background image

*If motor has no ground tab 

(as shown here), solder the 

capacitors to motor can.

The XBR Sport 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 inside the ESC’s case 

with the 

WHITE wire toward the ‘S’ (signal) marking

 on the ESC’s case above 

the rectangular signal harness opening.

Old-style KO • Old-style Sanwa/Airtronics

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

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

P3

step 

1

connect input harness

step 

2

wirinG speed control, motor, & battEry

1. MOTOR CAPACITORS NOT NEEDED

  Novak brushless motors do not require external motor capacitors.

2. 

DO NOT USE SCHOTTKY DIODES IN BRUSHLESS-MODE

 

Schottky diodes must NOT be used with reversible ESCs (including brushless). 

Schottky diode usage will damage the ESC & void warranty.

3. FACTORY-INSTALLED POWER CAPACITOR REQUIRED

  The  factory-installed  Power  Capacitor  MUST  be  used  with  brushless  & 

brush-type motors. 

If Power Capacitor becomes dented or damaged, ESC failure can 

occur

--replace immediately

Longer Power Capacitor wires will decrease performance

.

4. CHECK FOR PROPER GEARING

  Refer  to  the 

‘PROPER  GEAR  SELECTION’

  portion  of  the 

PROGRAMMING/

GEARING 

Sheet (Pg.5) to determine proper gearing & avoid overheating.

5. SOLDER MOTOR POWER WIRES TO MOTOR

  *

Skip this step if installing complete system with ESC factory-wired to motor.

a.

 Cut the 

BLUE, YELLOW, & ORANGE

 silicone motor power wires to the 

desired length, and strip 1/8-3/16” of insulation from the end of each 

wire. Tightly twist the exposed strands of wire, and tin the exposed end 

section of each wire with solder with a good, high heat iron.

b.

 Solder the ESC’s 

BLUE Phase ‘A’

 motor wire to the 

motor’s phase ‘A’ solder 

tab

. Apply heat to exposed wire with soldering iron, and add solder to 

the tip of the iron & the wire--Add just enough solder to form a clean & 

continuous joint from the solder tab up onto the wire.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE:

 DO NOT OVERHEAT SOLDER TABS

 

Prolonged/excessive heating of solder tabs (motor or ESC) will cause damage.

c.

  Solder the ESC’s 

YELLOW Phase ‘B’

 motor wire to the 

motor’s phase ‘B’ 

solder tab

 as described in Step 5B above.

d.

  Solder the ESC’s 

ORANGE Phase ‘C’

 motor wire to the 

motor’s phase ‘C’ 

solder tab

 as described in Step 5B above.

Note: Make sure no wire strands have strayed to an adjacent solder tab, this will 

result in short-circuiting & severe ESC damage, which will void the warranty.

6. CONNECT MOTOR’S SENSOR HARNESS TO ESC

  Insert the 6-pin connector on the end of the motor’s Teflon sensor wires 

into ESC’s sensor harness socket--the connector is keyed and will only go 

together in one direction.

 Spiral wrap can be used to protect sensor wires.

7. CONNECT SPEED CONTROL TO BATTERY PACK

  Connect the speed control’s Tamiya-style JST battery connector to a charged 

4 to 7 cell

 (1.2VDC/cell)

 or 2-cell LiPo battery pack.

step 

3

ESC MOUNTiNG

Mount ESC with power wires away from other electronics & moving parts. 

Select a location that allows airflow through heat sinks--

If the ESC gets air 

flow, it will run cooler; and that means it will be more efficient, and you will go faster!

1.  MOUNT SPEED CONTROL IN VEHICLE

  Use the included double-sided tape to mount ESC in vehicle 

(do not glue)

Avoid contact with side walls or other components to minimize vibration

.

 

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.  SECURE POWER CAPACITOR TO CHASSIS

  Use included double-sided tape, or a tie-wrap, to mount Power Capacitor 

to the vehicle’s chassis or shock tower. 

