sdmlsu1

iTrader: (14)

Has anyone tried the Quark Competition 80B or Monster Pro 125B speed controls? If so how do they work for an 1/8 EL setup?

badassrevo

iTrader: (12)

Mod is any battery any motor. Yes I ran the 2 2s 6000 packs with no problems at all.

lxmuff

Without very good thermal mods on the quark 125B, it just overheats all the time outdoors. I had one and for the money for now the MM has been the better option.

badassrevo

iTrader: (12)

Here is an email that I got from Joe Ford at Castle yesterday,

Doug,

No word on the MMM...we're working on the software for the MM right now...to work with Neu motors/other 4+ pole inrunners, outrunners for the crawler guys, sensored motors for the racers, and adjustability of the dead band around neutral. Once it's done more progress can be made on the Monster. I checked on stickers and the last ones went out the door a while ago. Hopefully our vinyl guy gets on top of things and gets more out to us.

Joe Ford
Product Specialist
Castle Creations

shady3031

iTrader: (26)

Need a new truggy motor--front bearing on the feiago 540c 8xl went south on me friday night during practice. But it had EVERYONE"S attention anytime i was on the track with it. The track owner loved it and said "I don't have any rules it run whatcha got here". After he drove it a couple of laps he then asked if i was planning on racing it this weekend, when i said yes all he said was "Oh boy" as he races truggy himself!!!! To me that was a victory in itself. But now i need a new motor thinking of the neu 1515 1y, but mike is out of them at the time. He said he plans on having them in stock in the next few weekes, but we have a money race coming up on Sept 9th. If anyone has one or knows where i can pick one up--pls advise.


Thanks
Jason

markhat250

iTrader: (65)

Guys....this has been some serious reading. I've read everynight, for 3 nights, from the begining. Here are my thoughts....

I believe you are the pioneers that Losi, and others will look at very closley WHEN they realize there is a market and decide to develop thier own production "EL8".

But if I had to guess, here's what I think they will try to develop differently, or should I say, overcome some problems that you have faced relating to hi-performance electrics. I am just thinking out loud here and simply speculating for fun.....

1. Biggest obsticle would be an ESC that can handle the punishment. This may not even be a hurdle really, as there has been no need to design such a beast (untill now). I have no clue about this really...but it may be pretty easy to design now that they know what's in store (an 11lb., torquee, 1/8 scale requiring massive heat from massive batteries, big motors, serious punishment, etc.). In other words...."build it and they will come".

2. Brakes. I've never driven a conversion, but I can only speculate that real brakes with bias settings is still where it's at. Call me crazy...I prefer real brakes with pads.

3. Slipper clutch of some sort. Absolute must I think. Not only would this solve a lot of heat/cog problems, it would connect you to the car better, giving it more "feeling", rather than an out of control rocket ship. Maybe it's just me, but I need a clutch.

4. Price and time. The main reason I am hoping to go to electric 1/8 scale is to save money (in the long run obviously) and time. Also, that nervous wonderment if your car is going to run good "tonight" would be gone. But this thread gives no resolution from that!! In some ways it's worse!! (cogging, esc meltdown, wires coming undone, fans breaking loose, etc).

In conclusion.... combining the 1/8 durability (compared to 1/10 or ??) with the relativley headache free reliability of electric is simply a dream for me!! I love racing R/C cars, but simply don't have the time to tinker (a lot that is). An EL8 with all the kinks removed and I'm in heaven. Untill then...I surley appreciate all your R&D efforts and thank you!!

Hopefully in a year or so I can hope for a production model EL8, and LiPo has won over the track owners, IFMAR, etc. This will truley be the day folks!!. Untill then, I gotta stay nitro 8ight. I'll love my XXX-T in the mean time too. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I am just as excited as anyone to get this off the ground, but I don't want to pay for a revolution of sorts, nor be frustrated by prototypes that ultimatley fall short. That said....I envy these guys winning races and having fun with thier protos. Looks killer!! I don't envy the countless hours of devotion.

