Replacement ESC for Novak Ballistic
 

Hi everyone. I've been perusing the forums to educate myself since I'm an RC noob and I think I've narrowed down my focus enough to ask a question now.

I've inherited an old Team Associated T4.1 from a friend. He upgraded it with a Novak Havoc 2S ESC and Ballistic 10.5T brushless motor. I've had issues with the truck just stopping suddenly with the ESC LEDs flashing as described in the many, many old posts I've read in these forums about problems with Havoc ESCs. Since I can no longer get support or firmware updates from Novak, I was considering replacing the ESC.

My question is are there any current ESC options from other manufacturers that would work with the sensored Ballistic motor? I get the impression that in some or many cases the motors and ESCs are pretty tightly integrated so I might be SOL on finding an ESC from another manufacturer that will work with the Ballistic. The motor appears to function fine so I'd like to avoid replacing it.

generally most sensored motors will work with any sensored ESC. The issue sometimes lies in the ESC not sensing the Novak motors temperature correctly and cause premature shut downs. But that's usually fixed by disabling any motor thermal limits on the ESC. So essentially any sensored ESC rated for 10.5t motors will work just fine and that leaves you with many options.

Some cheaper ones off the top of my head are the Hobbywing Xerun 1/10 scale ESC's. Many to chose from, even the Justock ESC can run that motor though it'd technically be pushing it on an off-road car.

The interface between motor and ESC is standardized. Nearly any ESC sold for a competition RC car will be fine with the Ballistic.

The problem might be with the motor, sensor wire, or maybe even the battery. If you have friends with similar equipment, try swapping each item individually with a working device, starting with the easiest, before you spend money.

Thanks for your responses. I'm currently running a brand new LiPo battery and have tried a few older ones with the same result. I don't have access to another sensored ESC or motor so I can't swap it individual parts, but I do have the stock Reedy 3300KV and SC450-BL ESC that I think my friend pulled out when the truck was brand new. At least they both look like they've never seen dirt. I may mess around with the Reedy this weekend or just go into the hobby shop and see if they can help me troubleshoot the Novak.

I used to race with a Novak 25.5T Ballistic Boss in VTA and it ran great with the HobbyWing Justock ESC.

Although the Justock can't handle a 10.5T motor, I have full confidence their other ESC's will do great, I'd probably go with the XERun:
https://www.hobbywingdirect.com/prod...iant=301141489

Still running
 

I know this is an old thread, but I have the same issue. I have 10.5t and 17.5t Novak Ballistic motors and a Havoc that won't run them. Looking to run them in a Tamiya TA05 and was wondering if your HobbyWing Justock ESC worked out well for you with the Novak motors?

I have heard other claim success with running an older 10.5T motor with the Justock, though I doubt it can support the newer generation short stack 10.5T motors which are comparable in power to older generation 7.5T motors.

I'm running Ballistic motors with Tamiya TBLE-02S, so the Hobbywing esc should do fine for the 17.5. The 10.5 might be pushing it for a 60A esc. At the very least run a fan if you try the 10.5.

Tamiya compatible?
 

Are you running a Novak Ballistic 17.5 on the TBLE-02S? I thought you could only run a 21.5?

The TBLE-02S can run down to a 13.5 brushless without a fan, or a 10.5 with a fan. Tamiya USA has ads with a typo that say 21.5, but if you look on their website it will tell you the proper specs.
https://www.tamiyausa.com/shop/elect...ushed-capable/

And I am running both 17.5's and 13.5's without issues.

On a LiPo?

No, I am running them on 6-cell nimhs, but most guys are running Lipo. You just need a voltage alarm because it doesn't have a Lipo cutoff. Over on the Tamiya Club forum this esc and a 13.5 with 2s Lipo seems to be the most popular combo.

That said, the Hobbywing is a better esc. I am just pointing out that you can run a 60A esc with Novak Ballistic motors.

Thanks for letting me know. Very useful

Just out of interest, what's the consensus on a reasonably priced sensored esc that would run the NOVAK Ballistc 10.5t?