Castle Ice controllers

[DISAR]

I have lost 5 himodel 200As until now and I will not buy again one. 2-3 of them died with no apparent reason, during programming-after launching-during playing.
No matter water-cooling-proofing etc. they died

[Joe Ford]

One question that should be answered by Mr.Ford is if they have come up to any conclusion why some of the Hydras HV died on plug in or soon after. Is it programing-software? material defect? poor workmaship-assembly? user handling? impedance? high volts? high amps? extra long cables? water submersion?
The thing is that some work OK and some die, there must be a reason for this and a good explanation may attract people back to Hydras HV.

The most common causes can be used also as NOT TO DO items in order to have our ESCs live longer. Mr.Joe Ford pls help us!

Working on it. :)

[jantagg]

Dear Joe,

I sent in for repair my HV240 controller after it smoked after the first run. I admit that the boat was bouncing badly and that most likely caused the current to surge. (6S/2P P-Sport hydro.) Thankfully, you are going to replace the controller at no charge.

I spoke to a Castle tech. guy to day about the problem with the HV controllers (I use the LV240 without any trouble) and he informed me that it is best to use the HV controller only during time of smooth water. That seems a bit impractical so, I hope that Castle will work on fixing the software problem. MY MGM controller doesn't seem to have the problem; but, I don't trust it with a 10S setup.

I would buy American products, even if they cost a bit more, if they were quality reliable products.

Tom T

[Raydee]

I flew my Heli today with the GOV mode setup. The Data logger is probably one of the best things in a ESC I have ever seen. No extra wires for a seperate data logger to deal with, just plug in your castle link and download the info. Make's setup a breeze, no more guessing. I truely can't wait till they are available for the boats. For the price of the ESC, you get a ESC, data logger and a BEC.....win win win!!!!

Sorry :)

[Ub Hauled]

OOOOOOOOOOOO Lordie lord!!!!!

[Joe Ford]

Dear Joe,

I sent in for repair my HV240 controller after it smoked after the first run. I admit that the boat was bouncing badly and that most likely caused the current to surge. (6S/2P P-Sport hydro.) Thankfully, you are going to replace the controller at no charge.

I spoke to a Castle tech. guy to day about the problem with the HV controllers (I use the LV240 without any trouble) and he informed me that it is best to use the HV controller only during time of smooth water. That seems a bit impractical so, I hope that Castle will work on fixing the software problem. MY MGM controller doesn't seem to have the problem; but, I don't trust it with a 10S setup.

I would buy American products, even if they cost a bit more, if they were quality reliable products.

Tom T

Who said that? I think he may be referring to very choppy water where the prop comes out of the water (along with the rest of the boat), the prop unloads, and then hits the water at very high speed....and then there's a huge amp spike. This is hard on a controller, but IMO I don't think that would be too much of an issue...especially since I've done this quite a few times learning to drive these things and haven't had an issue. It's not a software issue he was referring to...it's an amperage issue. I'm the "boat guy" now so just email me. The more I drive these the more info I'll be able to help out with. I'm a sponge when it comes to something I have interest in. I do all the emails at [email protected]...put "OE FORUMS" as the title and I'll get to it asap.

[domwilson]

Hey Joe,

I asked a this last night. I guess it got overlooked with all the questions you were being asked..."For me, Auto lipo as the default would be fine as most people use lipos I would say. Will it allow for manual adjustment of the cutoff voltage? What is the proposed cutoff voltage for auto-lipo?"

[Joe Ford]

Gotcha. I see now that there was one other person that replied. Maybe I'll start a poll. :)

[Joe Ford]

There...poll started. http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ad.php?t=10134

[sailr]

Think about how cool it would be if you could read that data at the site! Castle needs to make a small LCD 'readout box' giving you the basics like peak amps, peak volts, max motor temp, max battery temp, etc. This would be incredibly helpful in choosing the correct prop, etc. without needing to go back home and plug into your computer. Yeah, yeah, yeah, get a laptop.

Joe, you reading this? A chinese manufacturer is already working on their 'at site' readout box!

I flew my Heli today with the GOV mode setup. The Data logger is probably one of the best things in a ESC I have ever seen. No extra wires for a seperate data logger to deal with, just plug in your castle link and download the info. Make's setup a breeze, no more guessing. I truely can't wait till they are available for the boats. For the price of the ESC, you get a ESC, data logger and a BEC.....win win win!!!!

Sorry :)

[sailr]

Isn't this what the extra caps like ETTI sells are supposed to do, to soften the spikes? Maybe this is the answer Joe? Or larger caps? Just wondering.

Who said that? I think he may be referring to very choppy water where the prop comes out of the water (along with the rest of the boat), the prop unloads, and then hits the water at very high speed....and then there's a huge amp spike. This is hard on a controller, but IMO I don't think that would be too much of an issue...especially since I've done this quite a few times learning to drive these things and haven't had an issue. It's not a software issue he was referring to...it's an amperage issue. I'm the "boat guy" now so just email me. The more I drive these the more info I'll be able to help out with. I'm a sponge when it comes to something I have interest in. I do all the emails at [email protected]...put "OE FORUMS" as the title and I'll get to it asap.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Guys, just to put in perspective...my buddy runs a ammo 2300 KV in a BJ with 4S and m440 and never an issue with the UL1 ESC...rated for only 60 amps. HELLO! That is a pretty hot set up...burned a motor but the ESC has not flinched.

So when I see stuff like 8XL 2084 KV and 240 amp ESCs popping then it is the controller. No two ways about it. Either poor parts or very poor programming.

Joe, it seems like CC is reacting like this is the first you have heard of this stuff. I would estimate many, many have been returned just from the guys here and that is just one board...what happened to all that data of fixing them?

Don't mean to down any product but this is far from the first. I would certainly think these are at least hooked up to batteries for a QC check but it really does not look like it.

I congratulate you on your service but there are bigger issues and have been for some time.

[bustitup]

Working on it. :)

Joe
Mine is the hv240 that is on its way to you..please let me know when you receive it

also so you know the whole history.....I got that esc about two weeks ago...it was brand new sealed in the box....I took it out of the box and installed the water lines and 5.5 bullet connectors.... I then hooked it up to castle link and only thing I set from default was the voltage cut off and set it at 19.2 volts......then installed it in the boat to bench test it on 6s1p.....I proceeded to bind it to my tactic 2.4 ghz....I then turned on the transmitter and held the throttle trigger wide open and had my son plug in the battery....we immediately got a unreal huge spark and the esc flashed a red light a few times and made a sequence of beeps and then nothing, dead....no smoke...i took it back to my computer and hooked it to the castle link and it wouldn't recognize the esc...it showed a usb connection but no esc....then removed all the bullets and hose lines and shipped it to you

[DISAR]

I would certainly think these are at least hooked up to batteries for a QC check but it really does not look like it.

The QC check with voltage applied should be always done. Is it?

[Ub Hauled]

Guys, just to put in perspective...my buddy runs a ammo 2300 KV in a BJ with 4S and m440 and never an issue with the UL1 ESC...rated for only 60 amps. HELLO! That is a pretty hot set up...burned a motor but the ESC has not flinched.

Jeff, I too run a big mod prop (43mm) not an issue with the motor or ESC...