Castle Firmware 1.04

[Joe Ford]

Hit the nail on the head in both posts, and no, I don't mind in the slightest. Quote me all you want. :) And re the motors you mentioned (I can't name names...no bashing policy here)...the first motor you mentioned "F", a guy came in a couple weeks ago with an SV27, one of their XL ~2900kv motors, and a 4s 8400mah MaxAmps battery (two 2s in series)...packs were puffed after 3rd run. He was so PO'd that he GAVE ME the boat...disgusted with it. Upon testing I found the Gauss rating of the magnets were WAY WAY off, front bearing had failed as well, etc. HUGE amp draw basically and ruined his new 8400 packs (not cheap by any means). I pulled out that motor, tested it, tossed it, and put in Neu 1521/1Y/F with no water cooling. Running on 3s lipo with 10,500mah...took it out last night for the first time. She's a breeze once you get her on plane. Pack was still going strong after 35 min of running...pulled in to check motor temp (timing on low, everything else stock)...motor was at 124F according to my Fluke temp gun. ESC...all I had was an HV240 so it wasn't even warm. Speed was right around stock, but efficiency was through the roof. I only put 3200mah back in...1600 per pack. Great setup for those looking for a little faster than stock speed, but super long runtimes. Going to 4s tonight, then try 6s if temps are ok. :)

[Eodman]

Joe did I read that right - you were running for 35 imnutes? Or did I misinterpet that?

I am having a hard time getting my head wrapped around Lipos so I just asking not being a smart ass!

[Joe Ford]

Yes, 35 minutes approx. From 8pm til the sun went down (around 8:30-8:40pm). It's a 1577kv motor (XL length by other companies' ratings), timing on lowest for highest efficiency possible, stock prop, 10,500mah batteries. Once on plane it doesn't draw much current...and I have what my buddies call an on/off trigger finger. No in between. LOL That was full throttle the whole time...amp draw is the least at full throttle, highest when just starting out.

EDIT: One thing to mention, I did "pull over" and hand off the controls to a 7 yo (GREAT driver BTW) and his father as well so take 5 min off that for switching between 3 operators.

EDIT2: checked my specs on my home comp just now. I was wrong. I put 3200 back into EACH pack, not just one. Still great runtime though. Man I need to start drinking coffee again in the AM!

[Raydee]

This might be a strange one but all my boats but one are running Neu D wind motors with timing on low and run great. My other boat is running a Neu Y wind motor and I can't get the boat to get out of its own way unless I have the timing on race or higher. I ran it on low and med timing and not only was it slow but everything ran hotter (prob because the hull was slow and running really wet) with the higher timing it runs great and even runs cooler. All my controllers are running 1.04 now also.

[greenblast]

joe 35 minutes do you turn that boat around?i think your controller has been top notch. i had run my nimh for way to long many times.i never had any heat problems.the hottest thing was the batteries.i never melted the shrink wrap or melted connecters. i did prop down. i set the boat up the night before then went to poker night (no new esc after that. lol.) i had forgot i changed the prop and moved up the strut. i was running a cut down 450 earlier that day on nimh. with lipos the speed was awesome and the boat was dialed in.i had always had to run the bats at the back because the boat has foam up front .so my lipos were up to center and she ran so light. i should have checked sooner for heat! i was so confident a run up and back on my pond on nimh and my batts probably wouldnt take a charge lol.3 to4min of bashing was always 2500 to 2700 mah how do you check the magnets? i do have a new motor. this one has been so good. bearings are probably @ the end of life so i run a thrust bearing between the motor and coupler. do you do add the extra caps?are they recomended?would the new controller be covered for a year?i am not blaming your controller i am sure my set up was to hot or my motor was bad and i am trying to find out why.

[cacofonix]

hi there

just to share latest tests

so as joe said, i plug esc / receiver / lipo BUT not motor.
hold full throttle : led was still blinking

put 150% on radio = same

so i take esc and downgrade firmware to 1.03 = ok

then and error message saying that there is a usb connection problem with esc.

unplugged every thing / plugged again = same
impossible to change setup

so one more time

i upgrade to 1.04 = no problem, i can change set up ...etc

BUT one thing look strange to me : first time i upgrade all my hydra (3 or 4 weeks ago)
throttle and break curves (in castle setup window) was there (green and red)

but this time = nothing, i have to select curve type i want .....

so anyway , i will recalibrate esc and radio, but IF still can not get full throttle .................??

herve

[Joe Ford]

joe 35 minutes do you turn that boat around?i think your controller has been top notch. i had run my nimh for way to long many times.i never had any heat problems.the hottest thing was the batteries.i never melted the shrink wrap or melted connecters. i did prop down. i set the boat up the night before then went to poker night (no new esc after that. lol.) i had forgot i changed the prop and moved up the strut. i was running a cut down 450 earlier that day on nimh. with lipos the speed was awesome and the boat was dialed in.i had always had to run the bats at the back because the boat has foam up front .so my lipos were up to center and she ran so light. i should have checked sooner for heat! i was so confident a run up and back on my pond on nimh and my batts probably wouldnt take a charge lol.3 to4min of bashing was always 2500 to 2700 mah how do you check the magnets? i do have a new motor. this one has been so good. bearings are probably @ the end of life so i run a thrust bearing between the motor and coupler. do you do add the extra caps?are they recomended?would the new controller be covered for a year?i am not blaming your controller i am sure my set up was to hot or my motor was bad and i am trying to find out why.

