Sonic Wake 36 II is dead (short circuit because of ESC?)

[thomasb]

I only ran it four times. There seems to be a short circuit from the beginning but it has worked anyway until now. I noticed the first time - and ever since then - that when I connect the second battery I can hear a short circuit sound. And yes, I've tried both batteries in different order. This last time the ESC started blinking fast green and I can only move the rudder. No thrust. Could it be a bad ESC from the factory?

Would my Spektrum S2100 smart charger say something if it was a problem with the Spektrum 3S 50C batteries?

 

[majin]

Looking at boats so subbing

 

[1/48 fleet]

Yes your smart charger should indicate an issue with the battery, at least as far as it's hook-up to the charger. Will your charger allow you to read cell voltages? if not you should get a battery analyzer, Spektrum make one $50. I am guessing that you are hooking up batteries in parallel, yes? if so, does your ESC and motor work with one battery iinstalled?
Any chance that you have hit your shaft/strut or run into weeds? Does your motor spin over by hand freely?
Lot's of ?'s need to be answered.
From my experience, the ESC is usually the prime cuprit.

 

[1/48 fleet]

An add on comment. Since taking up RC flying, I have found that many of the Chinese made ESC's do not have overload protection built into them. Boats especially should always have either overload protection built into the ESC, or, a fuse placed in line between the battery and the ESC. Blowing a 50 cent fuse is much preferred to replacing a $50 ESC and, perhaps, motor as well.

 

[CertifiedMike]

An add on comment. Since taking up RC flying, I have found that many of the Chinese made ESC's do not have overload protection built into them. Boats especially should always have either overload protection built into the ESC, or, a fuse placed in line between the battery and the ESC. Blowing a 50 cent fuse is much preferred to replacing a $50 ESC and, perhaps, motor as well.

Fuse and fuse holders are FAR TOO EXPENSIVE!!! Thats why we eliminated them from almost EVERY consumer electronic device in place of board level, not consumer friendly fuses instead!
Throwing away perfectly good electronics is FUN!!! Go try it!!!

 

[thomasb]

Yes your smart charger should indicate an issue with the battery, at least as far as it's hook-up to the charger. Will your charger allow you to read cell voltages? if not you should get a battery analyzer, Spektrum make one $50. I am guessing that you are hooking up batteries in parallel, yes? if so, does your ESC and motor work with one battery iinstalled?
Any chance that you have hit your shaft/strut or run into weeds? Does your motor spin over by hand freely?
Lot's of ?'s need to be answered.
From my experience, the ESC is usually the prime cuprit.

Thanks for your answer.

According to Perplexity:
the Spektrum S2100 SMART charger provides useful battery health and status information that can help identify potential cell issues, but it does not perform in-depth automatic analysis or diagnosis of broken cells.

Yes, batteries in parallell. I don't think the motor is supposed to work on one battery. Might be wrong there.

I just heard from the reseller that they wanted me to send in a video of me connecting the battery etc.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Thanks for your answer.

According to Perplexity:
the Spektrum S2100 SMART charger provides useful battery health and status information that can help identify potential cell issues, but it does not perform in-depth automatic analysis or diagnosis of broken cells.

Yes, batteries in parallell. I don't think the motor is supposed to work on one battery. Might be wrong there.

I just heard from the reseller that they wanted me to send in a video of me connecting the battery etc.

Good luck!

 

[TeknoJ]

I bet the ESC is bad, I have heard these Firma electronics are junk in the boats. Get a flycolor 150a. Check out IronCladRC on youtube.

 

[CertifiedMike]

I bet the ESC is bad, I have heard these Firma electronics are junk in the boats. Get a flycolor 150a. Check out IronCladRC on youtube.

I have noticed a few similar complaints about the marine escs. posted here. I don't know if its all the same model or if its doing the same on all models.
An upgrade might be a good idea.

 

[TeknoJ]

I am fairly certain IronClad had an esc issue on one of his videos and he diagnoses it while filming. He swaps it for a Flycolor 150a esc. They go for about $50, and the boat will still self-right.

 

[thomasb]

I am fairly certain IronClad had an esc issue on one of his videos and he diagnoses it while filming. He swaps it for a Flycolor 150a esc. They go for about $50, and the boat will still self-right.

The reseller says they might send me a new ESC if they see something in the video that is wrong.
I'll keep you posted.

 

[thomasb]

I have to confess it was an easy fix. I just needed to understand the binding process. It took some testing back and forth but now it seems to be working.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Glad it was an easy and cheap fix!
Nice work!!!