Anyone here have experience with replacing capacitors on an ESC? I have a HW Max5 G1 with dented capacitors.

[ferrebee88]

I got this in a trade and then realized it had some impact damage to the exposed capacitors. I do not want to risk this thing catching fire. The fan is also busted.

The way I see it, I have 3 options:

1: See if it would be worth it to do the Hobbywing or Castle trade-in program.
2: See how much it would cost to send it to Hobbywing to be fixed.
3: Get the correct capacitors and try to fix it my self.

 

[Ritz413]

With the trend being to water proof everything most of the circuit boards are drowned in goop. Getting access to stuff to unsolder is going to be the problem.

 

[Ramp addict]

If your Max5 is the same as a Max6 then your capacitors are poking out of a block of resin.

 

[ferrebee88]

Yeah, I took the top part off and realized there is no replacing them. I guess I'll see what the trade in program is like.

 

[RustyUs]

Yeah, I took the top part off and realized there is no replacing them. I guess I'll see what the trade in program is like.

I'd be curious to see that as well. I've heard the program giving a person 50% off, most likely from MSRP, and you are paying shipping both ways once you get the return authorization. The thing about it is, they make the program (TryOut / Trade-in program) harder to find. It's like they don't want to make it known. There are no big bold letters mentioning of the trade-in program anymore... you have to use their search engine, or https://www.hobbywingdirect.com/pages/hobbywing-tryout_trade-in-program

 

[PonkyKong]

That capacitor probably still works.

 

[ferrebee88]

That capacitor probably still works.

For now... the problem will be when those plates come into contact with eachother...then it's game over and I dont want to risk it.

 

[WRM]

For now... the problem will be when those plates come into contact with eachother...then it's game over and I dont want to risk it.
View attachment 269928

Agreed, at some point it will fail/short, but I doubt they are user serviceable parts. I'd also be surprised if they covered it under a warranty program, because that damage isn't due to a "manufacturing defect"?...

 

[ferrebee88]

Agreed, at some point it will fail/short, but I doubt they are user serviceable parts. I'd also be surprised if they covered it under a warranty program, because that damage isn't due to a "manufacturing defect"?...

Definitely not a warranty claim. I sent an email to hobbywing about there trade in program. I'm curious to see how that goes.

 

[ferrebee88]

I'd be curious to see that as well. I've heard the program giving a person 50% off, most likely from MSRP, and you are paying shipping both ways once you get the return authorization. The thing about it is, they make the program (TryOut / Trade-in program) harder to find. It's like they don't want to make it known. There are no big bold letters mentioning of the trade-in program anymore... you have to use their search engine, or https://www.hobbywingdirect.com/pages/hobbywing-tryout_trade-in-program

Here is the email I got back from Hobbywing. Looks like $100 off retail plus shipping cost.

You are returning 1x (EZRUN MAX5 G1 ESC (6-12S) to activate this program.
The Express Service Replacement fee is $(149.99) plus shipping charges
A return shipping address will be assigned to you accordingly.
When we receive your tracking number, the replacement will be processed and you will receive a secure online invoice.

 

[RustyUs]

Here is the email I got back from Hobbywing. Looks like $100 off retail plus shipping cost.

You are returning 1x (EZRUN MAX5 G1 ESC (6-12S) to activate this program.
The Express Service Replacement fee is $(149.99) plus shipping charges
A return shipping address will be assigned to you accordingly.
When we receive your tracking number, the replacement will be processed and you will receive a secure online invoice.

So, the $149.99 is more like $100 off MAP pricing... that's better yet. Just about falls in line with the 50% off retail reports I've heard about.

 

[Mrgoodwrench35]

Personally, id run it till the capacitor popped. It's not going to cause a fire.

Have you ever seen a cap fail? One that size would have the percussive force about equal to a kids snap pop (the fireworks you throw on the ground). It does however launch white goey insulator paste everywhere.

If it were going to pop, it would have during the initial impact. Just my opinion.

 

[ferrebee88]

Personally, id run it till the capacitor popped. Its not going to cause a fire.

Have you ever seen a cap fail? One that size would have the percussive force about equal to a kids snap pop (the fireworks you throw on the ground). It's does however launch white goey insulator paste everywhere.

If it were going to pop, it would have during the initial impact. Just my opinion.

Don't take away my excuse to get a nice new shiny G2 model...

 

[PonkyKong]

My mamba monster had a crushed capacitor since day one. Still works fine. No issues.

 

[ferrebee88]

Screw it! I went to post office to mail it and they wanted $20 to do so. I'm just going to put it back in, full send, and hope for the best! As long as it doesn't make my batteries catch fire!

 

[PonkyKong]

Been like that since the the launched the Mamba. This is the 3rd replacement case. They can take it

 

[CertifiedMike]

I have a spektrum with a banged up cap.
No magic smoke, no problem!

 

[WickedFog]

It can short and go poof. I doubt it will hurt your battery. Take it out for a hard bash and check the temp of your caps. If they're all ok, you should be fine.

 

[ferrebee88]

Well, I changed my mind and just dropped it off at the post office. I just want to upgrade to the G2. You know... just in case I want to try out 12s some day

 

[WRM]

I'm also on TalkBass (guitar, not fish), and a lotta folks find a Blem/imperfection that bothers them - "what do you think?"...

The correct answer is always "it depends", but the way that I look at it, if you're not happy/don't trust it, then remedy the situation. Or live with it/take your chances. I would have run it until it failed (except on Comp Buggy?) because I try to be frugal but also like your decision, since I'm a "two is one and one is none" kind of guy.