# Whoops! Think I just blew up my esc **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Tags:** electronics, building, antweight-150g\ **Created:** [18 May 2024 18:21 UTC](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/t/whoops-think-i-just-blew-up-my-esc/271 "2024-05-18T18:21:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cosmosrobotics](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@Cosmosrobotics](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/u/Cosmosrobotics)\ **Post date:** [18 May 2024 18:21 UTC](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/t/whoops-think-i-just-blew-up-my-esc/271/1 "2024-05-18T18:21:06Z")
I think I just killed my brushless esc 😭 I decided that to ‘test’ my components (I was bored) I would find myself a 5 AA holder and wire it up to my components to see if I could spin the motors. 5 AA 5 x 1.5 V 7.5 V the same ish as a 2s lipo (a bit under full charge). I plugged my stuff in making very sure to not short or mix up polarity and I worked I binded the receiver and I could control the motors. Well I wanted to hook up my brushless stuff aswell so i did the same then when I turned on the switch. My brushless esc made a pop sound and I really quickly turned everything off. I was really hot and I think I killed it. ![1000018929](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/uploads/default/original/2X/0/024cc7e587046756be1c8597ea7b1d824f53a6ed.jpeg) ![1000018928](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/uploads/default/original/2X/9/984ced5ceefac94d01bc37334123b7dbb138f422.jpeg) What’s the chance it still works? I don’t want to try again incase I make it worse will wait for my lipo to arrive and will solder it together properly. Worst case I have to buy a new one ---
**Author:** ![hhills](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/user_avatar/forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/hhills/32/73_2.png) [@hhills](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/u/hhills)\ **Post date:** [18 May 2024 20:20 UTC](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/t/whoops-think-i-just-blew-up-my-esc/271/2 "2024-05-18T20:20:33Z")
Pretty sure that’s going to be dead mate. Looks like there was a short or reversed polarity somewhere. Can we see the rest of the wiring? ---
**Author:** ![Cosmosrobotics](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@Cosmosrobotics](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/u/Cosmosrobotics)\ **Post date:** [18 May 2024 20:56 UTC](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/t/whoops-think-i-just-blew-up-my-esc/271/3 "2024-05-18T20:56:30Z")
The wiring was such a bodge job (no solder just poked through wiring tabs) that I took it apart in the panic. I’ve done a recreation (with no batteries) of kindof what it looked like but it probably won’t help ![1000018931](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/uploads/default/original/2X/8/811532cd296204fbdcd8e2d46d9bdc9fec3b8f3e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![hhills](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/user_avatar/forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/hhills/32/73_2.png) [@hhills](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/u/hhills)\ **Post date:** [19 May 2024 07:28 UTC](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/t/whoops-think-i-just-blew-up-my-esc/271/4 "2024-05-19T07:28:53Z")
Technically that is fine and should work, so there is nothing wrong with the theory. However that damage to the brushless esc still suggests there has been a short somewhere. I would recommend if you want to test things without soldering them you invest in some terminal blocks. Wago connectors are a great, quick and reusable way to do bench testing. ---
**Author:** ![Cosmosrobotics](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@Cosmosrobotics](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/u/Cosmosrobotics)\ **Post date:** [19 May 2024 07:42 UTC](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/t/whoops-think-i-just-blew-up-my-esc/271/5 "2024-05-19T07:42:39Z")
After I think I think that it probably shorted by the wires getting knocked into eachother when I turned on the switch. I’ll just take it on the chin and buy myself a new one ---
**Author:** ![MarkR](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@MarkR](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/u/MarkR)\ **Post date:** [19 May 2024 08:49 UTC](https://forum.bristolbotbuilders.com/t/whoops-think-i-just-blew-up-my-esc/271/6 "2024-05-19T08:49:56Z")
It should not kill it, running on AA cells. AA primary cells generally have quite high internal resistance; they aren’t rated for more than about 1A, they are intended for light loads. Some are better than others, however. But it won’t kill it, in a worst case it should just brownout the receiver or esc, not cause the magic smoke to escape. My best guess is a short (perhaps a single strand) somewhere.