Hi all,
I figured that this forum would be the best place to ask this:

How would I go about being able to control a brushless motor with only its 100% on/off function without using a wireless reciever? Is there a way to connect the ESC directly to a switch that would turn it on and off? Would there be a special type of ESC for this?

I saw in a video of a guy controlling a brushless motor with only a dial, but I can't seem to find that video again. Perhaps one of you knows what device I am talking about?

Thank you so much!

That "dial" could be a simple potentiometer with no need for an electronic controller. Assuming a 1950's technology pot will work on a brushless.

Sounds like you are looking for a servo tester, or a servo programmer, sometimes called a servo driver. They can control an ESC like a RC radio system does.

A few examples, there are others but I can't seem to find them right now:

Servo Programmers


Note it takes more than just a potentiometer to control a brushless motor, as something needs to do the phase/commutation switching required. A brushless ESC or controller performs this function. Also a pot is generally significantly limited in the amount of power it can control.

Brushless motors use ac current. So hooking it up to a battery and a switch is a no go. Unlike a brushed motor can.

In a sense for RC brushless, yes. Certainly not straight DC current.

Thanks! That was exactly what I was looking for!

No problem. Actually I think I put up a limited link. There are more on the same site:

Servo Controllers

How to control the vehicle, if there was no receiver.