Recovering from firmware update interruption?
 

Soooo. I recently sent my old mamba max (not pro) in for repair. I had an issue where the ESC would shut down, but I still had steering, then re arm, and carry on. They found no issues whatsoever, but did update the firmware.

When I got it back, I was in the process of reverting it back to 1.21 so that I can run 4s. I was performing the update with the rx cable adapter like the newer escs use.

See where this is going?

Well, if not, the older firmware versions don't support the rx adapter, and only work through the USB port built into the ESC. I never gave this a thought. Halfway through the firmware change, the connection was lost.

Now the computer won't recognize the ESC, and when I hook up power, I get a faint glow from the LEDs.

Is there any recovering from this mishap? Or cut my losses and appreciate the many years of service this outstanding ESC gave me?

I'm guessing if it does not connect to the PC, my hands are tied?

You need an old xp pc 32bit and the adapter. That should be able to put 1.24 on it.

I have a windows xp computer. I also have a windows 2000 with castle link. Lol. By adapter, you simply mean the USB cable? I have the Castle Link rx cord adapter, which was in use in the revert when it bricked, and I have the cable that connects directly to the usb on the esc. Neither does anything. I was in the process of using conformal coating to waterproof it, and put the coating on the USB port I have since soaked and cleaned that with acetone, and still no connection.

In the back of my mind I keep thinking maybe it isn't connecting because of the conformal coating, so I soak and scrub it with a toothbrush again to no avail. It is visibly cleaner of the conformal coating, but perhaps it still isn't all gone-though I think it is from the USB port.

It lost connection mid update because I was reverting from the newest firmware which supports the rx cable adapter, back to an older version which does not. I'm guessing it was nearly done, then disconnected because it couldn't see the rx adapter any more. Now it is lost in limbo somewhere?

Maybe it is a stupid thought, but if the coating is the connection problem, the whole ESC would no longer be able to work anyway, because of bad connections of every component in the ESC ( fets, resistors etc? )

your original issue is because your servo is drawing too much current and shutting the bec off. a glitchbuster/etc should take care of that issue.

2nd issue, the esc is bricked. I had something similar happen while trying to 'update' an esc to something else:whistle:


Castle may have a way of recovering it, idk:neutral:

Not really. The conformal coating is an external coating, which won't let water short things out. Since I put it inside the usb port, it won't allow a connection between the usb port and the usb cable. It's forming a barrier there. Think, usb condom. Though I'm pretty certain I've stripped it all off.

Conformal coating is the very same thing many companies use to waterproof their escs from the factory. It goes on externally, the same idea as plasti dipping, but it doesn't insulate thermally like the plastidip does.

My original issue happened with, and without, an external bec. Bad external bec perhaps? It was never anything more than a stock traxxas servo.

And I'm assuming there is no recovering from the brick? WAAAAAAAAA!

Lol

I sent it in for the repair, which was 20$, plus my shipping. I hate to sink another 30$ into it, but it was an excellent 4s, but small profile and small footprint, esc. I'm so mad at myself for not thinking about how this would happen before I began the revert with the rx cable adapter. I trashed a perfect esc!

I was in the process of waterproofing it, to drive the 21t titan on 4s in my telly. It was Perfect. It fit right in, and I wasn't gonna have the sensor port to contend with in the water.