Does the cable link come included with the Monster, Patrick?

Oh I understand the "made in the USA" requirements, have been through that myself. California really irritates me because the Feds are supposed to set trade regulations and requirements, but Cali always seems to think they need to do more. Anyway, off my soap box.

Pretty much nothing can be 100% made in USA with USA parts so......

Also I used to have a title like yours, went something like

Brian Ginn
Operations Facility Manager (not allowed on the forklift at anytime)

The other day i confirmed with a Castle rep (not Joe) that the CastleLink was included with the Monster. But after reading the website, I agree it doesnt sound like it does.
I just got an email from Joe reconfirming that the CastleLink DOES come with the Monster. Bonus for those of us that dont have them. For those that do... better hurry and get them on eBay!

Can we confirm how this esc will be packaged- with 10g wires all-round for the motor and batts, or 6.5mm plugs for the batts etc? I will need more plugs for my batts anyway, but at least I'll know what to order before I have the esc onhand.

OK,

I believe this is how it will be (It is Saturday, so I don't have the build instructions in front of me -- this is from memory.)

There will be a Castle Link included free with every Monster Max ESC - - it is a new version, just looks a little different than the current version (black PCB, immersion gold finish with cool new Castle Logo.)

We will be using 10ga wires for the power side, and 10ga wires for the motor side with 6.5mm wire bullets installed. Motor side bullets will be included.

Lemme know if I missed anything!

Patrick del Castillo
President (But not allowed to drive the Emaxx or 1/8 buggies for fear of killing someone)
Castle Creations

Lutach,

Haven't started working on an HV version yet. We could go as high as 8S with some part changes on the current Monster (using a 40V FET instead of a 30V FET and some other minor parts changes.) But don't see much demand for an 8S or 12S system right now.

Also, a 12S BEC would be an issue -- high voltage BECs that can handle a significant amount of current are huge. So, I would prefer to do it as an opto system.

So, an opto system, 60V design isn't too difficult. I just need to find time for the design. Got so many other things going on...

Patrick

/agree

'nuff said

Patrick what are the actual amp ratings for the Monster?

I can work with opto as most of my ESC are opto. I think demand is there, but once folks understand the benefits of HV, there should be more demand and I'm sure the boat guys will use it as well. The Monster will be using the SUPERSO8 (TDSON-8) package MOSFET and Infineon has a BSC079N10NS that seems real good. I wanted to try something with my HV110 that I still have to send to Castle for repair. The MOSFET that I wanted to use has a 14 week lead time and the only one available is a 100V that has a cont. 34A at 25C and 21A at 100C. It has the same SO-8 foot print. All I would need is a simple forward/brake car program if it's possible. I called you, but I think it was on the day you were out sick. I know you are very busy and I would rather have you do it to my controller than waste a good one.

Actually, the BSC079N10 doesn't work well at all in motor controller applications. We've been working with samples of that MOSFET for about six months and have had very serious issues getting that FET to work well in a bridge application.

However, the BSC118N10 works great, and is the FET we are using in the SHV controller. It is a little higher on resistance, but works in bridge applications. The BSC079 won't stay off on the low side due to gate capacitance ratio issues.

Now that said, the manufacturer's continuous amp ratings on ANY FET are total BS. It's mostly specmanship between manufacturers. There is no way the BSC079N10 can take 34 amps unless it was by itself with a near infinite heat sink... That's 10 watts of waste heat at 34 amps -- would burn up almost instantly.

Just look at how many FETs we use per amp on the phases of the HV controller.

You can assume that a dissipation of about 300-400 milliwatts (.3-.4 watts) per FET (of I^2R losses - -assumes very fast turnon / turnoff) is going to be a safe maximum. So for the BSC118 (11.8 milliohms) that gives a maximum of about 10-12 amps per FET on each half-bridge leg, when WELL heat sinked. Given that the MMM has 36 FETs (6 FETs per half-bridge leg) that would only yield a 60-70 amp controller. (I leave it as an exercise to the reader to try the math on the MMM NTMFS4833 FETs, to get a valid maximum continuous current for the MMM)

The HV-110 would be a better platform with 108 output FETs (18 per phase), but it cannot dissipate as much heat per FET as the MMM.

So, I think a 72 FET controller would probably be best -- using two power boards like the MMM, with good heat transfer. That would yield a pretty bulletproof controller in a smallish form factor. :yipi:

We won't even talk about the SHV-250, because it is a little big (5" x 2.5" footprint.) :whistle:

Patrick del Castillo
President (And still principle engineer!) :sleep:
Castle Creations


I like the silly smilies -- even though my wife thinks they are annoying... :oh: :gasp:

Patrick,
A little off topic but could you let us know when the conversion kits should be out? also for what kits are you making them for? I really like the battery trays. thanks

As a math challenged person, could you just tell me what the continuous and peak amp ratings for the Monster are please? "more than you can handle" is a little ambiguous for choosing a motor.

