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Thread: VERY IMPORTANT!!! Castle Creations Hydra Ice Recall

  1. #1
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    Exclamation VERY IMPORTANT!!! Castle Creations Hydra Ice Recall

    ICE HV, Mamba XL & Hydra Ice HV

    Warning & Recall advisory 2011-03

    Aug 20, 2011




    The performance of a component used in the Castle ICE HV 60, ICE HV 80, ICE HV 120, ICE HV 160, Mamba XL and HYDRA ICE HV controllers has changed from the original specifications for that part. This tolerance change may lead to failure of the affected controllers.

    For your safety, we request that all customers cease operation of these controllers immediately. Send all of these controllers back to Castle for modifications required to improve the safety and reliability of these products. This recall includes all controllers labeled as V3. There are no charges associated with this modification.

    The only controllers that are properly modified and are approved for operation will be labeled clearly as ICE HV (Amp Rating) 2, Mamba XL 2 & HYDRA ICE HV 2.

    We understand that you may not wish to return your controller. Those that have served you well are likely to continue doing so; however, controllers that you may have recently purchased should be assumed to be assembled with the problem components.

    If you insist on using these controllers, please be advised that the risks of continued usage begin with severe burns to you and/or others, as well as property damage to your RC vehicle or surroundings. Please wear fire-proof gloves when connecting any HV controllers that use 8 or 10 gauge wire to their power source.



    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE

    Click this link and follow the directions of advisory 2011 - 03 to process your return if you have any of the following controllers.

    Phoenix ICE HV 60



    Phoenix ICE HV 160 & ICE HV 160 LITE




    Phoenix ICE HV 80



    Mamba XL




    Phoenix ICE HV 120



    Hydra ICE HV






    North American and all non-European customers:

    Please return controllers to Castle in Kansas via a traceable delivery service:

    CASTLE CREATIONS, INC

    120HV SERVICE / Service Department

    540 N.ROGERS RD.

    OLATHE, KS 66062




    European customers:

    Please return controllers via a traceable delivery service to our new European repair center:


    CASTLE CREATIONS EUROPE BVBA

    120HV SERVICE

    GEELSEWEG 80

    2250 OLEN

    BELGIUM
    Team Liquid Dash

  2. #2
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    So, this excludes the Hydra Ice 240? It doesnt say HV on it. Have to call them Monday amd make sure.

  3. #3
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    Larry this recall is MOSTLY just for the HV esc's. I think the Mamba XL is the only exception.
    Team Liquid Dash

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    Gotcha. Thanks.

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    I just bought a second Hydra ICE HV 200. Is this ESC a part of this recall??? JIM

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    Yes....all the HV controllers from the 80HV up are on the list.
    Team Liquid Dash

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    Thanks. I just read the recall notice at Castle. Anyone needing more info can check it out at Castle's website. The recall link is on the opening page & will lead you through the return process. JIM

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    ICE HV, Mamba XL & Hydra Ice HV

    Warning & Recall advisory 2011-03

    Aug 20, 2011



    The performance of a component used in the Castle ICE HV 60, ICE HV 80, ICE HV 120, ICE HV 160, Mamba XL and HYDRA ICE HV controllers has changed from the original specifications for that part. This tolerance change may lead to failure of the affected controllers.

    For your safety, we request that all customers cease operation of these controllers immediately. Send all of these controllers back to Castle for modifications required to improve the safety and reliability of these products. This recall includes all controllers labeled as V3. There are no charges associated with this modification.

    The only controllers that are properly modified and are approved for operation will be labeled clearly as ICE HV (Amp Rating) 2, Mamba XL 2 & HYDRA ICE HV 2.

    This is from the E-mail I received from Castle Creations 8/20/2011.

    Daniel
    When you know it all.......you never will learn anything new

  9. #9
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    I have been called many names....including Genius !
    Why would a 'genius' re-post the same Castle recall statement that was posted in initial post in this thread???


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    I was starting to wonder if maybe my post was invisible
    Team Liquid Dash

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    OOPS LOL ......some times called Genius .......
    Daniel
    When you know it all.......you never will learn anything new

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    Don't sweat it, I've been called far worse......





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    Thanks for posting Ray. I was just going to do it.
    Steven Vaccaro

    Where Racing on a Budget is a Reality!

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    i was running my miss geico they other day i have the castle hydra 240a esc i drive it out about 300 feet and then it stopped, luckily i had a chase boat in the middle so i could get it back.... then i put it back in then i went out about 40 feet and turned around... the boat came at me full throttle then took a hard rite and crashed wen this all happened i had no receiver signal(just put in a new mr200 before the run) any idea what is wrong??

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    Quote Originally Posted by 26missgeico View Post
    i was running my miss geico they other day i have the castle hydra 240a esc i drive it out about 300 feet and then it stopped, luckily i had a chase boat in the middle so i could get it back.... then i put it back in then i went out about 40 feet and turned around... the boat came at me full throttle then took a hard rite and crashed wen this all happened i had no receiver signal(just put in a new mr200 before the run) any idea what is wrong??
    Please post this in another thread. this thread is about a warranty recall. You will get more response that way.
    Steven Vaccaro

    Where Racing on a Budget is a Reality!

