Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast
Results 31 to 60 of 139

Thread: Castle Hydra Firmware

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    wa
    Posts
    1,384

    Default

    ok, im loading the software now and first question is... is this like other esc in the fact that the esc must be powered on with main battery and hooked to motor to program?

  2. #32
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    wa
    Posts
    1,384

    Default

    ok, my bad. Looks like only if you have removed red wire and use external bec do you need main battery power. So are we supposed to be upgrading I take it? I just saw the HV next to the new firmware on the website so I wasnt sure. Thanks

  3. #33
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    3,031

    Default

    You can upgrade it, or if things are working jsut fine you can leave it as is like many of us are doing. If you are running the HV Hydras you need to power it regardless in order to program it.
    :::::::::::::::. It's NEVER fast enough! .:::::::::::::::

  4. #34
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    59

    Default

    Mine came with Version 1.4 but I changed it back to 1.3

  5. #35
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    on
    Posts
    1,921

    Default

    Joe.
    i have been having problems with my CC link.
    fist off when my hydra was plugged into it the throttle went right to 0,0 almost as tho there was no forward throttle.
    then upon updating it my motor ran warm and the boat ran much slower. I could not finish the second run because the esc blew up, when picking up the boat the esc was stone cold as well as the motor at operating temperature.
    this was the first time the ESC was plugged into to the CC link.
    EYEKANDYGRAPHICS

    www.rclipos.com

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    3,031

    Default

    Taylor,
    people were having some problems with version 1.4 (throttle curve) ... I know it's too little too late but keep it on version 1.3 for now. Make sure to re-calibrate the ESC that you updated to the Tx after every software update.
    :::::::::::::::. It's NEVER fast enough! .:::::::::::::::

  7. #37
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    KS
    Posts
    101

    Default

    Was it acting as if the timing could have been off? Trying to get an idea of what you guys are dealing with. Did the throttle curve look normal? Let me know.
    Joe Ford
    Product Specialist/Surface Team Manager
    Castle Creations

  8. #38
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    wa
    Posts
    1,384

    Default

    I just hooked my hydra up and programmed with liink. VERY nice and user friendly. Soo much I ordered 2 more today. I havent updated to 1.4 but everything works fine and throttle curve is just as I set it with my controller. The only thing I dont like is that with stick type controller you cant have neutral at bottom of stick. it must be bumped up to allow calibration even with no reverse.

  9. #39
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    on
    Posts
    1,921

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Joe Ford View Post
    Was it acting as if the timing could have been off? Trying to get an idea of what you guys are dealing with. Did the throttle curve look normal? Let me know.
    yes throttle curve looked normal and timing was off.
    with the normal timing is felt as though it was a advanced setting. got hotter then normal but didn't yield any faster speeds
    EYEKANDYGRAPHICS

    www.rclipos.com

  10. #40
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    KS
    Posts
    101

    Default

    Thanks for the reply!
    Joe Ford
    Product Specialist/Surface Team Manager
    Castle Creations

  11. #41
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    on
    Posts
    1,921

    Default

    hope it helps Joe.
    EYEKANDYGRAPHICS

    www.rclipos.com

  12. #42
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    wa
    Posts
    1,384

    Default

    I know this is older but have some feedback. I had a hydra running 1.4 and all I got was problems with heat. Massive heat. Packs, esc, and motor. I advanced the timing and it picked up speed but just not worth chancing a blow. I went back 1.3 and everything is cool now and faster on normal timing. Just what I have found so far.

  13. #43
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    1,603

    Default

    Mike I ran my SuperSport 45 again for the first time since a ESC change a week ago. I had a CC Hydra 240 in the boat previously with the 1.3 firmware. The boat ran 59mph and came back with everything at about 125 degrees. Today I ran the hull with the only change being a CC Hydra 180HV and the boat would not run 54mph and the motor was hot after each run. THe 180HV will only run the 1.4 firmware and I can't revert to the 1.3 because it isn't even a option.
    Team Liquid Dash

  14. #44
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    planet earth west coast usa
    Posts
    392

    Default

    Have you guys that are stuck with 1.4 tried a lower timing setting to compensate and did that bring things back to previous levels ??
    thanks
    Ghost

  15. #45
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    1,603

    Default

    I haven't yet BUT I am pretty sure lowering the timing will make the hull even slower. It may lower the temps some but considering the timing is the same as it was with my Hydra 240 and its running this much hotter and 5mph slower tells me its a software problem.
    Team Liquid Dash

  16. #46
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    3,031

    Default

    I think we are missing a point here...
    we are not supposed to keep trying to change settings (specially timing) in order to correct what was considered an "upgrade" to an older version to make it work properly.
    An upgrade to me is supposed to fix bugs not create more and give us less performance.
    I have met Joe Ford and he is always willing to solve Castle products bugs. He's probably talking to the tech guys about stuff he reads here and other forums to make a better product, isn't that right Joe? So let's post the symptoms (in details) so they can work it out.
    My advise to the boating enthusiasts that are having problems is... go back to version
    1.3 and reset the Tx to the ESC so you have a clean slate and a hassle free boat until this little software issue is resolved... unless you like to be frustrated at the pond.
    :::::::::::::::. It's NEVER fast enough! .:::::::::::::::

