fully charged battery is connected. The electronic speed control is factory set with Low
Voltage Detection turned off. Be certain to activate Low Voltage Detection if you install LiPo
batteries in your model.
To turn Low Voltage Detection on (LiPo setting):
1. Make sure the LED on the ESC is on and red.
2. Press and hold the EZ-Set button for ten seconds. The LED will turn off and then
light green. Also, a “rising” musical tone will be emitted from the motor.
3. Low Voltage Detection is now ON.
To turn Low Voltage Detection off (NiMH setting):
1. Make sure the LED on the ESC is on and green.
2. Press and hold the EZ-Set button for ten seconds. The LED will turn off and then
light red. Also, a “falling” musical tone will be emitted from the motor.
3. Low Voltage Detection is now OFF.
Never use LiPo batteries while Low Voltage Detection is turned off.
VXL-3m Setup Programming
(Calibrating your ESC and transmitter)
Read through all of the following programming steps before you begin. If you get lost
during programming or receive unexpected results, simply unplug the battery, wait a few
seconds, plug the battery back in, and start over.
1. Disconnect each of the motor wires between the ESC and the
motor. This is a precaution to prevent runaway when the speed
control is turned on before it is programmed.
2. Connect a fully charged battery pack to the ESC.
3. Turn on the transmitter (with the throttle at neutral).
4. Press and hold the EZ-Set button (A).
The LED will first turn green and then
red. Release the EZ-Set button.
5. When the LED blinks RED ONCE. Pull the
throttle trigger to the full throttle position and
hold it there (B).
6. When the LED blinks RED TWICE. Push
the throttle trigger to the full reverse and hold
it there (C).
7. When the LED starts flashing GREEN,
programming is complete. After the throttle is returned to
neutral, the LED will then shine solid green or red (depending on
the low-voltage detection setting,
see note below)
indicating the
VXL-3m is on and at neutral (D).
VXL-3m Operation
Note:
In steps 1-7 below, Low Voltage Detection is turned off (factory default) and the LED
shines RED. If Low Voltage Detection is on, the LED will shine GREEN instead of RED in steps
1-7 below.
To operate the speed control and test the programming, place the vehicle on a stable block
or stand so all of the driven wheels are off the ground. Reconnect the motor wires. Always
make sure that objects and fingers are clear of the wheels.
1. With the transmitter on, press the EZ-Set button for ½ second, until the LED shines
GREEN, then immediately release the button. This turns on the ESC. If you press
and release too quickly, you may hear the steering servos jump but the LED may
not stay on.
2. Apply forward throttle. The LED will turn off until full throttle power is reached. At
full throttle, the led will shine RED.
3. Move the trigger forward to apply the brakes. Note that braking control is fully
proportional. The LED will turn off until full braking power is reached. At full brakes,
the LED will shine RED.
4. Return the throttle trigger to neutral. The LED will shine RED.
5. Move the throttle trigger forward again to engage reverse (Profile #1). The LED will
turn off. Once full reverse power is reached, the LED will shine RED.
6. To stop, return the throttle trigger to neutral.
7. To turn the ESC off, press the EZ-Set button until the RED LED turns off.
VXL-3m Thermal Shutdown Protection
The VXL-3m is also equipped with thermal shutdown protection. If the operating
temperature exceeds safe limits, the ESC will reduce power to 50% and the LED will flash
red. Additional heating will cause the speed control to shut down completely until it
reaches a safe operating temperature. Traxxas encourages you to stop driving as soon as
the thermal overload protection is activated.
VXL-3m Profile Selection
The speed control is factory set to Profile #1. To change the profile, follow the steps below.
The speed control should be connected to the receiver and battery, and the transmitter
should be adjusted as described previously. The profiles are selected by entering the
programming mode.
ESC Profile Description
Profile #1 (Sport Mode): 100% Forward, 100% Brakes, 100% Reverse
Profile #2 (Race Mode): 100% Forward, 100% Brakes, No Reverse
Profile #3 (Training Mode): 50% Forward, 100% Brakes, 50% Reverse
Selecting Sport Mode (Profile #1)
1. Connect a fully charged battery pack to the
ESC and turn on your transmitter.
2. With the ESC off, press and hold the EZ-Set
button until the light turns solid green,
then solid red and then begins blinking red
(indicating the Profile numbers).
3. When the light blinks red once, release the
EZ-Set button.
4. The light will then turn red and the model is ready to drive.
Selecting Race Mode (Profile #2)
1. Connect a fully charged battery pack to the
ESC and turn on your transmitter.
2. With the ESC off, press and hold the EZ-Set
button until the light turns solid green,
then solid red and then begins blinking red
(indicating the Profile numbers).
3. When the light blinks red twice, release the
EZ-Set button.
4. The light will then turn red and the model is ready to drive.
Selecting Training Mode* (Profile #3)
1. Connect a fully charged battery pack to the
ESC and turn on your transmitter.
2. With the ESC off, press and hold the EZ-Set
button until the light turns solid green,
then solid red and then begins blinking red
(indicating the Profile numbers).
3. When the light blinks red three times, release
the EZ-Set button.
