Hobbywing Platinum 100A

[JonPage1981]

Hi Everyone,

Completely new here and only just starting out in this hobby. I am considering building a Trex 500L and need some advice regarding ESC. I have read elsewhere that people have experienced some issues with Align's 70A ESC included in the combo and am therefore looking elsewhere.

I have come across the Hobbywing Platinum V3 100amp ESC/BEC. This has some good reviews and seems to be an ok middle of the road sort of product. I have read on the manual that it comes with 2 cables for plugging into the receiver. One is the throttle cable along with the red and black presumably bec cable. In addition to that, the manual says about a second BEC cable. This is just red and black and is "for connecting in parallel to manage the increased current" something along those lines. If I plug the throttle cable into the throttle port on my Spektrum AR8000 is it going to be ok to plug the other cable into an unused port, for example AUX2? I'm not sure what the maximum current the AR8000 can handle is.

I have the AR8000 connected to a microbeast X ready the next part of my build.

Any advice welcome from anyone using the same or similar. I had also considered the Castle Talon 90, however, have read elsewhere that Castle ESCs have a habit of catching fire?!?

Kind regards

[jchbarnes]

The HW 100 or the talon 90 would be fine for your 500l. Regarding the extra lead of the HW you could plug it into any spare port on your ar8000 or the FBL unit because it doesn't have a signal wire (it is intended to supply extra power to the FBL unit on models that run higher powered servos). On my 550 I run the signal lead to the ar8000 and the extra power lead to the FBL unit.

[waveydavey]

Welcome to the forum Jon

Don't worry too much about the Talon, there were some issues with CC a few years back but they appear to be picking it up lately. Unless you're really pushing the 70 I wouldn't bother swapping it out although the ESC you've pointed out is very good

[JonPage1981]

Hi,

Thanks very much for your responses. I'll keep you posted.

Jon

[myxiplx]

Yeah, as others said above, Castle had a few problems in the past but that's really old history now, their current products are all pretty solid.

I do love Hobbywing though, I run HobbyWing 50A v3's on each of my Gaui X3's and they're a damn good ESC for the price. That second lead you're talking about on the 100A just plugs into any spare port that you can connect power to, it just gives a bit more headroom if you're running high end power hungry servos. It's best to plug it into the FBL controller really as that's where the servos are drawing their power from. If you plug it into the AR8000 then you still only have a single line to the FBL so you don't get any benefit from that second lead.

[kenny d]

I've got 3 (hobbyking) YEP esc's on heli's , a 120 , 60 , & 45 amp , I realy like them , the cc talons are week where the wires connect into the unit , I've had to solder 3 up now , they don't crash well lol

[choppaholic]

most issues with the Align 70A ESC is when used with the internal bec and its not cooled correctly, its the weak link, it blow out even though the main speed control unit is still intact. i left my heli ON once and it got so hot that smoked itself i am not sure the BEC in it is really upto the job.

i am using the Align 70A ESC on both my 500 (scorpion 3026 1400kv 80amp motor) and EDF planes, where as my heli rarely gets to 80amp in real life, my EDF draws 80 amp constant and 95-100amp peak using the same ESC at full throttle and brust modes respectively. so considering you can cool it efficiently and dont use the inbuilt bec it is very reliable and can handle a lot more than 70A claimed, the 70 amp is only true if its under poor cooling. on a heli place it outside the canopy on the side of the airframe and it will last for ever.

the HW is a good ESC as well but i would not bother, just use the align with an extranl BEC, extenal BEC is also always safer, when ESC dies you can always auto down safely. i always prefer to keep power and speed control separate ,

[Granpappy]

I have yet to have a problem with the standard Align 70 amp ESC on my 500L, but it might happen. If you use an external BEC then you will have to fold back the red pin on the ESC controller cable plug. I don't think you can disable the internal BEC with software. I could be wrong, but I've never looked at that option.

[JonPage1981]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I have been considering the external BEC option as well. Like you say Choppaholic, at least if the ESC goes I will still have power going to the receiver, FBL and servos. Any advice from anyone on external BEC options. Only using mini servos since it is a 500 size heli.

Thanks.

[French Paul]

Check out the gryphon Polaris, not much better out there for the money
Gryphon Polaris 30V 10A Mini BEC GSR-3030
my 500l running 2 dsmX sats never had an issue running the standard super combo gear and your drawing less power using a separate reciever setup, but if your concerned the gryphon for £27 will give you peace of mind.

[French Paul]

Another bit of advice is to not leave an esc/bec powered up on the bench too long, they are designed to be in use and tend to get hot sitting on a bench.
Also for the first 10 flights keep an eye on your servos and do a thorough pre flight check, I've had 2 ds515ms go dead on me from new after setting up and getting ready to maiden, not in flight but at power up and both after being powered up fine around 4-5 times for setup.
Both in different helis and all the others are still going strong lots of flight later.
they are replaced under warranty with no questions asked as its a known issue.