The 34A I mentioned is from NXP and I know Renessas have some as well with the same package. NXP said the MOSFET has an SO-8 foot print, but it acts as a DPAK. There is only one controller that I know of that is using these type of MOSFET (Not the 100V one though) and pictures can be found here:http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/show...&postcount=126. I was looking through the BSC079N10 datasheet and they say Tc 25C 100A and Tc 100C 64A, but the Ta at 25C is only 13.4A.

That's an LFPAK mosfet. Not as good as a SO-8 leadless (like the BSC079/BSC118/NTMFS4833) for dissipation. DPAK, SO-8, SO-8FL, LFPAK, it doesn't really matter. It's all about how much you can dissipate, and how much the FET can take internally. You see, the FET people have been "juicing" their ratings for years, so always take the ratings with a grain of salt. The NTMFS4833 we are using on the MMM is rated at 191A per FET -- can it really take that kind of current? No way, not even close!

About .3-.4 watts per FET is all you can hope to dissipate in a high density ESC type application (a little more with a good heat sink and fan, but not much more.) Anyone who tells you different is either wrong or lying.

The math really counts -- you can't fool physics.

Now, there are companies (like certain of our competitors) who like to just add up the FET ratings and call that the rating of their controllers. However, it is again total BS, as no FET can take that kind of power for more than a second or so. If we did that for the MMM, the rating of the MMM would be 1150 amps. Can the MMM take 1150A? No, it can't. Can our competitor's speed controls handle 700A? No, they can't, even if they are rated to do so.

And then some other competitors take a 20 second rating, and call that "continuous" --- Better, but still misleading in my opinion.

So we don't really want to get involved in creating total BS ratings for our controllers. And if we publish truly honest ratings, we will look anemic next to our competitors who are publishing BS ratings.

So what do we do? We create controllers that will handle pretty much anything you want to throw at them -- they are so over-built that there isn't any problems with power handling.

But I won't BS you and tell you the MMM will handle 1150A continuous like some of our competitors might... because the MMM won't handle 1150A continuous. Our Emaxx draws about 100A average, and about 800A during acceleration (for about a second or so), and the MMM handles it fine. (better than the motor in fact.) And it will take full throttle/ full brake / full throttle/ full brake continuously for as long as you want to do it on a system that will go 70mph on either an Emaxx or an 1/8 scale buggy, outputting about 2250 watts average and almost 10,000 watts peak.

So this is my dilemma.


So should I:

1. Give a real-world continuous and burst current rating that will make the MMM look anemic against competitors controllers when in fact the MMM will handle much more current than the competition?

or

2. Give a BS rating on the same scale as the competition which will allow customers to comparison shop on a level field, but are really totally BS numbers?

or

3. Just don't rate a continuous and peak rating because option 1 misleads some consumers and option 2 misleads other consumers?


Thanks for listening to me rant!!!


Patrick del Castillo
President
Castle Creations

Gixxer--

We don't have a firm date on the conversion kits yet -- what you saw was a prototype. We still have to finalize the design (couple weeks) and get the molds cut (about six weeks or so) before we will have them available for the public.

We will produce conversion kits for the Kyosho Inferno, Losi Eight, and the Jammin as well as others (some of which have not been announced yet.)

Patrick

any plans on doing the hyper 8.5 or hyper 9? I am thinking of picking one of them up? thanks

Sorted. Time to go buy some 10g wire and 5.5mm bullets to make some series Y leads then. Cheers Patrick! :yes:

One more thing though: on the subject of FET ratings and exaggerated figures- the hvmaxx is rated at 400amps (:lol:), any chance you know what its more likely to be rated at?... I've always wondered.

I think number 1 is best, but I still understand your dilemma.

I think giving several setup examples with motor/voltage/performance information for several of the most popular vehicles would be good.

You had something similar for the MM and for most novices, that was helpful. As far as performance over the competitor, that will all be proven once these things hit the streets.

Jesus, 100amps cont! Am I correct in thinking this is at 6s voltage (22.2?)?

What batteries do you have that can keep up with this load? Do they hold voltage well under these kinds of loads?

Seeing an emaxx do 70 must be cool. You guys need to add that vid to the MMM listing (or whatever it is now called)!

