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

  1. #31
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    Anyone know of a HV ESC at 240 amps besides castle
    i am looking for one and can't find one

  2. #32
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    http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...ef-sword-240hv
    Also fightercatracing sells quite a few HV escs.

  3. #33
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    Cool

    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.
    Perhaps if you knew the reason why the current HV products have issues you'd be objective. But you continue to live in the past.....

    One of Castle's suppliers changed the specs on a single part of the control board, but didn't tell Castle. They lowered the strength of the part, which causes the board to fail. Now Castle has hundreds (thousands?) of HV controllers with the same problem. They are trying to repair and make new controllers, and it is taking a long time...too long perhaps. Too, the ICE controllers have been well-proven in the aircraft versions for years, and the 3D and helicopter guys abuse them about as bad as boaters do.

    BTW I watched two Swordfish 240s fail in just a few runs - at the same SAW event where my Castle ICE came through with no issues after 19 sets of passes. The Swordfish racer had no logging results to see how hard he was pushing the ESCs either. So yes, I trust the ICE more than I would the Swordfish for heavy use.

    But you don't care, you clearly have a hard-on for Castle. Fine, it's a free country. I just wanted folks to know the whole story so they can make up their own minds, instead of just reading a diatribe of hate......


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  4. #34
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    My experience: I got two swordfish 120s that worked fine on 4s and very mild set ups ( like 30-40 amps mild). After a few weeks on the shelf, both - yes twin setup - did not arm and continue to not. The I recommended that a buddy use 240s and he has had repeated spontaneous failure. That said, I do have two brand new cadillacs sitting at the castle plant needing the updated parts. I can say that I understand why each of the cc speedies I have smoked; I can't explain why the each of the lower dollar ones have gone. I suspect that the "memory" for abuse may be better in the cheaper ones.

    This latter point makes me wonder if it's an over rating issue and QC/QA issue, or a combination.

    Whoa hot topic! Easy y'all, they are just toys. I do want to echo jays unending diligence for fairness in the story. Thus the question and me sharing my experience. Btw, I do have three dead sf escs that don't have a trade in value .....
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  5. #35
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    Here's the my opinion (and i am a big castle fan), i LOVE there motors, and enjoy (not love) there esc's. I have a ICE Hyrda 240lv i run on 6s2p and it failed on the second run (setup was a CC1717 on a x447/3) and it quit (warranted) and I don't know why. In the years of boating I myself have toasted one 1 esc and i was pushing the hell out of it (seaking 120) and it finally let go. Like I mentioned I love and most importantly I trust there motors, but I do not however trust there esc's. I also am a avid flyer and have read so serious horror stories of castle esc's failing in expensive planes. Fluid I know you are HUGE on the whole "you get what you pay for" thing, but I gotta disagree to a point with you on that. The Hobbywing esc's and I am talking land, air and sea I use them all have been simply unbelievable and amazing in every single application i have used them in. I honestly trust my hobbywings more then castle esc's. I have eagle tree data logged 170+ amps in my seaking 180 on 4s and it asks for more everytime. The Hifei esc's have been hit or miss for me for the reason that 1 drop of water ruins them. Since I have started waterproofing them they also have been simply flawless, but I still find the hobbywings the more complete value. Hifei air esc's are very very good (no water lol) and they also have just come out with a datalogging feature like the ice esc's that I cant wait to get my hands on. IMHO with dealing with RC's and that's boats, planes and cars the hobbywing esc's and gens ace batteries are hands down the best value for the money you will ever get and I choose those over Castle esc's and the gens aces batteries over other brands not because I can't afford the $$$$$$$, simply because I trust them!


