Best ESC For Under $50??

[Ped2003]

What do you guys thnk is the best ESC i could get for under $50? I need it too be reliable, and to be able to handle atlest 15t motors an 6 cells!!

Any input needed?

Thanks,
Jake

[froggie]

If you go to Tower Hobbies and do a search for "Radio Speed Controls - Cars / General" you will be able to review the various models.

This is the best option given your price range;
Novak Explorer II (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBJ65&P=0)

[Ped2003]

Originally posted by froggie
If you go to Tower Hobbies and do a search for "Radio Speed Controls - Cars / General" you will be able to review the various models.

This is the best option given your price range;
Novak Explorer II (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBJ65&P=0)
My cousin got one of those and after like 5 months it just stopped working....is that normal for explorer 2 esc, or was that just bad luck?

[Marines]

the novak explorer II is the best option for you, and Ped2003, your cousin must have gotten it wet or something, or it might have been bad luck..lol :D

[SteveK]

Yeah, Novak stuff is primo, probably the best out there, so if it stopped working, chances are he screwed up. Did he contact Novak about it?

[TEM]

I've got a fusion dual profile in new condition with box, instructions and all for sale. If you're interested, PM me.


As for your cousin, it's just bad luck, or misuse. NEVER have I had a problem with novak!

[TRF Drive Hard]

Ya i strongly agree with the novak explorer 2 being suitable... i never had a problem with mine;)

[Ped2003]

ok thanks guys,

I'm just gonna get the novak than........

[TexRacer]

Hi guys.I will say there are BETTER esc's out there for this price and better performance.
Try the Hitec HFX.
This esc is performance wise up there with the higher end Novak's and is in the $50.00 range.
Goodluck.

Best Deal I know of.I work for a store part time that sales FMA Direct.The servo's are actually pretty nice for the price.

They are having a clearance on a ESC.It's called the Typhoon from them.It was $69.99 but it's now like $30.00

[Marines]

The Explorer II by Novak is an excellent choice, and that ESC should be perfect for your range, also there is an Low-buck ESC guide in the April 2002 issue of RCCA, if you cant get ahold of that, the ESCs they have in there are ... I myself have a Novak Dually (which is great, but above your range)

-Duratrax Spike $27.99 (rated: most affordable)motor lim-27-turn
-Duratrax Streak $54.99 motor limit- 12-turn
-Hitec HFX $69.99 motor limit-10
-LRP IPC Super Sport $89.99 motor limit-12
-LRP Sport $49.99 motor limit-14
-LRP Pro Sport $89.99 motor limit-none
-LRP Quantum Sport $79.99 motor limit-14 (smallest)
-Novak Dually $89.99 motor limit-none (highest frequency)*mine*
-Novak Explorer II $51.99 motor limit-15
-Novak Fusion $69.99 motor limit-12-turn
-XTM Sportsman $44.99 motor limit-mild mod

[Ped2003]

what about the DuraTrax Streak ESC? Is this reliable, I've heard bad things about duratrax.... its only 39.99 at towerhobbies.com and has a 12t limit and traction control witch I will need seeing im gonna be putting it, in my tamiya mini cooper?

Or do you think it would be better in the long run just to get the esplorer 2?

[TRF Drive Hard]

[waves hand]you want nothing else but the Novak Explorer 2[/wave hand]:D

[nitrofun]

ffor under $50, Novak Explorer II by far and away, for under $100 Novak Dually, no motor limit and 6 or 7 cells...what more can you ask for?

[Real Lemons]

Originally posted by Ped2003
what about the DuraTrax Streak ESC? Is this reliable, I've heard bad things about duratrax.... its only 39.99 at towerhobbies.com and has a 12t limit and traction control witch I will need seeing im gonna be putting it, in my tamiya mini cooper?

Or do you think it would be better in the long run just to get the esplorer 2?


I've got two of the Streak ESC's in both of my cars, I have been nothing but pleased with them, they work great and take a beating, Cheap too. I say **** Novak and go Duratraxx

[nitrofun]

Lemons your entitield to your opinion, but in RC you get what you pay for, and novak has the racing heritage. duratrax makes decent stuff...ill give em that much =0

[TexRacer]

Well real lemons I will tell you something.If you Switch to Hitec,Lrp,Tekin,Novak or another company.You will AUTOMATICALLY get longer runtime and faster speeds.This is Proven.It's due to the switching fets in the esc.You get what you pay for.The best deal hands down is the Hitec HFX.This is a racing caliber esc that should be priced $85.00 or above for $69.99 or cheaper.Then FMA direct has a unit called the Typhoon for $30.00.This is comparible with $70.00 esc's.While the Explorer 2 is one of the better deals new.You can find some nice used stuff for the $50.00 price range.Heck I have a used Explorer 2 for $35.00
Les

[puribong]

Try Hitec HFX. That thing rock for its price.

[tarheelquality]

I think if you look at the Streak compared to the explorer 2 you will find it runs at a higher freq, is lighter, and is extremely reliable. I now have a GT7 and have had several other novaks, along with a tekin, a quantam sport,a couple of futabas and my streak, and while I would not reccomend the streak for top end racing I would recommend it over the explorer 2. I ran mine in an e-pede with a 12 turn d4 geared preety high and never once had a heat shut down or any other problem and it had good battery life. Just my 2 cents, but when you start saying novak is the greates just remember sone of their stuff is several generations old and part of the price is that novak name. Plus you cannot beat duratrax service, I sent a charger with a bad power supply to them and not only did they pay for shipping but the charger baet the notice that they had recieved it back to my house, and the never asked twice about taking care of it.