4. The light will then turn red and the model is ready to drive.
Note
: If you missed the mode you wanted, keep the EZ-Set button pressed down and the
blink cycle will repeat until a Mode is selected.
Traxxas High Current Connector
Your VXL-3m is equipped with the Traxxas High-Current Connector. Standard connectors
restrict current flow and are not capable of delivering the power needed to maximize the
output of the VXL-3m. The Traxxas connector’s gold-plated terminals with a large contact
surfaces ensure positive current flow with the least amount of resistance. Secure, long-
lasting, and easy to grip, the Traxxas connector is engineered to extract all the power your
battery has to give.
To run this system, your batteries must be equipped with Traxxas High-Current
Connectors. Batteries can either be purchased new with Traxxas connectors installed or
Traxxas connectors can be purchased to install on battery packs you already own.
VXL-3m Warranty Information
Traxxas warrants your Traxxas electronic component to be free from defects in materials
or workmanship for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of purchase. Before returning
any product for warranty service, please contact our service department
(1-888-TRAXXAS)
*
to discuss the problem you are having with the product. After contacting Traxxas, send the
defective unit along with your proof of purchase indicating the date purchased, your return
address, e-mail, a daytime phone number, and a brief description of the problem to:
Traxxas
1100 Klein Road
Plano, TX 75074
If the component is found to be defective, it will be repaired or replaced at no charge.
The warranty does not cover damage caused by the following:
• Allowing foreign material to enter speed control or get onto PC board.
• Using other than 6 to 12-cells NiMH or 2S to 3S LiPo input voltage.
• Removing the stock battery connectors.
• Using the same gender connectors on the speed control’s motor and battery connections.
• Cross-connection of the battery/motor(s).
• Reverse voltage application.
• Incorrect installation or wiring.
• Components worn by use.
• Short-circuiting the heat sinks.
• Use without the heat sinks.
• Splices to the input wire harness.
• Disassembling the case.
• Excessive force when using the EZ-Set button.
• Tampering with the internal electronics.
• Incorrect wiring of an FET servo.
• Allowing exposed wiring to short-circuit.
• Any damage caused by crash, flooding, or act of God.
In no case shall our liability exceed the product’s original cost.
We reserve the right to modify warranty provisions without notice. All warranty claims will be
handled by Traxxas. Because Traxxas has no control over the use and future installations of the
VXL-3m, no liability may be assumed nor will be accepted for damage resulting from the use
of this product. Every ESC is thoroughly tested and cycled before leaving the Traxxas facility
and is, therefore, considered operational. By the act of operating/connecting speed control,
the user accepts all resulting liability. Traxxas makes no other warranties expressed or implied.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights which vary from state to state. After the expiration
of the standard 30-day warranty, use the Traxxas Lifetime Electronics Warranty to cover service
and repairs. Documents and forms are provided with your VXL-3m.
A
Green then Red
Once Red
B
Twice Red
C
D
Solid
Green to Red to Off
Release
One blink Red
Solid Red
Green to Red to Off
Release
Two blinks Red
Solid Red
Green to Red to Off
Release
Three blinks Red
Solid Red
If you have questions or need technical assistance, call Traxxas at
1-888-TRAXXAS
(1-888-872-9927) (U.S. residents only)
VXL-3m LED codes
Solid Green
: VXL-3m power on light.
Low Voltage Detection is ON (LiPo setting).
Solid Red
: VXL-3m power on light.
Low Voltage Detection is OFF (NiCad/
NiMH setting).
Fast Blinking Red
: Thermal
Shutdown Protection Stage 1. If the
motor has lower than normal power and
the VXL-3m is hot, the VXL-3m has entered
Stage 1 Thermal Shutdown Protection
to guard against overheating caused by
excessive current flow. If the motor has no
power and the VXL-3m is very hot, the VXL-
3m has entered Stage 2 Thermal Shutdown
Protection and has automatically shut
down. Let the VXL-3m cool. Make sure
your model is properly geared for the
conditions.
Slow Blinking Red
(with Low Voltage
Detection on)
: The VXL-3m has
entered Low Voltage Protection. When
the battery voltage begins to reach the
minimum recommended discharge voltage
threshold for LiPo battery packs, the
VXL-3m will limit the power output to 50%
throttle. When the battery voltage attempts
to fall below the minimum threshold,
the VXL-3m will shut down all motor
output. The LED on the speed control will
slowly blink red, indicating a low voltage
shutdown. The VXL-3m will stay in this
mode until a fully charged battery is
connected.
Alternating; Blinks Red then
Green
: If the motor has no power,
the VXL-3m has entered Over Voltage
Protection. If a battery with too high
voltage is used, the VXL-3m will go into
a failsafe mode.
Warning
: If input voltage
exceeds approximately 20 volts, the ESC
may be damaged. Maximum peak input
voltage limits are 12.6V in LiPo Mode and
18V in NiMH Mode.
Blinking Green
: The VXL-3m is
indicating the transmitter Throttle
Trim is incorrectly set. Adjust the Throttle
Trim to the middle “0” setting.
TRAXXAS.com
Traxxas, 1100 Klein Road, Plano, TX 75074, Phone: 972-265-8000, Fax: 972-265-8011, e-mail: [email protected]
*Patent Pending