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Electric Stunt => Gettin all AMP'ed up! => Topic started by: Russell Bond on April 07, 2012, 07:11:15 PM

Title: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: Russell Bond on April 07, 2012, 07:11:15 PM
I notice a lot of people use the Castle Ice Lite instead of the Ice with heatsink.

I was wondering why they don't use the Ice with heatsink for the added cooling of the ESC (from the heatsink).
Is it because the Ice Lite is lighter, or is there another advantage that I haven't seen yet?  ???
Title: Re: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on April 07, 2012, 07:23:29 PM
Hi Russell
The heat sink protects the BEC circuits - those that are driving servos.  The heat sink has nothing to do with the power section so it adds no value for our application.

In the specs it says the heat sink version is rated for up to 8S while the LITE version is only rated for 6S, the heat sink allows it to disperse more heat in the BEC. 
Title: Re: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: Russell Bond on April 07, 2012, 08:23:02 PM
Thanks Dennis,
Gee, and I thought the heatsink kept the ESC cooler........  :(
Then I would be better to use the Ice Lite 75 for my heavier model as I've seen 45amps on the logged data?

Title: Re: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on April 07, 2012, 10:52:26 PM
My nephew was one of the Beta testers for the ICE units.  He got heat-sink equipped units - then learned what the heat sink does!

Normally I would have endorsed using the ICE75 Lite  but Frank Williams post on the the ICE100 is perplexing.  Still waiting to see if anyone has any experience with the ICE75 Lite.  It SHOULD be a good choice..... 
Title: Re: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: Russell Bond on April 07, 2012, 11:24:55 PM
Yes, I saw that about Frank's ESC, I'll wait and see what happens.
Title: Re: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: Howard Rush on April 08, 2012, 12:32:01 AM
What's the difference between the extinct Phoenix 60 and the ICEs, other than the data logging?
Title: Re: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: Peter Germann on April 08, 2012, 04:43:16 AM
 Still waiting to see if anyone has any experience with the ICE75 Lite.  It SHOULD be a good choice.....  

We are flying three ICE 75's since two years so far. Total number of flights with 4 airplanes must be in excess of 400 and neither me nor Peter Hofacker had any ESC problem at all. (Despite a number of occasional prop shearing off incidents, I have to admit...)

Setup's are:
Airplane types / weights / Area: Trivial Pursuit, Sultan-e / 61 - 65 oz / approx. 650 in.sq.
Battery / ESC / Timer: 5S2600 mAh / ICE lite 75 / Hubin FM-9
Motor: AXI 2826/12 760 kV  front mount
Lines: 19-strand stainless 0.015 x 64 ft (eye-eye)
Lap time: 5.3 sec
Prop. / RPM: APC 13 x 4.5 (5.5) thin electric pusher / 9'600 (9'300) RPM
Run time / approx. capacity used: 5'20" / 1'900 mAh
Level flight current: 20 A (approx.)
Peak manoeuvre current: 35 A (approx.)
Approx. RPM drop at sharp pullup into wingover / approx. RPM recovery time: 180 RPM / 0.2 sec.
Recharge: 35 min. at 1.5 C (4 A)

ESC Ice lite 75, firmware version: 3.26 beta, setup:
Vehicle Type: Control Line              
Throttle Type: Governor Mode  
Governor Mode Setting: Governor High  
Governor Gain: High 35  
Initial Spool Up Rate: High 8  
Head Speed Change Rate: High 8  
Brake Strength: 100%                            
Brake Delay: 0.8 sec  
Brake Ramp: Medium                          
Cutoff Voltage: Auto-Lipo  
Auto-Lipo Volts/Cell: 3.0 Volts/Cell    
Current Limiting: insensitive
Cutoff Type: Soft Cutoff                      
Motor Start Power: Custom (75)  
Motor Timing: Custom (4)                      
Direction: Reverse
PWM Rate: 8 Khz                          
Gearing Info: No Gearing/Direct Drive
KV of Motor: 760                                    
Magnetic Poles in Motor: 14
Power-On Beep: Enabled                        
BEC Voltage: 5.0 V

kind regards, Peter Germann
Title: Re: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on April 08, 2012, 07:22:48 AM
What's the difference between the extinct Phoenix 60 and the ICEs, other than the data logging?

Operationally they are the same, using the same firmware & software.  There are some dimensional differences - probably due to a general redesign/repackaging of the board(s)

The Phoenix series earned a reputation for robustness (tolerance for overload) that I do not think the ICE has yet earned.  The data logging is a nice feature, but not one that I lose a lot of sleep over - it is not something I check on a flight by flight basis.  I have various Phoenix units that I will cheerfully continue to use until they melt...
Title: Re: Castle Ice50 v Ice Lite50 (or 75).
Post by: John Cralley on April 08, 2012, 12:10:41 PM
I picked up a Phoenix ICE 50 with the heat sink cheap on E-bay a while back. Is there any reason not to remove the heat sink (which appears to just be held on with the shrink wrap) and making it into a Lite??? For use on control line of course and only running the timer off of the BEC anyway.