Castle ICE ESC and Pistix

[Fluid]

I've run my ICE 100/PiStix combo (from OSE) numerous times in my SprintCat 40/60 driving a Scorpion HK4025/6 on 6S1P, and it has been interesting. Through the logging feature I discovered I was pulling more amps than I thought I was - on one run the current peaks were 170A and the ESC reached 290F! I had a fan circulating air inside the hull but not blowing directly on the ESC.

On-the-water rpm were just as expected, but battery voltage (old FlightPower 30C/4500s) dropped a lot further than I had thought they would under load, down to under 3.3 volts per cell at 150 amps. Guess I need new packs or should be running 2P. This is really too little ESC for the setup, but I wanted to see what it would do.

The ICE 100 had no issues for me, it was pretty much plug-and-play. As long as I didn't set the LVC too high it ran as long as I wanted. I was shocked it did not thermal at the high temperature it reached on one run, but some documentation I read somewhere said it had a temperature cut off of well over 200F. I ran it with AUTO CALIBRATING THROTTLE, 15 degrees timing advance, 3.1 volt LVC, NORMAL current limiting, SOFT START, and OUTRUNNER MODE for PWM. The PiStix was completely transparent - thanks Andy!

So far I'm very satisfied with the ICE and there were no surprises other than the lack of thermal shutdown. I'll probably get a higher-amp version of the ICE for the SprintCat and use this one in the LSH or another Spec-powered boat.


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[Raydee]

Nice to see you are having good results with the Ice controller. I have talked with PLENTY of guys that are using the ICE controllers well above their max amp ratings and are having excellent results. Some guys are pulling over 400 amps from the Ice 200 in hot plane setups. My first Ice 200 was just faulty because I ran another Ice 200 today at the pond and it ran perfecly. I think the throttle response felt smoother than the normal Hydra series. I see that on Castle's site they are releasing the Ice 150 soon, should be perfect for most 4s applications. I may put one in my new Phil Thomas Stealth hull.

[sailr]

Are those of you using the ICE controller in boats actually water cooling them?

[Raydee]

Nope and I have no plans to water cool mine. If they end up running hotter than I like I will fan cool mine.

[sailr]

Good to hear! I've been looking at the ICE controllers but didn't want the hassle of water cooling them. Don't mind doing a fan! It will be interesting to see how much more the ICE Hydras will be, just for adding a couple of $5 cooling plates!

[Fluid]

Marine controllers are usually more expensive than comparable airplane controllers, but not just because of a few additional parts. ESC attrition in FE boating is far higher than in airplanes due to the higher amp draw and different cooling efficiency, so the warranty costs and return rate are far higher. To make up for these additional costs the manufacturer has to charge more for the product. Those in business can understand the difference.


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[sailr]

Yep, you're right. forgot about the high failure rate so they have to jack the price to the moon to cover it. Now we know why Castle controllers are so outrageous!

[Jeepers]

Yep, you're right. forgot about the high failure !

the failure rates would not be so high if people used a little brains, instead of " I wonder what it will do on 6 or 8S" on a set up thats already "hot" on 4s! I hear it at the lake often.

[BakedMopar]

I have fan cooled one and I water cooled another. The water cooled one ran about 7-10 degrees cooler. I just ran two tubes through the heatsink case close to the fets.

These Ice controller are very nice. It's butter smoothe and is very adjustable. Still waiting for my 200

[sailr]

Yes, there are the dumbdumbs out there that will always try to push their equipment with disastrous results. However, I have seen too many CC controllers burn up just by plugging them in and also seen a lot of them fry when used correctly. I believe Castle finally has them to the point where the latest ones off the line are more reliable. But then I have also seen $700 Schultze controllers burn up on plug in by VERY experienced racers who KNOW what they're doing.

Bottom line is there doesn't seem to be a perfect controller out there right now. I have better luck with the Seaking 180's for under $100 than I do with Castle at three times that price.

the failure rates would not be so high if people used a little brains, instead of " I wonder what it will do on 6 or 8S" on a set up thats already "hot" on 4s! I hear it at the lake often.

[Jeepers]

Bottom line is there doesn't seem to be a perfect controller out there right now.

I agree, but as everyone points out that racers are few in numbers compared to sport boaters.

[sailr]

I agree the majority are sport boaters but even they seem to want to go faster, faster, faster! I sell my boats set up for optimum hull speed. They're fast! But inevitably somebody asks "what can I do to make it go faster?" There is a point at which the boats become uncontrollable so what's the point? Haha.

[sailr]

BakedMopar,

What's the deal on a 200A ICE controller? I don't see it on the Castle website at all. More info please! How can we order one?

[Raydee]

The ice 200 was on the castle site last time I looked.

[BakedMopar]

I had mines on back order for months now. They're seams to be a few of them out there. I just not one of em. Yes they are still available from what I know. There is the 160HV version too.