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This model is not intended
for use by children under
8 years of age without the
supervision of a responsible
and knowledgeable adult.
All instructions and
precautions outlined in this
manual should be strictly
followed to ensure safe
operation of your model.
Safety Precautions
All of us at Traxxas want you to safely enjoy your new model. Operate your
model sensibly and with care, and it will be exciting, safe, and fun for you and
those around you. Failure to operate your model in a safe and responsible
manner may result in property damage and serious injury. The precautions
outlined in this manual should be strictly followed to help ensure safe
operation. You alone must see that the instructions are followed and the
precautions are adhered to.
Important Points to Remember
Your model is not intended for use on public roads or congested areas where
its operation can conflict with or disrupt pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Never, under any circumstances, operate the model in crowds of people. Your
model is very fast and could cause injury if allowed to collide with anyone.
Because your model is controlled by radio, it is subject to radio interference
from many sources that are beyond your control. Since radio interference
can cause momentary losses of radio control, always allow a safety margin in
all directions around the model in order to prevent collisions.
The motor, battery, and speed control can become hot during use. Be careful
to avoid getting burned.
Don’t operate your model at night, or anytime your line of sight to the model
may be obstructed or impaired in any way.
Most importantly, use good common sense at all times.
Batteries and Charging
Your model uses rechargeable batteries that must be handled with care for
safety and long battery life. Make sure to read and follow all instructions and
precautions that were provided with your battery packs and your charger. It
is your responsibility to charge and care for your battery backs properly. In
addition to your battery and charger instructions, here are some more tips to
keep in mind.
Never leave batteries to charge unattended.
Remove the batteries from the model while charging.
Always unplug the battery from the electronic speed control when the model
is not in use and when it is being stored or transported.
Allow the battery packs to cool off between runs (before charging).
Do not use battery packs that have been damaged in any way.
Do not use battery packs that have damaged wiring, exposed wiring, or a
damaged connector.
Children should have responsible adult supervision when charging and
handling batteries.
Speed Control
General Precautions
Disconnect the Batteries:
Always disconnect the battery pack from
the speed control when not in use.
Transmitter on First:
Switch on your transmitter first before switching on the
speed control to prevent runaways and erratic performance.
Don’t Get Burned:
The transistor tabs and the heat sinks can get extremely hot,
so be careful not to touch them until they cool. Supply adequate airflow for
cooling.
Always Use Heat Sinks:
Three heat sinks are factory-installed on the speed
control and must be used for maximum cooling and performance.
4 to 8-Cells Only:
The XL-5 can only accept a maximum input voltage
of 9.6 volts. Always adhere to the minimum and maximum limitations
of the XL-5 as stated in the specifications table.
Use Stock Connectors:
If you decide to change the battery or motor connectors,
only change one battery or motor connector at a time.
This will prevent accidentally mis-wiring the speed control. If the XL-5 is not
wired exactly as shown in the diagram, it can be damaged! Please note that
modified speed controls can be subject to a rewiring fee when returned for
service.
No Reverse Voltage:
The speed control is not protected against reverse polarity
voltage. When changing the battery and/or motor, be sure to install the same
type of connectors to avoid reverse polarity damage to the speed control.
Removing the battery connectors on the speed control or using the same-
gender connectors on the speed control will void the product’s warranty.
Do Not Let the Transistor Tabs Touch:
Never allow the three separate transistor
banks to touch each other or any exposed metal. This will create a short circuit
and damage the speed control. (For example, laying a metal tool across the
heatsinks can damage the speed control.)
Advanced Precautions
Motor Limit:
The XL-5 has a 15-turn modified motor limit for 540 size motor and
a 12-turn modified motor limit for 550 size motor when the motor is properly
geared. If the motor or speed control is overheating, try a smaller pinion gear.
Do not attempt to use a more powerful motor (fewer turns) than the above
mentioned motor limits or you could experience frequent thermal shutdown.
Insulate the Wires:
Always insulate exposed wiring with heat shrink tubing to
prevent short circuits.
Use Neutrally Timed Motor:
For reverse use, the motor must have 0° timing.
Modified motor (with adjustable end bells) timed to 0° or Johnson/ Mabuchi
(closed end bell) motor are recommended. Using motor with other than 0°
timing will draw excess current in reverse, and can result in the speed control
overheating and premature motor wear.
Motor Capacitors Required:
Ceramic capacitors should be properly installed on
every motor to prevent radio interference. These are already installed on the
factory Titan motor.
No Schottky Diodes:
External schottky diodes are not compatible with reversing
speed controls. Using a schottky diode with the XL-5 will damage the ESC and
void the 30-day warranty
No previous experience
with radio controlled
models is required.
Models require a minimum
of setup, maintenance, or
support equipment.
