dont the larger caps help take some of the load off the esc and help with cooling? Or do they just help prevent sagging?

Vipers ESC (excluding the VTX1; 3 amps) have a 5amp BEC, which is great for the high demanding servos like savox and those of similarity (Spektrum & Align). most other 1/10 escs are 3 amp or 2 amp o somewhere in that general area. i have seen an amp draw meter show a Savox 1258TG draw like 2.5 amps just going lock to lock, no weight or load (load: iex. holding the wheels turned in a high speed corner.)
abd obviously if you draw 2.5 amps, and you supply only 2, thats when things can brown out, especially with some Spektrum RX

yes they do, so efficency should be better, so lower temps.
and they should help prevent 'sagging', which should be easier on the battery (soften a sudden burst demand from say punching full throttle from a standstill)

in the brushed days, we used to use the 4700uf 16v caps. It seems like caps have become a lot smaller. Why use 2-3 small caps over one big 4700uf?

great question ....... hhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

WOW, went to the vigil tonight and came home to 2 new pages of info. Thanks to everyone who answered - they are right on point. Couple of notes.

The newer "1 Piece" cap - is really 2 under the shrink. But its an update from what we learned designing the Black Edition. Both have the newest a55 software. Its slightly different ways to route the BEC circuitry thought the esc. If you running 4wd SC - Black Edition will be better way to go, if you need a small esc to fit in a tight place like the top deck on a 22SCT - then the original VTX series will help. We are all about options for the customer, everyone has little different needs, so we have little tweaks we like better.

Wildcat - sorry don't have an exact answer other than the engineers decided that was the most efficient way. Its amazing how every piece effects the pieces around it. This little guys are really amazing little devices.

Its coming - just waiting for the shipment. Not sure but the port strike in LA may be part of it.

I did want to make a note about the soldering comment on the other page. If you are using a decent iron that generates a good amount of heat (hobby quality - not the radio shack $15 one), don't go crazy with the amount of solder being used (but you do need to use some) - its really not that bad to solder wires on - if you do take the wires off - clean the solder off the post and you will see they have indents cut into them for the wire to sit.

Also with the cap board - it has 2 solder points -- positive tab and negative tab. Again you need a hot iron. I will get one side hot, use a pair of needle nose pliers to must it up the post some. Get the other side hot, repeat the step. Go back to the first, repeat again by now one side should be off, so the last step should remove the other. Replacing with a new one is the easy part. Just make sure both tabs have good connection.

I have a dead VTX10.
Stupidly switched off my transmitter before the car and it ran away from me and ended up hitting a fence at full throttle.
I loved the vtx and want a new one, but just wondered if it would be cheaper to have it repaired and sent back to me in Australia. how much am I looking at for a full circuit board replacement? The external case and wires were not affected.

That is pretty strange most systems will go to neutral if the signal is cut off or any reason -- was it after a long run, was the battery really low as well?

If its not a warranty issue, we do replace damaged units with a fee, that is less than the cost of a a new unit. But we need to receive the original unit (and paperwork) via the RMA process. Would be curious to know more details, PM me if you don't mind.

yeah, I shut off my radio before the car all the time. The esc just goes to neutral. And the LED's indicate no TX signal. I forget the colors, but I do know the green light turns off.
Same thing if I turn it on without the TX turned on.

I saw in one scenario where someone turned off a radio with the car still on and the car "ran away" with about 50% throttle while on the car stand. That particular person pulled the battery plug while the wheels were spinning. The next time he plugged in the battery, it was like the capacitors were charged and it ended up hurting the ESC (I think one of the caps even vented)

VTX8 and 1/8 Scale Motors release for sale date?????

But in which port does the ESC and the servo go into my receiver? I know... shame shame shame on me...... but, been busy with "life" and haven't had time to play with my toys as much as I'd like.

TIA and Merry Christmas.