  17. #47
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    1,603

    Default

    I wish that was possible with the newer HV controllers but right now it isn't. I am stuck with 1.4 unless I go back to my Hydra 240 and risk burning it up on 6s.
    Team Liquid Dash

  18. #48
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    1,603

    Default

    Well I got some news from Joe Ford and he is looking into the problem.
    Team Liquid Dash

  19. #49
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    3,031

    Default

    Good deal Ray... hopefully it'll be fixed soon.
    :::::::::::::::. It's NEVER fast enough! .:::::::::::::::

  20. #50
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    1,603

    Default

    Bumping this thread. UB, Mike, Taylor and anyone else that has experienced the problems with 1.4 can you please PM me.
    Team Liquid Dash

  21. #51
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    1,603

    Default

    Big bump....4 months and counting.
    Team Liquid Dash

  22. #52
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    974

    Default

    I am using the Hydra 240 HV 1.4 and I have no problems. I also run my timming on low. This has always been the best timming mode for all my boats and airplanes as well. Using normal or high timming only creates more heat, more amps and DOES NOT GO FASTER.. This goes for all motors, inrunners and outrunners. I'm surprised Joe that your not telling people to turn there timming down when they come on here and say they are running anything above low timming. I have been running electric saw boats for 9 years now and this has always worked the best for me.
    Mark

  23. #53
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    IN
    Posts
    796

    Default

    I run oval and no matter timing I could tell a difference. Running for 9 years you must at one time used a castle 120 since amps don't make speed. Did you change versions on those esc's? I'm not soo sure that the answer is to tell everyone just to keep on low timing because at this point I for one have tried this and it does nothing but still cause more heat. I simply am using the lower version and when told it is safe to use the higher version I will try it again. Good luck to all on this subject as it is trying when these units cost soo much. They are still quality in my book.

  24. #54
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    974

    Default

    Low timming is not a magic cure. If you still have heat then its your setup not the controller. The hot setups people run today dont like to run for very long before they heat up. In oval racing you are only out there for over 1 minute. When I oval raced [which I did for 4 years] if my setup wasnt a little on the hot side then that told me that I wasnt getting the most out of my setup. Buy the way amps do make speed I just prefer to get them with my props and not the timming mode. If you want to run for sport or longer run times then you have to keep propping down untill your not running hot. It doesn't matter which one you do you need to run the lower timming to get the best efficiency from the controller. At best you might get 1 or 2 mph with higher timming but your going to get it a greater expence and you risk hurting your batteries and controller. I guess if money is not a problem then test away at the higher timmings. For me, been there done that. So yes I stand buy my statemaent that everyone should run low timming. Maybe Joe Ford should give his thoughts on my statement.
    Mark

  25. #55
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    AZ
    Posts
    8,009

    Cool

    The "best" timing depends on the motor used and the amps drawn. To make a statement that low timing is always best can be misleading. Neu "D" wind motors certainly run best on the lowest timing, but that is because of their extremely low resistance. Neu "Y" wind motors do benefit performance-wise from more advanced timing - this is demonstrated on the GPS and at SAWs. Hacker motors give higher performance on higher timing - again confirmed on the SAW course. When I ran brushed motors I ran over 35 degrees of timing advance on my 05 SAW motors - anything less gave slower speeds.

    The timing advance used has to match the time it takes to energize the motor coils, whether they are on the rotor or in the can the theory is the same. It takes a certain amount of time for each coil to energize and begin to pull the magents along, depending on the amp draw. Matching the timing advance to the amp draw and rpm will maximize the potential output of the motor. Note that most of what I have stated above is for maximum-effort racing applications of less then 2 minutes, not general sport running. Mark hit the mail on the head about run time - heat builds up and even most water cooling setups will not give much relief for a max-effort setup. Best to run a few mph slower with a milder setup and not risk burning down.

    All that said, lower timing is usually - not always - safer in terms of overheating equipment. Joe at Castle doesn't really have to say much else, his instructions for the Hydra timing setting says it all. High timing is for maximum output on certain motors for short duration only. Low to medium timing is probably best for 90% of FE owners, so they are the timing modes that Castle recommends.




    .
    Last edited by Fluid; 10-13-2008 at 07:03 PM.