Capacitor can also be tie-wrapped 

along the power wires--this requires less space on the chassis

.

 

3.  INSTALL ON/OFF SWITCH

  Use a screw or the included double-sided tape, and mount the switch 

where it will be easy to access--be sure to select a position where it will 

not get damaged or get switched OFF during a crash or roll-over.

 NOvak bRuSHlESS mOtOrS

 (Fig.4)

Amber LED flashes 4 times at start-up when transmitter signal is present

bRuSH-typE mOtOrS

 (Fig.5-8)

Red LED flashes 4 times at start-up when transmitter signal is present & ESC is is Brush-Mode

1. DISCONNECT BRUSHLESS MOTOR SENSOR HARNESS

  The XBR automatically switches to Brush-Mode when the ESC power is switched 

ON and no brushless sensor harness is connected. 

2. MOTOR CAPACITORS

  Electric brush-type 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 built-in capacitors. If your motor only has 2 capacitors, 

you need to install a capacitor between the positive & negative motor tabs––If you 

experience radio interference with built-in capacitors only, install external ones.

 

Solder 0.1µF (50V) capacitors between:

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

   

Negative (–) motor tab

   

0.1µF Capacitors

   

Schottky diode

   

Positive (+) motor tab

   

Ground / motor can

3. INSTALLING OPTIONAL SCHOTTKY DIODE

 (Brush-Mode Only)

 

The XBR Sport does not require an external Schottky diode under most brush 

motor conditions.

 

Note that an external Schottky will optimize the ESC’s braking 

and motor performance in applications with heavy or repeated braking 

(lap after 

lap)

, or when using lower turn modified motors.

  • If using an axial lead Schottky diode as shown in the photo above 

(older Novak 

style--35V/8A min.)

, solder lead 

CLOSEST to the silver stripe

 on the Schottky 

diode’s body to the 

POSITIVE (+) Motor Tab

. Solder the lead 

OPPOSITE the 

silver stripe

 on the body to the 

NEGATIVE (–) Motor Tab

.

  • If using the Novak Racing Schottky Motor Module

 (this is the best performing 

Schottky diode available)

, solder the 

RED wire

 from the module to the 

POSITIVE 

(+)  Motor  Tab

.  Solder  the 

BLACK  wire

  from  the  Schottky  module  to  the 

NEGATIVE (–) Motor Tab

.

If Schottky diode is installed backwards it will be destroyed. Replace only with 

Schottky diodes with a minimum rating of 35 volts/8 amps.

FIGURE 5

4. SPEED CONTROL’S RED WIRE CONNECTION

  To use the XBR Sport with brush-type motors, the 

RED

 power wire going to 

Battery POSITIVE (+)

, must also go to the 

POSITIVE (+) Motor Tab

. There 

are two ways of doing this, as decribed below: 

This method allows you to continue using stick pack batteries with the factory-

installed connector, but can also be used with hard-wired installations. (Figure 6)

a.

 Strip about 1/4” of insulation from the end of the included extra piece 

of 

RED

 silicone power. Tin the exposed section of wire with solder.

b.

 Solder this wire to the bottom of the ESC’s 

Battery POSITIVE (+)

 

solder 

tab

, as shown in Figure 7 inset photo. 

Be sure no strands of wire or 

solder short-circuit over the gap to the battery negative solder tab.

c.

  Determine the proper length for this new 

RED

 power wire to reach the 

POSITIVE (+) Motor Tab

 and cut it to this length. Strip & tin the end 

of the wire and solder it to the POSITIVE (+) Motor Tab.

This method requires a hard-wired installation & has lower voltage losses. (Figure 7)

a.

 Strip 1/4-3/8” piece of insulation from the mid-section of the ESC’s 

RED

 silicone power wire where you will solder it to either 

Battery Pack 

POSITIVE (+)

 or the 

POSITIVE (+) Motor Tab

 (whatever component is 

in the middle)

. Tin the exposed section of wire with solder.

b.

