Mamba Max + Castle BEC = WTF?

[glondark]

I've had a mamba max with an integy 45t in my Triple S chassis for the past couple of months. It's been a great ESC with the exception of the internal BEC.

So last week I added a Castle BEC to the mix. IF it arms, it's a great combo and runs exactly as I hoped it would. However 7 times out of 10, I will plug in the battery and the Mamba Max will just give a green blinking LED and not give the normal tone and connect.

The current Specs are as follows:

1500 NH battery
Mamba Max
Integy 45t
JR Radio with JR133 receiver
Castle BEC set at 5.5v
CKRC Wiggle servo steering
Tired Hitec Servo for Dig

And the BEC is currently wired like this


With the BEC in the mix, 7 times out of 10 it won't arm. With the BEC unplugged, it connects after about a second of the batteries being plugged in.

I'm stumped, anyone have any ideas?

[JeremyH]

The ESC is blinking green? It sounds like you need to adjust your trim....

[glondark]

Originally Posted by JeremyH

The ESC is blinking green? It sounds like you need to adjust your trim....

Correct. Just blinking green. No arming beep tone, nothing.

I'll try the trim adjustment now and see if that helps. I hope it's something that simple........yet, i'd feel like a moron if it was. hahaha



Thanks!

[JeremyH]

Yeah, I like the simple solutions. Post up if that fixes the issue.

[glondark]

DOH!! hahaha

Seems to have solved the problem. After getting the throttle trim back to - 0 - the mamba would arm every time. Not sure why it showed up as an issue with the BEC connected but the solution was simple.

Thanks again Jeremy!

[JeremyH]

Good deal. Yeah, I am not sure why the BEC would make a difference....

Anytime those Castle ESCs were working and then all of the sudden wont arm and flash either red or green, then it is usually the trim that got messed up.

[BEELZEBOB]

I had to changes the trim buttons on my DX3r, because i would inadvertently push the throttle trim.

Stuff like that always happens to me after a week of getting the truck ready, and then i set it down to run a course at a comp, and yea....

throttle trim.


The worst was when my on/off switch came loose. I went through 3 gates on the first course, and my truck turned off....

then on....

took me a half hour to figure the neg lead was loose.

[TSK]

Originally Posted by BEELZEBOB

The worst was when my on/off switch came loose. I went through 3 gates on the first course, and my truck turned off....

then on....

took me a half hour to figure the neg lead was loose.

I had that happen on a Rooster CE. I thought I soldered my motor leads in my usual crappy fashion. Wiggling the motor leads wsa temporarily solving the problem because I'd be inadvertantly moving the switch leads as well.

[JeremyH]

Originally Posted by BEELZEBOB

The worst was when my on/off switch came loose.

Cut that crap off! That is the first thing that goes when I get a new ESC. Just cut the leads and twist them together and put a dab of solder, then heat shrink.

Using an external BEC with a lipo, you already have to unplug the pack after you are done...so the switch is not necessary.

[BEELZEBOB]

Yes,

i cut them off now lol.


The ways we learn the way of sound electronics....

[glondark]

I cut mine off this morning as well. After I narrowed down the mysterious arming problem, I went thru and cleaned up all of the wiring and permanently mounted everything.

The DNA SSS Chassis sure doesn't leave many options in the electronics mounting department. hahaha

[TSK]

Originally Posted by glondark

I cut mine off this morning as well. After I narrowed down the mysterious arming problem, I went thru and cleaned up all of the wiring and permanently mounted everything.

The DNA SSS Chassis sure doesn't leave many options in the electronics mounting department. hahaha

Look at EeePee's SSS build thread. There is a TON of space to wire up the electrics.

[BEELZEBOB]

Just be happy you dont have a Novak M2

[glondark]

Originally Posted by TheSCorpionKing

Look at EeePee's SSS build thread. There is a TON of space to wire up the electrics.

I've followed his build closely actually. But my mamba, JR recevier, NH batteries are all larger that the stuff he is running. Someday i'll make the switch to a micro receiver and a lipo battery but right now it's just so easy to have the same battery and charger as in my kiddos crawler.

[Weasel]

Originally Posted by glondark

DOH!! hahaha

Seems to have solved the problem. After getting the throttle trim back to - 0 - the mamba would arm every time. Not sure why it showed up as an issue with the BEC connected but the solution was simple.

Thanks again Jeremy!

Maybe it's due to the ESC being unplugged and needing to reset the throttle throws for forward and reverse? To get them set correctly I believe the Mamba user guide says the trim should be set to zero.