1. Home
  2. ✈ RC aircraft models
  3. Phoenix 35 ESC problem.

Phoenix 35 ESC problem.

I recently purchased two Phoenix 35 controllers to be used with Himax

3510-1100 brushless motors and "ThunderPower" 11.1 volt LiPo batteries (2100 mah, 20c) The batteries are rated for 31.5 amps. I had a plane flying at about half throttle and the motor just quit running and I dorked it in. I got ready to fly the other new plane with the same setup ... a second before hand launching with about half to two thirds throttle (freshly charged battery) the motor also died. In both cases the LiPos were fully charged and in both cases the motors were drawing no more than 15 amps. I have been bench testing one of them with the watt meter on and turning an 8 x 6 prop. I ran it at a constant 100-115 watt speed. Around 10 amps with a freshly charged battery , transmitter as well, and every now and then it does the same thing. After the motor stops the ESC goes into a rapid blinking mode. It restarts after dropping the throttle stick down to stop position and back up. The voltage cutoff is set to auto and it does shut down at just a little above the 9 volt "under load" reading, as it should. In all cases everything was cool as a cucumber. A few of the other unexpected shutdowns would happen with voltage well above 10 volts. I tried cutting the red wire, the one of the three that goes to the receiver plug, to disable the BEC. I then plugged in a freshly charged receiver battery ...transmitter fully charged as well ... and tried it again. I get the same result. I might add that the timing was set in the middle of the three settings. Did I get a couple of duds? Thanks, Forrest
Reply to
Forrest
Loading thread data ...

I have a couple of the Phoenix 25's which had exactly the same problem you describe. When I found a friend who had the Castle Creations programmer, It was off to his house to tweek my ESC's. The first thing that happened when the ESC was attached to the programmer, was that the programmer replaced the firmware on the ESC. That operation alone solved my problem. I have subsequntly heard this same story from others who use the Phoenix ESC's. FWIW

Reply to
Tom Minger

Same story, got a replacement, same story, new software, same story, I'll not buy another Phoenix - period.

Reply to
CRaSH

I have one that functions perfectly and did so out of the box.

Reply to
Paul McIntosh

Reply to
Forrest

Not a high probability, but a radio "hit" will shut down the ESC also. Don't know what RX you're using, but you could try braiding the motor/esc wires to cut down on noise, and/or putting a ferrite ring on the rx end of the ESC plug, as near the RX as possible.

PCPhill

Reply to
PCPhill

Actually it was a PHX-25, but same results. Plus it had a really nasty habit of intermittently turning the motor full on if you inadvertently turned the transmitter off before the ESC.

Used with an AXI 2212/26, 10X7 prop, 3S2200 bat, 3 HS-55...

Sent first one back, they did "software upgrade"and returned it, same thing, returned it again, got a replacement, same thing, got a Jeti-30+, works perfect...

Just callsem the ways I seesum...........

Reply to
CRaSH

I'm using a Hitec 4 ch "Laser" duel conversion, I guess. There's no problem there. I have been running it on my patio well away from any field and with fully charged receiver battery, same with the TX and antenna extended ... only a few yards away from it.I e-mailed "Castle Creations" a few days ago and got this reply this morning.

"Pat,

Try setting the current limiting feature to disabled, and set the controller for soft cutoff. It shouldn't cut out after that. If you hear the rpms of the motor fluctuating the battery pack is having a hard time dealing with the current you're drawing. Please let me know what you find.

Product Specialist, Castle Creations"

I don't know about the pack having a problem with anything. I bought four ThunderPower 2100 mah 20c that are rated for 31.5 amps and this is happening even when they are just off of the charger and only drawing 10-15 amps and everything cool to the touch. I haven't tried every pack but did have two different packs in the planes for the first flight attempt and have bench tested it with more than one. Same story. I'll try what he suggested , even though the instruction sheet says in regards to the Current Limiting setting : "Change this setting at your own risk! Damage to the controller as a result of over current is NOT covered by manufacturer's warranty."

Reply to
Forrest

You shouldn't fry your ESC with what you're running, so it should be safe. Just be sure not to stall the prop. "i.e. kill the throttle if contact with the ground is imminent"

My thoughts on the glitching were aimed at noise generated by the motor. On some of my bigger Axi's I've gotten repeated cutouts from noise til I played with the wiring. In any event, braiding the wires is cheap and won't hurt anything. I do it on all my brushless motors now.

If you have a Hitec feather RX, lock it in a drawer, lose the key, or move to another state.

Good Luck, PCPhill

Reply to
PCPhill

AXI 2820/10

Reply to
Paul McIntosh

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.