Do you need to count the batteries if they are stackable and useable in other projects:wink: I never count packs in the cost of a system just because they dont stay with the vehicle but move around between my helis, cars, and planes.

I started thinking about 1/5 scale conversoins when I heard of the possibility of a HV MMonster. I would love to do an HV MCD RaceRunner buggy:yes: 15s2p A123 should do it.

Guys,
All the bickering is going to scare the CC guys off this thread. Which is better is not as importanted as the real question. How many would they sell! That is a business logic decision. Of course we would all thlink good/better is what will sell.

I want a 9s A123 controller. So the I would love a 8s lipo to come out and if it is a minor effort I say "Patrick start there and then figure out if there is a market for 12S."

I keep all my packs in 3s and series them as needed. Thus 3S,6S,9S would be logical choices, But being A123 is my choice for cars/trucks I get to play with the numbers to see what I really can use as everything is rated in lipo cells.

CC do a 8S controller and I am in for 1 :)

Highflier

highflier --

No worries... I don't scare easily. If there isn't a big enough market to justify the design and tooling costs (and remember, it costs us about $20K in tooling and NRE, and up to $150K - $250K in inventory costs to release a new product) we just won't do it. I hate to say that, but it's all in the economics of it. We can BARELY support the entire boat market -- the market is just barely big enough.

Now, we could charge a large premium (say, double our normal margin) for the product to justify the small quantity if it came down to it...


Patrick

Whoa is me
 

I thought the 8S project was not that big. Oh well I appreciate your honesty. A business has to make smart decisions, Better to have good choices and be able to support what you do, rather then do what people want until you are out of business from bad economics.

Have you considered doing the design work and asking the Asian market to do a knock off. Then rebrand it so not to tarnish your good name?

Highflier

Sorry -- misunderstood. The 8S project is fairly simple, just expensive to execute (the FETs are very expensive...)

I still see too much counterfeit parts and manufacturer reject parts used in Asian electronics -- even happens to big contractors over there. So I don't really trust electronics supply chain in Asia for contractors. Besides, it really doesn't cost me much more to do the production here - - high percentage of robot assembly...

Patrick

If you can get a 12s controller on the market for somewhere between $350 and $400 (price to the end user, not msrp), I am sure that you will sell them. Not like the MM or the MMM sell, but I am sure a lot more large scale conversions and speed setups will be tried with a capable car controller. Look at what people are spending on mgm and quark escs, and they are barely good for 1/8 scale (on a side note you really screwed them, the MMM is better and cheaper, funny!).

You mention the boat market not being big enough, I guess that I can see that. I do not have any of the CC boat controllers, but have played with a hydra 120 and it was very nicely made, plus the pc programming is very handy. I have a few hulls that need equipment, and plan to use CC products. It is nice to have an American company catering to this market!

Patrick - I don't understand the in's and out's of programming controllers, but since you already have the Hydra HV boat controllers - how hard would it be to put a Car profile on it? I can't remember if it was the BK or the MGM controllers (think I remember it being BK), but I recall that they had both boat and car profiles built-in.

I was kinda thinking the same thing. 1 set of hardware.... Or maybe a heat sink only change, but use the same Circuit board. Just like now you can load firmware, just change the CC link to have a Drop box. Plane,Car,boat,Heli.

The single design will have to support worst case spec on each of the items. Or perhaps you just re-rate it based on use. I.E. Car only rate it at 100 amps, (due to surge) plane you rate it at 125, and boat with cooling maybe you can rate it even higher??


I know I used term of "just" and such that makes it sound easy. There is always complexities, I work in the Video game field and trust me I know... People are always telling us just do this or that, and it is good idea but hard is heck even though it sounds easy!

Highflier

We could just wait for the Phoenix-ICE controller.