Anyone have a [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJTW3&P=M]Venom Smart Temp Fail Safe?[/link]

Thoughts, reviews, comments, ideas?

I'm considering purchasing one for my GST..

Thanks all

I don't have one, but I heard they're great. IF you already have a temp gun, I'd go with the smaller, VSF. You also might wanna look into buying a venom speed meter too.

Well I have a temp gun, but not a fail-safe. And I'm careful but always concerned about my truck going just out of range one day, I just invision myself holding my radio up in the air as I run after this 50mph beast as it heads toward a wall, LOL.

The cool thing about the Venom Smart Temp is it monitors the radio and temp and cuts the throttle based on either a peak temp or loss of radio, and the peak temp memory is a cool feature.

I was just wondering if anyone else has one already?

I've had venoms temp/failsafe and i've had their micro failsafe as well.

The temp/failsafe works fine, although The temp was usually out by 10-20 degrees to my IR temp gun.

As far as failsafe and temp are concerned, the best thing I ever did is get a Nomadio react radio system with the telemtry kit. This way I can monitor the temperature, rx voltage and speed in real time right on the radio. built in failsafe too. Temp is always within 5 degrees.

i was looking at getting one of those nomadio controler, def worth the money...but i have a venom failsafe temp monitor, and i think its great...i only use the temps as a guide, and dont take them seriously...would be best to have a temp gun to monitor temp safely. the only issue i had was with the gst the temp probe wire was too short to reach the head on the motor, so i had to extend it...and if u short the wires out the temp will read like 637 degrees or somethign, so make sure they are heat shrinked or somethign.l

I too was thinking of getting one until another forum member (.46Nitro addict) let me know how they performed in a test he did, from memory the venom had issues with consistency going into failsafe when voltage drops from battery (obviously not to zero) but he ended up running the stock Cen one as it performed better I think. When he sees this thread I'm sure he'll pop in - The Real Dogman may know something about this too.

Hey guys,

Yes, as MONAROMAN has stated I have a VST, & did some tests on it using my adjustable voltage d.c. power supply.

I too liked all the features that dStruct714, has mentioned.
But, during testing I found that;-
1/. As I lowered the voltage from 6.0v dc to the specified (factory low voltage cut-out VST value) to test the low voltage failsafe feature, that it didn't act in a repeatable manner. ie some times the voltage could be lowered to 2v dc or less & the fail safe function would NOT work, other times it would. It wasn't repeatable in its action &/or its low voltage cut out level.
2/. I also found that fitting the VST caused my servos ( especially my F/R servo) to intermittedly glitch or twitch. So you could be driving along & for no apparent reason the VST would cause the Forward /Reverse servo to change state. Luckilly I bench tested this first before running it for real - or I could have been up for a new tranny! I managed to fix this by fitting a ferrite filter in line between my reciever & the VST, using a servo extension cable & putting 1/2 a dozen turns through it. Problem solved!

So would I recommend it?

I'm not saying they are all have faults like this - maybe I got a dud!
Yes, I do still use it, but not for the low voltage or receiver failsafe feature! I still use the Geunine CEN failsafe for this it works faultlessly!!
Regarding the temp readings, I'm not sure how accurate they are because of the fact that they lag those of my IR Temp Gun....
due to the fact that the Glow plug temp is almost instantaneous, where as the VST temp is delayed because it is the outer head temp. Which takes time to heat & cool - thus the lagging reading. So I use my IR temp Gun for tuning. The VST is ok for a peak temp reading during a race etc, as a guide........but is it really worth the money when I don't use all those features???

As for the throttle limit function on reaching a certain temp (user programmable), it does work faultlessly. Keeping in mind that it is based on that lagging temp reading.

