I'm a moron...almost melted my MMM (also have questions with my MM and MM2)
 

After rejoining the hobby after a long hiatus I figured I'd update the firmware on my Mamba Max and Mamba Monster. First issue, my Mamba Max wouldn't recognize. When I plugged in the USB cable into the built in slot it never lit up or did anything. I tried blowing it out, etc. Nothing. :neutral: It worked just fine a few years ago and has only been ran twice since the last time I hooked it up to the link.

The Mamba Monster updated but somehow got switched to brushed mode and I didn't notice. Was at the track the other day and I put my batteries in and gave it some throttle and all I got was a blip and then nothing. Seemed like a locked rotor. I hadn't run it since the firmware update so I guessed it was a glitch and figured I'd look at it when I got home. I noticed the battery wires were a bit warm when I unplugged everything (they are NEVER warm), so that had me a bit concerned.

Finally plugged it in cause I was going to revert firmware to see if that would fix it and then I saw it in brushed mode. :oops: Fixed that and it seemed to work fine on the bench (and I expect it will work just fine on the track again).

Also, I have another question regarding the Mamba Monster 2. Is it crucial/required to run the fan on it? The fan on my original MMM pretty much never turns on...and neither does the one on my MMP. Assuming I don't gear it to the moon, is it ok without the fan? Input appreciated.

Either way...love my Castle stuff. The only ESC's I own and will own in the future as far as I can see. (Though I noticed you guys just discontinued a bunch of your boat stuff...I was looking for a tiny boat to run in my pool...and think your new Hydra ICE was overkill - are you guys coming out with replacements anytime soon?)

I should clarify the MM still works and runs great...just won't connect to the computer.

I run the Mini Hydro class which is for hydros under 450mm/17.5" with a 110g battery which equates to a 1500mAh 3s and a 5 minute race duration I run a 3000kv 400 size motor spinning a detongued and backcut Octura X427, too fast for most pools unless you are very wealthy and have a full size pool. The Castle Icelite 50 is quite popular in this class, you have to waterproof it, but the average amp draw is only 10-12A so watercooling is not needed, I used to run a Phoenix 35 in the same class (again waterproofed but not cooled and it was plenty big enough for the job and a chunk lighter but the info from the 50 is very nice.

What version of windows are you using... There are no 64bit drivers for mamba max via usb...

See if you updated it before to use the rx cable directly...

If not you'll need an old PC to do a one off update and then us the rx cable

The fan was designed to clip on and off often for running in water. My MMM 1 fan occupationally cut on last summer but my MMM2 have never gotten that hot without the fan on it. The MMM1 had the fan casing going around the heat sink and blocking a lot of airflow in my mind, the MMM2 doesn't once you take the fan off so it should run cooler than the old one if it's fan never came on. You could always run it carefully for a few runs checking temps to make sure, but you should be fine without the fan since heat was never a problem on the old one.

I'm running Windows 7 64...which could very well explain it.

I'll have to dig out my old laptop and give it a try.

Yeah, that's what I was planning to do (run it a few times and check temps).

I'm trying to find the little 10" Magic Cat sold by hobbyking. I guess when the boat got updated to the newer version hobbyking stopped carrying them. There are a few places selling them at $90 but it'd hard to pay for than twice as much (it was $40 off hobbyking). That thing is tiny (10.5") and runs a 180 sized motor. I was thinking all I would have needed is a little 25 amp one (if that...). I think back in the day it was the Hydra 25?

Thanks for the kind words BP!

The fan isn't critical - the ESC will shutdown if it overtemps.

However, you will limit the lifetime of the ESC if you thermal it all the time... high temps are hard on the input capacitors and MOSFETs, and they will not last as long.

If you can drive without a fan, and don't get thermal shutdown -- you are good.


Oh -- and your MMM that got put in brushed mode should be just fine...

Thanx!

Patrick