Castle creations ESC fire!!!!

[wolfdogstinkus]

I just took my 9month old to the park to play on the swings and I always take a car with me to run on the open field.
I took the blitzer beetle and two lipo batteries.

I was running it on 2s 7.4volts with the standard rear wheels and tyres (thanks Mikeekim) it was going great but a little slow with the smaller than usual rear wheels, I was keeping an eye on the motor temperature and it was fine so I decided to swap the battery to the 3s.

I ran the length of a football pitch, turned round and came back, on the way back, I thought it was very slow and then it ground to a halt. I thought no problem the battery must be flat and the low voltage protection must have kicked in.

So I casually walk over to fetch it and return to the fully charged 2s, I get halfway to the car and then it burst into heavy thick white smoke!!!! My first thought was LIPO FIRE, I have watched the videos on youtube and knew I didn't have much time. I ripped the bodyshell off, disconnected the battery and threw it, and the smoke was still pouring out.

The ESC is toast and I mean proper toast. I was very lucky I managed to disconnect the battery before anything else happened.

This was a second hand system when I got it but it had shown no signs of this before today, the esc never got hot, something must have shorted out which probably means the battery has shorted as well.

I have taken some pics of the toasted esc but didn't get any while it was on fire as I was too busy trying to prevent it from burning the whole car.

Close call


.We still had a play on the swings after though.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee242/wolfdogstinkus/Tamiya/DSCF5581.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee242/wolfdogstinkus/Tamiya/DSCF5588.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee242/wolfdogstinkus/Tamiya/DSCF5587.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee242/wolfdogstinkus/Tamiya/DSCF5573.jpg

[stumpiey]

toasty, they also smell quite bad as well, could well have been shorted out, check the motor as there is naff all left to check on the speedo

[wolfdogstinkus]

@stumpiey, Yeah I think it must have shorted and it did stink, I can still smell it from the car. Castle were completely useless at first but then I spoke to a different person who was very helpful and said they would replace it so I have sent it off, I sent the motor as well as I didn't want to ruin another ESC testing it if the motor was also at fault.

So, not holding my breath or getting my hopes up yet but if they do replace it, I will report back here.

[metalmickey0]

I assume it was able to cope with a 3s lipo as some esc wont and will do that melt down.

[wolfdogstinkus]

Received a parcel from Castle today, I am a very happy customer.
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee242/wolfdogstinkus/DSCF5620.jpg