Mike

If you're going to keep the speed controllers then you'll find that the lead to the Rx plug is different from most current types of 2G4 receiver. Fleet used the centre pin (of three) as negative polarity whereas everyone else has it as the positive pin. This is very important – get them the wrong way around and it's grey smoke time. I'm not 100% certain but I don't think that Fleet ESC's had BEC either, so you'll need a separate battery pack (4 x 1.2v cells) for the receiver.

Dave M

Dave/Charles – I thought there could be imcompatibilities in the pluse rate of new TX/RX and old style ESCs. Am I wrong?

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop on 05/06/2018 09:52:41

Hi all, I haven't a fleet ESC any more, but I'm using some re plugged fleet servos with hobbyking, and futuba gear without a problem. Selling them to a collector is a great idea, I've no idea what they are going for these days.

Chas

That being the case then it's reasonable to suppose that the ESC's will also work without any problem.
DM

Mike

Please note that the Fleet ESC(s) are only for brushed motors. They will go 'bang' if connected to a brushless motor, which they can't (!) as brushless motors have three leads and brushed only have two.

I have a 1990's Fleet ESC fitted in my HMS M15 which now uses Spektrum 2.4Ghz DSM2/DSMX transmitter and receiver, and it all works perfectly driving the brushed motors. The 'power' for the brushed motors comes from a 7.4v LiPo pack.

'On demand', a Fleet esc could originally be supplied with a Futaba/Hitec plug, but if intended for a Fleet receiver, they do have the positive and negative wires reversed as Dave M pointed out.

Yes, the Fleet ESC does not have a BEC (Battery Eliminator Circuit), so its internal electronics are powered via the receiver power supply. In practice, this means that the motor drive battery, usually a 6<12v SLA or 7.2v NiMH or 7.4v LiPo, can be left connected to the ESC, because when there is no signal/power from the receiver, it is all 'dead' with the power not going anywhere – or at least that is my experience, if the receiver is turned-off via the switch harness. The other big plus with the Fleet ESC's, is that they have a manual adjustment for the power range and neutral via 'pots' on the board inside the case. This means that you can easily set it all up on the bench, without delving into the electronic adjustments of the transmitter.

At the time – 20 years ago – the Fleet Esc's were the Rolls Royce of controllers and priced c£35, fantastically reliable and very smooth from zero to maximum power.

But I reiterate, that they are of course only any good for brushed motors since you mention keeping these ESC's and are intending to change to brushless motors.

Paul Freshney

(Happily retired ex-MB Editor!)

Hi I use the Fleet transmitters on Futaba receivers and Hitec, the 1.3 ms servo centring makes little difference but the Fleet Tx is so nice to handle. The Fleet esc is a nice one and will handle up to 12 volts at 10 amps.

If you cut off the blue esc connecter to the receiver and buy some standard servo leads and connect red to red black to black etc. You will have a useable speed controller, same goes for the servos. You can then plug the leads into the receiver of your choice.

regards Roy