Replacing the Hydra line

**Steven Vaccaro** · 07-22-2010, 12:31 PM

Danny it seems the ICE is going to also become a water unit. I've been playing with the ICE 100 and 200 with good results.

I know some people have experienced multiple problems with Hydra esc's. But there isnt a control on the market that a customer hasn't experience a problem with. I run all Castles when I can for several reasons, great customer support, great warranty, smooth throttle, VERY easy computer programing. From my own experience I have a hydra's with many years worth of runs on them. I have a hydra 240 that is still in use since they came out. I will be using it at the nats this year.

I have something weird to think about, I'm not sure why but I sell about double the amount of Castle esc's to customers in Europe than everywhere else in the world.

**LuckyDuc** · 07-22-2010, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by Steven Vaccaro View Post

I have something weird to think about, I'm not sure why but I sell about double the amount of Castle esc's to customers in Europe than everywhere else in the world.

That is strange. Perhaps the reason is because the CC's are cheaper than the Schulze and YGE ESCs.

**Flying Scotsman** · 07-22-2010, 01:03 PM

Intersting, I have used Castle controllers for years and knock on wood, no problems. The advent of LI-PO battery power and the high demands that boats place on the ESC are well documented. Price is always a factor but Castle have been inovative with ease of programming, warranty etc.
I am also always looking for a bargain, tough to find though and I recently purchased a Turnigy 180 Marine for my new hydro as I did not want to spend the bucks for a Hydra 240. The proof will be in the pudding!

Douggie

**RCKong** · 07-22-2010, 01:29 PM

This is good news... I've lost 4 CC ESC's in the past 6 mos. Two 240's burned up on the bench just plugging them in...

One 120 detonated with a BOOM in my UL-1 and another 120 burned the same way the 240's did - the same part on the controller, right above where the black motor wires come into the circuit board. All where 100A or less setups on 4s. I too bought these controllers because I like the CUDA 80's so much. I won't buy anymore, I'm tired of cleaning black junk out of my boats, and their are better controllers out there for 1/2 the price.

**Fluid** · 07-22-2010, 03:42 PM

I have to laugh out loud whenever I hear someone talk about the "virtues" of the Barracuda 80 controller. That was Castle's first entry into boat controllers, and did they have problems! The initial production runs were acceptable I guess, but then they received a set of bad boards from a supplier and that's when the fun really began. They'd fail just looking at them sideways! Well not quite, but several lots were truly terrible. By the end of their commercial life the 80s were reasonably reliable, but once we went to LiPo power things changed again. Even the B125s were shown to be weak, and I watched two of them burn up on initial plugin......

The only Hydras I've personally burned up were my fault - SAW running and the aftermath. Like Steve I like them and have run a lot of them with far less trouble than the B125s I tried.

I really like the ICE controllers, they are significantly different in design than the Barra/Hydra twins. The data logging function is great and my ICE100 runs very well, even when drawing over 130 amps continuous without cooling. I look forward to the "new" Castle Marine Controllers.

.

**Greg Schweers** · 07-22-2010, 03:59 PM

Jay, I ran an Ice-100 in the Insane sport boat last Sunday. After I won my heat, I decided to run some more laps to see how hot the controller would get. On the seventh lap back straight, the boat died. I brought the boat in and the controller was 108. When I got home, I put the controller on the computer, and it said the max temp was 206. I couldn't get a max amp reading because I forgot to set up the number of poles the motor had. Actually, this controller has fewer fets than a 120, since the wires come out of the middle of the controller. But the controller is now water cooled - just haven't tried it yet.

**Diegoboy** · 07-22-2010, 06:05 PM

Originally posted by Fluid View Post

I have to laugh out loud whenever I hear someone talk about the "virtues" of the Barracuda 80 controller. That was Castle's first entry into boat controllers, and did they have problems! The initial production runs were acceptable I guess, but then they received a set of bad boards from a supplier and that's when the fun really began. They'd fail just looking at them sideways! Well not quite, but several lots were truly terrible. By the end of their commercial life the 80s were reasonably reliable, but once we went to LiPo power things changed again. Even the B125s were shown to be weak, and I watched two of them burn up on initial plugin......

The only Hydras I've personally burned up were my fault - SAW running and the aftermath. Like Steve I like them and have run a lot of them with far less trouble than the B125s I tried.

I really like the ICE controllers, they are significantly different in design than the Barra/Hydra twins. The data logging function is great and my ICE100 runs very well, even when drawing over 130 amps continuous without cooling. I look forward to the "new" Castle Marine Controllers.