DJ1978

iTrader: (3)

Thanks for the comments and input. I appreciate it.
I am talking a lot with ESC manufacturers. They recognize the need..... and are working on it. Not fast enough for any of us who are already in deep!!! LOL!! The Mamba Max is holding up OK. It has it's quirks too.

Die hard Nitro guys have brought up the brake issue over and over.. but on the track, brakes are not an issue. E conversions have incredible braking power and brake bias also had not been an issue. These cars handle great and the braking is very even and well distributed.

I am working on a slipper clutch!! Almost done.

As for the reliability issue.. We are all on a steep learning curve here. Every race we learn something new. We are on uncharter ground and taking note of every experience of every racer and those that are just running for fun.

One thing I see as an issue is gearing. We will need factory support for a usable range of plastic Mod 1 pitch spur gears in the future.
Right now we are limited in our selection. Another is wire connectors. We are seeing well over 100 amp draw with these set ups and using connectors designed for much less.

There is a lot more work to do. This forum and the comments from vehicle owners sharing their experiences has really helped.
Dan

happywing

iTrader: (93)

markhat250,

I used to run nitro. It's nice to hear comments from an open-minded (someday former) nitro guy like yourself. I liked your assessment. I'm sure a lot of us feel the same about a production vehicle, but we just don't have the patience to wait. You will have to be very patient. Your wish for a production E-1/8 and a suitable ESC is a long way off. Definitely more than the year-or-so that you hope for. To reply to your points:

1. With some mods, the ESC of choice is the Mamba Max. The Mamba Monster Max isn't going to be out anytime soon. If you look at the post just above from badassrevo, you'll see that Castle is still working on the MM...at least they're trying to make it work better with the motor that most of us run (Neu). Works pretty good for me right now.

2. Brakes are an issue, for sure, but you won't miss your brake pads. The problem is the ESC heat generated during braking. The brakes are very adjustable, but most of us have them dialed out for lower heat.

3. A slipper clutch would be nice to take some strain off the drivetrain and drop some weight. That's it. You don't want that "clutch feeling" that your nitro has. The main advantage of electric is instant torque. I don't know why you'd want the lag that a clutch produces.

4. In general, my problems don't compare to what most nitros deal with. My race-day is nearly stress-free compared to my nitro days. The frustration level doesn't compare...That's why I switched.

Finally, I don't blame you one bit for standing on the sidelines and letting us work out the kinks. Time, money, whatever, some people are more suited to the R&D than others. Just make sure you don't drive one. Driving one seems to change a lot of minds.

markhat250

iTrader: (65)

I think both of your comments are more on par than mine honestly. That is...I won't be able to wait to convert (more like 2 or 3 years out is realistic for a production model). By then....who knows, the proto companies may be better already than a big dog like Losi could even produce.

I know my post may have been a little on the discouraging side for new comers (including myself), but I truley feel that it has not evolved to a point where you will see a mass exodus. When problems are minimal though, like esc issues and a slipper clutch for the most part, then you will be like Moses parting the Red Sea and watching people convert by the thousands. This is good because the price will naturally and instantly drop for you, the developer, due to bigger production.

I feel you guys are on the brink of that major epihphony that you are waiting for. THEN and only then will you start seeing nitro guys dropping thier gas by the thousands!!!

As far as the clutch goes.....keep in mind that nitro guys are used to this. They like the lag because lag equals planted wheels, and not spinning wheels that can spin them out. BUT everyone is different I realize. Some like no lag (people that are used to electrics), and some like a little. That's why you NEED a slipper. Something that has a dial of how much slip you prefer. This is why electrics STILL have a slipper. I do realize that most of you electric boyz crank them all the way in, but I let mine slip to imitate what would be expected in my nitro clutch. Bottom line....this is a crucial fix. This is a "touchy feely" part of all of our cars where a lot of people have different settings and certain opinions about. Just look at all the different wieghts of springs they offer for your aluminum, or should I say composite shoes. Like I said.....there is a lot of opinion when it comes to a clutch!! I'm glad to see you guys addressing this!! I'm cluless so....good luck

Brakes. I'm in the middle honestly. Bottom line if the brakes are doing what you want them to do, then pads or esc doing it may not be a big deal. But to me, relying soley on an esc for brakes spells trouble in such a heavy car. I'm not saying pads are the answer.

