Mexxan

I DON"T BELIEVE THIS!!!

Just charged the NimH packs - no problem.

Installed them into the ERevo for first run. Carefully connect terminals - every thing's fine.

Turn on the ESC and it's red - Not the green it should be. Disconnect the batts straight away - Try again and this time it's green - ok, fine.

setting the trim on the radio for the steering, still fine.

Pull the trigger - led on ESC goes red - as I'm going over to the car it turns from red to barely flittering and a hissing starts from a battery compartment. Smoke start pouring out the vents!

Quickly disconnect the batteries - and pull the smoking one out - heat shrink black and practically burning/melting at the joints of the 7th cell.

This is a nightmare - I hadn't even started. The reason why I got out of Nitro was because of the inherent problems - but this is just crazy.

I'm using NimH's, not Lipos!

I don't know what damage the ESC / electrics have had from this - no way to test as one pack is total toast.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated as right now - I'm in shock.

Edit - Ok, something is seriously wrong here, just took out the other battery pack and that has exaclt the same melt points at the end (horizontally placed) 7th cell - so looks like that was about to start smoking to - all within the space of around 30 seconds of power up.

What is going on? Is it the packs or the ESC? Or..... AAAAAAAGH!

Access

Bad ESC I'd guess, the ESC probably shorted out and killed your pack. Was the other pack really hot too?

Dawman

My Feedback: (33)

+1 on the ESC .

Mexxan

One started smoking but the was just as badly burnt/melted - I managed to get to them pretty quick but the heat shrink by the end cell melted and what looks like the start of the internal connector in that part.

http://picasaweb.google.com/firefore...00/SmokingNimH

Redvanmafia

Could be your batterys, cause its weird it happend on both 7th cell joints,

Mexxan

Feel like I'm in a Catch 22.
Want to try the ESC with new packs just to make sure - but then I may ruin a new set.

Man, I switched to ERevo so I could plug'n'play....

[]TEX[]

Who made the packs?

Mexxan

Found some cheap Nicads - gonna pick those up tomorrow and try it - if the ESC is dead I'm gonna go ape on Traxxas - my 6 year old nephew wasn't far from the car when it started smoking...

I'm not sure about the cells - Powertech is the brand. Although I think they may be the retailers own brand/build - they're pretty big and popular here in the UK. They're pretty reputable and the packs were around $70 - so I thought they'd be ideal.

[]TEX[]

Well it could be the ESC, what you describe is typical shorting of the pack. Don't mess with it, take it back for a new one. Bad solder in the ESC is my guess.

BTW, welcome to Traxxas.

Sorry.....had to say it.

emaXXman123

My Feedback: (1)

this exact same thing happened to my emaxx but i got fire and smoke everywhere!!!!!

guver

My Feedback: (325)

My guess is that the esc has the two red wires (or the two blacks) mixed up.

Did it ever work?

Mexxan

moved forward and backwards a few times while setting the trim - the smoked it - all within 30 secs or so.

Dawman

My Feedback: (33)

Actually it`s Novak who makes the ESC for them . It is possible one of the packs had a problem or even overcharged .

iamnot

did you buy the truck at an lhs?
if so, take it to them and let them risk some of their packs testing the esc

and, not to rant but, this thread is kind of classic....

whenever i'm asked "which is easier, nitro or electric"
i say neither, they both have problems - just different ones

why people think electric is "plug-n-play" is beyond me
at this level it's a hobby
and hobbies require more than just the plug-and-go that toys provide

and this is a perfect example of why
all
batteries should be treated with care
nimh, nicad, lipo, lead-acid, whatever
can all be dangerous

ElectricGuy007

Hard to say it was the batts or the esc. But I saw the photo's and the batts were melted in the same place.
So maybe faulty batteries?

The Mad Modder

Correction: Novak USED to make the esc for the e-maxx.
EVX

The orange and purple scheme denotes it as a Novak product.
EVX2

EVX2waterproof

As you can see the EVX2 resembles Traxxas' work such as the xl5, more than a Novak ESC.

The Mad Modder

Something was obviously faulty. Even when they are running as they should, nitros require more to keep running than an electric. They also cost more money to run(ex.nitro fuel).

Dawman

My Feedback: (33)

Novak still makes their ESCs , just because they are not orange and purple anynore it doesn`t mean they don`t . You have never seen a product that has been specifically made for another company ?

The Mad Modder

Then is Traxxas lying?
"The EVX-2 is manufactured by Traxxas to ensure the highest level of quality and support."
http://www.traxxas.com/products/acce...ories_evx2.htm
Read the paragraph next to the pic of the EVX2. The quote is from the bottom of that paragraph.