Turnigy Aquastar ESC 120A User manual

Warnings
· Strongly recommend to calibrate the throttle range of transmitter when you first use the controller or
when using a new/different transmitter or receiver.
·When connecting the ESC to battery pack, please ensure the polarity is correct. Incorrect polarity may cause
permanent damage to the ESC and such damage is not covered by manufacturer’s WARRANTY.
·When you use the ESC, turn on the transmitter BEFORE powering on the receiver.
·When you finish the running, power off the receiver BEFORE turning off the transmitter.
·Changing the PWM may cause the motor to heat ahead of time.
·Never disconnect the battery pack while the motor is running, as this could cause damage to the speed
controller and/or motor.
·Connectors with low conductivity may cause erratic motor rotations or other unexpected
movements.
·If you do not use the BEC function of the ESC and are using a separate receiver pack or UBEC to power
receiver and servos instead, please disconnect the red wire from the ESC’s receiver lead.
·The controller will automatically power off the motor if the battery voltage drops below the programmed
cut-off voltage (factory preset at ‘6.0V’).
Thanks for purchasing Turnigy® AQUASTAR ESC speed controllers. Turnigy®AQUASTAR ESC are
specifically developed to supply stable and strong power for r/c model boats beyond you expected.
Please read the instruction booklet carefully before use.

ⅠESC Features
·Microprocessor controlled, extremely low resistance
·Water-proof PCB, and aluminum water-cool thermal dissipation
·Full protection soft, include signal lose protection, temperature protection, motor block-up protection.
·Fully program by software on computer, or by Turnigy®LCD program box, or by TX stick
·The firmware of the ESC is upgradeable from Internet as the new version of the software becomes
available.
·Compatible to use with both general board transmitters and pistol transmitters with programmable brake
setting for any competitions.
ПSpecifications
ШUsing the ESC
- Please solder good quality golden bullet connectors to the wires of brushless motor and the three motor
wires of ESC. Connect the ESC ‘s three motor wires to the brushless motor, swapping any of the two
motor wires connection can change the motor’s rotating direction.
- The quality and discharging capability of battery pack will influence the efficiency and rpm of motor.
Please solder high conductive T connectors to the battery’s (+) and (-)wires.
- Plug the receiver lead (small color wires )of ESC to the receiver (Usually Ch 2).
Models90A 120A
Voltage 2~6 cells Lithium-Polymer OR
6~20cells NiCad/NiMH
2~6 cells Lithium-Polymer OR
6~20cells NiCad/NiMH
Current/max 90amp continuous/110 amp surge120amp continuous/150amp surge
BEC5V, 3.5A switching BEC, max 4A 5V, 3.5A switching BEC, max 4A
Dimensions
90mmx36mmx20mm
90mmx36mmx20mm
97g (excl. cables)100g (excl. cables)
Weight
Connect ESC to motor, receiver and battery
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 2 page / 12 pages

A. Board Style transmitter calibration
- Correctly connect the ESC with brushless motor, plug the receiver lead of ESC into receiver ( usually into
Channel 2);
- Put the throttle to the forward top position, turn on the transmitter;
- Power on the receiver, ESC and motor. There are 3 beeps emitted from the motor, which indicates all
electronics are correctly power on for the setting.
- Then there are 4 long beeps emitted from the motor ♪♪♪♪.
- During or after the 4 long beeps , move the throttle stick to the ‘0’ position you want to set, at this point, you
have calibrated the throttle range of your transmitter;
- Waiting one second, there will be two beeps emitted from the motor
- Calibration of throttle is completed.
Note:1. Recommend the ‘0’ position should notbeset higher beyond the 50%.
2. Motor is needed to install for acoustic guide. Meanwhile, please keep the propeller away from human beings or any
objects.
B. Pistol style transmitter calibration
- Correctly connect the ESC with brushless motor, plug the receiver lead of ESC into receiver ( usually into
Channel 2);
- Put the throttle to the forward full position, turn on the transmitter;
- Power on the ESC, there are 3 beeps emitted from the motor, which indicates all electronics are correctly
power on for the setting.
- Then there are 4 long beeps emitted from the motor ♪♪♪♪.
- During or after the 4 long beeps , move the throttle to the neutral position. Two beeps emitting out
indicates calibrating is completed.
- Following two beeps are powering beeps, it is time to go now!
The Turnigy®Aquastar ESC programmable settings:
Note:1. Parameters with asterisk * behind is the default settings of ESC. LVC Is preset In ‘6.0V’ In factory.
2. The throttle range can be read on PC after installing ‘Turnigy®Aquastar ESC’ soft ware. It is Auto changed
after calibrating the throttle range of transmitters.
3. When use Lipo-Polymer battery pack, please carefully set the LVC to efficiently protect the battery against
discharging.
♪
♪
LVCAuto*5.0V 6.0V
(2 Lipo)
7.2V8.4V9.0V
(3 Lipo)
12.0V
(4 Lipo)
15.0V
(5 Lipo)
18.0V
(6 Lipo)
Brake Type Close * Soft brake
Timing Advance LowMiddle High Auto *
Cutoff Type Hard cutoff * Soft cutoff
Startup Type Soft start Standard * Fast start
PWM Rate 8KHz * 12KHz16KHz
Throttle Range 640 uS
Program the ESC
Calibrate the throttle range of transmitter (Recommend)
♪
♪
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 3 page / 12 pages

