Looking for advice picking electronics

[Burger_Enthusiast]

Getting back into RC, and picked up a Capra kit last weekend. This will be my first crawler, so I'm a bit hesitant to make a choice. Wondering if the folks here could share their knowledge, and help me pick. I'll list below the current contenders for each category. Only change I'll be making from stock for now, is installing the RR 11T pinion.

ESC/Motor
Option 1 - Hobbywing AXE 540L R2 w/ 2100kv motor
Pros: FOC seems awesome, built in BT for updates/programming
Cons: modification required to fit motor, Proprietary sensor, cost

Option 2 - CC Copperhead 10 w/ 1900kv slate motor
Pros: Cost, familiarity (previous experience with CC combos), fits without modification
Cons: No FOC or similar

Main reason I lean to the HW, is due to the FOC, which seems awesome for a crawler. Would also consider the HH Crawlmaster mini, but think I'll give them some time to get the programming sorted at least.

Servo
Option 1 - HH SHV800
Option 2 - Reefs 555

Transmitter
Option 1 - Futaba 4PM
Option 2 - FlySky NB4
Option 3 - Spektrum DX5

Battery
Haven't really looked into options here. But open to recommendations for 3S packs that fit well

Any advice, opinions, or other suggestions are welcomed. Thanks!

EDIT: Wanted to update this post with my final picks. I went with the Copperhead and HH Puller Pro stubby 2200kv w/ 10T pinion. HH SHV800 for the servo. Futaba 4PM w/ R304SB receiver. GensAce adventure 3S 3600mah lipo. So far, in testing, everything is working great. Have yet to get it on some rocks or the LHS crawling course, but I have high hopes it will perform up to my expectations.

 

[dgonslayer]

i went with a hobbywing axe 2300 combo reefs 555 spektrum dx3 radio with a sr315 rx a helios 3s 3700 batt have dig installed n setup but not plugged in pretty quick n climbs like a goat stock shocks 35 wt oil runnin cheapo alum beadlocs n voodoo klr golds

 

[Voodoobrew]

Search for battery packs at hobbyking
Their battery finder is the best I have seen

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[OnTheTrail]

I highly recommend the Vanquish underdrive set for the rear axle. Many advantages. You may want to get a couple packs of various shims too. Most likely will need them for getting the pinion gear just right whether stock or the Vanquish.

https://www.vanquishproducts.com/ar44-axle-underdrive-gear-set-33t-8t/

 

[Burger_Enthusiast]

i went with a hobbywing axe 2300 combo reefs 555 spektrum dx3 radio with a sr315 rx a helios 3s 3700 batt have dig installed n setup but not plugged in pretty quick n climbs like a goat stock shocks 35 wt oil runnin cheapo alum beadlocs n voodoo klr golds

Thanks for the insight. I'm pretty much sold on the Axe combo, just not thrilled about cutting up the skid.

 

[Burger_Enthusiast]

Search for battery packs at hobbyking
Their battery finder is the best I have seen

Sent from my SM-N986U using Tapatalk

Will definitely check that out, thanks!

I highly recommend the Vanquish underdrive set for the rear axle. Many advantages. You may want to get a couple packs of various shims too. Most likely will need them for getting the pinion gear just right whether stock or the Vanquish.

https://www.vanquishproducts.com/ar44-axle-underdrive-gear-set-33t-8t/

I've been reading about the Capra not having the best gearing. Since this is my first crawler, I'm going to get it running stock (aside from the 11T pinion), and see how it goes. But some gearing changes are probably likely. I will keep this in mind after giving it a try in stock form. Would this rear underdrive accomplish the same as the front overdrive portal gears, or is there an advantage to one or the other? Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Voodoobrew]

I don't know how well a revolver motor works in a Capra, but they can turn pretty slow and have more torque then any other similar sized motor. If you don't want the noise then the crawl master from Holmes hobbies is a good choice.

They are slower motors though, so you lose some speed.

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[OnTheTrail]

Would this rear underdrive accomplish the same as the front overdrive portal gears, or is there an advantage to one or the other?

