Hv recall
 

ICE HV, Mamba XL & Hydra Ice HV
Warning & Recall advisory 2011-03
Aug 20, 2011

The performance of a component used in the Castle ICE HV 60, ICE HV 80, ICE HV 120, ICE HV 160, Mamba XL and HYDRA ICE HV controllers has changed from the original specifications for that part. This tolerance change may lead to failure of the affected controllers.
For your safety, we request that all customers cease operation of these controllers immediately. Send all of these controllers back to Castle for modifications required to improve the safety and reliability of these products. This recall includes all controllers labeled as V3. There are no charges associated with this modification.
The only controllers that are properly modified and are approved for operation will be labeled clearly as ICE HV (Amp Rating) 2, Mamba XL 2 & HYDRA ICE HV 2.
We understand that you may not wish to return your controller. Those that have served you well are likely to continue doing so; however, controllers that you may have recently purchased should be assumed to be assembled with the problem components.
If you insist on using these controllers, please be advised that the risks of continued usage begin with severe burns to you and/or others, as well as property damage to your RC vehicle or surroundings. Please wear fire-proof gloves when connecting any HV controllers that use 8 or 10 gauge wire to their power source.
________________________________________
REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE
Click this link and follow the directions of advisory 2011 - 03 to process your return if you have any of the following controllers.
Phoenix ICE HV 60
Phoenix ICE HV 160 & ICE HV 160 LITE

Phoenix ICE HV 80
Mamba XL

Phoenix ICE HV 120
Hydra ICE HV


North American and all non-European customers:
Please return controllers to Castle in Kansas via a traceable delivery service:
CASTLE CREATIONS, INC
120HV SERVICE / Service Department
540 N.ROGERS RD.
OLATHE, KS 66062

European customers:
Please return controllers via a traceable delivery service to our new European repair center:
CASTLE CREATIONS EUROPE BVBA
120HV SERVICE
GEELSEWEG 80
2250 OLEN
BELGIUM

Note: The Olen office cannot support technical support or warranty calls at this time. Direct all questions to Castle using the normal tech support or warranty service addresses.

Hobby dealers and commercial customers worldwide:
Please contact Lori at Castle in Kansas to make arrangements for return of your stock.

________________________________________
Please be sure to include a copy of the return confirmation generated by the web site in your package.
We sincerely appreciate your patience in this matter. As hobbyists ourselves, we understand your disappointment at not being able to use your controller during this period.
Thank you,
Team Castle


FAQs
1. It may not be possible to economically repair some controllers. Those controllers will be replaced by refurbished controllers that were made from unsold controllers that have been recalled from the sales channels.
2. We will replace the control board in as many returned units as possible. We will make sure that you receive your exact controller. This will likely cause the process to take a bit longer, but it will ensure that you are comfortable with the prior use of the controller that you receive from us.
3. As we cannot state in advance the criteria for reparability vs. replacement, please remove all connectors from your controllers before sending them in to us.
4. Due to the manner in which most of the ICE HV controllers and their heat sinks are assembled, we do not recommend that users ask to install the replacement board themselves.
5. We cannot give you an exact estimate of the time required to return your controllers. We will keep you updated as to the status of our repairs via email. We understand that you may be frustrated by this experience, and we will be happy to talk with you individually, but our Tech Support staff do not have any more information to offer you beyond the statements made in this announcement.




Castle Creations Inc. 540 N. Rogers Rd Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 390-6939

Oh man, this sucks big time. I just bought a MMM XL and it is on it's way. I already have to send it back before I even use it. Not cool but at least Castle is willing to take care of the problem free of charge although I will have to pay to ship the controller back. Grrrr....

Is there any info on the exact part that causing this recall and are all the MMM XL controllers affected?

Mine says "REV. 2" on the side on a white sticker....not "Mamba XL 2". So is mine ok? Someone from Castle...please chime in...because people are asking this same question on HPIBAJAFORUM as well.

Thanks....and I love my CC Baja. It freakin flies.

+1 I have a rev.2 also and really don't feel like pulling it, pulling connectors, etc. But now I'm nervous to run my Baja even though it's been running good.....knock, knock, knock.

I feel your pain. I got mine in last week but my builds not done. I just got done soldering up the 8mm bullets this weekend and now time to send it in..... I can't find ANY stickers with a revision on mine?

Sorry guys --

We decided to recall ALL the affected controllers -- just to be safe. PLEASE return your Mamba XL for update.

We will be swapping the control board for a new design with new driver chips.

Thank you!

Patrick

Oh crud, I just cut all my bullet connectors off thinking you were send an entire new XL unit. Last time I sent it in, you guys kept all my connectors...so I did not want that to happen again. So, will I get a new XL or my old one that I hacked the connectors off of....but with a new control board!?!?! The recall was not as clear as it should be.

Well, we suggest you take off the connectors just in case anyway... sometimes during testing we decide to replace the power board too -- just in case it's a good idea to take the connectors off.

Been waiting for one of my MXLs V2 and 1520 motor and bec pro for almost 3 months now..

I also have one more MXL wich is V1 and i am from EU wich means i ship to this new EU CC address... will ship it in a day or 2 priority mail.

How long it will take for CC to ship it back?

I have 4 brand new Mamba XL Rev 2's here. So does this mean if I send them back in I get 4 refurb units in place of my brand new units?

Are there any Mamba XL's on the market that are the upgraded units?

What will happen is that your controllers will be updated to the new revision of the control board.

