Extreme cold weather running??

[timie1]

I had my new E-maxx 3905 out tonight for about 15 minutes. Some of it was spent waiting on a hard snow packed road for a jump to be built from snow. Anyway, it is about -15°C outside. It was driving nicely. I took it for a speed run down the road and it went like it was out of range about 200 feet away, maybe closer to 150 feet. I have had it further than that at other times, so it's not out of radio range I don't think. Anyway, it went out of control and drove itself into a snow bank and was trying to continue to drive with snow rooster tails from the wheels. Luckily it wasn't going anywhere. It didn't stop trying to drive itself until I got close, like 10 or 20 feet from it. When I recovered it and tested it while holding it off the ground it was fine. By this time my hands were aching and numb so I called it a night and came inside. I took the body off and found that everything was covered in snow inside. Not just a few sprinkles of snow, but hard caked around the receiver enclosure and ESC and on the batteries as well. The motors were ok, just a few splashes of water on them, nothing close to be considered wet.
I think the extreme cold caused the electronics to go a bit mental, and also the enclosure being caked in snow combined with -15 temperatures didn't help things.

Has anyone else had radio or electronic issues when it's REALLY cold outside in ANY vehicle?

[Mini-TBasher55]

I've run a lot recently in the snow-at around freeziing or a tad below without any trouble. The fact that it was caked with freezing snow probably just made the electronics crazy.

Its not a good idea to run any car in those temps, even if it says waterproof.

[timie1]

Yeah I am now tending to agree with you. It's like driving a normal electric car in real life. They don't work too well at all when it's below freezing, and when it's minus double digits, you may as well give up.
I have run my buggy when it's snowy and cold without any problems, but not -15 cold.
Bugger!!!! I was hoping I had new winter RC toy, but I guess I do, only to a point though :(

Anyone else had any problems?

[evst 360]

Electricity doesnt flow well at extremely low temperatures. Why I'm not completely sure. But its true. Probably your issue.

[Nightz]

actually electricity flows better when most materials are cold (the reason why super conductors have to be super chilled). heat only builds up more resistance.

I've noticed that batteries on the other hand like to be within a certain warm temperature range to give good performance (current flow). This is because cold temperature slows down the chemical reactions inside needed to flow current. Remember in chemistry heat speeds up chemical reactions. That same heat will also build up internal resistance so it's a balanced compromise. When I ran cold NiMH's they were flat until the batteries started warming up.

[ironoutlaw]

i use tire warmers on the battery packs it works good

[timie1]

I know that one of my 2 digital cameras hates the cold. The large SLR one can stand the cold because I am assuming there is insulation around the battery and important electronics. My tiny credit card size metal bodied camera hates it. You go outside when it's below freezing and the battery goes flat in about 30 seconds. Bring it back inside and it warms up and you have battery again. There is no insulation around the electronics of that camera.

I'm hoping and thinking that it's the case with this new E-maxx. There is no real insulation around the sensitive electronics of the RX being so miniature and the cold affects it. Perhaps it could be the crystals not liking the cold.

Oh well, it's warming up in a couple days, I should be able to test this theory soon on a warmer day and see if it goes crazy.

[Mini-TBasher55]

That may be it. I don't have any electronics that say they are waterproofed, other than an AI speed control. When I ran cars in the snow, the recievers (both Spektrum and FM Crystal) were doubled balooned and had electrical tape where the balloons didn't cover as well. May have acted as insulation