Castle Firmware 1.04

[Steven Vaccaro]

I know its been said before, but I think its worth repeating. I just uploaded firmware 1.04 and noticed the boat was a bit slower. Come to find out the led on the esc was blinking. Meaning that the esc was not running at 100%. I tried everything and couldn't get a solid color. So I downgraded to 1.03 and its working great. So if you do upload firmware 1.04 make sure to look for a solid red led at full throttle or it will go boom.

[Fluid]

Steven, did you re-program the ESC to the receiver again after loading the 1.04? I switched to 1.04 early this year and have had zero problems with my 240LVs. I custom program the timing to 1 degree for the Neu D motors and 8 degrees for everything else. Works for me on Spektrum and FASST radios...


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[Raydee]

Yep make sure you did a recalibration of the throttle after updating the esc. I am running 1.04 on all my Castle boat esc's now and yes I did notice a slow down from 1.03 but they are also running much cooler than they did in the previous firmware because the timing values were wrong. I am running my Y winds on RACE now and my boats regained most of their speed back, on my D winds I am running them all on Low and they seem fine.

I will not be the guy that jumps on every update that Castle puts out in the future. They just did a update on their Heli/Airplane ESC's they left a lot of them burnt or bricked. They came out with a revision the next day to fix the problem and told their customers that they would replace the controllers for them but that was a big problem. I still run Castle ESC's in everything I own with the exception of one of my Heli's (that will be getting the new Castle ICE controller soon) but I am still very leary about doing any firmware updates until they are 100% proven to be working right with no bugs.

[cacofonix]

hi there

is there any chance that ICE series will be declined into Boat version ???

herve

[Raydee]

I actually asked that to Lee and he just gave me a face and said it was a good idea. The Ice series with heatsink is good up to 8s with 5a switching BEC built in and only $120......no brainer for my heli's. If they come out with them for the boats with watercooling I would def try one.

[properchopper]

A few months ago at RCX, Jan and I talked to Patrick del Castillo, Pres. of CC about the Ice becoming available in a marine version. He was pretty enthusiastic about the control and said there were plans to market a watercooled version for FE use. No timetable was offered. Jan's memory of this conversation may be more accurate than mine, hopefully He'll chime in.

[bustitup]

A few months ago at RCX, Jan and I talked to Patrick del Castillo, Pres. of CC about the Ice becoming available in a marine version. He was pretty enthusiastic about the control and said there were plans to market a watercooled version for FE use. No timetable was offered. Jan's memory of this conversation may be more accurate than mine, hopefully He'll chime in.

let me see if I can get Joe Ford over here to address this

[properchopper]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if CC spends a good amount of time testing the marine version before releasing it to the FE community given their previous history with the Hydra series and our habit of actually desiring the controls to perform as advertised .

[Raydee]

Castle is at Ircha this weekend displaying some of their new ESC's and 700 Size heli electric conversion kits.

[Steven Vaccaro]

Steven, did you re-program the ESC to the receiver again after loading the 1.04? I switched to 1.04 early this year and have had zero problems with my 240LVs. I custom program the timing to 1 degree for the Neu D motors and 8 degrees for everything else. Works for me on Spektrum and FASST radios...


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I did and also advanced the throttle trim all the way and still couldn't get a solid red. I was a bit rushed and only had a 1/2 hour to mess around with it. I will try again when I get back.

[Ub Hauled]

A few months ago at RCX, Jan and I talked to Patrick del Castillo, Pres. of CC about the Ice becoming available in a marine version. He was pretty enthusiastic about the control and said there were plans to market a watercooled version for FE use. No timetable was offered. Jan's memory of this conversation may be more accurate than mine, hopefully He'll chime in.

Mid year was the word... but not actual dates.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if CC spends a good amount of time testing the marine version before releasing it to the FE community given their previous history with the Hydra series and our habit of actually desiring the controls to perform as advertised .

You are on the money my friend... but given that lately they have been... hmm... lacking on the QC (or something else) of the Hydras it would not surprise me at all if the release of Marine version of ICE was postponed, just like Tony mentioned.

One cool feature in my opinion of ICE, is the built in Black box...

