Care and feeding of your MONSTER

[Pdelcast]

Hi Gents, (Thanx for the STICKY!)

Thought I'd pop in here and let everyone know how to care for your MMM combo -- From Castle or from Traxxas or HPI Flux (they are identical internally.)

ESC:

Never exceed 6S voltage using Lipos
For NiMh, be aware that you will very easily damage the cells, so be very gentle with NiMh -- gear for about 30mph MAX or less (they aren't designed to supply the currents that the MMM combo will ask for.)
Never block the cooling vents
Never open the case unless directed to by a CC tech (there is a procedure to prevent damage to the PCB)
Verify that the 6.5mm plugs are secure before each run
Verify that the battery connectors are up to snuff -- NO Tamiya style plugs (they will melt, burn, and mess up your vehicle.)
Make sure the ESC is programmed correctly to handle the type of batteries you are using.
Verify that the cutoff is correct for the type of battery you are using.


Motor:

Verify gearing is correct (using gearing calculator) before first run
Verify that the gear train is smooth, with no gearing issues, grinding, flat spots on gears, etc.
Verify that there is NO binding in the gearing, wheels, etc.
During first run, make several stops to check motor temperature
Never allow the motor to exceed 170F during runs
Never exceed 6S voltage on the motor
Reverify the setup any time you change battery number or type (some batteries will output a lot more power than others...)
Allow 15-20 minutes for the motor to cool between pack swaps.
Don't allow anything to block airflow to the motor.
Airflow, Airflow Airflow. Did I mention that airflow is good?
It's good to add cooling vents/slots in your car body (scoops are good too!) for the motor.
Motor fans are nice too.


Batteries:

Make sure you stop after cutoff when using Lipos -- The cutoff is designed to alert the user when the Lipos are discharged, continuing to run well beyond cutoff can lower the lifetime of the battery. "When you feel the power drop, it's time to stop."

Firmware:
Run verion 1.20 +

If you have a working Monster v1 or v2 update the firmware in your Monster to v1.20. To do this download Castle Link software version V3.12 from the downloads page of Castle Creations website or by clicking this link http://www.castlecreations.com/downl...nstall_312.exe.
Then plug the Monster into your computer, go to the software tab at the top, and click the 'Update Firmware' button on that page. For more information about this update see the 'Release Notes' on our download page. http://www.castlecreations.com/downloads/frh-mamba.html


Remember - heat kills. There are thousands of watts running through these devices, and if anything is wrong, the heat can build up REALLY FAST and damage components.

So just take good care of your MMM, and your MMM will take good care of you.