Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianG
The case really does not enough thermal mass to shed the heat it produces IMO. Adding extra thermal mass and surface area does wonders to control the heat. Plus, the flat bottom makes it easy to add whatever heatsink that will work for whatever mounting you plan to use.
Another issue with the Quarks is the thick thermal sticky pad they use to attach the FETs to the heatsink. This pad doesn't move heat as well as thermal epoxy and tend to build up. You can take the ESC apart, remove the pad, and use thermal epoxy instead, but it will most likely void the warranty. However, I've done this mod and added extra heatsinking to both of my Quarks and they run a LOT cooler, even without any fans.
There are two other issues to consider:
1) They don't run 6s despite their rating, so you are limited to 5s or 16 cells.
2) Reverse brake is not quite right. When moving forwards, the brake is proportional. But in reverse, the brake is a sudden stop. Of course this is a non-issue if running in forward only mode.
Other than that, the Quarks run silky smooth and just about any motor. And warranty work is fast and easy from all reports.
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I have a slightly different opinion here. I have had success with the quarks with only using the heatsink on the back of the case, for a while.(about a summer or so of running for me) Then as the esc gets older the contact between the fets and the thermal tape on the inside of the case starts to get loose and the heatsink no longer does the trick. The internal thermal mod then needs to be done to keep it cool. Running in a Revo without the heatsink... forget it, don't even bother.
As far as the 6s problem goes, the quark does run 6s. I have run it many times on both the 125 and the 80 version of the quark. The issue is at start up with a freshly charged pack it tends to stutter or cog. Once its moving there is no issue, and once the pack starts to come down from its freshly charged voltage the problem completely disappears. SO yes I agree with Brian that it does not run 6s as well as it should, but I disagree because it does run the 6s.
I've never seen or at least noticed the reverse braking thing that Brian mentioned. I rarely use reverse and when I do I'm not going very fast. Just to back out of some trouble so I guess that's why I never even noticed it.
On the plus side of the Quark, I still believe it is the smoothest running esc out there on 5s or less. Nothing I have tried has matched the silky smooth start up and very controllable and reliable throttle and braking. I have tried just about everything that is currently available at one point or another and once the thermal mod is done on the quark its still the best ESC out there IMO.]