NOVAK MONGOOSE CRAWLER - BASIC SETUP GUIDE 1-2009 Setup Manual page 2

1
step –
connect input harness
The Mongoose Crawler has a user-replaceable input harness with the industry-
standard receiver connector on it & works with all major radio brand's new
receivers (Refer to Figure 1 to see how to connect the included user-replaceable input
harness to the MRX-3000 DSM Receiver in the Losi ® Mini Rock Crawler™). However,
some very old receivers must have the wiring sequence in the plastic 3-pin JST
connector housing changed on the receiver end. This is important, as the receiver
& servo electronics may be damaged if the sequence is incorrect.
For example, Airtronics Z receivers have blue plastic cases and new KO cases
have tabs on the input harness openings. Old Sanwa/Airtronics cases are black
in color and old KO cases do not have tab openings.
For instructions on changing the wiring sequence for older receivers, visit the
Novak Web site.
FIGURE 1
harness
User-replaceable input
harness plugged into the
MRX-3000 DSM Receiver
in the Losi ® Mini Rock
Crawler™.
2
step –
ESC MOUNTiNG
Mount the speed control so that the power wires are as far from other
electronics as possible. Make sure that the speed control or the power
wires will not interfere with any moving parts in the vehicle. Select a
location that has good cooling and allows airflow through heat sinks.
If the ESC gets air flow, it will run cooler; and that means it will be more efficient!
FIGURE 2
The Mongoose Crawler Micro Brushless System – 18.5T installed in
the Losi ® Mini Rock Crawler™.
A. ON/OFF
C
Switch B
D
B. Mongoose E
A
Crawler
ESC
C. Input
Harness
D. Receiver
E. Battery
Pack
F. Three-80
Motor
F
1. MOUNT SPEED CONTROL IN VEHICLE
Use the included double-sided tape (do not use glue) to mount the
speed control in the place where the stock ESC was located (For
Losi ® Mini-Rock Crawler™, unscrew one side of the twin vertical plate
chassis and place Mongoose Crawler toward the rear of radio plate,
under the receiver). Avoid contact with side walls or other chassis
components to avoid vibration damage.
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 connect to power wire. Capacitor
can also be tie-wrapped along the power wires--this requires less space
on the chassis and provides good isolation from vibration.
3. INSTALL ON/OFF SWITCH
Use a screw or a piece of 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 in a
crash or during a roll-over.
3
step –
wirinG speed control, motor & battEry
NOvak bRuSHlESS mOtOrS
Amber LED flashes 4 times at start-up when transmitter signal is present
1. MOTOR CAPACITORS NOT NEEDED
Novak brushless motors do not require external motor capacitors.
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.
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 (Novak #5683). Longer Power Capacitor wires will decrease performance.
4. CONNECT ESC'S MOTOR PHASE WIRES TO MOTOR
input
The Mongoose Crawler comes with high quality 2mm low-loss power
connectors on the motor wires. Connect the ESC's power phase wires to
the matching color motor power wires.
a. Connect the BLUE ESC power wire to the BLUE motor wire.
b. Connect the YELLOW ESC power wire to the YELLOW motor wire.
c. Connect the ORANGE ESC power wire to the ORANGE motor wire.
Additional 2mm power connectors available in Novak accessory kits (Novak #5721).
5. 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.
6. CONNECT SPEED CONTROL TO BATTERY PACK
Connect speed control's BLACK and RED power wires to a charged 2-cell or
3-cell Li-Po battery pack, or a 4-9 cell (1.2VDC/cell) NiMH. Connect the RED
to battery pack POSITIVE (+) & the BLACK to battery pack NEGATIVE (-).
Note: The Mongoose Crawler is default programmed with Li-Po Cut-Off Circuitry turned ON in all
Throttle Profiles. See Custom Programming Sheet to change this setting.
CHECK FOR PROPER GEARING
Proper brushless motor gearing is determined by motor & ESC
temperatures during and at the end of the run.
Refer to the 'PROPER GEAR SELECTION' portion of the CUSTOM PROGRAMMING
Sheet (Pg.5) to determine proper gearing & avoid overheating.