Yes, under driving the rear while leaving the front stock will accomplish the same thing as overdriving the front only. The difference is you're lowering the overall gearing (as a whole) so you will loose some top speed. For my needs, the Capra is not a fast trail rig or a rock racer so no biggie. I even went down to a lower motor pinion as well. The lower the gearing overall, the less stress there is on the gear train as well as picking up better low speed control and better braking. Again, this will come at a sacrifice of top speed if that a concern to you.

Over driving the front, or under driving the rear will result in better climbing, better turning and better downhill tracking. There is some now induced gear strain but rarely an issue unless doing a lot of straight and level driving on high traction surfaces (i.e. road).

Good luck with the Carpa!

 

[Timmahh]

I do like my HW Axe/3300 combos (I have 2, one in a RedCat Gen 8 Axe, and one I put in my SSD Trail King).

For crawler systems, they are great. Castle and Holmes Puller Pro was my other option I was looking at.

I went with Reefs 555 for steering on the TK rig. The Gen8 has the 422HD.

Like the reefs servos. The Holmes is a good unit also.

The FOC for me is good. Some like the raw power of the castle/holmes setups. but the FOC for me, works.

 

[King Dork]

I don't know how well a revolver motor works in a Capra,

I run a 2200kv V2 Revolver with a Castle Mamba X in my Capra with an 11 tooth pinion. With a little tuning of the throttle curve it can creep amazing with no noticeable cogging and still has very decent top speed. It’s a torque monster.

 

[Voodoobrew]

The start speed of the Hobby wing axe foc as 10x higher/faster then a revolver and crawlmaster esc. That's why I sold my axe system. It was one of the original units so maybe they got better. But for crawling slow, the axe couldn't cut it.

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[Burger_Enthusiast]

Yes, under driving the rear while leaving the front stock will accomplish the same thing as overdriving the front only. The difference is you're lowering the overall gearing (as a whole) so you will loose some top speed. For my needs, the Capra is not a fast trail rig or a rock racer so no biggie. I even went down to a lower motor pinion as well. The lower the gearing overall, the less stress there is on the gear train as well as picking up better low speed control and better braking. Again, this will come at a sacrifice of top speed if that a concern to you.

Over driving the front, or under driving the rear will result in better climbing, better turning and better downhill tracking. There is some now induced gear strain but rarely an issue unless doing a lot of straight and level driving on high traction surfaces (i.e. road).

Good luck with the Carpa!

Awesome, thanks for the clarification. Trying not to go crazy and make too many changes/upgrades before even driving it stock lol.

 

[Burger_Enthusiast]

I run a 2200kv V2 Revolver with a Castle Mamba X in my Capra with an 11 tooth pinion. With a little tuning of the throttle curve it can creep amazing with no noticeable cogging and still has very decent top speed. It’s a torque monster.

The start speed of the Hobby wing axe foc as 10x higher/faster then a revolver and crawlmaster esc. That's why I sold my axe system. It was one of the original units so maybe they got better. But for crawling slow, the axe couldn't cut it.

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Well shoot, you guys have me second guessing the Axe. So even being sensorless, with CC tuning, the revolver has just as good or better start up and slow speed control? What about the sensored puller pro motors, do you know why you would choose one over the other? HH currently has the puller pro V2 stubby 2200kv and the revolver V2 2200kv in stock (for now).

Voodoobrew, you mentioned the crawlmaster ESC, is that the new mini, or is there a different version I'm not seeing?

I already received the HH SHV800, so I wouldn't mind adding more HH gear to the truck lol.

 

[Voodoobrew]

It's the new mini esc.

I am not a fan of the stubby sensored puller motors. I only had one that was a 3300kv on a micro mamba x so maybe that esc just couldn't handle the kv. But it was severely lacking in torque.

If you get the axe at least get the one where the esc is built in the motor. That makes the wiring look nice.

This video is old, and maybe the axe has improved, the revolver definitely has with the new crawlmaster mini esc.
https://youtu.be/QxIobffjAw0

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[Burger_Enthusiast]

It's the new mini esc.

I am not a fan of the stubby sensored puller motors. I only had one that was a 3300kv on a micro mamba x so maybe that esc just couldn't handle the kv. But it was severely lacking in torque.

