Castle - Make A Special Edition Monster

[lutach]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

Lutach, is this a 5th scale F1 or something else?

It is 1/8 scale. I've been talking with Ronald Baar one of the owners of Serpent. He said the F1 will be in the next shipment to the US, but I haven't heard anythinf else. If it comes soon, I'll have time to design a new chassis and what ever else it will need.

[Dagger Thrasher]

Nice! That's awesome Patrick....they're gonna be some stunning controllers 12S at 200A constant...flip me with a didgeridoo, that's a lot of power.

Some interesting info in that link, too! The current ratings that you've put on various Mamba controllers are interesting...are they assuming absolute constant operation? They're down on the controllers' hobby "constant" ratings, so I'm guessing so? Also, I see that you're got a Mamba Max Pro listed there. Is that just the normal Max with a different name, or something new?...

Sorry for the questions, you must get fed up with them. Those controllers sound phenomenal!

[Pdelcast]

Originally Posted by Dagger Thrasher

Nice! That's awesome Patrick....they're gonna be some stunning controllers 12S at 200A constant...flip me with a didgeridoo, that's a lot of power.

Some interesting info in that link, too! The current ratings that you've put on various Mamba controllers are interesting...are they assuming absolute constant operation? They're down on the controllers' hobby "constant" ratings, so I'm guessing so? Also, I see that you're got a Mamba Max Pro listed there. Is that just the normal Max with a different name, or something new?...

Sorry for the questions, you must get fed up with them. Those controllers sound phenomenal!

The hobby ratings are realistic true continuous ratings -- they just assume some airflow (about 5mph airflow over the controller.)

The other ratings are with lower airflow, or still air.

The Mamba Max Pro is the next generation Mamba Max -- not released yet (reworking it in parallel with the Monster.)
Slightly lower current handling than the Mamba Max, but adds a switching BEC, up to 5S operation, fan option, better heat sink, and a 5 pin "feature" connector (that can be used for hybrid sensored/sensorless operation.)
The Mamba Max will remain in production -- mostly because some people will want the higher current capability of the Mamba Max. The Pro has slightly lower current handling because we decided to add features but keep the cost similar (fewer FETs, but better heat sink and other features.)

[jhautz]

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

The hobby ratings are realistic true continuous ratings -- they just assume some airflow (about 5mph airflow over the controller.)

The other ratings are with lower airflow, or still air.

The Mamba Max Pro is the next generation Mamba Max -- not released yet (reworking it in parallel with the Monster.)
Slightly lower current handling than the Mamba Max, but adds a switching BEC, up to 5S operation, fan option, better heat sink, and a 5 pin "feature" connector (that can be used for hybrid sensored/sensorless operation.)
The Mamba Max will remain in production -- mostly because some people will want the higher current capability of the Mamba Max. The Pro has slightly lower current handling because we decided to add features but keep the cost similar (fewer FETs, but better heat sink and other features.)

I feel like this MM pro product is missing the mark by a bit. What is really needed is a controller between the MM and the MMM. Give me a MM current handleing capability and footprint , 5s voltage capability and a built in switching BEC (6V!!!) and you have youself a real winner for the 1/8 buggy market in my mind. The MM doesnt have the voltage capability or switching BEC and the MMM is just to dang big to be ideal in a 1/8 buggy. The conroller I described would be a direct bullseye.

I think reducing the current capability from the MM is a big mistake and will limit the usefullness of the controller. (who needs 5s in a rustler???) Why call it a pro add features and reduct the capabilites. You should call the product you described the Sidewinder pro.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm just not understanding the reasoning hear. The pro version of anything RC costs more than the standard version, so why couldnt the Pro MM be a bit more expensive than the standard and keep the same current capabilities.

EDIT: Will this be marketed toward 1/10 or 1/8 buggy?

[Pdelcast]

Originally Posted by jhautz

I feel like this MM pro product is missing the mark by a bit. What is really needed is a controller between the MM and the MMM. Give me a MM current handleing capability and footprint , 5s voltage capability and a built in switching BEC (6V!!!) and you have youself a real winner for the 1/8 buggy market in my mind. The MM doesnt have the voltage capability or switching BEC and the MMM is just to dang big to be ideal in a 1/8 buggy. The conroller I described would be a direct bullseye.

I think reducing the current capability from the MM is a big mistake and will limit the usefullness of the controller. (who needs 5s in a rustler???) Why call it a pro add features and reduct the capabilites. You should call the product you described the Sidewinder pro.

I'm not trying to be a jerk, I'm just not understanding the reasoning hear. The pro version of anything RC costs more than the standard version, so why couldnt the Pro MM be a bit more expensive than the standard and keep the same current capabilities.

EDIT: Will this be marketed toward 1/10 or 1/8 buggy?

I hear you -- the MM Pro is really only for 1/10th scale -- not really 1/8th capable.

I've had a lot of requests for a smaller footprint version of the MMM. The problem is cost -- it gets really expensive to do higher current handling in a very small footprint (current per MOSFET goes way down when doing high density designs.) And remember, most of our products are designed to hit high numbers to offset the cost of R&D. BUT, there is room in our line for a high density, small footprint controller -- just don't expect it to be inexpensive...

