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It is very important to monitor ESC and motor temperatures when driving the Traxxas X-Maxx!
The first production run of the X-Maxx had issues with the ESC overheating so Traxxas went ahead and sent out a revised bridge wire to prevent the ESC from overheating. Prior to running the X-Maxx the first time I went ahead and installed sensors to monitor battery voltage and ESC and motor temperatures just to be safe. The best way to monitor ESC temperatures is to monitor the internal temperature of the ESC. Unfortunately I do not know of a way to hack the stock Traxxas ESC so monitoring the temperature around the base of the ESC is the best I can do for now. Routing the temperature sensor around the base of the ESC is not the most elegant solution but it is functional. If you choose to monitor the temperature around the base of the ESC, I recommend determining what the initial temperature is before running the X-Maxx and then deciding the temperature you are comfortable with the ESC reaching before you want to stop running it and let it cool down. To keep mine in a somewhat safe zone I set my telemetry to warn me when the outside temperature of the ESC reaches 110 – 130 degrees. I have noticed that the motor and ESC warm up fairly quickly when running the X-Maxx at full throttle on asphalt or grass.
Parts Required
High-Current Connector (Traxxas 3070)
Bridge Wire (Traxxas 3366)
Power Tap Connector (Traxxas 6541)
Telemetry Expander (Traxxas 6550)
Auto-detectable Temperature Sensor (Traxxas 6526)
Traxxas Link Wireless Module (Traxxas 6511)
Install Steps
1. Remove the bridge wire from the ESC
2. Remove the Traxxas iD connector from the red/black pair of wires on the ESC
3. Install the High-Current Connector (Traxxas 3070)
4. Install the Bridge Wire (Traxxas 3366). You will notice the wire does not “snap” in place in the High Current Connector like it will in the iD connector.
5. Install the Power Tap Connector (Traxxas 6541)
6. Remove the Receiver Box Cover (Traxxas 7724)
7. Remove the front cover of Telemetry Expander (Traxxas 6550)
8. Connect the Communication cable to the Telemetry Expander (Traxxas 6550)
9. Connect the other end of the Communication cable to the Sensor Expansion Port on the receiver
10. Disconnect the ESC to motor wires
11. Install the Auto-detectable Temperature Sensor (Traxxas 6526) around the base of the ESC
12. Remove the zip tie in order to move the sensor around the ESC wires so it can make direct contact with the base of the ESC
13. Tighten the sensor around the base of the ESC
14. Place the motor wires back into the clip on the chassis and then connect the motor wires to the ESC
15. Connect the temperature sensor to the telemetry expander.
16. There is a red connector connected to the BATT/CH5 slot on the receiver. The other end of it is connected to the grey connector in the V/T slot on the receiver. Unplug the red connector and connect it to the red connector from the voltage tap. The BATT/CH5 slot will no longer have anything connected to it. Refer to the pictures in the video.
17. Make sure the sensors are detected with the Traxxas Link App and reasonable values appear on the dashboard for them. The Traxxas Link Wireless Module (Traxxas 6511) is required for this.
18. When reassembling the X-Maxx, before installing the receiver box cover, remove the rubber plug on the top of the receiver box cover. Route the Communication Cable and the Power Tap Connector through opening where the rubber plug was and connect them to the receiver again. Reattach the rubber plug carefully to prevent bending the wires in the hole. Use zip ties and/or wire tires to secure all loose wires.
Let me know if you have any questions by replying in the comments section in the video.
Find more information about the offworkhours Traxxas X-Maxx here.