Traxxas VXL 3s Blinking Red: Common Problem

The LED on your Traxxas VXL 3s blinking red may indicate two problems. If the LED is blinking slowly, it means the low voltage protection mode is on, and the LiPo battery voltage is going down the threshold. And when the LED blinks faster, it may indicate that the ESC has activated stage 1 or stage 2 Thermal Shutdown Protection to safeguard the motor.

This is a pretty common scenario on VXL 3s, so you have nothing to worry about when this happens. Connecting a fully charged battery pack to the ESC or disabling the low voltage protection mode may solve the issues.

In this article, I will explain the cause of these issues and their solutions in detail. Let’s get started.

Traxxas VXL 3s Blinking Red: A Quick Glance at the Possible Causes

Before we go into further discussion, check the LED codes of a Traxxas VXL 3s ESC to get a quick idea of the problems.

LED Status	Other Symptoms	Probable Cause
Slowly blinking red	Power output is limited to 50%	Battery voltage is near the minimum discharge level
Slowly blinking red	Motor is shut down	Battery voltage is at the minimum discharge level
Fast blinking red	Power is 50% and ESC is hot	Stage 1 Thermal Shutdown Protection is on
Fast blinking red	Motor is shut down, and ESC is very hot	Stage 2 Thermal Shutdown Protection is on
Blinking red and green	Motor is shut down	Overvoltage protection is on

Why Is Your Traxxas VXL 3s Blinking Red?

You need to combine the LED status and other symptoms to identify why the LED on the ESC blinks red. Here is a detailed breakdown of how to figure out the problem.

Battery Voltage Is Near the Minimum Discharge Level

When you use LiPo batteries in your Traxxas VXL 3s, low voltage protection should be enabled to prevent the battery from going below the minimum discharge level. The LED will start blinking red slowly, and the power output will be limited to 50% when the battery voltage is near the threshold.

By limiting the power output, the ESC will try to prevent discharge. And the LED will slowly blink red to point out the problem.

Battery Voltage Has Reached the Minimum Discharge Level

If the battery discharges to the minimum threshold, the ESC will shut the motor down to prevent any further damage to the battery. In this case, there will be no power, and the LED will blink red slowly.

The blinking will continue until you recharge or replace the battery.

Stage 1: Thermal Shutdown Protection Is On

Excessive current through the ESC may cause it to overheat. In this case, the ESC will limit the power output to 50% and start blinking red fast. So, you should understand that Stage 1 Thermal Shutdown Protection is activated to safeguard the ESC and the motor. If you give it some time to cool down, the LED will turn off, and the vehicle will go into normal mode.

Stage 2: Thermal Shutdown Protection Is On

If you continue to operate the vehicle after Stage 1 and with the Thermal Shutdown Protection on, it will start overheating, and the ESC will go into stage 2 Thermal Shutdown Protection mode. In this situation, the ESC will be extremely hot to touch and shut down the motor completely to avoid further damage.

The LED will blink red fast in this mode until the ESC is cooled down completely. You should not try to operate the vehicle in this mode. Wait until the ESC is cooled down and the LED stops blinking.

Over Voltage Protection Is On

When you connect a fully charged battery with a higher voltage than necessary, the ESC will go into over-voltage protection mode to prevent a power surge in the ESC. In this case, you will see alternating blinks on the LED.

It will first blink red and then green to show that the over-voltage protection mode is on. In this situation, there will be no power output from the motor until you connect a battery with the right voltage level. You shouldn’t try to operate the vehicle in this mode as long as the LED blinks alternate red and green.

What to Do If Traxxas VXL 3s Blinking Red?

Now that you know the causes behind the LED flashing red, solving the issues will be much easier.

You should pay attention to the low voltage protection alert right after the LED starts blinking red. Don’t continue to use the vehicle. Recharge the battery or replace it with a fully charged one to stop the LED from blinking.
When using LiPo batteries, you should always keep the low voltage protection enabled to safeguard the battery. But if you use NiMH or NiCad batteries, disable the low voltage protection mode.
To prevent Thermal Shutdown Protection mode from activating, you should not operate the vehicle at full throttle for a long time. It may overheat the ESC, and the LED will start blinking red. If this happens, turn the vehicle off and let it rest for some time.
Thermal Shutdown Protection mode can also be activated if the vehicle is stuck somewhere and you still push the throttle to the maximum. This will cause a power surge through the ESC and overheat it, causing the LED to blink red. When the vehicle is stuck, release the throttle and get it out manually.
You can also calibrate your Traxxas ESC to reset your thighs. Here’s a video you can follow for calibration.
If you find out your Traxxas VXL-3S Brushless ESC is damaged, you’ve to replace it with a new one. Here’s (our pick) you can consider.

FAQs

Here are answers to a few commonly asked questions about Traxxas VXL 3s blinking red. Checking them can be helpful for you.

What should be the maximum temperature on the ESC?

Ans: The maximum temperature on an ESC should not cross 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, it will shut down automatically after reaching that temperature.

Will VXL 3s blink red when using a NiMH battery?

Ans: No, The ESC won’t blink red if you use a NiMH battery, as the low voltage protection mode will be disabled.

Conclusion

Battery charge going below the safe discharge level is the main reason behind a Traxxas VXL 3s blinking red when the low voltage protection is turned on. Thermal Shutdown Protection mode can also cause the LED to blink red when the ESC is too hot.

To stop the LED from blinking red, you should keep an eye on the low voltage alert or the thermal shutdown alert and act accordingly. Swap the battery pack or give the vehicle some rest to stop the LED from blinking. This will help the ESC and the motor work properly without further damage.

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Chris Goforth

Founder and Author at THERCRIDER

Chris Goforth is the creator and writer of rcguiderlocated in Colton, California. He is a software engineer and tech enthusiast, and He has 10 years experiences in RC industry. He started the blog to share his knowledge and passion for it. His goal is to provide consistent and accurate information for visitors.

Traxxas VXL 3s Blinking Red: Common Problem – Easy Solution