New Seaking ESC from HobbyWing

[SD Eracer]

Absolutely, at least of both HPRs and the C1. They are always there every weekend. This weekend we will be at a freshwater lake which has a speed limit because a sailboating club has a weekend permit for our normal saltwater pond.

By next Sunday I should have sum pictures & video of SSS powered boats doing some insane running.

[dmitry100]

So could just be really good clones/knockoffs of Castles/Neu?

[SD Eracer]

So could just be really good clones/knockoffs of Castles/Neu?

Someone actually thought they were machine wound versions of TP motors. In some cases they use the same end bells and cans.

They are all made in China, they could be coming out of the same factory in different levels of spec and quality.

On a side note, I have never seen a motor go bad yet out in the field that wasn't due to user error, such as a pinched water line for example. Not a Leopard, TP or SSS. I've had instances where motors have been soaked in sea water for over an hour before I could get to it. One of my motors was flooded numerous times with salt water over the years. And still runs like new. The only thing I did was flush and soak them with fresh water, then spray the insides down with CorrosionX, and they were perfect again.

These brushless motors are usually very robust and reliable even at the low end, at least for me they have rarely been the weak link to any of my drive-trains.

[covedweller]

I just got one of these new v4 esc's in the mail. I will be installing it in a PX300 tunnel because of its low profile. I run the servo and esc exposed in the stern because they are waterproof, and I don't care for cable steering, too much room for slack. I did have to order the LCD program box because the LED card will not handle all the programmable functions on the new esc. I will post results after first test.

[Mxkid261]

I just got one of these new v4 esc's in the mail. I will be installing it in a PX300 tunnel because of its low profile. I run the servo and esc exposed in the stern because they are waterproof, and I don't care for cable steering, too much room for slack. I did have to order the LCD program box because the LED card will not handle all the programmable functions on the new esc. I will post results after first test.

V4 esc? Do you mean the 160 pro?

[covedweller]

Yes, MX, I contacted hobbywing and they refer to the new 160 pro as a V4 model.

[Mxkid261]

Cool let us know how you like it

[T.S.Davis]

Still haven't put connectors on them. Been too busy to mess with them.

I wanted to try them on a P limited setup for a short burst once you're at full chap so to speak. The more I think on it though the less optimistic I am that this will be practical. I could totally see me not being sure which position it's in and my dumb a$$ plowing through a turn at high timing. Then trying to climb out at the highest amperage the boat sees and............bzztbzztbzzzzt. We all know the sweet sweet sound of a dropped phase off the motor. I struggled with a third channel on a scale canard wing. I could never be sure where I left it last.

Has anyone messed with setting one of these up? You're supposed to be able to control the timing with the third channel. I can't figure out how to do that with my Spektrum. The instructions on the radio are not very clear and Spektrum tech has opted to ignore my request for guidance. I need one of the thumb buttons to basically trigger an on/neutral/off. They're three position buttons so push left for off, push right for on kind of thing would be perfect. Could be I'm a dim bulb but I just can't cypher it.

[dmitry100]

Yea i dunno about the whole 3rd channel timing thing... having auto timing probably would make it obsolete.

Comes off a little ghetto to say the least, or "Over engineered". Would of been better if they focused on improving ESC performance (better cooling and what not).

[covedweller]

I just got one of these new v4 esc's in the mail. I will be installing it in a PX300 tunnel because of its low profile. I run the servo and esc exposed in the stern because they are waterproof, and I don't care for cable steering, too much room for slack. I did have to order the LCD program box because the LED card will not handle all the programmable functions on the new esc. I will post results after first test.

After unboxing, I see that the reduction in overall height is made up for in a longer wider footprint. Really long! I am in the process of reworking the rear bulkhead on the tunnel I plan to install it on. There is no longer an on off switch, that is the turbo channel now. Also gone are the inline capacitors, there are 3 large ones on the power in end of the esc. I will post more with progress.

[T.S.Davis]

Well, I tracked down the program box. When you plug it in it goes into a mode where it is "connecting to ESC" and there it stays. Forever.

[dmitry100]

I think a longer/wider design is better as it has more surface area for additional cooling. Anyone experiment with this yet? A tad bit of Artic Silve adhesive (or just mix appropriate amounts of epoxy and aluminum oxide), tubing, and you're good to go...

TsDavis, have you tried using any sort of button combinations? Try pressing each button one at a time, all of them at the same time and so on... see if that changes anything. I've had a program box that only worked after pressing 2 particular buttons at the same time-- its weird but thats how they sometimes make them... not very user friendly at all at times.

[TRUCKPULL]

Well, I tracked down the program box. When you plug it in it goes into a mode where it is "connecting to ESC" and there it stays. Forever.

From OSE website- Notes: This will not work with the standard Seaking program box. Requires pn# ker-100pro Multifunction LCD Professional Program Box.

Larry

[T.S.Davis]

This is what Hobbywing shows on their website and is the one I bought.

http://www.hobbywing.com/goods.php?id=345&filter_attr=564

[T.S.Davis]

I just downloaded the software that goes with it. Pretty slick. Reminds me of the old Castle link stuff. Only downside is that there are predetermined timing setting. Not a giant deal though. I wanted to see if my programmer had the latest firmware. It does. I don't have a speedo in hand to try it on.

This thing will also check your cell voltage. You can plug your taps in just like an EOS unit. Doesn't give percentage but does give you per cell voltage and such. That's kinda cool too.

I'll screw with it some more this evening.

I should have mentioned. I did run one this pasted Saturday. Timing was a tick high for a limited boat at 15 degrees but I though the throttle was nice and smooth. I was running in 33 degree water so no real data of value.