Patrick,

Have you tried the BSC082N10? Would it be possible to make a 12S Monster Max. I just need an HV from a company in the USA. Please don't make me start begging or sign my soul for one :rules:. I know this isn't much, but a few people want a 12S or maybe more for car use: http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10609.

Yeah, we started with the BSC082N10 about a year ago on the SHV design. Found it had the same issues (even worse actually) as the BSC079

But that's OK, the BSC118N10 works fine, and handles almost as much current as the other two.

Now, a 12S controller only needs a 60V FET, not 100V.

One possibility is that I'm working on the 60V (12s) Phoenix-ICE controller line right now, and it will have the hardware support for Mamba type software (the current Phoenix-HV does not have similar hardware to the Mamba line.)

Patrick

Sounds good! I will test it to the limits. Mine is going in a 15 pound Savage X with a 1527 1D motor. I actually bought 2 Monsters because I am going to torture the first into failure. Man, what a great time to be in RC!

Ok. The Phoenix-ICE sounds good. Will the SHV support the Mamba software as well. I just heard that my F1 will be in the next shipment to the US and I will use my 2 10S1P A123 and my 2 10S1P Bosch packs with it and I would like to use them for this F1.

Edit: I only mentioned the 100V mainly because I haven't seen a 60V in that package.

Awesome rant Pat, a little touch of the industry fluff there.

So, a Mamba-ICE would just be a matter of programming...SWEET!

Patrick, first let me say thanks on behalf of all of us who have been waiting patiently for the MMM! I of course have one on order and when it arrives, I'll be very happy. You guys are doing the entire electric side of the hobby a huge service.

Looking at the photos of the E-Revo with your system installed it made me long for yet another un-released product...your Castle "flavored" Neu motors...they just look so sweet and the buzz about your RC Car/Truck specific changes make me want to hold out for one and NOT buy a true-blue Neu designed around aircraft specs...how long is the wait till yours ship? If it's going to be soon, I'll likely wait, if not I may give in and get the real thing.

Regardless, thank you.

DM

DM,

I believe we will have the Neu style motors in about six weeks, but I'm not 100% positive. I'm going to visit our factory in China on May 1st, and I'll be back May 8th. I'll have a better idea of when the motors will be available when I get back.

Patrick

If you need me to fill in for you when you are gone, I will. The shop does have wheelchair access, right? Just let me know where you want the holes in the fence. LOL JMWY

Patrick, how hard would it be to put car software on a HV-110?

Hey Patrick, can you please confirm the Mamba Monster bullets and wires? What exactly will it come with on this first run? I already soldered 5.5mm connectors on my Neu 1515.

From the previous page:

http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/show...&postcount=125

This phoenix-ice sounds promising, it would make 5th scale conversions a little more realistic given you can put car software in it. Any guesses as to the ballpark price on this phoenix-ice?

that is great news. also can you let me know if you will be doing conversion for the hyper 8.5 or hyper 9? thanks

So the monster will include:
- Monster Max
- Castle Link (new)
- Battery Wires without connectors
- Motor wires with bullets on the wires and 2 bullets by themselves to put on the motor to connect the motor to the bullets on the wire of the esc?

I ordered a castle link with my esc as well as 2 sets of plugs. It looks like I ain't going to be needing those.

Patrick without quoting the last 6 or 7 posts you made, I'd like to say "right on!!!!:yipi:" it is so cool to see this kind of technical goodness:rules: being put into a public forum:yes:. I am constantly impressed with Castle, and I wouln't even consider spending my hard earned play money with a lesser company:no:.

The other thing I just cought was that your wife doesn't care for the smilies:tongue: that means you are going on the forums at home?!? Awsome, you tollerate our whining about "when?, when?, what?, when? why not? how come?":lol: and still show up on your personal time!:surprised:

YOU ROCK!!!! :yes:

One question, are the pre-sales getting the volume you need? I want to see Castle suceed big time (especially on the surface side), I hope it proves very fruitful. I'll be ordering the "package deal" A.S.A.P. so if you come back from China with some samples PM me hahahahaa. Just kidding (well on the other hand:whistle:)

With as much juice as we're talking about, do you guys think that 35A PowerPole/Sermos/Anderson connectors will be sufficient for the batteries? That's what I use on everything, and they appear to be doing the job so far.

Thoughts?

seeing as they have put the 6.5mm connectors on and said they will handle 200A MAX then im not sure if the power poles will handle more than say, 50A. if your using powerful batteries, this may be a place where it heats up , and reducing perfomance.

ryan

I would be curious to see someone test this.

i im a new guy on this forum..and i pre order a mmm esc but the wire and the 6,5mm plug seems not come whit the esc this is right?

sorry for my poor english...:oops:

tanks