replace immediately

Longer Power Capacitor wires will decrease performance

.

4. SOLDER MOTOR POWER WIRES TO MOTOR

a.

 Cut  the  ESC’s 

BLUE  &  YELLOW

  silicone  motor  power  wires  to  the 

desired length, and strip 1/8-1/4” of insulation from the end of each 

wire. Tightly twist the exposed strands of wire.

b.

 Solder the ESC’s 

BLUE 

motor wire to the 

motor’s negative (–) tab

.

c.

 Solder the ESC’s 

YELLOW 

motor wire to the 

motor’s positive (+) tab

.

6. CONNECT SPEED CONTROL TO BATTERY PACK

  Connect the ESC’s Tamiya-style JST battery connector to a charged 4 

to 7 cell

 (1.2VDC/cell)

 battery pack (or 2-cell Li-Po pack). Connector 

can also be changed to a different type, or ESC can be hard-soldered 

directly to battery pack.

FIGURE 4

using a receiver battery pack

Your new speed control has a built-in BEC (battery eliminator circuit), and you do 

not need to use a separate receiver battery pack, however if you are planning to use 

one to power the electronics you need to do the following:

1.

  Plug the external 5 cell (1.2VDC/cell) receiver battery pack into the battery 

slot of the receiver.

2.

  Leave the 

ESC’s ON/OFF switch

 in the 

OFF

 position, and 

use receiver battery 

pack’s ON/OFF switch

 to turn the 

system power on and off

––Do not use the 

ESC’s switch.

Li-Po Cut-Off Circuitry Active

Ni-Cd & Ni-MH cells ONLY

Reviews: