In this post, we have some exciting news to share about Castle Creations’ latest electronic speed controls, that are making waves in the RC hobby world. If you’re passionate about radio-controlled vehicles and speed, you won’t want to miss this.
A History with the Castle Creations Hydra
If you’ve been in the RC hobby for a while, you may recall Castle Creations’ Hydra ESCs from over a decade ago. Unfortunately, Castle discontinued these ESC’s, leading to a long hiatus from the RC boat market. But Castle Creations is back with a vengeance, introducing the Hydra XLX 2, a speed control that’s been proven reliable in the car world. Let’s take a closer look at what makes it stand out.
Key Specifications
The Hydra XLX 2 ESC boasts impressive specifications. It offers a continuous current rating of 180 amps and a burst current rating of 350 amps, making it suitable for high-powered setups. But what sets Castle Creations apart is their transparency. Unlike many other ESC manufacturers, Castle provides amperage ratings AND an explanation of the standard used to obtain this rating. From my point of view with the RC Car version of the XLX2, these current values are conservative. With conservative current specifications, transparency and an understanding of how these values are obtained, it sure ensures us that we can trust the reliability and performance of their ESCs.
Continuous vs. Burst Current
Understanding the difference between continuous and burst current is crucial. The continuous current rating of 180 amps is sustainable for five minutes with proper cooling, connectors, and batteries. Using inadequately sized components can stress the ESC and lead to failure, which is not covered by warranty. The burst current rating of 350 amps, on the other hand, is for short, momentary periods lasting no more than two seconds. Knowing these limits helps you use your components optimally and avoid overloading your ESC.
Managing Ripple Voltage
One of the key factors affecting ESC reliability is ripple voltage. This phenomenon can be problematic if not managed correctly. Castle Creations addresses this issue by providing data logs that show the performance of their ESCs. In a data log from a run with the RC Car version of the XLX 2, we can see that the voltage of the battery drops significantly during high-power bursts. This is also at a current draw in excess of 300A, meaning the Castle XLX 2 has excellent ripple voltage management. We calculated the ripple voltage to be 4.4%, which is below the 5% threshold or the starting range of when one should think about using a capacitor pack to mitigate ripple voltage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Castle Creations’ return to the boat market with the Hydra XLX 2 ESC is a significant step forward. With their commitment to transparency and clear amperage ratings with an explanation of how they were determined, you can trust the reliability and performance of their ESCs. The data logs demonstrate that the XLX 2 manages ripple voltage exceptionally well.
We anticipate that these ESCs will become popular not only in standard installations but also in high-speed runs for RC boats. As we continue to test and evaluate these ESCs, we’ll keep you updated with more in-depth reviews and performance tests.
Thank you for joining us for this exciting announcement about Castle Creations’ new electronic speed controls. If you enjoyed this article, please give it a thumbs up, and don’t forget to stay tuned for more updates on the latest developments in the RC hobby world. Your passion and support keep this community thriving. Until next time, happy racing!