Bancroft PT-596 Patrol Boat - RTR

[Rascal76]

Three motors off one ESC is fine as long at the total current draw is under the rating of the ESC. I have both the Fletcher and the PT. The ESC is different in the boats.
i am going to run a load test on the PT to see what the full load draw is. I report the result.

[pdansalvish]

dia phan,

Wondering if our problems are three motors running off one ESC. The Fletcher captains have not reported any problems with their ESC's. According to them they are only running two motors.

[dai phan]

Rascal76

I believe they installed low grade electronics. The other option is poor designed to have a marine ESC and not keep it cool with water. I haven't put my boat into the water yet. I am planning to next weekend at the campground. However, I am concerned that if I get it on the lake I might not get it back without renting a canoe to go fetch. Hoping someone can chime in on their successful run. Also, hoping RSRN receives some news from his email.

Low grade electronics is the default pattern seen in RTF/RTR packages from China. For 600 USD , totally unacceptable. I could banned from making comments like this on MRC sponsored site but as consumers who spent hundreds of dollars and up, we deserve better ! Dai

[pdansalvish]

Rascal76

I believe they installed low grade electronics. The other option is poor designed to have a marine ESC and not keep it cool with water. I haven't put my boat into the water yet. I am planning to next weekend at the campground. However, I am concerned that if I get it on the lake I might not get it back without renting a canoe to go fetch. Hoping someone can chime in on their successful run. Also, hoping RSRN receives some news from his email.

[Rascal76]

Ok. I did a little math. If the NiMH setting is used the ESC is looking for 4.8 to 10.8 volts. If the LiPo setting is used it is looking for 7.4 to 11.1 volts. Doesn't sound like that should be enough of a difference to burn out an ESC.
If the LVC is just to protect the battery then maybe it was just low grade electronics.
Has anyone out there not had this problem? If so we're the jumpers in the correct positions?

I just want to run the boat.

[southernmd_man]

Rascal76, Low Voltage Cutoff... it shuts down the motors to protect the lipo battery from getting below a preset voltage, and damageing the battery.

.

[pdansalvish]

RSRN,

Good luck on getting an email from tech support and keep us posted.

[pdansalvish]

Rascal76,

LCV is low cell voltage. Another term is LVC or low voltage cutoff. Most ESC's will monitor a battery back (Lipo, Li-Ion, Nihm etc) at a certain threshold the ESC stops the motor. But will allow other functions to continue to work. It will allow short bursts of motor but nothing long. This is done to protect the battery.

[RSRN]

I did email technical support and outlined a few concerns that were being voiced on this site. Hopefully Alpha can also have some input for us. I agree with Dai that we should have little to worry about after spending nearly 600.00. The boat is very nice, but realiability is also important.

[Rascal76]

LCV ? What does that control?

[dai phan]

About the only thing the jumper is doing is setting up an LVC for the lipo.

So that is the quality of the components then. Dai

[southernmd_man]

About the only thing the jumper is doing is setting up an LVC for the lipo.

[Rascal76]

Hi Dai. In this case it doesn't seem to be an actual problem with the components. This is an assembly problem. The jumpers on the ESC were not set correctly. The instruction sheets for all the components should always be included with the unit.
Normally I always completely disassemble systems like this before the first run. I didn't do it this time. If I had I would have caught this one!

Good luck with the Yamato! Please check the ESC to see if it has the same issue that we had.

[dai phan]

Hello all,

This type of electronics issues should not be a problem in a 600 dollar boat. But poor quality electronics seem to be the default pattern in RTF/RTR packages from China. Motion RC please look at these reported problems and pass it to Ky Model management. I really love the new line of ships MRC has brought to us but I am disappointed to see reported electronic issues in this boat and the Landing Craft already. I am maiden the Yamato today and will do a full report. Dai

[Rascal76]

Hi Paul. Here's a look at the receiver.

[Paulh]

Not sure. I don't think mine ran long enough to heat up ESC. Can someone please take a picture of the receiver with how the wires are plugged in?
I just want t6o make sure mine is the same.

[southernmd_man]

If I'm seeing things right from looking at pics of the boat hull, there's 3 motors running off 1 esc, and the water jacket for cooling the esc isn't being used, as I don't see water pickup or exit holes in the hull. No wonder the esc's are burning up.

[Paulh]

Your welcome. Unfortunately, I had the same luck as Rascal. Ran for about 30 seconds and motors stopped working. Rudders still worked. Had to go get it with the kayak.
Will request new ESC from Motion. Looked great on the water though. lol

[RSRN]

Thanks Paulh,
Switched my ESC over and ran just fine, hopefully avoided some problems. Also thanks for the jumper insight. The battery took close to 3 hrs to charge for me on the initial charge.

[Paulh]

I also checked the ESC and it set the same way. It seems to me they are set opposite of what they should be. I am new to the RC so don't really know.

The jumpers pull straight off the pins.

How long does it normally take for the battery to charge? Been plugged in for an hour and both red lights are still on.