Kudos to you guys taking the plung. I think we (nitro guys) would consider changing teams and living with the rough edges, and drilling holes in our Mamba Max till something better comes out. But no clutch and questionable brakes (ones that don't have adjustable bias) is about the ONLY thing holding me back. I'll live with all the other shortcomings if we can get to this point.

Yes.....I'm at the sidelines pointing a finger, but it is with a big smile of encouragement!!

happywing

iTrader: (93)

Thanks for the kind wishes.

I absolutely agree that there will be no mass exodus to electric until there is a reliable production model or three. I wouldn't let a clutch hold you back, though. The Mamba Max and other ESC's can emulate the lag you desire through programming. I can understand the brake problem. I had a little more brake in the rear when my MBX-5 was a nitro. I do wish I could set my electric up that way. There's always give and take. Bottom line for me is that my lap times are better. I finish more races and I make A-mains.

Stealth_RT

iTrader: (5)

The only way to keep brake bias in an electric would be to keep the 2nd servo for mechanical brakes, and parrallel it with the ESC throttle controls. There is simply no room, especially in an 8 to fit in the motor, giant battery, big ESC with fans, AND keep a 2nd servo in place. I'm already having problems fitting in my MGM speedo after mounting a fan on each side. The provided plate that RC Product Designs has as part of the center diff top plate is too small for me now, and was bending under the weight of the ESC by itself, with no fans, under the impact of landing from 20 ft in the air. I'm going to have to fab a new mount to sit just above the rear driveshaft and chassis brace, behind the battery to mount the speedo.

Oh, and as for needing a slipper clutch to control the wheel spin, etc, we already have that. It's called the accel setting in the speed controller. I can set how fast the motor 'ramps up' when I punch the trigger. Why would I want a mechanical slipper clutch that wears out, loosens up during the run, adds weight to the drivetrain? The best reason for going electric is to eliminate the 'consumables' like CLUTCH PARTS! I'd much rather have a new center unit that's full time drive to the rear wheels with a one-way bearing drive to the front. That will give you ALL the brake bias you need to slide the back end going into a turn.

markhat250

iTrader: (65)

oops

markhat250

iTrader: (65)

"Bottom line for me is that my lap times are better. I finish more races and I make A-mains"

....and this being at the point you are at THIS point in the game. Can you imagine a better, more efficient, electric car than you drive now??!! Can you imagine if everyone was on this page that you were racing against in that A-Main? Jeez...the competion would be intense!! People would win because they can drive, not because they were the only ones left on the track. I'm an old motocrosser, and for the most part, you lost or won because of you!! Not because of mechanical failures. This is my frustration with R/C cars. The intensity is for sure there, which is why I love it, but having everyone finish the race, and real head to head action is what I feel a reliable electric 1/8 scale will do to this sport!!

But the electric 1/10 scale trucks are already at this point. It just so happens that I suck at electric truck . I feel WAY more in tune with my life when driving my 8ight. So when I say "do to this sport", I really should say "do to the 1/8 scale class". The 1/10th scales are already there I feel. The competion that is, due to less flame outs and DNF's.

I'm your biggest fan. Now get to work

Kings Kid

iTrader: (35)

All good stuff guys, at the track I manage, gas guys put down controllers at practice and watch my eh-7 on the track. With the thermalling issues under control, It's a rocket and the most fun to drive of my three offroad cars. And I don't as yet have the neu motor, just the hv 6.5. I know in my neck of the woods, we'll start to see a few more convert very soon. DJ, let us know when that slipper is available, I'll take one right a way Be Blessed,Rick

RED-LINE M03

iTrader: (127)

What model of Analog servo would you guys recommend for the sterring. I was thinking a Analog servo would save on the battery and maybe make the speedo run just a tad cooler.