Ekos on 9.6V 500mah hump pack not getting on plane

[offshorepowerfreak]

Hi, I purchased an EKOS for my 9 year old daughter and did not want to put lipos because of the control factor or lipo concerns. The batteries are Traxxas9.6V hump packs with 5000 mah. I plug in the battery and get one tone on auto calculate mode. The boat is a dog. Does not get on plane and I am wondering if going to bigger props like x442s or if I need to somehow set the esc manually to kick up the power. Next idea is to move it. Any thoughts would be helpful.

[Rumdog]

You are going to need lipos.
Dont be scared. 9.6v is not enough.

[offshorepowerfreak]

thought that may be the answer

This is the first brushless and normally I ran Gas and Nitro. I think I am learning the hard way.

[lenny]

Is it the 35"mono or the 34" cat you have ?

[offshorepowerfreak]

I have the 34inch ekos cat. The batteries are 9.6v 8 cell 5000mah nimh batteries

I have two of the above batteries and noticed a typo in the initial post. When I researched I saw cars and trucks running similar times with 2S lipo or 9.6V nimh so I thought I would go 25-30mph with these. I am still thinking I would not add lipo's and if this is it; sell it. I like the original looking boats that mirror real offshore racing boats. This was my first brushless and so far sitting low in the water and going slow. Not even on plane. I thought maybe more prop as I have more weight? I only have the plastic three blade, 1.4P 32mm props.

Thanks for the help.

Scott

[lenny]

Yes you need lipos and a lot better props so I hear.

[Paul Susbauer]

Scott,
Send me an email to [email protected] and I'll arrange for a set of the 36mm props. They should have been with the boat. Perhaps that will help.

If not, as everyone else is saying, go to LiPO batteries, since they are light weight, and provide plenty of punch.

Also, double check to make sure the drive line angles are the same, set the drives both to about 0 degrees as a starting point.

--Paul Susbauer
Product Manager
Venom Group International

[offshorepowerfreak]

Okay, Tonight I reset the ESC's to run without the low voltage cutoff as Paul from Venom had suggested. It ran fantastic with stock plastic props and my daughter was happy and her dad thought it was great when he took over the throttle. Exciting little boat and I stayed with Nimh batteries. The weight with the 8 cell hump pack is a lot but the boat shot onto plane.

What paul said to me was set the esc's, both get set individually off of the y harness. The Y harness is the line above the battery storage tray that has three wires and one of the lines has the red wire clipped so both esc's do not send power to the receiver. Using the one that is unclipped I plugged it into each esc. Then programmed them individually by turning transmitter on and holding the trigger full throttle, wait until music sounds and still holding the throttle in full position. Next, listened for three short tones to enter the voltage cutoff, once heard within three seconds let go of the throttle. Next waited for a series of beeps again wanting three quick beeps to turn voltage cutoff off. Once heard within three seconds pulled the throttle trigger to full. The esc registers a tone and you are set. This boat is great with non lipo's and stock props. I do not have to worry about burning anything up and I am very happy with the boat purchase.

Venom was very helpful and I compliment them on getting people up and running. Looking forward to a fun year with me running gas boats and her running her fancy race inspired EKOS!!!!