  16. #16
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    Castle has a recall out on all HV E$SCs. Check out thier home page, click on recall, fill out the form & mail your ESC to them. It will take 3-4 weeks cuz ther're still working on a beta version of the fix. But at least it won't crash your boat. But FIRST, check your out receiver for any issues by using another ESC on the bench at low throttle. If it's still screwed up then it's the receiver. Either way you gotta send your Castle ESC back eventually. The problem with their HV ESCs have been them catching on fire. Not good. JIM

  17. #17
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    Cool

    Jim, you're two weeks late. This thread is about the recall, see post #1.



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  18. #18
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    FYI.... I just got off the phone with Joe ford at Castle Creations and he informed me that All air HV escs are in the recall ...
    BUT......
    ONLY the Hydra Ice HV 200 (12s) part #010-0087-00 is in the recall.......

    NOT the Hydra Ice 240 (8s) part #010-0086-00
    When you know it all.......you never will learn anything new

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    Has anybody received their contollers back yet?

    Thanks,
    Mike

  20. #20
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    NO!!! its been 2 months GRRRR its gona snow soon

  21. #21
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    Castle posted on a couple different sites that they are extremely backed up and didn't anticipate the problems with the recall. They have a post on RC Groups in the Castle section.
    Team Liquid Dash

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    Smoked one of my Hydra IC@ 200 HVs too & mailed it to Castle weeks before the recall. That was on 11 August. I held onto my second 200 HV, but it blew the caps at the Legg Lake SAW this weekend and won't respond when I try to download the datalog. Guess I'll have to send it back too, but wonder if I will will EVER se either one of the again. JIM
    Last edited by JIM MARCUM; 10-16-2011 at 04:33 PM.

  23. #23
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    240 HV just went back to castle i got 2 runs on it. seems very expensive for two runs it was only 1 month old.has anyone found one by another MFG that is the same amperage and voltage. I want to buy it as a back up while i wait. oh now i have a 5s that is a 4s because of the ESC guess u can never have too many 4s bats

  24. #24
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    I'm sitting here with 3 of the danged things. I'm waiting a while to let 'em clear the backlog, then I'll send 'em in. I'm not in much of a rush. Just gonna sell 'em as soon as I get 'em back anyway. I'm having much better luck with cheaper controllers like the Swordfish.
    Mini Cat Racing USA
    www.minicatracingusa.com

  25. #25
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    Castle marine esc's = JUNK.

  26. #26
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    Rummy, care to inform us on your reasons? your post is not informative and since we are here to share information, I for one am interested in why you say that.
    Please report your bad experience(s), even though this is the recall thread...
    "Look good doin' it"
    See the fleet

  27. #27
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    This thread is one reason. Use the search function and check out the reviews for their old HV line as well. Pure junk.
    They are HIGHLY overpriced. They obviously are manufactured cheaply. (cap issue with the current Hydra Ice) I can buy a Turnigy esc for LV apps, and a escfrom fightercat for HV use. Both of which will be a fraction of the cost. How many guys dropped big bucks on these things and have burned them down, ruined a boat, cells, rx, and are now sitting with no esc. Even if it didn't burn, and they sent it in... they have no esc.

    I've owned 4 LV 240's. Old version. They were great esc's. I never ran over 5s however and was warned numerous times about even tying 6s. I do LIKE the LV 240's however.
    On the other hand, I'll trust a T-180 more than a CC LV 240. And, look at the price difference.

    So to recap, IMO.. Castle has been left in the dust as far as esc's for marine apps. I wont buy one unless it's the old style, and I get a screaming good deal.

  28. #28
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    You of course are welcome to your opinion. Castle HV Marine ESCs were a mixed bag, the lower amp versions worked well as proven by my club members who used them. The 240HVs not so much. A great new product is the Hydra ICE240"LV" - good to 34 volts. It is fine to use for 6S. I used one on my SAW record holder, running 17 pairs of 6S passes and 2 pairs of 4S passes averaging near 300 amps - and it didn't miss a beat. This is extreme use and will easily burn up a marginal ESC, but not this HydraICE. I used the BEC feature too, not a bobble.

    I also run an ICE200 in my P Sport Hydro (pretty much the same as the Hydra240LV minus the water cooling), averaging 180+ amps on 4S. A year and a half of heavy racing use and that ESC hasn't missed a beat. I've won a lot of trophies with that boat....

    Live in the past if you want, it's a free country. And if you'd rather buy a cheap ESC, that's fine too. Some of us want low price, some want value. The definition of the latter word 'depends'.



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  29. #29
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    For the price, Castle controllers should not be having the issues they are with performance or their manufacturing processes.

    They are marketed as the Cadillacs of controllers and as such, should be held to a higher standard.

  30. #30
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    OK
    Lets live in the present. Their top of the line big boy high dollar esc is a turd. What is meant to be their best product is their most unreliable. People who have bought them are left with no esc as of now.

    It gets a little old hearing the "cheap" or "China junk" thing. Turnigy/Seaking and Swordfish esc's are fantastic units. They are priced much better than Castle's gear, and are proving more reliable. Cheap? Sounds more like valuable to me.
    If they hiked the price up $150.00 or so, I'm sure a lot of the "pros" would feel better about using them.
    You DON'T always get what you pay for, and this thread serves as proof.

    Does anyone really believe that a Hydra ICE 200HV is a better esc than a Swordfish 240HV?

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