    I will be adding a 55" wingspan T-34 balsa plane (next year, after my son's heart surgery) to the fleet and with being said the plane will be equipped with everything I trust, that means spektrum radio gear, hitec servos, gens ace batteries and yup a Hobbywing esc!
    Last edited by Diesel6401; 10-31-2011 at 11:10 PM.
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  6. #36
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    Did you buy the Swordy's from OSE Jesse?
    I'm not sure how I'm being unfair here. I have experiences as well. I'm no SAW racer either though.
    I feel like the only reason anybody supports thes esc's so strongly is because Castle is a U.S. company.
    I recieved a DOA from the first batch of Swordfish HV 240's. Returned it to Steve, and got a new and upgraded version that performed flawlessly within 2 weeks. From what I've seen, the Chinese companies are great at fixing quality issues with their product and getting the new units out quickly.

  7. #37
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rumdog View Post
    Did you buy the Swordy's from OSE Jesse?
    I'm not sure how I'm being unfair here. I have experiences as well. I'm no SAW racer either though.
    I feel like the only reason anybody supports thes esc's so strongly is because Castle is a U.S. company.
    I recieved a DOA from the first batch of Swordfish HV 240's. Returned it to Steve, and got a new and upgraded version that performed flawlessly within 2 weeks. From what I've seen, the Chinese companies are great at fixing quality issues with their product and getting the new units out quickly.
    I think that's part of it. I know myself I try to support them, because of that but it is hard to support all the us companies. I do try to avoid Apple, HP and some other major US companies based on there relations with Foxconn, but it's damn near impossible. I love Vizio TV's and am a Amazon kindle fan lol... Can't win them all, Samsung rocks though!
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  8. #38
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    Yes Ose, one was replaced but I didn't feel like pushing Steve to keep replacing them. He seems confident and said that over 95% (I forget the exact stats), worked flawlessly.

    I misspoke: I mean complete. Don't take my comment against you; your experience adds to the whole story and that is what I meant.
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  9. #39
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    thanks rumdog that will be my next buy at payday Hope OSE still has them in stock by then

  10. #40
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    Default Cheap ESCs, way to go!

    I got to agree that cheap ESCs is the way to go.
    The T-180 is the only ESC that have been able to stay up to my abuse (6s - 2200kv Leopard motor in a Surge Crusher) for a prolonged period, and it costs nothing.
    A friend of mine wanted to save money, so i pushed it a bit further: a 200A Suppo (HobbyKing) airplane ESC that we converted for watercooling, waterproofed, and stuck it into a Apparition hull with 6s setup and a 1650 kv Leopard motor.
    It's too working flawless after one summer of absolute abuse.

    Maybe CC works too, but why pay the extra money when the cheap stuff does the job just as well?
    And warranty is no valid argument for me. 3-4 weeks waiting time is just not acceptable for me, thats half the summer and I don't got that time to wait. So I would just buy a new ESC anyway.

  11. #41
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    Opinions aside, has ANYbody received their controller back yet? I was told "a few weeks" a month and a half ago....
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  12. #42
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    Default ice ice

    I was told 2 weeks last mon

  13. #43
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    Quote Originally Posted by sigelitest View Post
    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
    It's interesting that you had an issue with it and it's not one of the ones that are part of the recall....... Could the issue (or other issues?) relate to more than just those they have listed? I have 2x unused 240hv's, I don't think I will be using them anymore:-/

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  14. #44
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    Default hmmmm

    Yep must have been a bad batch the HS said they sent 10 back out of 20 and they were blowing bats or the ESC boards were burning through the shrink wrap. Fighter cat has one and swd fish

  15. #45
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    Let's not confuse the two types - Hydra240HV and HydraICE200HV. There were well known issues with the old Hydra240HV controllers, most guys bought the Hydra180HV instead and had good luck. Don't know the reason so many 240HVs were bad, but it is unrelated to the current recall.


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  16. #46
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    my hydra 240HV was 3 months old and i was told that it wouldn't have "the problem" one of my friends burned his finger pluggin in the bat on his. these were a new batch from castle

  17. #47
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    Castle hasn't been making the Hydra240HVs since before the HydraICE came out early this year - because the ICE-HV controllers replaced the old HydraHVs. Sounds like you are confusing the newer ICE200HV with the old Hydra240HV. Who exactly said it wouldn't "have the problem"? What problem?


