35A AM32 Drive ESC - Brushless And Brushed!

Perfect Switch-Hitter ESC

Introducing the Just 'Cuz 35A ESC, a powerhouse of performance and versatility. Running on the cutting-edge AM32 firmware, this electronic speed controller redefines the game with its incredible responsiveness and low-end torque, tailored for sensorless brushless motors. 

And here's the twist – the Just 'Cuz 35A isn't just for brushless! Unleash unparalleled flexibility by flashing an alternative brushed firmware file, transforming it into a brushed motor controller in mere minutes. The best part? This change is entirely reversible, offering a level of adaptability you won't find with any other ESC firmware for small bots.

But that's not all! The Just 'Cuz 35A takes customization to the next level. With a simple USB programmer or an old Arduino, you can fine-tune the settings for different applications, making it perfect for brushed or brushless drive, some smaller brushless motor weapons, and other unique situations. Programming is not required, this product will work out of the box for brushless motors! 

The default setting is Brushless Drive, see the "Settings" tab for more info and how to switch to brushed mode.  To change settings or switch to Brushed mode you will need a USB Programmer.

Specs

Key Features:

- Continuous Current (Brushless Mode): 35A (Perfect for our 2306.5 motors!)
- Continuous Current (Brushed Mode): 16A (Suitable for any single DartBox motor)
- Voltage Range: 3-6S (9 - 26V)
- Compact Size: 32 x 16 x 5mm
- Weight: 4.37g without wires
Default Configuration:
- Brushless Drive (bidirectional mode, braking enabled)

However, it's crucial to note that this ESC does not come with an onboard BEC and cannot power a receiver. Don't fret—pair it seamlessly with our All-In-One PD Board for your drive and weapon needs.

Elevate your robotics experience with the Just 'Cuz 35A ESC—a compact marvel that's big on performance, flexibility, and ease of use.

Settings

Changing Settings

In order to change firmware settings, or switch between brushed and brushless operation, you need a USB Programmer, or can make one using an Arduino. Any programmer that works for BlHeli_32 will work with AM32 as well. See this video for details on making an arduino programmer. You can also buy the Pearl Grey Programmer. This is confirmed to work with AM32 in addition to BlHeli_32. Note that to program the ESCs or flash them you must connect the ESC to a battery for power. 
The screenshot below shows the settings page that you will see if you want to alter the settings. The firmware hex file for the brushless firmware on the 35A ESC is AM32_FLYCOLOR_F051_1.99.hex. 
An explanation of what these settings do can be found here. Note that the motor poles and KV values do not need to match your motor for this ESC to function, the defaults will work fine for most motors. Furthermore, I strongly recommend watching this video before messing with these settings. 

If you experience issues where your motor is not reaching full speed or spinning up correctly, especially for inrunners (which have a lot fewer poles) and higher KV motors, you will just need to change the pole and KV settings to more closely match your motor. 

Brushed Motor Usage

To switch to brushed firmware, download (and rename to avoid confusion 0 it has the same default name as the brushless hex file) this brushed firmware file. Then click on the flash tab, load the file, and then flash it. After maybe 30-60 seconds, this will be completed, and you can adjust a few settings as needed. Note that in brushed mode, most of these settings will not do anything, but you will be able to control motor braking. To wire the ESC to a brushed motor, one of the two motor leads should connect to the center pad, and the second lead to either the left or right pad (these will be mirroring each other). If you want to switch back to brushless operation, simply flash the brushless hex file again and you will be good to go! 

WARNING: USING THE WRONG FIRMWARE FOR THE WRONG TYPE OF MOTOR MAY CAUSE PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR, ESC OR BOTH! Make sure to disconnect a motor before changing which firmware you are using. 

About Current Ratings

Current ratings on ESCs and motors can be pretty misleading, as has been discussed in our past videos.  In general an ESC should be chosen that has about 25% higher current rating than your motor or more. The reason the brushed current rating is so much lower is that in brushless operation there are three sets of MOSFETs in use where for brushed there are only two, and brushless motors also only use 2 of the 3 FETs at any given time, so the brushed current rating is 2/3 * 2/3 * brushless ratings.   

Default Firmware Config - Brushless