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Twmaster
04-11-2008, 12:24 AM
So, what exactly is this ESC that comes with the B400??

Is it indeed a heli ESC or something else? Does the stock ESC hit a low voltage cutoff and shut the motor down or does it just keep going?? I'm also sure at this price it is not governor equipped either.

I've been reading of more than few ESC failures with the stock B400. One of the guys at our club had his ESC fail.

I'm going to fly my B400 with the stock ESC until it fails (hopefully it will just keep on getting it!)

Since I'm still wet behind the ears with regard to helis I'm just asking the silly questions that pop into my head while I advance through the hobby.

Thanks gang!
LockMD
04-11-2008, 12:36 AM
Is it indeed a heli ESC or something else? Does the stock ESC hit a low voltage cutoff and shut the motor down or does it just keep going?? I'm also sure at this price it is not governor equipped either.


No governor mode, my 600 (building) does but I dont know why or how to use.....how is that for a newbie LOL

The ESC is fine, most ESC's will not have an internal BEC that can handle all the power output.

Yes, it does have a motor shut down, but you dont want it to get to that point. Putting too much drain on your lipos. I have done it 3-4 times now. 1 caused a crash. I pay way more attention to what batt and what time I am flying now. I have a lipo alarm, but have not installed it yet.

Stock ESC with internal BEC will do fine for STOCK but when you upgrade your servos/gyro it wont be able to handle it. I installed an external bec SportBEC for 30 bucks for cheap insurance.
Twmaster
04-11-2008, 12:44 AM
Thanks Lock..

Not too worried about the BEC as I have a Castle BEC on the bird. I was mostly wondering if a stock airplane ESC would work in the event of a failure. I have more than a few decent 33-40A controls in my "Stuffs" box.
LockMD
04-11-2008, 12:54 AM
I cant comment on the air plane ESC's but if you have the ccBEC you should be fine.
HeliMix
04-11-2008, 10:01 AM
I have a lipo alarm, but have not installed it yet.

I have seen little digital meters that can be mounted on the heli to show you what your battery has left (http://www.radiosouthrc.com/onboard_voltage_monitor.htm) but I have not seen the alarms yet

Where did you find your alarm?
LockMD
04-11-2008, 10:27 AM
I have seen little digital meters that can be mounted on the heli to show you what your battery has left (http://www.radiosouthrc.com/onboard_voltage_monitor.htm) but I have not seen the alarms yet

Where did you find your alarm?

Boy you really taxed my memory on this one, but after some digging, this is the one I have. Visual and audio alarm and you can program it to what voltage you want it to alarm.

http://www.heliproz.com/prodinfo.asp?number=335444

looks like they are out of stock :(
HeliMix
04-11-2008, 10:32 AM
That is sweet. Looks better than just an LCD screen. I now have it on my wish list! Thanks!
LockMD
04-11-2008, 10:43 AM
They have them in stock in the UK

http://customidea.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=102&osCsid=8fd493034d959706e1b40010edf5e9c7
HeliMix
04-11-2008, 10:47 AM
Well, I am building a monster wish list of things I need and want. I can wait a bit for them to hopefully restock in the US I think. LOL
LockMD
04-11-2008, 10:53 AM
thing is, it needs to be soldered in at the ESC's connector, so if you're installing a BEC, you might want to do this at the same time.
carlo_the_wonder_frog
04-11-2008, 01:34 PM
Thanks Lock..

Not too worried about the BEC as I have a Castle BEC on the bird. I was mostly wondering if a stock airplane ESC would work in the event of a failure. I have more than a few decent 33-40A controls in my "Stuffs" box.


The stock brushless ESC works just like a plain old airplane brushless ESC so yes you can use a different ESC. If you were to buy one that met every criteria for a great Heli ESC you would come up with the Kontronik Jazz 40-8-16. , best esc out there bar none. expensive.
visuvius
04-11-2008, 05:16 PM
With the help of my LHS, I just installed a Castle Creations BEC into my Blade 400. My question is, does the internal BEC on the stock ESC need to be disconnected or something. The guy at the LHS didn't think so, he said that the BEC would override it. He installed it by tapping into the battery lead.

SO, do I need to disconnect the stock BEC and if so, how?

THx.
LockMD
04-11-2008, 06:49 PM
yes you do need to, that why I got the SportBEC

Wait until someone confirms this but I think you need to cut the red wire from the ESC
SeaComms
04-11-2008, 08:54 PM
Yes....

http://www.castlecreations.com/images/ccbec_wiring-large.jpg
Twmaster
04-11-2008, 11:30 PM
Yes you need to disconnect the red wire from the ESC to the RX. Don't just cut it. You can easily remove it from the plug. Put some electrical tape or heat shrink over it once out of the plug. This way if you need to use it in something else or wanted to sell it all you'd have to do is plug the wire back into the connector and it's like new.
LockMD
04-12-2008, 12:05 AM
How much is this Castle Creations BEC?

SportBEC seems much better
Twmaster
04-12-2008, 12:09 AM
The CCBEC MAPs at $21.21 IIRC.

Dunno which is 'better' as that is a relative kinda term. From -my- perspective the CCBEC handles more current than I'll ever need on a heli (or plank, yes I fly planks) and is from a brand I trust. It's also made in the USA.

Not digging at the SportBEC. Never seen or used one.

Anyhoo...

I was just curious about the stock ESC as I've heard/seen issues from them.

Perhaps a dedicated thread for BEC devices should be started in an appropriate forum?
LockMD
04-12-2008, 12:16 AM
The CCBEC MAPs at $21.21 IIRC.

Dunno which is 'better' as that is a relative kinda term. From -my- perspective the CCBEC handles more current than I'll ever need on a heli (or plank, yes I fly planks) and is from a brand I trust. It's also made in the USA.

Not digging at the SportBEC. Never seen or used one.


Made in ??? it ships from Ohio, so I'll assume made in USA. This one is 30 bucks. They all have to be soldered BUT you have to cut NO wires with the SportBEC and what is your max setting 5.1V - 5.5.V? This one is 6V. And to switch it, is just that, flip the switch.

Hey to each his own but I think the SportBEC wins hands down.

especially with illiterate electricity people like me, solder and plug and play nothing to cut nothing to cover to protect from the cut.
carlo_the_wonder_frog
04-12-2008, 12:29 AM
You don't have to cut the red wire from the esc to the receiver, you can just take the pin out of the connector and put a piece of tape on it.
Twmaster
04-12-2008, 09:08 PM
You don't have to cut the red wire from the esc to the receiver, you can just take the pin out of the connector and put a piece of tape on it.

Heh, that's what I said in post #15 ;)
Twmaster
04-12-2008, 09:18 PM
Made in ??? it ships from Ohio, so I'll assume made in USA. This one is 30 bucks. They all have to be soldered BUT you have to cut NO wires with the SportBEC and what is your max setting 5.1V - 5.5.V? This one is 6V. And to switch it, is just that, flip the switch.

Hey to each his own but I think the SportBEC wins hands down.

especially with illiterate electricity people like me, solder and plug and play nothing to cut nothing to cover to protect from the cut.

Actually the CCBEC has an output range from 4.8 to 9.0V

As I, and Carlo have pointed out you don't have to cut any wires. The -only- problem known about the CCBEC is early production (before 11/2007) units need to have the signal wire removed if it is plugged into the battery port on Spektrum receivers as it will trigger bind mode on these RX's

The current CCBEC does not have this issue.

As I said before I like the features of the CCBEC. I'm not in any way dissing the SportBEC.