Myself I think I would be buying the CEN Racing fail safe, supplied on my LE, as found still on the Nemesis (go the BAY or CEN Racing Store direct etc)

Not trying to Flame the VST, just reporting my test results

Send me a 'pm' if you want too know more.
Regards, .46NitroAddict. [>:]

Well Fellas,

I wasn't going to comment on this thread as I dont own a VST, I had intended to let the people who own this product reply. However, I would add that all tests are subject to the unit being tested at the time. .46nitroaddict DID do a comprehensive test on this unit and I feel his results are sound and valid. .46nitroaddict's tests were as unbiased as can be. The voltage inconsistencies is a significant flaw in the unit he tested and I have heard similar problems from other owners that have experienced the servo glitching problems and since Nitro told me of his solution, I advise those owners that find the glitching to wrap the lead around a screw driver to create abit of coil in the wire and that does seem to help. The temp probe is VERY subject to location on the head and how tight you can get the lead to the aluminum surface of the head. Obviously, if you cant get good surface contact then you will experience a lag in the "realtime" reading, but as nitro stated there is a function of peak temp reading.

One other item I have been made aware of is that the leads are abit short for a truck as big as the Genesis series trucks so you are forced to mount the unit approx. center of the truck so you can reach both ends of truck.

I feel based solely on Nitro's results and others who have had problems that I was involved with helping, I would not and have not bought one. Crippled features is not a good buy to me...

EDIT ADDED: I change my mind, I would probably buy a VST. Most products to have a few bad units in the lot, so it might not be considered fair to abolish an entire product line because of a few bad units. I try to be as fair and justified as I can be in my buying decsions, so on second thought, I would consider buying one,,

Hey NOMOBUX sell me one of yours Bud!!!!!!!! Please..

Hmm,

Maybe I won't run out and buy one of those Venom's so quick, from what it sounds like there may be better options. That Nomadio radio is awesome! too bad it's freakishly ugly..

And too bad the nicer looking and probably faster Futaba 3PM series doesn't do 2-way sensor stuff too. Does anyone know if any of the spread spectrum 2.4ghz radios have built in failsafe receivers? Or does anyone make a fail-safe receiver?

Thanks

I have 2 and have not had any probs, the volts on the smart temp matched my telemetry. However, I am having a range prob since I went to Spektrum and checked Venoms website. It now states that the units ARE NOT compatible. I just got off the horn with Venom & the rep said this was likely the problem. This is not their fault. I had the Smart Temps almost 2 yrs before going to Spektrum. I might add, that YES, the leads are on the lean side for a Genesis, Nemesis size vehicle.

I debated for a long time whether or not to get one before I finally did. Im not a nomadio salesman but this is seriously a wicked product. especially being able to link it to the computer to update the transmitter and recievers, and being able to set up your models on the PC or on the radio.
The 2 way telemetry is awesome too, its like a real car where you can just glance up at the gages.
And, the failsafe can be setup independantly for all channels. EG, you can set the steering to hold where it was when the signal was lost and set the throttle to brake slightly.
Only thing, they advertise a 2000 ft range, but I only get about 1200 ft if I stand on a bit of a hill. Mind you, I can hardly see the RC at that distance


Anyway, I guess I didnt mention before, but I had the exact same problems as .46, so I guess wither his wasnt a dud or we both got duds.
The low voltage failsafe worked intermittantly, but If I turned off the radio completely it always worked.
The servo glitched slightly with both the smart temp and micro failsafe.

Yeah it's my understanding that most fail-safes don't work with spectrum rx/tx, I don't plan on upgrading to spectrum for a while, once some more companies *cough* Futaba come out with sensor systems like the Nomadio then I'll consider it.

I bought a VST a few months ago and the main problems have already been listed, ie:

*Leads too short for a Genesis really, leading to compromised mounting.
*Glitching, but only when the radio is off, so not a real problem.
*Voltage not 100%, but it is a good indication as to the batteries state.

The main problem I had was the temperature function died after a month.
So I now use it for is fail safe and Volt meter function.

Saying that last weekend the lead for the temperature prob came out of the unit, so it may be that that stopped the temperature from working. The lead damage is probably a result of the stretch from radio box to the engine.[&o]

But now I know the problem I will probably open the unit up and solder the wires back in.

Hopefully this will fix it.

I can safely say that since installing spektrum tx/rx in all my models I haven't had any failsafe issues, mind you I hadn't had any previous issues either - mainly wanted to get one and add telemetry and couldn't afford a nomadio. The telemetry still hasn't been added but I'm more than happy with the spektrum and its in built failsafe, running 4 rx's and the one tx and all is good so far