MGM Woes

[SV6000]

Hi all
I have recently purchased the 280A 6s ESC from MGM compro and i am having a few little dramas. First drama is that when i hook it up to my PC or laptop to get the SW updates it will not download the info, i keep getting an internet connection error. The Flasher program will find and update the USBCOM++ just fine though.
My second drama is that the truggy doesnt seem to have any brakes. I can set the brake and drag brake settings to 100% and it will still take a really long time to slow down
I have checked all of my radio settings and everything seems normal.
For the sake of diagnosing the system i am running is a Futaba 3pk with 2.4ghz radio, and a plettenburg maxximum on 4s. The ESC wires are directly soldered to the motor wires as the speedy came with two sets of power conductors (ordering mistake i made). As a result i have to use the software to reverse the motor direction. But what i did notice is that when programming the transmitter to the speedy i had the reverse the sevo direction as it would not recognise full forward at all.
Could anything i have done affect this at all???????

[TexasSP]

The braking issue could be due to the motor. The MGM's suffered braking issues with 4 pole and higher motors although the latest firmware addressed the issue with 4 pole motors. I still couldn't run it with a 6 pole motor though. When braking it would accelerate.

As far as the software, I would have switched directions on the controller first via servo reversing first. Maybe go back and try that.

What firmware version is the ESC?

[SV6000]

The controller was only released on their website on the 19th of last month. When i placed my order it was originally for the 22418 but they emailed me and told me that they would send me the newer one at no extra cost. So from that i would say that its the latest but because of the issue i am having with the flasher program i cant check.

[mohanjude]

I have bunch of different setups - the trucks I have with the Big maxximum motors refuse to run well even with the latest MGM controllers - Z series with Black box. The brakes are just not right. The Plettenbergs run perfectly with the Schulze controllers especially the 18.97 or 18.140.

I don't have a particular favourite controller - I use Lehner motors with BK or MGM controllers, Plettenberg with Schulze and Neu Motors with MMM or Schulze controllers (BK controllers are only suitable with 2 pole motors such as Lehner or Feigao).

I find this really irritating but I now tend to pair the controllers and motors as above to stop wasting time with incompatibilties.

Having purchased x2 Lucianos 10S controller it seems to work with all the above motors by changing the timing.

[bdebde]

If you are using motor brakes in a truggy, you will need heavier diff fluid in the center diff to get decent brakes (i find 30k to be minimum). Also, I had problems with a big maxximum on older mgm controller as well. Be sure to try higher switching frequency on the mgm (new ones have this option), as that is one of the reasons they (plett) recommend the shultzes.

Don't worry, for the price, MGM is a dump.

I'll never spend lot of money again for a MGM controller. If you run only on 4s, go for a little MM, way better than a MGM.

I know that somes guys here will say that i'am crazy to write this, but i've fried 3 $300.00 ++ MGM controller, so for me, MGM is on my black list.

[What's_nitro?]

Sounds like you're a guinnea pig for the newer controller. I'd email them back and tell them what's happening.

[SV6000]

Hey guys i spent all day today playing with the truck and did make some progress. For some reason my transmitter was set to 70/30 for the throttle and thats why my braking was lacking. I got a reply from MGM and they said the new series of controllers dont have the same braking power as the older ones as it gives them more life. " Reason that regulator does not aply "full" brake is normal for new serie. Regulator brake up to 95% so the braking force is nearly equal that old serie have, but spare 5% dramaticaly increase braking reliability and allow higher braking current."
The reason it would not update the SW is that MGM were repairing their website yesterday.

[SV6000]

After sorting the brake issue out today i decided to go down and practice. I set the throttle EPA to 50% (I havent driven in a long time) and started doing some easy laps. After about 5 mins the truggy jerked abit and than just stopped. "MMM Syndrome" I plugged it into the laptop to check the settings and everything there seemed fine, i responded to all the program commands, i even tried to update the SW again and that worked without a hitch. But when i tried to re-program the transmitter it wouldn't work at all. I would hold the trigger in the full forward position for the 2 sets of 3 beeps and wheni would move it to full reverse it would just beep once and that was it. If i tried to move my finger away from full reverse the truck would start driving forward. As if full reverse was neutral/Brake. I tried to use the transmitter to reprogram the ESC but it would not beep in the neutral position so it would not advance or change settings.
What is going on.

I got rid of all my MGM's. They had so many quirks, it drove me crazy. Add to that, all service had to go to the Czech Republic. 2 month service repair times were the norm. Hopefully Castle will get a working 8S ESC out so us car guys can have something!

[SV6000]

In that case i might do the same. But it is a shame, i dont really think they are a bad product they just need some time to be paid to them to sort them out. I know people that have used them for years without a drama no matter how many of them they have.

[TDC57]

Originally Posted by SV6000

After sorting the brake issue out today i decided to go down and practice. I set the throttle EPA to 50% (I havent driven in a long time) and started doing some easy laps. After about 5 mins the truggy jerked abit and than just stopped. "MMM Syndrome" I plugged it into the laptop to check the settings and everything there seemed fine, i responded to all the program commands, i even tried to update the SW again and that worked without a hitch. But when i tried to re-program the transmitter it wouldn't work at all. I would hold the trigger in the full forward position for the 2 sets of 3 beeps and wheni would move it to full reverse it would just beep once and that was it. If i tried to move my finger away from full reverse the truck would start driving forward. As if full reverse was neutral/Brake. I tried to use the transmitter to reprogram the ESC but it would not beep in the neutral position so it would not advance or change settings.
What is going on.

Have you tried to clear of the exisitng memeroy ??

IE have you done this:
You can always remove all programming from the ESC and start from scratch by simply turning everything off, then turn on your transmitter with the throttle on full throttle and then turn on your RX, let the ESC / motor beep 3 times (continue to hold it) and then it will beep or blink 4 times, now move the throttle to the full brake position in 3 sec and the motor / ESC led will blink / beep and then shut it all down and simply start @ step two again..

This thread might help.. ???
http://www.rc-monster.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13544

Best of luck and let us know if that helped :

[SV6000]

I didnt know you could clear the memory like that. I will give it a try once i get it together again tonight. Because i soldered the motor wires to the ESC i thought i might have had a dry joint that got bumped from racing. Let you know tomorrow. It is probably just flat transmitter batteries. I did try another set and it didnt change anything but when i got home and put the original ones on charge they did take about 40mins. They had about 9.8v

See what your neutral setting is in the esc. I had to change it to 12 or 15% if i remember right. Less and it would not program. I run my 22418 in my lst with an outrunner on 6s with full brakes and it works great. I also had a ubec fail and take out the esc awhile back. Mgm repaired for no charge but it did take about 4 weeks.

[TDC57]

4 weeks.. you luckly bastard.. I just got back two from them, but it took four months not weeks..