  26. #56
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    1,603

    Default

    Just to be perfeclty clear all my motors are set on low timing and the only change was the firmware installed. Again 30* hotter and 5-7mph slower for the same runtime and setup. We are going to do a good test this weekend on my buds cat with one controller on 1.03 and another on 1.04 and post the results. There is no doubt in my mine which firmware will run better.
    Team Liquid Dash

  27. #57
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    974

    Default

    Leave it to Jay to come on here to find the loop holes in what I'm trying to tell sport boater and beginners. Most of the people who come on here are not saw racers. They are however the biggest offenders of burning up controllers from thinking they are going to see a big difference if they bump the timming up. Even oval racers are running boats with more power than they need, do they need to be told to turn there timming up as well? [really] So tell me Jay who's really going to benefit from running anything higher than low timming other than the handfull of saw racers around the country. Call Castle and see what timming they recomend on any motor. I have Hacker outrunners and Neus in airplanes and they all benefit and run better from the lower timming. I did say you will go a little faster with higher timming but not anough the eye can see. Sure the GPS sees it. The timming lights see it. Although I have burned several controllers as have many other saw racers trying to go from low to high timming with out changing anything else in the boat But do you think its wise to tell everyone on a public forum its better and you will go faster if you use high timming. I dont think it is or worth it unless your trying to get that last 2 mph your short to get the record at a saw event. These are only my opinions and observations from running electric boats and airplanes 13 years.

    Mark

  28. #58
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    IN
    Posts
    796

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Raydee View Post
    Just to be perfeclty clear all my motors are set on low timing and the only change was the firmware installed. Again 30* hotter and 5-7mph slower for the same runtime and setup. We are going to do a good test this weekend on my buds cat with one controller on 1.03 and another on 1.04 and post the results. There is no doubt in my mine which firmware will run better.
    That pretty much sums it up for me. I have not run anything but low timing am just CURIOUS as to why the newer or revised software runs hotter. I am and wont go against your recomendations Mark, I believe you 100% I am really just more curious as to why the upgrade causes more heat, well yes, and a slight variance in speed. Thats really all. Not looking for a record, just a answer to why it runs the controllers and motors differently. This for me isnt about the timing, but about the software.

  29. #59
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Ca
    Posts
    974

    Default

    Not sure why the new software gets hotter. Are you running the boat exactley like you did before. Is it running wetter or are your lipos warmed up this time ? Is it hotter out side ? You would be surprised how much cooler everything runs when its cold out side and just the oposite when it gets hot out. Whenever a new software comes out it rarely means your boat is going to go faster. If 1.3 works then dont fix it. My hydra HV only has 1.4 and on my 10s hydro it works great and doesn't get hot. Dont figure

    Mark

    Mark

  30. #60
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    KS
    Posts
    101

    Default

    Gentlemen...the following is what Castle's engineering department has found regarding the Hydra software versions. We spent quite a bit of time to test this.

    "Timing on version 1.03 does not operate as intended. Normal timing is approximately 16 degrees. I would consider this too high for optimum performance on most motors. If the timing was changed via Castle Link the result would be as follows:

    Low: 16.25 degrees
    Normal: 16.25 degrees
    Race: 10.75 degrees
    Extreme: 16.25 degrees

    If the timing was changed via stick programming and power was not removed directly after Motor Timing was set (in other words the user continued to set another setting such as Cutoff Voltage), then the timing was always set to 16.25 degrees.

    If the user unplugged the unit directly after Motor Timing was set, then the user would get the same timing values as Castle Link would set. (16.25,16.25,10.75,16.25)

    This obviously was not correct and was fixed in version 1.04. In version 1.04 the timing values are consistent if programmed via Castle Link or stick programming. The values are as follows:

    Low: 4.75 degrees
    Norm: 9 degrees
    High: 12.75 degrees
    Highest: 16.25 degrees

    I also tested the units on the bench to determine if there were any other issues that may have resulted in excess heat. I ran a controller to steady state temperature using the version 1.03 firmware on default timing. Then repeated the test with version 1.04. As expected, the timing was different between the two. Also, the temperature and current measurements were consistent with timing.

    The test running 1.03 firmware had a current draw of approximately 3 amps higher than 1.04. The steady state temperature of the 1.03 firmware test was approximately 3-4 degrees higher (as a result of the increased current).

    There are two known 'issues' with the Hydra software.

    Known issue 1: When updating from version 1.03 to 1.04 you MUST recalibrate. Failure to do so will cause the controller to not reach FULL THROTTLE (as indicated by the LED not going to a steady ON).

    Known issue 2: When stick programming voltage cutoff on either version 1.03 or 1.04 the programming options are 4, 5, 6, 7.2, 9, 12. However, in the instructions, they are listed as 4,5,6,9,12 (7.2 was removed when the instructions were written for the Hydra line).

    The customers who are using v1.04, and feel it has caused their boats to slow down and temps to increase are probably split into two camps.

    1) Those who forgot to recalibrate their unit after updating. These guys would likely see a very dramatic decrease in speed as a result of not reaching full throttle. They also would probably see an increase in temperature because they were consistently running at 90% throttle.

    2) Those who calibrated their unit and noticed a decrease in top end. This was probably accompanied by lower ESC and motor temperatures. This was caused by the timing being 'fixed'. You can see the numbers above, and if the user sets their timing to 'Highest' on v1.04, the unit should run exactly as it did using the v1.03 firmware."

    Sorry it took so long to get this data guys...we needed to make sure the results were 100% correct.
    Joe Ford
    Product Specialist/Surface Team Manager
    Castle Creations

Page 2 of 5 FirstFirst 1234 ... LastLast

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •