MM firmware upgrade
 

I started the MM app to program the esc tonight. To my surprise it informed me that a firmware upgrade was available, so I upgraded to V1.09.

I wonder if this is the "fix" that we've been waiting for to make the Neu motors run without cogging. Unfortunately, I don't have a Neu yet, so I can't tell.

That's weird. According to the CC revision history for the Castle Link software, they added Mamba software 1.09, but in the revision history for the MM, it's still on 1.07. It'll be nice once they add some details...

EDIT I just looked a bit more, and they list the 1.09 update on the regular Mamba page. Odd.

Brian, I don't know what it means. When I started the software before and I checked the software version of the esc, it said 1.07. Now, it lists 1.09 AND 1.07. I just hit the upgrade button and it upgraded my MM, I assume. It did something anyway.

I've heard it was just a fix for the auto-lipo thing. I treid calling them today a3-4 times but never got through to Joe or Bernie.

Their web site isn't always accurate I've noticed. There is a version 1.05 firmware for the Mamba25 that was released with Castle Link 2.15 that isn't even listed in the revision history.

Well, that makes reading those revisions kinda useless. :mad:1

Man...I almost jumped up and ordered that Neu 1515/1Y.

Well, according to the release notes the Neu is still a problem;

'Fixed an issue that could cause an error counting the number of cells in Auto-Lipo mode'

Right, but that's for the mamba, not the mamba max. The rev numbers appear to be the same, but I don't think that means the same fix was applied?

Dunno. I'm gonna do it and see if it behaves any different. With the 15/46, I'm getting a bit of cogging, I'll see if it improves.

Sleeb

I'll hook up my Mamba25 after work and see if there is a newer firmware than the currently installed 1.05. If there isn't then it's simply a case where the documentation is wrong and the 1.09 firmware applies only to the Mamba Max. If this isn't the cogging fix then hopefully it'll be fixed sooner rather than later, I'm in the process of doing a MM/Neu powered buggy conversion myself.

Is the cogging problem limited to a particular brand of motor (Lehner, Neu, etc.) or certain types of motors (more than 2 poles)?

Well, it seems it's a Neu-specific issue. Someone here (Rene?) said it runs fine with other 4 and even 6 pole motors. Jhautz did a video with the MM and a Neu and then a LMT (IIRC) and the LMT was MUCH smoother. So, I'd stick with a 2 pole motor for now, or wait and hope for an update, or even the long-awaited MMM...

I think I read on this forum about a guy running a Plettenberg with a MM and he had good results. If the problem is Neu specific, I wonder what it could be. I don't have a clue with regard to the internal workings of an electric motor, so I couldn't begin to fathom what the differences could be among the Neu 4 pole motors and those of other manufacturers.

check photo's in my tread about nue motor's factory.
the nue's are build-up different then other motors.

These motors are actually quite simple; just a bunch of coils wrapped around the inside of the can.

The Neu windings are wrapped around ferrous cores. Wanderers and the MM motors are simply "air wound" - no cores. The core concentrates the magnetic field. Neu also seems to use a fairly low wind count for the kv. The 1512 2.5d 2000kv motor is a 2.5 turn motor! As I said somewhere before, this makes me think these Neus are highly inductive, which can be harder on an ESC if not designed (either hardware and/or software) for it.

I mentioned that RotaryRocket is using a MM with his Pletty Maximum. He said it runs great... made no mention of any cogging. he was very happy.

CC said from day one it should work with multi-pole motors, but of course they always include the line about it being optimized for the MM motors.....

many crawlers use the mm speedo with 14 pole outrunners.

I was going to use a Neu 1512 2.5d. I see from your signature glassdoctor that you're using a MM/Neu combo in your 8ight. The video you posted recently of a race looked like it ran pretty smooth. Would I be better served by another motor or is the cogging with the Neu manageable?

Mike hasn't shipped my order with the motor yet as he's waiting on my chassis to test fit a motor mount so I could probably get something other than the Neu. Looking at Lehner's winding chart a 1940/8 looks to be the closet match (weight, kV) to the 1512 2.5d. I could save a couple hundred dollars and go for a 7/8XL I suppose but I was hoping to run something a little more efficient. I'm open to suggestions...

Well, after further readings it has come to my attention that the Lehner motors have a 4mm output shafts. I already have several 5mm pinions, so my choices are stick with the Neu or try a 7/8XL. It'll be at least a couple months before the off-road season starts up so CC may release the MM update by then.

the 1950 has a 5mm shaft

at least mine does

You are correct, I was referring to the 1930/1940 motors. I'm trying to keep the weight and current draw down and hadn't really considered the larger 1950 or 1515 motors.

I have had it run well enough, but I also have had a MM act up really bad... I have one I am sending back because it won't run smooth anymore. It ran relatively ok....then it cogged very bad, refused to work at all. Since then it's so bad it's not worth using.

That's a problem...

BTW, I did discover after it did this, that the bec wiring had been damaged... there was only a couple strands hanging on. It's possible this had something to do with the MM self-destructing.

I have re-done the wiring and installed another MM in the car yesterday. It seems to run pretty smooth so far. I was going to race again today but I wasn't feeling too good and the roads were bad this morning... not good for a 180 mile drive.

CC needs to fix the damn thing... you listening Joe? ;)

I can confirm that the latest Mamba25 firmware is v1.06 so it appears that the 1.09 firmware on the Castle Creations site is mistakenly listed under the wrong controller and does in fact apply only to the Mamba Max.

That's nice to know. At least it eliminates the confusion. Gotta crack the whip on those webmasters! :mad:1

I, too, have been waiting for this "fix" so that I can order a Nue. I want the 1515/1Y. Well, either that or the 1512/2.5D. I still haven't decided. I'm trying to learn as much as I can about them before I spend the money and wind up with either too much motor, or (worse yet) not enough motor.

I do have to say that I've been running my converted Sportwerks Turmoil with the MM and the Feigao 7XL and it's been great. The more I run it, the less I itch for a better motor. I'm not having any heat problems (4S Lipo) and am getting good runtimes. I'm usually ready for a break before the 6Ah battery dumps. Just for insurace, I run a 40mm fan on the motor and a 1" fan on the esc, both 12v fed directly from the Lipo pack. We put an 8XL into my friend's 8ight conversion and I think that it was a better choice for a medium size track. With a 14T pinion, it has way more power than any nitro on our track and with a 16T pinion, it can border on stupid. If he's not careful going down the straight and he hits a spot where the tires really hook up, the front wheels come up off of the ground.

Yeah, the Feigao's offer an awesome performance for their price.