Novak goes bang

[plummers]

Hi, has anyone heard of or experienced Novak bl xbr system going up in a puff of smoke.At the club one of the new systems which was only used for 3 meetings made a fizzing noise from inside then loads of smoke while the owner was setting up.The speedo was connected to the battery but the switch was OFF. The unit has now been returned to CML for inspection.Anyone else had a problem and how was the customer service experience from CML.plummers

[Plasmag]

At last a result,sorry for that but I have had exactly the same problem with two GTB speedos.I posted for anyone else with same problem 63read post but no replies.
I contacted Charlie at Novak and he has been very helpfull,if you get no joy with CML I suggest you contact him,the Novak customer service is very good.
But you would have to send the esc back to the US (if no joy with CML).

[plummers]

thanks plasmag.hopefully we will get a few more, because my lhs said it was a common problem, and were not selling novak bl systems because they were too unreliable?? but looking in the display case there were three on display?? so maybe the problem is a little exaggerated.we have bought 15 systems at the club and sold them to the members with a decent discount so everyone is on tender hooks after this one went pop!! thanks plummers

[super__dan]

novak bl systems because they were too unreliable??

The only BL there is the BuLl the modell shop is talking IMHO. Novak make the most reliable mass market brushless systems!

[Plasmag]

Hi Dan, not having a pop at Novak in fact quite the opposite, I had one of the original GTBs for 18mnths and not a problem, I sold it to get a brand new spread spektrum GTB which went up in smoke as I was completing the setup procedure?? (Novak customer services gave excellent after sales service).
I have a normal GTB which had only done 8 meetings and was just out of warranty and this went up in smoke in exactly the same way as described above battery connected esc not switched on.Again Novak customer services have been excellent.

It could be they have a faulty batch of components, just to let other people aware if this happens to them it can be sorted out.

Have been on RC Tech forum and have found exactly the same senario with a GTB, Batteries connected esc not switched on -- steering servo moved manually (wheels moved side to side by hand) and esc went up in smoke, the guy sent his esc back to novak and got another one and thought the only thing he did was move steering servo so tried again and guess what??? esc went uo in smoke again,see if novak answer his post --- I picked up the car with the front wheels when the same happened to me --- I have orion 4800 lipo and ko 2173 fet servo --- be warned !!!

[plummers]

that makes for interesting reading on rctech. BE WARNED boyz DO NOT move the steering while the battery is connected it WILL F@Ck your speedo.plummers

[josh_smaxx]

that makes for interesting reading on rctech. BE WARNED boyz DO NOT move the steering while the battery is connected it WILL F@Ck your speedo.plummers

I dont really take much care when moving the wheels with the battery connected on both my 2wd and my TC which are both running spread spektrum GTB's, i have never had a problem but im going to definately unplug it before i even pick the car up now.

[David]

None of my GTB's suffer this problem. Using a mixture of Futaba S9550's, KO 2123's and 2343's.

[plummers]

i admit it does seem to be a bit random only some speedos, so therefore a specific batch maybe, but are you williing to chance 100 of your finest pounds? im not, i saved long and hard for my speedo and bl motor combi as i think alot of drivers have. could an admin put this as a stcky as there is a problem which needs to addressed???plummers

[David]

Best thing to do at this point in time is gather as much information as you can. Find out what receiver, servo (as well as anything else) that was used as well as the GTB.

At least that way we'll know if there's a pattern emerging when it comes to what electrics are being used in general, not just the GTB.

[i033007]

Hi

Interesting that you have a FET servo and this happens

Could be that when you pick up the car by the front wheels, the servo tries to move back to neutral, draws 7.2 volts from the GTB at a slightly higher amps than normal operation (Due to the additional resistance of you holding it) and the ESC goes goodnight

Are you using a FET choke? Did that go up in smoke as well?

Damo

[super__dan]

that makes for interesting reading on rctech. BE WARNED boyz DO NOT move the steering while the battery is connected it WILL F@Ck your speedo.plummers

Urm, this is nothing new, it's been guidence since KO introduced any kind of FET servo not to independantly move the servo (steering) as it will intruduced currents that feed back through the servo/receiver/speedo BEC.

Remember turning over a motor by hand is essentially a little generator!

I have 3 GTB's, and never had any problems as you describe.