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  18. #48
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    This whole debate is intersting to me...

    I've used Castle Creations ESCs exclusively in my airplanes and helis over the years and have logged lots of run time with their Phoenix, Thunderbird, and recently, their Phoenix ICE controllers with not a single problem. Last year I tried one of the budget ESCs from HK in a cheapy 450-size T-REX clone heli. It works flawlessly and has outlasted the cheap airframe and the cheap gyro I put in it. I ended up buying a few more for some airplane projects and have no complaints at all, but I still felt the CC ESCs were the top of the heap.

    But it seems like in the past year or two, CC's reputation has taken a slide with too many reports of problems seen on the various forums. Two brand new CC Thunderbird ESCs both failed on me this spring when I hooked them up to my Castle Link to program them. It is at the point where when it came time to buy my first marine ESC, I chose a SeaKing over the comparable Castle product. True, the price made it easier to make the decision, but the bottom line was, all the CC horror stories scared me off. I know from experience their customer service is top-notch but I'd much prefer not to need it!

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  19. #49
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    Default ????

    I am not sure what the deal was but I can only go by what I was told.
    The hydra I picked up was a new batch from CC that was to be bug free.
    I got it from fine designs about 3 months ago. I was told CC tested this set before shipping
    Guess I was an unknowing test subject anyway I was told I would get another one in about a week in a half from now since they have to replace the bad ones I would think they will have to produce them

  20. #50
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    I think it may have said ice on the ESC but i don't remember the add on FD's website does not say ice but it was in white shrink with a blue label and silver writing. I know it was a 240hv castle. Anyway I have done rc for about 20 years and I have always tried to help others in the hobby I am not sure why some people want to give others a hard time. Should be fun not like work

  21. #51
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    That was the older, no longer made Castle esc you bought from FD. The new ICE series have no shrink wrap on them. They look very similar to the Phoenix air speedos.

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  23. #53
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    Default Castle hydra ice2 hv controlers are now shipping

    Got (2) new replacement castle hydra ice2 esc's in the mail today. Castle is now shipping the new hv controlers out in the order they were recieved.

    They look great: See attached pics. JimAttachment 64618Attachment 64619
    Last edited by JIM MARCUM; 12-29-2011 at 04:11 PM.

  24. #54
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    Look great/work great 2 different things.
    Good to see they're shipping the new ones, but dont get too excited till you run it a handfull of times. I really hope they get their crap sorted.

  25. #55
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    Attachment 64635Attachment 64636Attachment 6463723 Nov 2012:

    I received my two Castle HYDRA ICE2 200 HV controllers back today. They look great & I will test them this week.

    You can tell them by the new stickers "HYDRA ICE2 HV 200' & a small round sticker stating "CEHV2" on the bottom of the ESC. I sent my ESCs in a couple of weeks before the recall came out, so I was in the front of the line. Others should see their Castle HV ESCs shortly.

    Thank you Castle! Great customer service, American designed, and they really do stand behind their products. JIM

  26. #56
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    Re-post??

  27. #57
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    Not to get people bickering about Castle products again, but I did inquire today and got this reply...
    I feel sorry for these guys.

    Dear Jesse,
    we are trying to resolve this as fast as it is possible.. but The main reason for the wait is us wanting to get a unit that has no issues what so ever to you. We do have one that will be going out soon.. the problem is we have tried to send at least one out. and the minute it got to the door we had to pull it to re test all units to make sure you are getting a quality product. If anything we are falling into the perfectionist trap just making sure all units that go out are perfect. So the minute we get them all tested and one more comes to stock for your other order, then we will ship them both over the next couple weeks. We just want to make sure you get 2 good units. We will get those to you as soon as it is possible.
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  28. #58
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    One of two finally arrived just in time for yesterday's club meet!!!
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  29. #59
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    Got mine back today!!!! to bad the pond is frozen oh well there's always spring!

  30. #60
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    got mine back after sending it out 9/16/2011...5 months exactly to the day!!! all i can say is im glad mr fightercat has those great esc's..
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