What to do? Novak Blows

[flm_savage]

So i was out running my e-savage in wet grass and it suddenly shuts off. Lo and behold, my Novak HV setup is fried. There were no puddles, no standing water and no ditches. Apparently the moisture from the wet grass was enough to short it out. I sent it off and they said it had basic water damage and it would be $70+ shipping to refurb the esc. So now i don't know what to do. This is the second $250+ novak setup that has crapped out on me in less than 4 weeks. I used to think they were great and now they seem to just be junk. If i can't run a setup like that in we grass then what good is it? I am thinking about just selling the batteries and ebaying the savavge roller.

What do you think?

 

[olds97_lss]

Doesn't LRP make some that are waterproof? Or are they the wrong kind for what you need? I know they had advertisements with the esc dunked in water...

Maybe spend the $70 and try and get some of it back on ebay...

 

[abadk9420]

Shoo Goo the bare wires and what ever else is exsposed, but as we all know electricity and water don't mix unless its all sealed up...

 

[CharliesTheMan]

You should have gone with Castle instead of Novak. Their stuff is coated in some sort of epoxy and while I wouldn't drive it around on the bottom of the swimming pool (yes, a lot of people do it with their crawlers because of the weights in the tires) unexposed like some people have been doing, it shouldn't have a problem with wet grass and such. I can't believe you're still a Novak man after having sent back 3 systems for warranty repair in the month or so.

 

[flm_savage]

i have rinsed off mamba max's before and never had a problem. I am done with novak for sure. I just don't know if i want to spend $70 to replace it. i am sure i can get at least 200 on the bay for it but still. I'll lose more than 70 if i sell the e-savage so thats something else to chew on.

 

[Webbage]

It's pretty difficult on a machine setup for bashing or racing. The heat the ESC kicks out will either fry it or fry most waterproofing you can add to it. All I can think of is making splash guards to cover the wiring and holes, but how I have no idea, and even those still run the risk of metling.

With regards to NOVAK, this is by no means a fair or objective view, so take it with 3 pinches of salt and an asprin, but I could tell just looking at Novak's ESCs in Photos that they are not as well made as they could be design wise. A lot of people do like them, and electronically they are probably sound, but I didn't want one when it came to buying an ESC, because the cases look tardily put together. I also don't like the bright orange and purple. It's a gimmick.

I like toi think I have a reasonably good eye for a well designd and made product, but it's just my personal 2 pence worth. Think of that what you will.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

The HiTec servo cases that the high end servos come in make really nice electronics boxes when properly installed. It wont make your rig waterproof, but a lot more water resistant. It's what I have planned for my trail builds where the comp course will be running through creeks and such.

 

[flm_savage]

I paid the novak demon $82 and they are going to replace it. Looks like the truck is going to be stuck on pavement duty.

 

[CharliesTheMan]

I'm not saying this joking or trying to be a smart ass, but seriously, I'm surprised that they haven't told you that from now on they aren't going to be able to warranty your products anymore or something, just because of how much you've had to turn in on the warranty. It's good that they haven't brought up the issue though, I think they should warranty it, even more so if it happens to you over and over, they ought to send you a free coupon or something for all thr troubles that you've had, at least some dam t-shirts.