Help With Motor Timing and Poor Throttle Response (Gecko 120HV)

Here's the reply I got from ZTW....(no, you can't make this stuff up *google translate at work*)

"Yes ,for the HV version , we added the capacitors . because some of customers feedback that the HV version is easy to be burned when connector the battery ."

AltitudeHobbies said:

Here's the reply I got from ZTW....(no, you can't make this stuff up *google translate at work*)

"Yes ,for the HV version , we added the capacitors . because some of customers feedback that the HV version is easy to be burned when connector the battery ."

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That was a quick reply! Thanks for sharing and it's great to hear they are working on solutions! Thanks Garrett

3dmike said:

that was a quick reply! Thanks for sharing and it's great to hear they are working on solutions! Thanks garrett

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+1

Ditto the good customer service from altitude!
i got a response from Garret via email to try and down load software to run the new firmware update into the ztw 85amp esc. i tried to download software, but the site wasn't working for the mac. i called Garret tonight and he is going to contact ztw to see if they have software thats mac compatible ,if so he will forward it to me.this is where the customer service excellence comes from.if i can't flash the firmware via mac with a parallel windows program, Garret said he will flash the new firmware on a new esc and send it off next week. if it works with the eflite power 46,i'll send the old one back. if neither work i'll ship both of them back for a refund.

i told Garret i would be glad to experiment on the installed esc with whatever he wants to try and i hope for the simpler solution of updating firmware to be a success rather than go through the other efforts,but seriously...what other company do you know and trust to go the distance for customer satisfaction like altitude is? altitude is top notch in my bookmarks for rc shops to go to. i will of coarse post the results when possible,most likely next weekend when my better half will be able to navigate the computer the way she does so well.....unlike computer illiterate me. stu

Well today I lost timing completely with my new EF 60 Yak, Gecko 85A/MF 4315 lost timing and would not restart, pancaked the plane, fortunately I only broke the LG. Now begins the wait for EF to stock parts for this plane. I think I've had it with Gecko's at this point. I don't know what is going on, I have the same setup in my 57 Extra with no issues.

If it was working fine on the ground and you were using an "idle mix" it sounds more like a solder joint went bad or loose connection. The ones I had which were off did it right out of the box and every time the throttle was advanced quickly.

Ground Hog said:

If it was working fine on the ground and you were using an "idle mix" it sounds more like a solder joint went bad or loose connection. The ones I had which were off did it right out of the box and every time the throttle was advanced quickly.

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If I advanced quickly on the ground I could induce cogging. I started out with the timing set to "auto", smooth IMAC flying was fine but as soon as I'd enter a hover it would cog. I contacted Garret at Altitude Hobbies and he recommended I set the timing to 15 degrees, so I did and that killed it. I took off did a couple minutes of IMAC flying, the flipped to high rates went to a hover, pumped the throttle it cogged and I never started back up. Would be hard to believe that it could be solder joint going bad after 6 flights, I'm fairly decent at soldering.

Garret said there are known issues with the 85A/MF 4315 and he sent me a beta version firmware upgrade. I'm just going to switch it out to a Jeti ESC.

Ahh okay that's the same mine were doing before the new firmware, I never flew with them. I figured if I tried I would get myself in a tight spot and need the throttle only to get the knocks.

I also had a problem with a 125A Gecko with SBEC, but the new firmware I got from Garret a few days ago has fixed the problem.

I have a Motrolfly 4320 (450 KV). At full throttle, the old firmware would cause the ESC and motor to lose sync really badly. Also if I advanced the throttle rapidly, it would lose sync. With the new firmware, I don't have any sync problems (at least on the bench). I didn't have any 6S lipos charged up, but with a Falcon 18x8 beechwood prop and a 6S lipo at 22.4 volts, I'm getting about 1500 watts. Everything was left on the default settings, except for startup power, which I set at 50%. The default setting for the startup power was a bit slower than I'd like.

I received the best customer support from Garret at Altitude Hobbies. He spent a lot of time with me trying to diagnose the problem since sometime in December.

If you are having issues with your Gecko send him email at altitudehobbies@gmail.com. He will take care of you.

John

i also spoke with Garret several times and unfortunately the new firm ware wouldn't be mac compatible. if i shipped him the esc he would be glad to do the upload,but he also offered a full refund if i decided to go with the castle creation talon 90amp esc. i went with the refund route as this was a kit built plane that i really didn't want to take any chances with.
Garret always answers his phone and emails and couldn't have been more helpful and understanding of my decision. truly he cares for his customers and i received my refund right away. i will be certain to do business with altitude in the future,especially with my new interest in quadcopters and he has great prices for putting together a really nice quad assembled via a combo package and a few choice parts he suggested...rc is absolutely an addiction! stu