Servo plugged into
steering ch. (#1)
ON/OFF
Switch
Black
power wire
(bat.negative)
Power Cap
module
Blue, Yellow, & Orange
motor phase wires
P2
bRuSH-typE mOtOrS
(Fig.3)
Red LED flashes 4x at start-up when ESC is Brush-Mode (trans.on)
1. DISCONNECT BRUSHLESS MOTOR SENSOR HARNESS
The Mongoose Crawler 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. Three
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 factory-installed capacitors. If your motor only has 2
capacitors, you need to install a capacitor between the positive & negative motor tabs.
Solder 0.1µF (50V) capacitors between:
• POSITIVE (+) & NEGATIVE (–) motor tabs.
• POSITIVE (+) motor tab & GROUND tab*.
• NEGATIVE (–) motor tab & GROUND tab*.
Ground
(motor can)
DO NOT USE SCHOTTKY DIODES
3. CONNECT ESC'S BLUE & YELLOW WIRES TO MOTOR
With brush-type motors, the ESC's BLUE power wire goes to the NEGATIVE (–)
Motor Tab & the YELLOW power wire goes to the POSITIVE (+) Motor Tab.
a. Connect the BLUE ESC power wire to the NEGATIVE (–) Motor Tab.
b. Connect the YELLOW ESC power wire to the POSITIVE (+) Motor Tab.
Additional Novak 2mm low-loss power connectors available from www.teamnovak.com
4. CONNECT SPEED CONTROL TO BATTERY PACK
Connect speed control's BLACK and RED power wires to a charged 2-cell or
3-cell Li-Po battery pack, or a 4-9 cell (1.2VDC/cell) NiMH. Connect the RED
to battery pack POSITIVE (+) & the BLACK to battery pack NEGATIVE (-).
Note: The Mongoose Crawler ESC is default programmed with Li-Po Cut-Off Circuitry turned ON in
all Throttle Profiles. See Custom Programming Sheet to change this setting.
Servo plugged into
steering ch. (#1)
User-replaceable
input signal
harness (Ch.2)
power wire
(bat.negative)
Novak Three-80
sensor-based
brushless motor Yellow motor phase wire
to motor positive
step
With ESC connected to
(Fig.4-5)
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.
*If motor has no ground tab
7. PUSH TRANSMITTER THROTTLE TO FULL-BRAKE/REVERSE
(as shown here), solder the
Hold it there until the green status LED blinks green.
capacitors to motor can.
8. RETURN TRANSMITTER THROTTLE TO NEUTRAL
Negative (–) motor tab
Red status LED will turn solid red, indicating that speed control is
at neutral and that proper programming has been completed.
0.1µF Capacitors
NOTE: If transmitter settings are changed, One-Touch Programming must be
Positive (+) motor tab
repeated. If you experience any problems, turn off ESC & repeat One-Touch.
REMEMBER: Whenever the One-Touch set-up is performed, the speed
control will automatically revert back to the factory default settings & the
Throttle Profile will revert to #1 when in Brushless-Mode.
transmitter adjustments
If you have any problems with Step 4, adjust transmitter as follows
and then repeat the 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.
D. Set THROTTLE CHANNEL REV. SWITCH to either 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]
User-replaceable
G. Set MECHANICAL TRIGGER THROW ADJUSTMENT to
input signal
ON/OFF
position with 1/2 throttle and 1/2 brake throw.
harness (Ch.2)
Switch
CONNECTORS & wiring hintS
If you are going to use different power wire connectors, we suggest low-
loss, high power connectors like Dean's Ultra or Novak's connectors (Novak
#5721). To prevent possible cross-connection of motor phase wires, we do
not recommend the use of connectors on motor power wires of sensor-based
brushless motors.
• Use polarized connectors. Reverse voltage will damage ESC & void warranty.
• Use a female connector on battery packs to avoid shorting.
Black
When wiring the vehicle's electronics, shorter length wires & clean/neat
installations will give you better performance, higher efficiency, & less radio
problems (glitching, poor range, etc.). Try your best to keep all power wires
away from signal wires, the receiver, and the antenna.
Power Cap module
Blue motor phase wire
to motor negative
(–)
(+)
380-size (or smaller)
brush-type motor
P3
4
–
one-touch programming
a receiver & a charged battery pack:
(at least)
[throttle channel linearity]