Novak 5.5 GTB question

[ehacker]

...I thought I'd try here before I try Novak...anyway..got my 5.5 hooked up and ready to go, programmed at the factory setting..everything looks great and system runs fine. But unlike my 5800 (which is a solid red at neutral)...I'm getting a solid amber (yellow), red and blue light when the trottle is neutral..when I press the trottle, I get a solid amber and blue only, no green.

Is this right? I checked the troubleshoot codes and says nothing....just blinking is a problem.

This set up is in my XXX-4 on setting 1...come to think of it...in my 5800 neutral is red and forward trottle is green...

Thanks

[Steve Weiss]

The blue and amber LEDs being on is normal for the GTB. These indicate that the drag brake function is on.

As far as the green LED not coming on, I would make sure that you did the one touch setup properly as described in the instruction manual.

[ehacker]

The blue and amber LEDs being on is normal for the GTB. These indicate that the drag brake function is on.

As far as the green LED not coming on, I would make sure that you did the one touch setup properly as described in the instruction manual.


....the set up is very easy...not even a monkey could screw it up...the system is working fine, so I'm not really worried...maybe it will correct itself

thanks Steve

PS..I heard that name before..Steve Weiss

[ehacker]

Today I was able to get the buggy outside for some full trottle runs and man it was very nice. A couple comments that I need an explanation on...the system was no very hot with a matched 3300 batt but the smell of burning wires was in the air (mostly from the power cap), when I got it back into house I could really smell it. Like I said the system was warm but no overly hot.

Second...when I turn on the ESC after I turn on the spektrum controlled system...I get a jolt of trottle..just for a second

...and thirdly, once the batt pack was dumped..alot of hesitation when I apply the trottle

Other than that, a very good system...any comments on my observations? Just some things I have not encountered with my 5800

thanks

[Jev]

I'm using Sanwa(airtronics) stick set with spektrum and have never noticed a jolt when I first turned it on.

Not noticed any smell from it either. That does sound rather worring though.

[Rtsbasic]

I used to get a small burst of throttle when using an older LRP brushed ESC on certain radio, don't think thats much to worry about.

There shouldn't be any smell coming from your car though..only time my cars gave off a smell is when my ESC blown itself up and left a nice smell for a couple of weeks.

I can't comment on hesitation with a dumped battery as I've never driven the a GTB with a low battery though.

[ElectricThunder]

The "hesitation" after the battery has dumped is probably just some cogging because the voltage drops kinda low. That happens with my 5800 when I completely run down a battery, so no biggie I would guess. As for smell of burning wires...possibly may wanna watch that. As for the spektrum issue, I haven't the slightest clue.

[ehacker]

Thank you for all your input...my main worry is the smell from the power cap, what the system run without the power cap? I think maybe the cap is not working to its potential..

It is worrysome...

[tcolesen]

The capacitor can only help. You may not notice a huge effect if you remove it, but it can help to keep the voltage into the receiver slightly higher during those hard acceleration periods.

[ehacker]

Is there a way I can test to see if the power cap is working?

Thanks again guys...I know Novak busy so I'd rather ask here

[CharlieS]

Hi Guys,

Any burning, is burning more then likely. Something is either shorting, or being overheated. The cap gets basically as hot as the ESC, so other then that, it should not "smell" ever.

Now, I've run my GTB's with less then "good" packs, and the packs will get so hot they start to smell of burning, kind of like the shrink wrapp shrinking some more.

The Low Voltage stuff would lead me to beleive in a weak contact someplace. With a Good Race Pack of mine, I can run them down to "NOTHING" with no stutters or cogs. So double check the pack or at least try a different one.

Any weak connections or bad solderjoints can lead to excessive heating as well.

The Power Cap will be the "weakest" link if something is "going wrong" someplace in your car. What I mean is, if something is shorted, or making bad contact, the Power Cap is there to save the ESC, so it will take the brunt of all the "bad forces" that burn up the ESC in that case. So triple check EVERYTHING and monitor it closely.

I'm never to busy for emails. In fact super fast email is something we're kind of proud of.... :)

Thanks
Charlie@teamnovak.com

[CharlieS]

Oh, the spektrum issue is likely just your Spektrum "firing" up. It takes it a moment to "Start" so while it's doing that the RX kind of does what it wants at the first power blip. This happens with some other manufactures Synthesized stuff as well.

[ehacker]

Thank you Charlie for your reply....I know from past experience that your service is top notch, I'm just being polite by taking my small questions to the forum. I'd rather save the major issues for Novak....but the system runs very good, I just had a few concerns.

I do infact only run race packs...so the only real PITA is the spektrum issues...but thats bearable.

Thank you once again

[nicholcgn]

From my experience - A friend has the spectrum. It has a low voltage cutoff that can cause issues when packs can not maintain voltage. So when the pack gets weaker you may see this on some packs that are not what I would say are race level. When he puts in a newer pack the problem goes away. Only way you could prove it might me that would be to run an external receiver pack and see if it goes away. I had no problem with my 5800 on my weak packs but since I went to the gtb I had to get a new set of batteries. The older ones would not make it through the race.

Initial surge - I have seen that when you first turn on some systems. That would not concern me a large amount.

Your burning smell - Mine was my older batteries. If you have this issue then your batteries will be pretty warm\hot when you are done running. My
batteries give me a burning type of smell when I use the older ones. But I would find out what is giving you the smell for sure. My GTB has never given me a burning anything.

[semore]

Well tomoro I will be tring my new GTB 5.5 with a new batteries (SMC IB3800) 1.198, I thinking about putting wings on my B4 and go flying.