ESC wiring - Positive or Negative!

[raymo24]

Newbie question here...I have an old ('80s?) R/C buggy, looks like a Tamiya Hornet, came from Aristo-Craft labeled as a Kangaroo...anyway - it's pretty shot except for the motor (Mabuchi 540) and radio -Challenger 250(also by Aristo-Craft)and servos. The buggy even has an older ESC - which I plan to use.
My question is this - I have purchased a Kyosho Ultima ST, without a radio, or any servos.
I want to install the radio, servo and ESC from the old buggy in the Kyosho truck. Right now everything is out of the buggy, but the motor is still wired to the ESC. There is no indication on the motor, the ESC, or the wires as to Positive and Negative. The wires coming from the ESC, connected to the motor are Green and Yellow...how can I determine which wire (Green or Yellow) is the positive wire before cutting the wires and hooking them up to the new motor?
If I get this backwards will I fry the motor, or have it running backwards?!
I noticed in this month's issue of RCCA a picture of a Tamiya Blitzer Beetle/Stadium Thunder showing Green & Yellow wires on a speed control (looks like a manual) connected to Black & Red motor wires respectively - Yellow-Red / Green-Black - think this is "standard"?
HELP! Please!
Thanks ~ Raymo24

[J mAn]

yes, the green is neg. and yelow is poos.

[J mAn]

some manuf. use different color wires. The darker colored wire is always negative and the lighter positive.

[raymo24]

Originally posted by J mAn:
some manuf. use different color wires. The darker colored wire is always negative and the lighter positive.
~~~~~~~~
Thanks J Man! - I'll be wiring that baby up tonight! [saw your 1st reply too]
raymo24

[ZenLosi]

Actually, if it is a true Kangaroo, that puppy is far from being a Hornet. Anyway, if it is the stock ESC that came from Aristocraft for the Kangaroo, you'll wanna be careful with it. I must of returned that ESC to Aristocraft like 12 times (it doesn't take abuse well)! Just some FYI...

By the way, if you hook the motor up backwards, it'll just run the opposite direction you expect. However, if you hook the main battery up backwards, you'll probably fry the speed control. Some newer controllers have reverse polarity protection.

-Zen

[This message has been edited by ZenLosi (edited 01-29-2001).]

[raymo24]

Thanks Zen!
Yup - it's a true Kangaroo! Like I said, looks kinda like a Hornet...I'll watch the ESC, though I found out that if it dies out on me now, there is nowhere to send it back to! I received an email from Aristo-Craft recently and they are no longer in the R/C "car" business. When I got this buggy it was probably one of the very first RTRs out there. Came with the Cahllenger 250 radio and all! And, it probably cost me more than the new Kyosho did.
It hung tough for awhile, but the gearbox is a mess, I tried to salvage as much as I could plus it sat in a box in the attic for like 10 years!
Thanks again!

~ Raymo24

[ZenLosi]

I bought a 'Roo from one of those all-purpose hobby catalogs when I was like 12. Like you said, it was one of the first hobby quality RTR's. I had to mow lawns for months to save up the $100+ it was to get one! It was alot of fun, but it broke often...probably because I drove the stuffin' out of it.

Yup, you'll probably be out of luck if you break that speed control. You know that Traxxas XL-1 esc looks an awful lot like it, have you seen it? I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same one...