Disaster...the story of a man,his boat and blue smoke.

[tim slocum]

Fully charged batteries,beautiful weather and a whole afternoon to enjoy some R/C boating.What could go wrong?Get to lake,take out Proboat Classic Runabout,install batteries,(croud of excited people start to gather),everthing checks out OK, launch boat, hit the left stick and........Pooooof. :( Next SMOKE!! :eek: Crowd goes OOOOHHHH. I sit down with boat in my lap and check out everything.Rudder servo works fine,but motor not responding.Pack up sh :censored: and go home.This leaves me with my old reliable Vac u Tug as the sole surviving fully operational unit in my navy.Oh, and did I mention my only mode of transport(ranger pickup) died and left me and my daughter on the side of the road last Friday?We where on our way to pickup her car,it just had $400.00 worth of A/C work done....for the second time in half a summer!! OK, I feel a little better now, sorry for the rant.About the runabout, I think its either the motor(my choice) or the esc.I think the smoke was comming from the area of the motor.When I picked up the boat there was some moss wrapped around the propshaft.I check it all out and let you guys know what I find. Good Night!

[green-boat]

Awwwww Tim, you sound like me. If if it wasn't for bad luck we wouldn't have any luck at all. Sorry to hear about your boat letting the magic smoke out. Let's hope that it was something as simple as the motor.

[tim slocum]

Greenboat, what are you doing up soo late on a "school night"? About the multitude of bad luck I've experienced lately....when it rains,it pours.I could list several more things that have happened lately,but I don't want to come off sounding like a winer.

[green-boat]

I know, I should be in bed but I spent the weekend working on the kitchen cabinets again and had too clean up, thats why I'm on here so late. This forum has become an addiction. Tomorrow (today) I've got to get a 25' truck frist thing and take a bunch of equipment up to Bethalto, Ill.

Any word on your boat?

[patmat2350]

ESC issue- basic Motors 101!
The ESC can handle the running current, but not stall current, which is MUCH higher.

That's one thing I really like about the new Mtroniks ESCs- they actually have a current limiter. Try to draw more than the rated current, and they electronically limit the flow (they don't pop like a fuse).

Alternative- use a fuse! Always a good idea, especially if placed as close to the battery as possible to protect against any possible short.

Pat M

[keith S]

ESC issue- basic Motors 101!
Alternative- use a fuse! Always a good idea, especially if placed as close to the battery as possible to protect against any possible short.
Pat M

I have had the same thing happen. That is why I always fuse to be safe. Like to keep magic smoke in the wires.

[rlboats2003]

Was this the first time out for the season for the proboat and did you bench test it before you took it to the pond.

The reason I ask is that most of these import boats do not have a stainless steel prop shaft. So unless you pulled the shaft last fall and lub it with a light oil when you put it on the shelf, there is a good chance, that the shaft was running rough on rust bearings and with the added help of the wraped moss seized up. This is one of the major problems with the imports that run a full length brass bearing/outer shaft with no way of lubricatiing the prop shaft other than take the shaft out. (one of the biggest down falls of the reef racers, they need to be lubbed before ever race day) Yes, this means removing the rudder and and puilling the shaft - putting a light oil in (because the clearence is to close for grease and it will only bake and harden) and put the whole thing back together.

Just a thought I would to the sniff test on the motor and the speed controller to find out which is the damaged component. If it is the motor the 550 that are in the Aquacraft is a direct fit and the 3-bladed brass prop and shaft fits right in too. Gives it a nice scale speed with out pushing the batteries (the real ones maxed out about 40-45 mph. The Proboat dogbone works well with this set up and allows for some minor miss aligment. While I was in there mucking about, I also put a slot in that bulkhead that is in the middle of the open area and made a shelf so I could place the battery in vertically instead of laying it on the top of the shelf. This moved the center of gravity lower into the boat so that when you make a speed turn it doesn't skid - In the real ones the Motor and the gas tank was the weight that had to offset the weight of the people in the cockpit. In car terms - less body roll.

Just some thoughts,
Rich

[Kmot]

That's one thing I really like about the new Mtroniks ESCs- they actually have a current limiter. Try to draw more than the rated current, and they electronically limit the flow (they don't pop like a fuse).


Which Mtroniks would these be? Because I have popped one, and seen another pop instantly as well.

[patmat2350]

That's an older one. The new line with current-limiting is called "Viper".
A weakness: I think either one will smoke if you use an Rx pack while also leaving the ESC's BEC conected.

Pat M

[tim slocum]

Guys, this was the third time out this summer for the "Miss Sara".On the other two occasions everything went great.In fact,since I finally have a good charger for the batteries,everything has been better than ever.I oil the shaft from time to time and give the prop a few turns a few times a week throughtout the winter months.I just pulled the leads off of the motor and put current directly to the motor and NOTHING.So,I guess it is the motor after all.I will replace the motor as soon as I find a replacement.I was thinking of getting something slightly hotter,not to much,I dont want my runtimes to suffer too much.I'd trade a few mins. for a few mph.Does anyone know how many turns one of these stock Proboat motors is?Thanks for the replies,I'll keep you posted.

[W.L Upshaw]

I would recommend a blade type fuse inline

Actually, you already have a fuse, the question is....does it cost $0.50 or $50.00 to replace, there is the first choice to make.

[green-boat]

If you are sure that the motor is dead why not tear it apart and unwind the armature. As you unwind it count the number of turns on a pole.

[tim slocum]

Excellent idea.