A. Program by TX stick
Turnigy®ESC support to fully program byTX stick, please refer to the setting diagramin the last page.
B. Program by Turnigy®LCD Program box
Program box is auto identify the ESC model and clearly display the corresponding programmable parameters in LCD. It is
pocket size and conveniently take to use at fields. Please read the instructions of Program box to correctly set the Turnigy®
ESC.
C. Program by software ‘Turnigy®Aquastar ESC’ on PC.
The set-up software of ‘Turnigy®Program’ is recorded in a CD and always attached with each Turnigy®ESC. You must
install the software on PC. Please refer to the Ⅳsections.
-After changing the ESC’s parameters, It Is suggested to firstly have a test on the testbed before assembling
It to hull so that to choose appropriate settings for the matched power configuration. Please always keep the prop far
away from human and objects In testing.
- Reconnect the ESC to battery, the green LED on ESC will light for a second. And two beeps emitting out
from motor while Indicates to successfully detect the signal. Then It Is time to go now.
NOTE: If the LVC of ESC Is set In “Auto’, after the two beeps there will follow beeps to detect the Lipo
cells while the red LED flashing.
It Is ready to go now!
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 4 page / 12 pages

Ⅳ
Installing Software to PC
·
A. Personal Computer with WINDOWS 2000 or WINDOWS XP operation system
B. CD-ROM drive (or access to Internet)
C. USB port available
D. 4 Megabytes hard disk space
E. Computer screen resolution with 800×600, 1024×768 (Recommend), 1280×1024.
·
The hardware include a Turnigy
®
boat ESC, USB Linker, Set-up CD.
STEPS to install the soft:
- Insert the CD in the CD driver of the computer.
- Double click the ‘Turnigy Aquastar ESC setup. exe’.
System Requirement
Set-up CD
System requirement
Hardware
ESC 90A/120A USB Linker
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 5 page / 12 pages

- After click the ‘finish’ button , there will be an icon
‘Turnigy Aquastar ESC’ on computer desktop.
(Meanwhile the soft will be automatically saved into ‘Start’
-Installation complete.
‘Programs’.)
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 6 page / 12 pages

Please refer to the label of USB Linker and correctly connect the receiver lead of ESC to USB Linker.
Connect the USB Linker to one of the available USB ports of PC. A little red LED on USB Linker will
light up. The green LED on the controller would light up while connecting is successful other wise not.
When successfully connect to PC, the computer will automatically recognize a ‘com port’ as the name
“CP210×USB to UART Bridge Controller” , please find the correct ‘com port’ number on you PC in this
way.
The com port is generally ‘com 3’ or ‘com 4,’ but there are different ‘com port’ on different computers. You can find
the accurate com port on your computer in this way: Click the right button of mouse the icon ‘My Computer’→Manage
→Device Manager →Ports(Com & LPT). The‘com port’after “CP210×USB to UART Bridge
Controller” is the right one.
Note:If you cannot find such kind of ‘com port’ in the ‘Device Manager’, please check whether the connection of ESC to
USB Linker is correct and ensure they are tightly connected without any loose. If they are both right, the problem is probably
that the software has not been successfully installed on your PC. Please Install the soft again.
Program the ESC
NOTE: Never plug the USB Linker to USB port of PC BEFORE installation of software is successfully completed.
If you installed the Turnigy software
correctly, the item will be displayed in
Device Manager
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 7 page / 12 pages

Open the software by double left clicking the icon ‘Turnigy Aquastar ESC’ on desktop.
Select the com port by clicking the menu of ‘Port Num’ and input the right one.
Click ‘Open’, then click ‘Connect’. The current settings of ESC will be displayed.
Single left click the down arrow to choose the parameter you want to set.
Click the ‘Update’ button to save the modification.
- Click ‘Start’ to get into ‘Programs’
- Choose and click ‘Turnigy ESC for Boat’, and click ‘Turnigy Aquastar ESC Upgrade’
- Input the correct ‘Com port’, click ‘Open’ button.
- Single left click ‘Get ESC’s Ver’ to read out the version number of the ESC.
NOTE
:
Please set the parameters always after current parameters of ESC is displayed in window and according to the
instructing turn, otherwise programming of ESC will be defeated and ESC will still keep theparameters set in last time.
Upgrade the firmware of ESC
OR open the software in ‘Start’‘Programs’‘Turnigy Aquastar ESC’
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 8 page / 12 pages

