WHAT IS A UBEC A UBEC “Universal Battery Elimination Circuit” is an external electronic circuit that taps power from your motors battery pack and regulates the voltage down to the necessary 5 or 6 volts for the receiver and servos. The maximum input voltage will vary according to the UBEC specs. Some can handle higher voltage than others. The preferred output voltage setting is usually user selectable. This power is now available for your receiver and servos – eliminating the need for a “separate” receiver battery pack. It does not replace the speed controller. However, it replaces the BEC “Battery Elimination Circuit” function in the speed controller, with voltage control capabilities and more available current. WHY DO I NEED A UBEC?? A UBEC is required in some applications where higher current is required I will try to explain why, and give some references, most ESC/ BECs are only rated for about 2 amps, on the BEC “Battery, Eliminator, Circuit,” the 2 amps is not a true rating, it’s less than that, If you’re using 3 to 4 servos, Digital servos, standard size servos, a 4 cell lipo or bigger, you need to be using a UBEC Circuit or the BEC in the ESC will get over loaded and cause a Crash, it’s cheap insurance to use a UBEC. EMax - 3 Amp UBEC “Universal Battery Elimination Circuit” This 3 amp UBEC is a 'switch mode' DC regulator that takes the high voltage (up to 28 volts) of the main battery pack and converts it to a consistent and safe 5 or 6 volts (switch selectable) for your receiver and servos. A UBEC is needed if the Electronic Speed Control (ESC) being used for the motor does not have a built in Battery Elimination Circuit (BEC), or if the BEC of the ESC is inadequate to power the number and/or size of servos being used. Using a 3A UBEC is a safer way to go on large models for the following reasons: 1. Most built-in BEC circuits are 1 to 2 amp 'linear mode' circuits which are only useful for 2 or possibly 3 standard size servos when using a 3 cell Lipo battery. If you use more servos, or a higher voltage battery pack, you will almost certainly overload the BEC, causing a model to crash. 2. In an ESC with a built-in BEC, excessive heat generated in the ESC by the current draw of the motor and/or BEC can cause total loss of power to the receiver/servos, resulting in a crashed model. The chance of total loss of power is greatly reduced when a separate receiver battery pack or UBEC is used. If the ESC overheats and shuts down (no power to the motor), you will still have power to the receiver/servos, and will be able to maintain control of the model. The UBEC is connected directly to the main battery pack of an electric model, the same as the ESC. In fact, the power input wires of the UBEC are often spliced into the power input wires of the ESC. The power output wires of the UBEC have a receiver connector on them, and this is usually plugged into any open channel of the receiver or battery port. If the ESC being used has a built in BEC, that BEC must be disabled when using a UBEC. To disable the BEC of an ESC, simply disconnect the red wire on the receiver plug of the ESC. This 3A UBEC includes a ferrite ring that is installed on the receiver wire for reducing interference. Who should use the UBEC? Anyone who orders an Opto Isolated speed control. (A speed control without a built in BEC) Helicopter pilots flying larger electric helicopters. Big helicopters usually use more servos and battery cells than most speed controls BEC can handle. Anyone building an airplane with one of the following conditions: 1. The servo count exceeds the speed controllers rating for number of servos. (Usually more than 3-4 servos) 2. The battery pack needed is 10 cells or more. (Example: A ducted fan Jet ESC can handle up to 10 cells and 4 servos...beyond that...a UBEC is needed) 3. The ESC used is larger than 40Amp (These conditions usually happen with larger airplanes) 3A UBEC Specifications: Input Voltage: 5.5v to 28v Output Voltage: 5v or 6v selectable by jumper pin Continuous Current: 3 amps with 5 amp burst Regulator type: Switching Receiver Connector: Universal 'S' type Interference Reduction: Ferrite Ring How do you install it? The UBEC has a set of input and output leads. The input leads are soldered on the input side of the speed control at the battery connector. The output lead plugs into the receiver where you would normally plug a receiver battery. The last thing to do is to disable the BEC function of your speed control if there is one. This is usually accomplished by pulling the red pin out of the servo lead on the speed control. EMAX ESC EMAX UBEC See Your Local Hobby ShopDistributed in Australia By: Tates Performance Hobbies 135 Shannon Ave Geelong West. VIC 3218 Ph 03 52224201 Fax 03 52231257 E Mail ; sales@tates.com.au Web : www.RCWorld.com.au ABN 80007437523 Importers and Distributors of Quality Radio Control Hobby Products