.

Jay, I thought you liked the Barracuda line as well.

Originally posted by Fluid View Post

Lots of racers are using the 120s and 240s, with apparent success. ESC failures can be caused by manufacturer QC, but I have had excellent luck with all my Barracuda 125s. Most of the problems with the Barracudas were traced to software - downloading the latests software cured most of the old problems.

Another factor is the timing advance. The Barracudas came with #2 timing, but that caused a lot of heat. Re-programming to the milder #1 timing helps a lot.

You can overheat/overamp any controller, regardless of brand or model (well, maybe not the Schulze 40-160). Since few modelers have any idea of their amp draw, many ESCs are burned up simply by exceeding their rating. While the Hacker 70s and 77s seem to be under-rated for amp draw, I destroyed one in a reasonable setup after occasional abuse. Others have had the same experience.

I prefer the US-made Castle ESCs for several reasons, mostly because of the excellent repair service (no need to send to Germany or Czechoslovakia) and their simple programming with the Link. I like them.

.

Originally posted by Fluid View Post

I logged it on my MGM 16024. More than once. Also ran the motor with the same setup on a Castle Barracuda 180 and a Hydra 240. I hurt the 240 though - not sure when but it gave up the smoke a few months after the LA SAWs.

.

I didn't say that they were "BETTER" than the hydras, nor did I say they were "WORSE". I simply stated my opinion based on what I have seen and read.
As I stated in my opening sentance...

"I have never had the fortune of owning any of the Castle creations Hydra series of ESC's."

Please don't get me wrong, I am not stating the Hydra line is bad. I also didn't say that I believe the Barracuda line is immune to failures either. I just am very fond of the Cuda line that has never failed ME.
If you still have that Cuda180, and don't care for the Cudas, I can give it a good home!

**Doby** · 07-22-2010, 06:41 PM

Good by Hydras,,way overpriced for the questionable quality. I've owned several of the LV's and HV's.....not much positive to say.

**sailr** · 07-22-2010, 06:52 PM

Castle is moving their factory. When they complete the move and get the line setup, the new controllers will start being produced. They have been beta tested by several people already. That's all I can say at this point.

**Fluid** · 07-22-2010, 07:29 PM

Jay, I thought you liked the Barracuda line as well....As I stated in my opening sentance...

Calm down already, I wasn't dissin' you - I was just remembering all the trouble we had with those controllers; did you notice I was stating the history of that controller? I had terrible luck with the Barra80s and once watched seven of them go poof in one day at a race. My own 125s worked well, but I watched two others go up in smoke on first plug in. And that was all with NiMH cells. It's a far different story with LiPos, they were too weak for that use. The quote used in your post above was three years old and was in reference to NiMH cells, not today's LiPos.

As you know the Barra180 was never a cataloged item, the one-off specimen I used was borrowed. Sorry, but I wouldn't have it anyway today, I've had much better luck with Hydras.

.

**TRXRUSTLER** · 07-29-2010, 12:24 PM

I emailed Castle about the new Hydra ICE series and this is what they said:

Chris,

Short answer, yes. We are in the process of developing an ICE like boat ESC with the some of the same specs as ICE ESCS. The boat ICE can run up to 8 cell lipo and have a built in data logger. There might be an HV boat ICE good up to 12 cells but this is probably a ways off. We are not releasing detailed specs on these and have no release date or any other publicly available information on these. We simply, at this time, do not know the answer these questions. There is no deadline on invention. If you mention these to others please indicate that contacting us for more information is futile and a waste of your and our time. They we be announced when they are ready.

--

Bernie Wolfard

Product Support

Castle Creations

540 N Rogers Rd

Olathe, KS 66062

913-390-6939 Ext 123

Just thought I would share what I was told.

**video200** · 07-30-2010, 12:30 AM

Originally posted by Doby View Post

Good by Hydras,,way overpriced for the questionable quality. I've owned several of the LV's and HV's.....not much positive to say.

**drkdgglr** · 07-30-2010, 08:59 AM

There might be an HV boat ICE good up to 12 cells but this is probably a ways off.

At least the software for the HV is ready: http://www.castlecreations.com/downl...stle_link.html

**AndyKunz** · 07-30-2010, 01:07 PM

The ICE controls are fantastic. ICE + PiStix = unbeatable combo. It's cool that they're doing a water-cooled version now. Tell you what guys, you will be super happy with the ICE controls.

Reminds me of my Penguins. :)

Andy

Replacing the Hydra line

Replacing the Hydra line

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