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It's a long story, but the jist of it is that I think my nearly new AQ 1800kv motor went south and took out my esc and receiver with it.
I took out my new VS-1 build today for it's first run. The setup was an Aquacraft 1800kv (SVr motor), a Turnigy Plush 80A ESC (I know, I know, but it's all I had on hand), atop a REK lower turning an Aquacraft 40x52/3 prop. The batteries were a pair of 2S Turnigy Nanotech Lipos (wired in series to 4S - 14.8v).
Now this drivetrain has worked together just fine in the past, in my TS2. I got about 3 runs with it. That lowly ESC has actually worked for me in different combinations for years.
I sent the boat out and it ran great. That hull ran better on it's first run than my TS2 ever did on it's best day. No issues with water flow, good speed, not lightning fast mind you, but I'd say high 30's to low 40's speed.
I brought her in after about 2 minutes to check the temps, everything was pretty cool (mid 80s motor, batts and ESC) because of the modest setup.
I sent her back out for a bit more, but after about 50 feet, it died. Then I heard it re-arm and it would only limp - the motor turned smoothly but at an absolute crawl. It kept dying and re-arming, but I did manage to get her into shore - the steering was acting wonky too (sticking full right, then working intermittently, then locking left again).
I thought maybe the batteries were low and this was the ESC's weird way of telling me. I tried a couple new packs and the motor only cogged and stuttered while I had her on shore so I unplugged everything and headed home.
I thought maybe water got into the ESC or something, so I pulled it out and checked it - bone dry. The receiver is way up in the radio box at the front of the hull and was dry too.
On the bench, I plugged the 2 batteries back in, the esc armed, but the motor only cogged and stuttered, then FLASH...from the receiver! Then lots of magic smoke from the ESC at the other end of the boat. Yep, they're both fried now.
While trying to diagnose, I pulled out a little 55A ESC and a 3S pack. I verified that the receiver was done, didn't even try wiring up the smokey ESC, but I found that the nearly new motor would only cog and stutter on 3S (just like it did on 4S before the light and smoke show. Every other motor I hooked up to that combination (Ammo 2300, Turnigy 1800, etc) all spun up nice and freely.
I took the motor off the lower unit too - no binding, but it still coughs and sputters when (briefly) fed 11.1 volts. I don't dare plug it into my UL-1 or Motley Crew ESC for fear that 14.8 volts being applied to it will fry another ESC (and receiver).
Is this possible? Is the motor the culprit? It never got wet, but the shrinkwrap around where the wires exit the house looked really dodgy. Could the wires have shorted? I wish I could find the @$#! receipt because I just bought it in July and I still have the original box. Grrr.
I took out my new VS-1 build today for it's first run. The setup was an Aquacraft 1800kv (SVr motor), a Turnigy Plush 80A ESC (I know, I know, but it's all I had on hand), atop a REK lower turning an Aquacraft 40x52/3 prop. The batteries were a pair of 2S Turnigy Nanotech Lipos (wired in series to 4S - 14.8v).
Now this drivetrain has worked together just fine in the past, in my TS2. I got about 3 runs with it. That lowly ESC has actually worked for me in different combinations for years.
I sent the boat out and it ran great. That hull ran better on it's first run than my TS2 ever did on it's best day. No issues with water flow, good speed, not lightning fast mind you, but I'd say high 30's to low 40's speed.
I brought her in after about 2 minutes to check the temps, everything was pretty cool (mid 80s motor, batts and ESC) because of the modest setup.
I sent her back out for a bit more, but after about 50 feet, it died. Then I heard it re-arm and it would only limp - the motor turned smoothly but at an absolute crawl. It kept dying and re-arming, but I did manage to get her into shore - the steering was acting wonky too (sticking full right, then working intermittently, then locking left again).
I thought maybe the batteries were low and this was the ESC's weird way of telling me. I tried a couple new packs and the motor only cogged and stuttered while I had her on shore so I unplugged everything and headed home.
I thought maybe water got into the ESC or something, so I pulled it out and checked it - bone dry. The receiver is way up in the radio box at the front of the hull and was dry too.
On the bench, I plugged the 2 batteries back in, the esc armed, but the motor only cogged and stuttered, then FLASH...from the receiver! Then lots of magic smoke from the ESC at the other end of the boat. Yep, they're both fried now.
While trying to diagnose, I pulled out a little 55A ESC and a 3S pack. I verified that the receiver was done, didn't even try wiring up the smokey ESC, but I found that the nearly new motor would only cog and stutter on 3S (just like it did on 4S before the light and smoke show. Every other motor I hooked up to that combination (Ammo 2300, Turnigy 1800, etc) all spun up nice and freely.
I took the motor off the lower unit too - no binding, but it still coughs and sputters when (briefly) fed 11.1 volts. I don't dare plug it into my UL-1 or Motley Crew ESC for fear that 14.8 volts being applied to it will fry another ESC (and receiver).
Is this possible? Is the motor the culprit? It never got wet, but the shrinkwrap around where the wires exit the house looked really dodgy. Could the wires have shorted? I wish I could find the @$#! receipt because I just bought it in July and I still have the original box. Grrr.
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