Gentlemen, hold the front page!
The comment I made earlier regarding the inverse diodes dodge... please disregard.
While searching the shed for the aforementioned ESC, it suddenly occurred to me that what I'd suggested is nothing short of bad advice. For, in this instance, two diodes in inverse parallel would put a dead short across the output of the ESC - no matter which direction you wanted the motor to turn. So rather than enjoy the benefit of added protection, it would mean just the opposite would happen.
Sincerest apologies for stating what could otherwise be an expensive cock-up.
The advice that Terry has given in the above post is sound. And in fact, further to Bob F's initial post, after searching box after box, I eventually found not just the ESC, but the paperwork also. And guess what?... Being that it's a reversible job the bumph specifically states that you should not install a diode across the motor(s).
Terry's advice concerning the non-polarised caps is also sound. But am I thinking along the wrong lines, or did I really read something, somewhere, about electrolytic (polarised) caps involved with ESCs and motors? Can anyone throw some light on that?
Bob:
You ask heap good question. For which there are two answers...
1) With the exception of one store-bought ESC in particular, I normally use homemade speed controllers. The one stashed in the shed is an 80-amp LRP job. Used just once, then returned to its box. The only store-bought ESC that I do like is the one purchased from Dawnmist.org.
2) Moving to a new QTH shortly. All my shed'dy stuff is already boxed - hence no boat-building fun for a while, and nowhere for the spare ESC to go.
Apologies again for the previous misleading comment.