[nitrofun]

and the fact that Novak is generations old, is because they make high quality ESC's...also if you take a step up $10 you can get the fusion. which makes a huge jump in options for a very small jump in price tag!

[Real Lemons]

I've never had any problems out of my Duratrax Streaks, i dont do any racing, just bashing in the street and off road. I also have a Thunder Tiger 1/5th Motorcycle with some old Novak ESC. So i am bias. I just think for the money you cant go wrong with the streak since it has proven to be tough, and great for nonracers.... But ultimately its up to the person buying the stuff. if you'd rather pay more for a more limiting ESC for bashing go ahead,

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/jcaddis/04-25-2003%201257p/im0008924.jpg

[TrickSpeed]

I'm gonna have to back Real Lemons up on this one. I had a streak before, and it worked flawlessly the entire time I had it. It was a great deal when it was $54.99, and its even better now for $39.99. But I've heard good things about the HFX too.

HFX>Streak>Explorer II

[puribong]

Of the 3 escs Explorer II, Streak, HFX, HFX have the lowest resistance of 0.001 and it will handle up to 10turn w/o problem and it also have current limiter knob.
Also, HFX is a racing esc so it has 3 wire with no connectors instead 4 wires with connectors. If you need 4 wire esc, I would go streak over explorer II. It's also good esc at $39.

[lott racer]

when will you people wake up!!! why do you people think you get such a great deal at towerhobbies.com? and for the guys that think NOVAK is not as good as duratrax, you must be bent! :rolleyes: stay off the internet shopping, go to the hobby shop where they are in the know, heck go to the track and ask somebody. i doubt someone is gonna recommend a duratrax ESC over a novak. stop trying to shop "cheaply". if you don't wanna spend the money on decent equipment, you'll spend more in the long run.

[BobT]

Originally posted by lott racer
stay off the internet shopping, go to the hobby shop where they are in the know, heck go to the track and ask somebody. i doubt someone is gonna recommend a duratrax ESC over a novak.

Well we sell both at our hobby shop. I bought a Streak when they first came out about 5 years ago. It finally broke 3 months ago. I cracked the case and circuit board trying to pry it out of the third car I've used it in. I have never owned an Explorer (2). Novak does have a better reputation for reliability than Duratrax. However everyone who has bought the Streak from our shop has nothing but praise for it.

Duratrax is a reseller of merchandise made by many different companies. There is no telling who really makes the the Streak.

The Streak is a diamond in the ruff and a real steal at $39.99.
It's no better than the Novak unless you want to run a 12-turn motor. Its just a darn good, reliable $40 ESC. :cool:

[puribong]

I'd take Streak over ExpII any time...
Like somebody said, Streak esc is made by some company in Korea or Japan I forgot..
Hfx is a still good choice too if you plan on racing.

[erock1331]

I have always been an LRP and Keyence fan. Although I have no experience with thier lower end ESC's. I would stick with the LRP or the Novak.

[tarheelquality]

I wasn't comparing the new novak high end stuff or saying that Duratrax was better than Novak overall, remeber I have a GT7 in my 1/12, but for the price and use we are talking about the streak is a better choice than the explorer 2. It is smaller, lower turn motor , just as reliable, and cheaper! Now if you are going to race seriously, get the novak gt7 or quantam competition, nut dont knock something because it says duratrax, remeber Traxxas was once the cheap knock off of associated, now associated follows their lead. It all comes around eventualy.:D

[tl01boi]

the hitec hfx is a very good esc and the novak duster sport is pretty good i also have a duratrax streak in my ta03 and it glitches at times but im ok with it

[nitrofun]

Originally posted by tarheelquality
ITraxxas was once the cheap knock off of associated, now associated follows their lead. It all comes around eventualy.:D

I beg to differ. in terms of who designs better cars..c'mon...have you ever seen a traxxas 4tec win on a touring car circuit? or a traxxas buggy beat out an associated...or even a ST that can run with the Assoc. or Losi (AND I'M NOT TALKING ALL OUT SPEED!!! OVERALL PERFORMANCE). Traxxas may be the bigger company, but Associated still designs better cars. hands down. Period. Now in terms of a MT traxxas definitley leads that market, but as on OVERALL company...no

[puribong]

Traxxas has ability to design race car that can keep up with other big names but they are not interested at racing anymore.. 4 tec , rustler they are not meant for racing anyway. they are good parking lot speed basher.

Traxxas Blue eagle, Trx-3(TCP), SRT........a lot of people probably don't even know of these cars but to me they were last competition level car that Traxxas designed..

[tl01boi]

the only thing i see traxxas do is to try to make a car fast, my neighbor bought a 4 tec and he let me drive it, it was fast for stock and all but the suspension and handling isn't very good, and i don't think we will see traxxas making competetive cars anytime soon

[Traxxas2oo2]

Originally posted by nitrofun
Traxxas may be the bigger company, but Associated still designs better cars. hands down. Period.o

Better how? in that they are more race worthy? Thats about it. As someone said, traxxas is now out of the racing scene. They make fun parking lot bashers. Traxxas cars/trucks can take a beating unlike ANY other brand of R/C, hands down period. So in the same effect, I could say They have the better car. Its all in what your gonna do with it.:)