ESC for mod buggy.
 

I am looking at upgrading the ESC and motor in my Buggy. I am fairly new to the brushless world and just figuring them out. My buggy currently just has the RTR system in it. I want something for racing. I am not looking to go with top of the line but want something that will be good. I will be racing on indoor and outdoor tracks. The sidewinder in my SCT is annoying since if you spin and roll backwards the ESC thinks you were in reverse and pauses for the set amount of time before letting you go forward. This is even with reverse in the speed control turned off.

I have been looking at Novak's offerings. I think the kinetic is a little more then I would like to spend. although I do have a old Cyclone I could trade in and get a discount on the Kinetic.

What do some of you guys recommend?

Any of the top brands like Novak, LRP, Tekin, and Castle will give you a good product. Price-wise they all offer very good ESC's in a variety of pricepoints as well. I suggest going with a more expensive ESC with the hotter mod motors, but anything 9.5 and up should be okay with a mid-priced comp ESC. Lot of guys sware by one brand or the other, but they all offer good products. Personally, I use LRP because they've always treated me well and I've never had an issue with their products. But I've never had an issue with Novak either, just haven't used them as much.

P.S.- most race-type EC's are foward/brake only although some are now coming with a programming selectable option for fwd/brk or fwd/brk/rev if you still would like to have that option when not at the track. Track rules require that reverse be disabled during racing and practice.

I run a Tekin R1pro sensorless setup in my b4, if you look around you can find them for around $150.00 new, for the esc/motor combo. Check them out on Tekins website, it's worked great for me, I have a couple of different winds that I use, depending on where I'm running.

For the buggy I think I want to go with a sensored ESC. I have noticed a few things on my two non-sensored ESC that I would not mind eliminating.

I am just wondering if I go with something like the Havoc Pro will I be wanting something more later on. I honestly am not sure how hot of a motor I will end up running. With the new Havoc Pro SC you can find the Havoc Pro for a good price now.

I have been looking at Novak because I have run there ESC for years with no problems. This was also before brushless motors were being used.

Castle I have a Sidewinder SCT in my SCT. It is an okay ESC but for the buggy and more serious racing I think it is lacking.

Tekin I always saw as very pricey but you did not get much for the extra money.

Other companies I do not know much about them.

I was a Novak guy like 15 years ago when i got out of the hobby. I still have some of my old 410-M5's sitting around lol.

I bought a b4.1 brushless rtr to get back into the hobby myself. When i replaced the electronics i went with the Novak Havoc 3S/ballistic 13.5 combo. It is pretty solid with some good power.

I then got another Havoc 3S and a 17.5 to run in stock class SCT. I want to say it held its own, but when racing vs the "boosted escs" they would blow me away. Same torque on the bottom so i was side by side in the technical sections, but when it came to the straights the other 17.5s looked like a dang 10.5! They would pull on me like i was standing still!

After some research and giving one a shot I was sold on a Tekin RS. Huge difference!

Basically what this comes down to is I spent my money on two ESCs that had a name on it i was familiar with, only to buy into something later i saw with some more bang and quality. Kinda wish i had some of my dough back on the two esc's i now have sitting in a box...

If you are in it for the long haul I would just go ahead and spend a few more dollars now on something that you know you are going to like.

As far as a recommendation, mine would be with the RS, they really aren't too bad of a price for what you get.

definitely go sensored... all higher end ESC's are sensored if they are worth a darn. Novak Havoc 3S is for 540 and 550 motors but limited to 27T for brushless 540 which is the size motor you would use in a buggy. The Havoc Pro SC is for 550 motors only which are only allowed in Short Course (SC) trucks, so don't go there. The tekin RS Brushed/brushless is a great ESC for mod racing at about $160. This is one you can program to have reverse or not and it will handle any motor you put in the buggy. The Novak GTB 2 is a great sensored option as well for about $100 and has a 3.5T motor limit which is way too HOT for 2wd buggy, so plenty of room for motor swaps, etc.

Sensorless usualally casuses the hesitatation, the sensor enables the esc the monitor exactlt where the poles on the rotor magnets are. without the sensor it loses has to go thru start up any time it turns backward. Most sensored ESC's should stop that from happening. In offroad I still run an old LRP competition & have no problems. I've never run a sidewinder. I am assuming it's sensorless. I do have 2 Mamba max pros & so far so good.
My next will be a tekin.

Hope this helps

I would mostly agree with what people here are saying, but I would also suggest looking into the Hobbywing Xerun ESC. It runs sensored and sensorless motors, has the optional "boost" and "turbo" functions if you need it, and costs less than other ESCs in its class. Some people will knock it because of its low price, but be sure to look for yourself at some of the feedback on the forums. I have used many types of brushless systems, Novak, Tekin, LRP and Castle just to name a few, and I believe Hobbywing makes one of the best products in the business.

I would also like to add that Hobbywing's sensorless ESCs(EZrun) are very smooth and do not hesitate or cog at all when set up properly.

Looks like I am going to get a Novak Kinetic 2s. It is hard to beat the price of $165 with the Novalink. I do not plan on using any of my old brushed motors so sending in my Cyclone for $50+ discount on the Kinetic is more than worth it.

Tekin RS (Pro) all the way!
In the course of last year, I've tried various LRP and SP speedos, and the Tekin RS. If you are looking for a low(er) priced ESC that is reverse-capable, go for the SP GT 2.0 LPF or the Hobbywing/Xerun/Whatever version, you should not be disappointed. If you want a reversing, small, user-friendly competition ESC, get a Tekin. The LRPs are also nice, but do not reverse. I haven't tried their new PC interface, but I doubt it can keep up with the Tekin Hotwire.
I can't say anything about Novak today, as I stopped using them after frying two brushed speedos without any apparent reason (410 M1C and Rooster)...

I just installed a Kinetic 2S and I can't believe how smooth it feels! I've had GTB's and Havoc Pro's they felt funny to me compared to a brushed speed controllers from the old times. I think your gonna like it.

Reverse is such a complete waste on a ESC.


I can't wait to try the Kinetic. Now I just need to decide if it goes in my B4.1 or the new to me Schumacher SX2.

"The Havoc Pro SC is for 550 motors only which are only allowed in Short Course (SC) trucks, so don't go there."


That's completely false. The Havoc Pro SC is a 540 AND a 550 capable esc. It's the exact same esc as the Kinetic only without the Nova-link capability. If you don't plan to use a computer to dial in your esc, then the Havoc Pro SC esc is a great value. The Havoc Pro SC is going in my Losi 22.

For racing, I totally agree with you. If you are practicing alone without any marshall nearby, reverse can be quite helpful. ;)