[G Doggett]

I know its been said before, but I think its worth repeating. I just uploaded firmware 1.04 and noticed the boat was a bit slower. Come to find out the led on the esc was blinking. Meaning that the esc was not running at 100%. I tried everything and couldn't get a solid color. So I downgraded to 1.03 and its working great. So if you do upload firmware 1.04 make sure to look for a solid red led at full throttle or it will go boom.

Hi Steven
I have version 1.04 in both my Hydra 120s and like you found I could not get full throttle on the ESCs( light still blinking) in spite of recalibrating the throttle.
In the end I fixed this by setting the Throttle EPA to 120 and it worked fine.
I know the manual says use 100 for ESC but just ignore it.
Just another weird feature with Castle ESCs.
Graham.

[Jeepers]

Steven check the throttle curve on the esc, sometimes the line looks like its at 100% but its not click on the line and move it if need be.

I had to do this to a few of the controllers in the boat club and my own.

[D. Newland]

I had a problem yesterday with this while trying to get a new Tx to work. Turns out the Tx was not set on full brake, or something having to do with the brake setting. I got it after a few tries.

Also, I have noticed that new Castle ESC's shipped from the factory as recently as 7/1/09 are still loaded with V1.03. If you don't have a Castle Link, find someone that does and check yours!

[domwilson]

Has anyone had a problem with the Tactic/tower 2.4 ghz radios and this ESC?
I have to turn on throttle reverse for mine to work.

[cacofonix]

hi all

i have 3 hydra 120 , and all updated to 1.04 firmware
reading all thread frighten me ....
i don't notice anything BUT i don't check anything .....

just one thing on the last updated hydra : seem's that can keep neutral

i thing i will downgrade all ..

herve

[Flying Scotsman]

Steven, something is wrong, you must recalabriate as Joe Ford has detalied in a previous post before or you have another problem

Douggie

[Flying Scotsman]

I had a problem yesterday with this while trying to get a new Tx to work. Turns out the Tx was not set on full brake, or something having to do with the brake setting. I got it after a few tries.

Also, I have noticed that new Castle ESC's shipped from the factory as recently as 7/1/09 are still loaded with V1.03. If you don't have a Castle Link, find someone that does and check yours!

That is scary...very high setups and a a possible boom on certain motors

Douggie

[domwilson]

Has anyone had a problem with the Tactic/tower 2.4 ghz radios and this ESC?
I have to turn on throttle reverse for mine to work.

Anybody have a suggestion?

[G Doggett]

Also, I have noticed that new Castle ESC's shipped from the factory as recently as 7/1/09 are still loaded with V1.03. If you don't have a Castle Link, find someone that does and check yours![/QUOTE]

If that's true then Castle are being incredibly irresponsible.
Seems like the sales dept dont give a damn and rely on their aftersales to fix their cock ups.
Where would we be without Joe Ford.
Just another reason why I will never buy Castle again.
Graham.

[Fluid]

Anybody have a suggestion?

What is the problem? Some ESCs require "servo" reversing, some do not. This has been the case since brushed controllers. It is just a flip of the switch on the Tactic to make the ESC work.......




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[properchopper]

What is the problem? Some ESCs require "servo" reversing, some do not. This has been the case since brushed controllers. It is just a flip of the switch on the Tactic to make the ESC work.......
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I'm running 4 Castle SC's, all upgraded to 1.04 without a hitch. They're all linked to Tactic Rx's and all have the throttle control in the reversed position . I will say that my first attempt to go 1.04 some time ago with my Futaba radio didn't go well until I recalibrated the throttle { with Jan's helpful supervision}. Now, on 1.04 , I'm much happier knowing the correct advance settings are kinder on the goodies.

[Joe Ford]

We have been talking about making an ICE for boats. No updates as of yet. I am the boat guy now here at Castle. I have acquired a "few", and am convering a 43" beast right now for high energy testing when the time comes. I will be sure to keep you all updated.

