ESC Voltage Question

[John82601]

The RS10 and the Rockslide (1/8 scale) both share the E401 esc per the manuals and Redcat's website. The manual for the Rockslide shows option part number E403 which ties two batteries in series for 14.4v.

So,,,,,,

We should be able to run 3s or 4s(!) on our RS10's and the stock speed control, right.?.?

 

[jsowens]

We should be able to run 3s or 4s(!) on our RS10's and the stock speed control, right.?.?

Nope...the stock speed control is only rated for 8.4v or peak at 9.6v (it says this on the redcat website under part E401...there's a voltage chart). Even a 3s lipo is a bad idea on the stock speed control...and I'm not sure why you'd wanna run more than a 3s really. If you're thinking of running more voltage I would recommend 1 of 2 things:
1. if you're doing lipo, buy a lipo cutoff and run a 2s lipo on the stock ESC.
2. upgrade your ESC to something that can handle higher voltage.

If you're not doing lipo, I wouldn't be tossing a higher voltage nimh battery into something that can't handle it.

 

[nwcrawler]

so what does 9.6v peak mean

 

[jsowens]

Beats me...I'm just going by what it says in the chart on redcat's website. I would imagine it means that the voltage shouldn't exceed that, but maybe someone can confirm.

 

[John82601]

Nope...the stock speed control is only rated for 8.4v or peak at 9.6v (it says this on the redcat website under part E401...there's a voltage chart). Even a 3s lipo is a bad idea on the stock speed control...and I'm not sure why you'd wanna run more than a 3s really. If you're thinking of running more voltage I would recommend 1 of 2 things:
1. if you're doing lipo, buy a lipo cutoff and run a 2s lipo on the stock ESC.
2. upgrade your ESC to something that can handle higher voltage.

If you're not doing lipo, I wouldn't be tossing a higher voltage nimh battery into something that can't handle it.

You are correct in that's what the manual says. I'm running a Sidewinder ESC on 3s in mine but I'm buying another RS10 and a Rockslide in the very near future and buying $75 esc's for $150 crawlers doesn't make financial sense.

My confusion is why would the manufacturer sell an option part that violates their own published literature or are they under-rating the esc for RS10 applications? The Rockslide, with it's twin 540 size, 100t motors is going to put much more strain on the esc than the RS10 will.

Go to: http://www.redcatracing.com/RC-Cars/Rock-Crawlers/Rockslide
View the manual, look at pg 15, E401 ESC (same as RS10). Then reference pg 18, E403 series battery connector. This would supply 14.4v to the esc which is outside of what the manual states is acceptable.

 

[camobob]

I would like to hear someone from redcat chime in on this one

 

[bsn]

If you read the add, it says you can run two batteries to get longer run times. This would mean par. setup not series but the pic in the manual sure looks like it is a series connector.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

I will send you the tamiya plugs I cut off my batties to put on some deans and you can build a connector like the picture and tell us out it worked out. FREE SHIPPING

 

[mr.piston]

With 14,4v. the ESC burning fire. 2 batteries in series, really offer 17,2v. To watch with the voltmeter.
The connector series, is for 2 packages with 3 batteries. You podra to place them in the axes. Ejemplo= 2 pyramids of 3 batteries. Not, if you understand to me.

 

[John82601]

I will send you the tamiya plugs I cut off my batties to put on some deans and you can build a connector like the picture and tell us out it worked out. FREE SHIPPING

That's awesome! :lmao:

I've pondered putting the stock esc back in and giving it a whirl on 3s just to see how long it would last. I'm pretty sure the internal bec would be toast quickly but we run UBEC's anyway. Might have to give it a whirl this weekend.

I can see the idea of using 2 3-cell batteries and using that connector but the pictures in the Rockslide manual for adding a second battery shows two full size (I assume 7.2v) batteries.

 

[dudegetabike]

I've been running 9.6v packs through mine with no problems from the esc ( barely gets warm), but the stock motors get Super Hot. Gives it alot more punch but still doesn't solve the stall problem like I hoped it would. 8.4v runs a little cooler, but my only 8.4 pack is 800mah so it doesn't run long enough to get hot. Thinkin 540 100t motors are the solution.

 

[John82601]

I never did hear from Redcat so I said what the heck and gave it a whirl. I've been running our RS10s and our Rockslide Super on 3s lipo (12.6v peak, 11.1v nom.) without any problems. In our Super the stock E401 is powering a pair of 65t 540's and it barely gets warm after a lunchtime worth of crawling (3900mah 3s battery). AND, I'm still using the internal bec, not an external one.

Tough little esc that E401 is "thumbsup"

 

[DinoCrawler]

I was running a 3s with the stock ESC. I had plans on upgrading anyway so I thought I would try it and see what happened. It actualy did very well. Didn't get hot or anything. I eventually let the smoke out when I was playing around with a stronger servo so it was the BEC portion of the ESC that smoked. Of course this is a guess but when it went I was not moving I was just trying to turn the steering.

Just food for thought. The stock ESC is pretty tough.

 

[Cuzshitty]

On my box for my super rs8 it states you can run either or lipo or nimh

 

[Cuzshitty]

Look up E401 pdf. On on phone or whatever you r on. There are 3 settings on that little esc and 1of them is for low voltage the esc can handle nimh nicd lipo.