The official 36" zelos twin modding thread

[Team Lucas]

What I would do is;
Connect the + wires of each ESC together just behind the plugs. so you still have two + plugs from your ESC's.
Then connect the two - wires of each ESC together the same way, BUT using a plug in-between.
The reason for the plug in-between is for when you are programming your ESC's you can disconnect them from each other.
With them connected together your programing may not work.

When you connect them this way, each ESC will see a 2S2P setup, therefore you batteries will always pull down the same.

If you have one battery connected to each ESC; so you are out running as if on a big oval coarse turning right most of the time,
After a few laps of the outside motor being loaded more then the inside motor, when you try to go straight your boat pushes to the left because the right hand battery has more power left in it then the left hand battery.

Larry

that's a very good point, I have checked each cell when running 4x 3s batteries and they were almost even. The boat turns pretty flat.DSC_0185 (1).jpg
but I'm just setting it up, trying different things, and will keep this in mind, I may have to try it. Thanks

[Team Lucas]

Just changed up from 4x 3s batteries to 2x 6s batteries. Lost 3/4 of a pound! same brand. thumbnail_IMG_1704[1].jpgthumbnail_IMG_1705[1].jpg

[TRUCKPULL]

Just changed up from 4x 3s batteries to 2x 6s batteries. Lost 3/4 of a pound! same brand. [ATTACH=CONFIG]146747[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]146748[/ATTACH]

Not 3/4 of a LB.
More like 3/8 of a LB.
Still a good deal.

Larry

[Mightynova63]

Not 3/4 of a LB.
More like 3/8 of a LB.
Still a good deal.

Larry

3/8 of a lbs is 6 Oz. 12oz. Is 3/4 of a lbs

[TRUCKPULL]

Sorry My BAD
3/4 Lb.

Those at some pretty light 6S packs.
I just weighed my two 6S-5000 packs
3lb 14.788 oz

Larry

[Team Lucas]

Hey guys. last couple post had me thinking of my battery choice. From what I understand: MAH is the capacity (run time) and C rating is the output of power (50c constant and 100c burst) as example. This boat has a recommended battery of 5000 MAH. My 4x 3s batteries are 5000 MAH with a 50 constant and burst of 100. Weight is 3lb 4.75oz. My 2x 6s batteries that I just got are 4300 MAH with 40c constant and 80c burst and weigh 3/4lbs less. My thinking is the need for C's is not needed if your lighter. (and I don't drain my batteries, so MAH I think wont be a problem) Please comment

[Mightynova63]

Does anybody have the design wattage of the motors.

[Erroneous]

Hey guys. last couple post had me thinking of my battery choice. From what I understand: MAH is the capacity (run time) and C rating is the output of power (50c constant and 100c burst) as example. This boat has a recommended battery of 5000 MAH. My 4x 3s batteries are 5000 MAH with a 50 constant and burst of 100. Weight is 3lb 4.75oz. My 2x 6s batteries that I just got are 4300 MAH with 40c constant and 80c burst and weigh 3/4lbs less. My thinking is the need for C's is not needed if your lighter. (and I don't drain my batteries, so MAH I think wont be a problem) Please comment

Boats are notorious amp hogs. 40c might work but will stress the packs.

[kfxguy]

Hey guys. last couple post had me thinking of my battery choice. From what I understand: MAH is the capacity (run time) and C rating is the output of power (50c constant and 100c burst) as example. This boat has a recommended battery of 5000 MAH. My 4x 3s batteries are 5000 MAH with a 50 constant and burst of 100. Weight is 3lb 4.75oz. My 2x 6s batteries that I just got are 4300 MAH with 40c constant and 80c burst and weigh 3/4lbs less. My thinking is the need for C's is not needed if your lighter. (and I don't drain my batteries, so MAH I think wont be a problem) Please comment

Nah, the weight doesn't add hardly any load to it. From what I've seen anyway. I, personally wouldn't use a lower c battery. You can try it if you like but I'd make a pass and check your temps. I've puffed 70c batts with my zelos so I'd be pretty leary of using a 40c. The weight difference from running two packs to 4 packs could make a decent impact on the boat however.

[Crazykev]

Made a couple changes to my twin. I got rid of the water hose loops at the ESCs by running the pickups from one side through both ESCs and to the motor on the opposite side. Straighter route with less hose, no chances of a kink, cleaner install and both pickups would have to clog up to overheat the ESCs because each pickup now goes through both off them.



Also added a sealed Castle BEC pushing 7.8V to the Savox 1270TG servo to get a .10 transit and 500 oz. torque. Filled the whole BEC with silicone and tested it submerged in water before installing it.



Ported the water pickups too.



Eventually I'm going to replace the 1270TG with an Xpert 6000 Series IP67 waterproof brushless servo. The 1270 is water resistant, but not IP67 waterproof and I don't like the buzz the Savox servos create trying to hold center. Torque will drop to 361 oz./.11 transit and that's fine being that the 500 oz. is way overkill.

[Yellow]

I like your re-routed coolant lines.

[Crazykev]

Thanks!

[kfxguy]

Made a couple changes to my twin. I got rid of the water hose loops at the ESCs by running the pickups from one side through both ESCs and to the motor on the opposite side. Straighter route with less hose, no chances of a kink, cleaner install and both pickups would have to clog up to overheat the ESCs because each pickup now goes through both off them.



Also added a sealed Castle BEC pushing 7.8V to the Savox 1270TG servo to get a .10 transit and 500 oz. torque. Filled the whole BEC with silicone and tested it submerged in water before installing it.



Ported the water pickups too.



Eventually I'm going to replace the 1270TG with an Xpert 6000 Series IP67 waterproof brushless servo. The 1270 is water resistant, but not IP67 waterproof and I don't like the buzz the Savox servos create trying to hold center. Torque will drop to 361 oz./.11 transit and that's fine being that the 500 oz. is way overkill.

If you want to stop wasting money on servos then this is the servo for you

http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/pro...d=hh-spmss6230

I use this servo in almost all of my builds now. No buzzing like the savox. Much smoother and quieter. Waterproof. More than enough tq for just about anything. I have this severe in my Rivercat and my mini Rivercat. My Rivercat is heavier and ALOT faster than my zelos. I must warn you, if you try one, you'll be hooked and feel compelled to have to use an $80 servo in everything. It's shorter than most servos too, and it's not an amp hog.

I've come to the conclusion that Savox servos are not that great. I've had many failures. I've had a few fail in customers boats. I've yet to have a spektrum or a radio post fail. Radio post are great servos but honestly I find them to be no better than the spektrum. The sound of them (ultra quiet and smooth) is pretty much the same. A savox sounds all loud and rough. They don't center near as well. They develop slack in a short time. I steer clear from them at this point. I think I've had around 9 or 10 savox fail and it's embarrassing when your customer calls you on their third outing to let you know their servo just stopped working. No thanks.

[Crazykev]

I would rock it if it was brushless. The Savox was a servo I had laying around and knew it was water resistant, so I threw it is the boat because it's still leaps and bounds better than the stock servo. I'm in the process of swapping all my RCs with brushless servos which is why I had the 1270 laying around. I've read some really good reviews on the Xpert waterproof servos and figured I'd give it a go. That 1270 has lasted a long time, but can't stand the humming and it has gotten a little sloppy. It's also an amp hog! The Xpert is only another $20 more at $99 and it has the IP67 rating, is brushless, and low amp draw which I feel is worth the extra cash.

[Crazykev]

I agree with ya on the Savox servos though. I won't buy one again.