We open the controller, remove the control board assembly, replace it, and then put the controller back together, do testing and calibration, and send it back.

Thanx!

Patrick

Has this anything to do with stuttering issue?

http://rc-monster.com/forum/showpost...6&postcount=14

I expect it will take at least a couple of weeks to turn them around if not longer. Are there any on the open market yet so those of us that don't want the downtime can buy another? I have seen many threads confusing rev.2 and rev.3 with XL 2, it may be worth sending out a follow-up clarification since many are fighting battles on what the real answer is regarding affected controllers.

Heck ya, I'd buy another as long as I knew it was goign to be the newest version that DID NOT need to be sent in. Anyone have a clue where those critters can be found?

Won't take a couple of weeks -- more like 1-2 days. The fix is really quick and easy -- it's a board swap.

Thanx!

Patrick

Thanks for the note Patrick, I was saying that because all of my repairs in the past have taken 4+ weeks but if this is different then I feel better about sending the XL in without a backup ESC..... but if I can buy an XL 2 on the market somewhere I will :)

Hi Patrick, is this means that also Mamba XL v.1 will be repaired/replaced ?

I bought mine on January 2011.

Regards, Andrea.

Yes, of course. ALL means ALL.

Alas, my MXL V1 looks like this :)
http://berserk80.users.photofile.ru/.../122795839.jpg
http://berserk80.users.photofile.ru/.../123788400.jpg

So expect a new MXL on sale, as far as I understand it v3

My MXL was signed for on the 25th but no word from Castle on it showing up or being worked on. **patiently waiting**

I understand what you are saying, to some extent. but Castle is doing something , only done by one other company, Traxxas. The origional evx-1 E-Maxx esc was recalled, due to smoking when getting wet IIRC. No one complained, traxxas just did it for safety, So is Castle. I agree it's a drag to send back and wait, but you are getting a better product by one of the best electronics companies in the U.S.

Castle is definitely due credit for what they are doing but it's not aswonderful as you make it all seem, in the end they always try and due the right thing but there are many people complaining and many smoked ESCs, and the safety issue = liability problems so there is a real reason to step up before the usual lawsuit motivates a recall.

I don't see the liability issue, All the people injured by skateboards Don't sue the company. I see this as a way for castle to save people money and gain customers, Do you see Hobbyking trying to fix their esc's? How Many times did Schultze say loose connectors were due to user incompitance

1+

Schulze really sucks

Anyone have any info on the updates? Been a week since this thread had any posts and my MXL has been there since the 25th with no word of progress.

25th of what month Nick?:lol: They've had my XL for 3 months.:diablo:

No e-mail reply here either, sent it in the weekend of the recall. I do have the name of the person that signed for it though. So I guess we wait. :neutral:

Nothing heard either. USPS site shows they've had my HV for a few days. Nothing but wait can I do for now.

I heard they are repairing a LOT of HV160s first before the MXL?

Just got off the phone with Castle and they confirmed they received my MXL. Said they were still technically waiting for a fix for them and they have people testing them. Charles guessed 3 weeks.

I know I can't be too mad because they're trying to fix the problem BUT I just spent 2 months working on my truck to get it running and LITERALLY the day I'm ready for testing the MXL gets recalled. I send it in and now have to sit and stare at this monstrosity of a paper weight. I should have never sent it in and just used it. Probably ignorant to say but I'm not even using it on the 2028 motor. Looks like snow could be flying before I get this thing running.

Part of the reason that I haven't sent my one in. I figured they would be swamped with repairs at first and the fact I am using it on a 1717 in only a XL Savage should make life pretty easy for the controller. I am just going to use it and see what happens. Maybe after the summer is over I will send it in. Given the fact that spring is only starting here that will be some time away.

I'm kicking myself for not taking your approach and actually thinking about buying one I found to use until the repairs are being done.

Are you running your 1717 on 6S or 8S?

For the start I will run a few packs through it on 6S and just make sure everything is fine and then up the ante on 8S. I have quite a few 4S packs here waiting to be used. LOL. Anyway I am not even the slightest worried about the ESC. What ever happens to it happens. I am using it within it's specified parameters and anything that might happen to it should be covered by the warranty. I am more worried about the motor. 1717 don't grow on trees. :lol: If I blow it on 8S I think I will just cry but I am hoping that Castle was being a little bit conservative on the RPM limit. If the worst happens and I do toast the 1717 I still have a 1520 sitting on the shelf.

You're only pushing it 5-8k past the rated RPM and I would hope that the 45k limit isn't the EXACT max it can handle.

I bought my hv160 in the may of this year ........ ¿also I need send to castle for the "update/rapair"?

thanks

I just sent in 4 brand new MXL's and now to hear I'm going to have $1k+ in esc's collecting dust there until they get a "fix"? That just doesn't put me in a happy place.

With a bit of load and voltage drop I doubt it would even be that much over. Well thats my theory.


So what's this I hear? They are still working on a fix???? I thought they had the fix already and that is why they did the recall. Now it seems that they did the recall without even having fully engineered a solution yet. Can't be right, can it???

Of course it can, get the flamethrowers of the street fast before a huge lawsuit by saying we already have the fix with a 1-2 day turnaround, then.......:whistle:

Oh well, I haven't had the desire to run an rc in months so I guess I can wait on it, but I know alot of people won't be happy.

Lawsuits???? I doubt you could successfully sue an ESC manufacturer because it went up in flames. If anyone does successfully sue Castle please let me know as I might sue the others as well for all the ESCs that I had go up in flames. :lol: Fat chance.