If you get the axe at least get the one where the esc is built in the motor. That makes the wiring look nice.

This video is old, and maybe the axe has improved, the revolver definitely has with the new crawlmaster mini esc.
https://youtu.be/QxIobffjAw0

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Oh yeah, the Crawlmaster looks fantastic. The demo video has me sold on a HH ESC. It's just a little too early, and really tough to get ahold of. I'll be keeping up with the development, and can't wait to see more progress. A Crawlmaster/Revolver combo is definitely in the cards, but need something to tinker with that is ready now.

I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a CC Copperhead with Puller Pro V2 stubby 2200kv combo from HH. I did a lot more digging here and a good amount of folks seem to really like the Mamba X w/ PP combo, and the Copperhead should have similar power delivery and tuning, just no aux port and less data logging. Plus the Copperhead will be more versatile if I decide to try a different motor, because the Revolver is still very tempting. The Copperhead styling also speaks to me lol.

I'm still pretty convinced the current Axe FOC works quite well. But you're tied to their specific motors if you want to use the FOC. The sensor plug is proprietary even if you wanted to use a motor without FOC (maybe there is an adapter?). To top it off, an aftermarket skid or trimming of the stock skid is required to fit the 540L sized motor.

 

[Voodoobrew]

When I build a new vehicle, the esc and motor are pretty much mated for life whatever they are. If the axe works well then it won't matter if your limited to their stuff. If I went axe I would get their Hobbywing QuicRun Fusion FOC 2-in-1 ESC & Motor System*




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[arizona98tj]

I recently upgraded the stock motor/ESC in my Capra to a CC "Crawler Edition" Combo Copperhead 10 w/ Series 4 1900kv sensored brushless motor. I like it every bit as much as the AXE system in my Redcat Gen 8 Scout. With an 11T pinion on the new CC motor, overall gearing was right what I was hoping for. A 3S 1300 battery gets me an easy 2+ hours of mixed run time. I don't see a reason to haul around more battery weight.

I hope you enjoy your new Copperhead power system. After looking at the data logs on mine, I pulled the plug on the ESC fan. I then checked the logs again after a typical run and found the fan wasn't needed for crawling. The ESC only got to 99 degrees F, which wasn't bad given the ambient air temp was about 80F.

 

[Timmahh]

As far as Radio system, Hard to beat these Radiolink RC6GS radios.
Literally a 400.00 radio in an 80.00 box and an old spectrum TX case. lol

biggest downfall is it is only 10 model memory.
Otherwise Id buy and use one over any spectrum and most Futaba/JR radios.

I seriously like this radio the more I use it.

 

[Burger_Enthusiast]

When I build a new vehicle, the esc and motor are pretty much mated for life whatever they are. If the axe works well then it won't matter if your limited to their stuff. If I went axe I would get their Hobbywing QuicRun Fusion FOC 2-in-1 ESC & Motor System*

Yeah, the Fusion FOC looks awesome. It's just way too big for the Capra. If I pick up another crawler, I'll go with something that can fit the Fusion, or at least the Axe R2.

 

[Burger_Enthusiast]

I recently upgraded the stock motor/ESC in my Capra to a CC "Crawler Edition" Combo Copperhead 10 w/ Series 4 1900kv sensored brushless motor. I like it every bit as much as the AXE system in my Redcat Gen 8 Scout. With an 11T pinion on the new CC motor, overall gearing was right what I was hoping for. A 3S 1300 battery gets me an easy 2+ hours of mixed run time. I don't see a reason to haul around more battery weight.

I hope you enjoy your new Copperhead power system. After looking at the data logs on mine, I pulled the plug on the ESC fan. I then checked the logs again after a typical run and found the fan wasn't needed for crawling. The ESC only got to 99 degrees F, which wasn't bad given the ambient air temp was about 80F.

Awesome! and thanks! I took the fan off of mine as well. Are you running in SmartSense mode? I had some stuttering when the ESC transitioned from sensored to sensorless operation. Issue goes away when in sensored only mode though. CC support said it's normal, and gave some tips on tuning it out, but I'm just keeping it on sensored mode for now. Running a 10T pinion on the HH Puller pro v2.