 Solder the exposed section of the ESC’s power wire to 

Battery Pack 

POSITIVE (+)

 or the 

POSITIVE (+) Motor Tab

 (component in middle)

.

c.

  Strip  &  tin  the  end  of  the  ESC’s 

RED

  power  wire

  (after  the  first 

connection)

, and solder it to the final component--either 

Battery Pack 

Positive (+)

 or the 

Positive (+) Motor Tab

.

D.

 Strip & tin the end of the ESC’s 

BLACK

 power wire, and solder it to 

Battery Pack Negative (–)

.

5. PREP & SOLDER ESC’S BLUE, YELLOW, & ORANGE WIRES

  With brush-type motors, the XBR Sport’s 

BLUE, YELLOW, & ORANGE

 motor 

phase power wires must all go to the 

NEGATIVE (–) Motor Tab

.

a.

 Strip 1/4” of insulation from the end of the 

BLUE, YELLOW, & ORANGE

 

motor phase wires. Twist & tin the end of each of the wires.

b.

 Solder all of the motor phase wires (

BLUE, YELLOW, & ORANGE)

 to the 

NEGATIVE (–) Motor Tab

.

If you are going to use connectors, we suggest low-loss connectors

 (do not use crimp type)

 like 

Dean’s Ultra. To prevent cross-connection of motor phase wires, we do not recommend 

using connectors on the motor power wires of sensor-based brushless motors. 

• Use polarized connectors. Reverse voltage will damage the ESC & void warranty.

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

When wiring the vehicle’s electronics, short wires & clean/neat installations will give 

you better performance, higher efficiency, & less radio problems (glitching, etc.). Try 

your best to keep power wires away from signal wires & receiver/antenna.

BRUSH-MODE SET

-UP PHOTO 1

‘Y’ Method (FIGURE 6)

BRUSHLESS-MODE SET

-UP PHOTO

(FIGURE 4)

BRUSH-MODE SET

-UP PHOTO 2

 Single W

ire Method (FIGURE 7)

Blue, Yellow, and Orange motor phase 

wires connect to motor negative

ON/OFF

Switch

User-replaceable

input signal

harness (Ch.2)

Black power wire

 (batter

y negative)

Trail excess wire off top of antenna mast

Red power wire

(battery positive)

 Blue power wire

(motor phase ‘A’)

(–)

(+)

4 to 6 cell batter

y pack or 2-cell LiPo

Yellow power wire

(motor phase ‘B’)

Orange power wire

(motor phase ‘C’)

Sensor Harness

bundled with

spiral wrap

Servo plugged into

steering ch. (#1) 

Novak sensor-based

brushless motor

down to 8.5 turns

P2

 ‘Y’ connection of 

Red power wire 

(battery & motor)

brush-type motor

One-Touch

button

Power Cap

tie-wrapped

to wires

Racing Schottky Module

Blue, Yellow, and Orange motor phase 

wires connect to motor negative

(–)

(+)

brush-type

motor

(–)

(+)

Racing Schottky

Module

In-Line connection 

of Red power wire 

(battery & motor 

positive)

‘y’

 wiring method

single wire method

CONNECTORS & wiring hintS

Status LEDs

Fan power

output pins

(–)

(+)

ON/OFF

Switch

User-replaceable

input signal

harness (Ch.2)

Black power wire  (batter

y negative)

Red power

wire (battery

positive)

(–)

(+)

4 to 6 cell batter

y pack or 2-cell LiPo

Servo plugged into

steering ch. (#1) 

One-Touch

button

Power Cap

tie-wrapped

to wires

Status LEDs

Fan power

output pins

ON/OFF

Switch

User-replaceable

input signal

harness (Ch.2)

Black power wire  (batter

y negative)

Trail excess wire off top of antenna mast

4 to 6 cell batter

y pack or 2-cell LiPo

Servo plugged into

steering ch. (#1) 

One-Touch

button

Status LEDs

Extra Red wire soldered to tab

Extra Red wire

soldered to motor

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