Very big lake so easy to keep the boat at full throttle. To test magnets you need a Gauss meter. I only add extra capacitors when I know I'm going to be pushing the batteries. I always run extra caps in my 2s boats because I know to get any kind of speed I need to draw a lot of amperage, and this creates a lot of current ripple (voltage fluctuation). Our ESCs are covered for a year from the date of purchase. If it's a return I think we still only cover for the original year. Not positive. You'd have to check with repairs on that.

[Joe Ford]

hi there

just to share latest tests

so as joe said, i plug esc / receiver / lipo BUT not motor.
hold full throttle : led was still blinking

put 150% on radio = same

so i take esc and downgrade firmware to 1.03 = ok

then and error message saying that there is a usb connection problem with esc.

unplugged every thing / plugged again = same
impossible to change setup

so one more time

i upgrade to 1.04 = no problem, i can change set up ...etc

BUT one thing look strange to me : first time i upgrade all my hydra (3 or 4 weeks ago)
throttle and break curves (in castle setup window) was there (green and red)

but this time = nothing, i have to select curve type i want .....

so anyway , i will recalibrate esc and radio, but IF still can not get full throttle .................??

herve

If you still cannot get it, send it in. Do not want you getting too frustrated. :) If new, give us a call and we will send you a new one. Sorry I could not reply sooner...lots of work before play. :)

[Joe Ford]

This might be a strange one but all my boats but one are running Neu D wind motors with timing on low and run great. My other boat is running a Neu Y wind motor and I can't get the boat to get out of its own way unless I have the timing on race or higher. I ran it on low and med timing and not only was it slow but everything ran hotter (prob because the hull was slow and running really wet) with the higher timing it runs great and even runs cooler. All my controllers are running 1.04 now also.

Definitely from running wet. Go with a little higher pitched prop and low timing and you'll get the same speed and ESC/motor will be cooler. Try it. :)

[cacofonix]

ok joe thanks for your proposal

phone call ... humm i will but too expensive

i will test again tommorrow and i have a second hydra to test.

herve

[Joe Ford]

If new, fax us your name, address, CC #, and expiry date to +001 913 390 6164 and we will get new one out to you. Forgot that you are in France. :) CC # is for collateral only. We do not charge or put money on hold. We give you 30 days to return defective product and then we take your CC information out of the computer when we get it back.

[cacofonix]

ahh , i will bother you again : i don't have fax ...... )

anyway i understand how to proceed. i will make test again tomorrow and let you know

thanks a lot

herve

[greenblast]

Joe, after reading my post i think i should make it clear i am not bashing your product. i have been very happy with it .its a snap with the usb programer. changing from nimh to lipo i should have been more cautious.i just set up the boat with a cheap esc i could not get to arm a long time ago.it now works with lipos so i coated it and watercooled it. i am pulling between 39 and 44 amps on 1 minute runs. i will send this one in for repair when i can .if i dont ever have to stick program again i will be very happy.

[Raydee]

Definitely from running wet. Go with a little higher pitched prop and low timing and you'll get the same speed and ESC/motor will be cooler. Try it. :)

Well I didn't have a 42mm prop with more pitch so I said the heck with it today and strapped on a X645 prop that was detongued and back cut some. All I can really say is the boat came alive, the motor never sounded so good and the boat was incredibly fast and stable. I only ran for a little over a minute just to be safe and everything was still fairy cool. I am going to bump the timing down with the 645 prop on the next run and see what I get. It looks like these Neu motors def like a big prop, I propped up my Sport 40 hydro from a X447 (modified) to a X450 (modified) and again the boat gained a good amount of speed and power with only a slight temp increase. I am very, very happy with my boats right now

[exotica]

...well today it appears that my CC Hydra 120 started to smoke on my test bench!!! I cant explain it and have filled out a form online through the CC website to have it sent back for repair, hopefully under warranty as its only two weeks old and seen the water 3 times!! The esc has never gotten wet, im running 2x 2s 5000mah 7.4 lipos and a Nemisis 9XL, prop is Octura X445. My MM 5.5T in my touring car has been flawless. Keep you posted.