That said -- we've been running the MMM in 1/8th buggies for about a year, and haven't had a problem fitting it in a buggy yet...

[jhautz]

Dont get me wrong. I have been running the MMM in my buggy since they came out. I made it fit, but its riding very high. Before the MMM I had a MM and Tekin R1Pro in it and both of those were much better fit size wise. I was able to keep them much lower and it made for a nice clean layout with the exception of the external BEC and the extra wires related to that.

I dont think you quite got what I said though. I'm not looking for something with a higher current capability than the MM. It worked fine for me and was plenty capable power wise. I just want the 5s capability and the built in switching BEC. And maybe slightly modified heatsink that had threaded holes for screwing a 25mm fan to it. Thats all it would take. It doesnt need to be able to handle more current for a 1/8 buggy racing setup. In all honesty, the MMM is overkill for that application from my perspective.

EDIT... You can get rid of the USB plug in the side of the MM too. The CastleLink and Rx plug programing are much better. I dont care for having to figure out how to mount the MM so that I can still access the USB plug.

[lutach]

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

I hear you -- the MM Pro is really only for 1/10th scale -- not really 1/8th capable.

I've had a lot of requests for a smaller footprint version of the MMM. The problem is cost -- it gets really expensive to do higher current handling in a very small footprint (current per MOSFET goes way down when doing high density designs.) And remember, most of our products are designed to hit high numbers to offset the cost of R&D. BUT, there is room in our line for a high density, small footprint controller -- just don't expect it to be inexpensive...

That said -- we've been running the MMM in 1/8th buggies for about a year, and haven't had a problem fitting it in a buggy yet...

A high density is what I was mentioning before with the higher number of smaller sized MOSFET.

[Dagger Thrasher]

That's a point. Obviously a lot of the CIL features would be redundant for our uses, but some areas - like current limiting - could be extremely useful. Maybe just incorporating a few of those features into the hobby CastleLink? I know it's probably nowhere near that simple (or just not possible), but it'd be very cool.

[Arct1k]

At somepoint can/will you just change the MM heatsink to the cross drilled version?

[Dagger Thrasher]

Wow, that sounds pretty nice! The switching BEC in there should help keep the more mainstream 3S setups cooler for sure. Can't wait to see that when it comes out! With 5S operation without a UBEC, it sounds like it could be a good ESC for 1/8th buggies perhaps (at least, low current setups). Thanks for the info on the current ratings too. :)

One question though...how come you're adding a sensor port? I'm just curious, as you've been saying that sensors are near enough useless next to good sensorless software. Unless that's going to be geared towards crawler use?

[Pdelcast]

Originally Posted by Dagger Thrasher

One question though...how come you're adding a sensor port? I'm just curious, as you've been saying that sensors are near enough useless next to good sensorless software. Unless that's going to be geared towards crawler use?

Two reasons -- First is for crawlers, for low Kv sensor motors to allow good holding torque on really steep rock faces
The second reason is for marketing reasons.

[suicideneil]

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

The second reason is for marketing reasons.

Trying to kill-off Novak? that's mean; they only have small weedy motors, how can they fight back against a true ~100amp esc that will run any kind of motor?...

I dont have any issue with fans like I said before- so long as they are used as a substitute for normal airflow, instead of as a forced-cooling unit, its fine be me. I'd like to see a better fan on the MMM, buts thats in hand I gather.

[johnrobholmes]

Trying to get more of the crawling market huh? It will never work. You know that is such a small niche with just a bunch of grown men BSing on the rocks all day.


Can't wait to see if you have any programming tricks up your sleeves (like neutral brake for motors with little drag ability) or what kind of motor you will sensor up. I can't imagine you would just use a normal old two pole inrunner with a sensor, but maybe I am wrong.

[GriffinRU]

Patrick, I am not sure that D2-Pak7 has smaller die than SO8-FL and its current ratings are not that shy. And I agree on SO8-FL vs. LFPAK's.

Personally, I am looking forward to use DirectFET package, you can heatsink them top&bottom equally. For 30V ESC.

I do not see why software can be so complicated, 10 years ago maybe it was an art to make brushless sensoreless, today with all bells and whistles inside micro's and all the features... Cannot believe in that... Neither I have seen chinese ESC with as smooth performance as schulze...

Nice plans for:
8S 200A ->6720W
12S 125A -> 6300W
8S 325A -> 10920W
12S 200A -> 10080W
Just keep wondering what kind of capacitor (size wise) you are planning to use to absorb punishment. Even 2% of 6kW would be 134.4W - that is pretty good size for capacitor...and 2% is nothing you know. Or you plan to have batteries implanted inside fet's :)

-
Did somebody said something about sensors ...Hmm - > Marketing or Hype -> must be crawlers

[Dagger Thrasher]

Originally Posted by Pdelcast

Two reasons -- First is for crawlers, for low Kv sensor motors to allow good holding torque on really steep rock faces
The second reason is for marketing reasons.

Lol, fair enough! The Mamba Max is already a great crawler ESC, so the Pro with a switching BEC and a sensor port should be even better...especially if any sensored outrunners turn up at any point. Is the BEC going to be the same system (minus component issues) as the Monster's?