New Align RCE-BL130A

[ianflorio]

Just a quick question, I know on the align-trex.co.uk website it has this ESC listed with Hobbywing Platinum v4 in brackets after the item name but I wondered is it simply a rebranded hobbywing and therefore will work with my existing hobbywing program box or is it an Align copy and you have to buy the Align program box. Also does it have the phase output like the genuine hobbywing that will work directly with vbar?

Thanks in advance

Ian

[myxiplx]

Everything I've seen online says it's an OEM product from HobbyWing, so my bet is that it will be identical to the HobbyWing 130A v4, will work with the HobbyWing box and be running HobbyWing firmware, but I haven't yet seen anybody actually confirm that.

[ianflorio]

That is the same as I have read/seen online but wondered if anyone has actually experience with the unit using a hobbywing program box (that does look identical to the hobbywing unit) for programming and updating and has run the phase output into a vbar for use with the governor or rpm display on v-control

[acidla]

I saw a pic of a heli with the Align esc and on the bench there was a HW prog box.

[myxiplx]

I just checked with Dean, he's using the HobbyWing program box with his and confirmed it has the same features as the HobbyWing ESCs.

[philipjdall]

It looks the same, but when comparing specs the align one is listed as 12s max and the HW v4 is listed as 14s. If that is the case, then there must be some difference in hardware?

it may of course be a typo, as I'm sure the HW is 14s.

[Grumpy]

As I understand it the Align and HW are the exact same ESC both made by HW just with cosmetic differences. It would only add cost in design and manufacture to make them different. Though unfortunately i cant confirm this from firsthand experience.

[10x]

Reading it seems that the Align has 10swg and the Hobbywing has 12swg, so some slight changes...

[Granpappy]

I didn't realise how big it was until it arrived.

It's got 10 awg wire on battery and motor side. The motor side already has 5mm female connectors fitted.

RPM signal wire is on the same lead as the BEC wire. (Pictured).

Separate throttle signal lead. It also has an LED output socket but no lead.

The Hobbywing program box works with it. (As of 17/07/16). You cant programme it with stick movements. You need the box.

Comes with fan and 5mm male motor connectors.

It's very nice.

PS It says 6s - 12s on the side. 5v - 8v 10 amp BEC.

[Grumpy]

Interesting that it says 12S max when the HW 130 on which it's based is 14S?.. I wonder if when you connect it to the HW program box that 14S setting is available in the software?
I have the latest version of the HW software here and it has no seperate entry in the ESC type list for the Align ESC. I assume it would be recognised as a HW 130, in which case a 14S setting is available. If the hardware can take it is another issue!

[acidla]

Granpappy,

Do you have a 14s pack to plug it in?

[Granpappy]

Granpappy,

Do you have a 14s pack to plug it in?

I have no requirement for a 14s pack. The ESC says 'Made in Taiwan' so I'm guessing it's made by Align under licence from HW. It might be recognised by the HW Box but the Align Box or wifi module is recommended in the instructions. If Align do their own firmware updates then it might not be recognised on the HW box in the future. Who knows.

[philipjdall]

You may have no interest in 14s but I sure do. If this is a low cost solution to running 14s then great, but it appears there is good reason why it is much cheaper than the HW130

[bigpops]

It's the same price as the HW 130A in other parts of the world. 299E in the EU, $299 in the USA. No one seems to sell the HW130 here yet, that I can find.


This image from Align: http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/at...1892-177-1.jpg says it supports 14S.