Great advice from Steve guys (which I mentioned in the timing issue thread a while back). When you go to the latest software v1.04 you MUST re-calibrate the ESC to the radio. Put your endpoints out to 120% on both forward and reverse, then re-calibrate to make sure the ESC gets the full 1-2ms pulse it's looking for. If your radio is @ 100% but you are not getting a solid LED for full throttle, it is the RADIO, NOT THE ESC that is doing this. The radio is not sending out the full pulse band. Generally this is due to a bad pot in your radio, or one that is out of sync and needs to be serviced if you want it at exactly 100%.

Dom...the radio must have been made by Futaba...they're the only ones I know of that you have to reverse the throttle channel.

Any questions guys just let me know.

[cacofonix]

hi joe

i have 2 questions

1/ how to check that esc got full throttle without motor running ??

2/ i'm looking for an ESC that can work with ONE lipo cell , possible with hydra ????

thanks

herve

[Joe Ford]

1. Go through the calibration process, then arm the ESC without the motor attached, and pull full throttle. The LED will come on solid for full throttle.

2. Unfortunately, it will not. I don't know of any boat ESCs that run on 1s lipo, and the only ones I do know of that will are using in airplanes only...very low amp rating (2A or so). Reason we cannot is 4 fold. #1 we probably would not sell very many and the cost to design it and produce it would be greater than we would get back on the investment. #2 The current design the BEC voltage would be 4.2v output to receiver (it can only put out what the battery voltage is whenever under 5v)...and then when you hit the throttle it would drop even lower. This would cause many issues, especially on 2.4GHz. #3 The microprocessor on the controller will shut down right around the point the battery should be cut off...could lead to bad situations. #4 Even if you used a separate battery pack to power the reciever, if the voltage dropped near 3v in the battery for any reason the ESC would shut off. Talking 1/1000th of seconds here.

Wish we could do it, but we can't. I have some boats I would like to do the same thing with.

[cacofonix]

hi joe

thanks for your answer

1/ in my mind it was dangerous for the esc to try it without motor attached ...

2/ why i ask this : on the french forum some guys have launch a "crazy" challenge : best speed with one cell.
at the german saw 2 weeks ago, a german boater reach 114 kmh with one cell ..................
but impossible to know what esc he use.

herve

[Joe Ford]

1. Not dangerous at all. I do it all the time. :)
2. No idea what ESC he used. I will try it this weekend if you like on 1s with the Hydra and separate BEC if you like. Let me know.

[cacofonix]

thanks joe, i will check all may hydra's

2/ for sure, if it not takes you too much time , much appreciate
esc is the last point for this challenge

thanks joe

herve

[bustitup]

Glad to see you made it here Joe....the questions have been mounting

I cant wait to test one of the ICE controlers for you guys....

We have been talking about making an ICE for boats. No updates as of yet. I am the boat guy now here at Castle. I have acquired a "few", and am convering a 43" beast right now for high energy testing when the time comes. I will be sure to keep you all updated.

Great advice from Steve guys (which I mentioned in the timing issue thread a while back). When you go to the latest software v1.04 you MUST re-calibrate the ESC to the radio. Put your endpoints out to 120% on both forward and reverse, then re-calibrate to make sure the ESC gets the full 1-2ms pulse it's looking for. If your radio is @ 100% but you are not getting a solid LED for full throttle, it is the RADIO, NOT THE ESC that is doing this. The radio is not sending out the full pulse band. Generally this is due to a bad pot in your radio, or one that is out of sync and needs to be serviced if you want it at exactly 100%.

Dom...the radio must have been made by Futaba...they're the only ones I know of that you have to reverse the throttle channel.

Any questions guys just let me know.

[Joe Ford]

Neither can I. :) And then the HV series. muahahahahaha

1s will take a little time. I must disassemble one of my 2s packs to do it, but should not take too long. Hopefully weather man is wrong and it will not be raining all weekend. Keeping fingers crossed.

FYI...got into boats when I was sent one of the Vac-U-Pickle boats (green one). Tried it out the first time and was HOOKED. Have acquired 3 more in the past 2 weeks, and looking for even more!!! If anyone knows someone that is looking to get rid of a boat hull let me know! I have batteries, ESCs, servos, receivers...just want hulls that are set up so I can drop my stuff in and go. No time to build anymore. Would prefer to trade for Castle products as money is a little harder to come by now that I'm married. lol