- Single left click ‘Open’ to open the latest upgradeable firmware, which can be downloaded from website
once a new one is released.
- Click ‘Start’ to upgrade the firmware of ESC to the latest, it will be completed in 3-5 seconds.
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 9 page / 12 pages

Turnigy®Aquastar ESC settings’ features
· Low Cut-off Voltage
NOTE: Low Cut-off Voltage can protect the main battery from being discharged too low, and provide the normal
operating voltage to receiver and servos.
· Brake Type
· Timing Advance
Option 1:Brake disabled
(default)
Brake disabledis mainlyused for helicopters.
Option 2:Soft brake Soft brake provides 50% of full braking power.
Option 3:Hard brake
Hard brake is 70% braking power. Direct drive applications where more braking
power is required. Hard brake should only be usedbelow12V.
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Option 1: Low advance timing
0°~15°
Recommended for more lower pole count motors. Gives more power and
slightly less efficient.
Option 2: middle advance timing
5 °~ 20 °
Recommended for most motors .Gives a good balance of power and efficiency.
Option 3: High advance timing
15° ~ 30 °
Recommended for most of higher pole count motors
Option4:Auto(default) Recommended for most of all brushless motors.
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 10 page / 12 pages

· Cutoff Type
NOTE: Soft cutoff is always automatically active in Governor Mode.
· Start Type
· PWM Switching Rate
Note: we strongly recommend only the experienced modeler could change this setting.
Option 1 :Hard cutoff (default)
When battery voltage reaches cut-off voltage the motor will shutdown
immediately. Motor can be restarted by closing the throttle to the lowest position
and then move the throttle as normal
Option 2: Soft cutoff
When battery voltage reaches cut-off voltage, the ESC will slowly reduce motor
power to zero, you will notice a decrease in power and it is time to land, the
throttle maintains its full linear response.
Option 1: soft start Verysoft and smoothlystart the motor, it will takes more time
Option 2:standard start (default)
Start the motor at normal speed
Option 3: Fast start Fast star up,recommended to use it for racing.
Option 1:8KHz(default) Recommended for most brushless motors
Option 2: 12KHz Recommended for low inductance motors
Option 3: 16KHz Recommended for very lowinductance motors
TURNIGY AQUASTAR ESC MANUALS 11 page / 12 pages

Correctly connect
the ESC with brushless motor and receiver. Move the throttle to the highest position, turn on the transmitter; power on the receiver, ESC and motor. There are three
beeps emitted from the motor, which indicates the electronics are correctly power on
for the setting.
There are 4
beeps emitted from the motor
7 beeps indicate you already have entered the programmable
setting
The 1st
beep: Low Cutoff Voltage
The 2nd beep: None
The 3rd
beep: Brake Type
The 4th
beep: Timing Advance
The 5th
beep: Cutoff Type
The 6th
beep: Start Type
The 8th
beep: PWM Switching Rate
reserve
The 10th
beep: EXIT
The 7th
beep: None
Move the throttle to the lowest position
One beep indicates you have entered the Low Cutoff Voltage Setting. 1st beep:Auto
(default) 2nd beep:5.0v
3rd beep:6.0v
4th beep:7.2v
5th beep:8.4v
6th beep:9.0v
7th beep:12.0v
8th beep:15.0v 9th beep: 18.0V
Three beeps indicates you have entered the Brake Type Setting. 1st beep:
Close (default) 2nd beep:
Soft Brake
Four beeps indicates you have entered the Timing Advance Setting. 1st beep:Low
2ndbeep:Middle
3rd beep:High
4th beep:
Auto(default)
Five beeps indicates you have entered the Cutoff Type
Setting.
1st beep:
Hard Cutoff (default) 2nd beep:
Soft Cutoff
Six beeps indicates you have entered the Soft Start
Setting.
1st beep:
Soft Start
2nd beep:
Standard Start (default) 3rd beep:
Fast Start
Eight beeps indicates you have entered the PWM Switching Rate Setting.
1st beep:
8K (default)
2nd beep:12K
3rd beep:16K
Move the throttle to the highest position
Three beeps emitted from motor indicated your setting is successful
GO
Figure. 1 : Operational Flowchart for Programming the ESC with Throttle
Main Loop