Re: Elmod can be very fragile

wibblywobbly · Post by **wibblywobbly** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:58 am

After blowing the surface mounted esc's when attempting to use Jamara 480 BB HS's, I had the board repaired by Elmod (which is still in the box), and then used a brand new board with Protech 400 motors. I thought that this would solve the problems.

However, after running the Tiger for a short while I noticed that distinctive burning odour again, and also that the tank would not climb over any obstacle, or a gradient without a huge struggle or a stall. The big problem was that although the fuse would blow instantly if anything was caught in the tracks (which it should do), it will happily allow esc destroying current to flow when the tank is under any sort of load.

Having removed the plug in soundblaster card for a look at the esc's, I can see that one of them has yet again become dark brown around the edges.

I have no idea what Elmod have done with the design of the latest boards, but although I have never heard of anyone having problems with the old ones that have the afterburner etc fitted, the new ones do not seem to be up to the job. I suspect a design/component problem.

By contrast, the same motors in a Heng Long tank, on an RX14 board will propel a Bulldog or a Pershing around at a vast rate of knots, scamper up incredible gradients and show no sign of overheating whatsoever, even without a fan.

In view of the cost of a complete set up, to say that I am not impressed would be an understatement. >:(

Rob G

Post by **Matdragon** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 3:41 pm

yes, although i havent got the probems you have (because i havent managed to even get mine working yet ) i see where your coming from.

its refusing to work whatever i do

Matt

wibblywobbly · Post by **wibblywobbly** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:53 am

I fitted the board that they 'repaired', and now discover that they never replaced the onboard fuse that controls the turret functions. I will now have to return both boards yet again, and see if they can fix them. Unless they admit that there is a design flaw, this is going to run and run.

I may ask Thomas if he has any of the old boards left in a cupboard anywhere, or ask if they can upgrade my current boards to handle useable power. This is madness, these Thinktank boards are pathetic compared to the Heng Long ones. The only reason I haven't given up on them is because of the sound system., but even that isn't worth all of this trouble! I bought my original board back in September 2008 and I doubt if I have run the Tiger for a total of more than 2 hours in all this time???

I wish there was an alternative system out there?

971wright · Post by **971wright** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:19 pm

This is putting me off el-mod thought it was better than the old one but it seems they have taken a step or two backwards .

regards pete

Post by **Matdragon** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:55 pm

wibblywobbly wrote: I fitted the board that they 'repaired', and now discover that they never replaced the onboard fuse that controls the turret functions. I will now have to return both boards yet again, and see if they can fix them. Unless they admit that there is a design flaw, this is going to run and run.

I may ask Thomas if he has any of the old boards left in a cupboard anywhere, or ask if they can upgrade my current boards to handle useable power. This is madness, these Thinktank boards are pathetic compared to the Heng Long ones. The only reason I haven't given up on them is because of the sound system., but even that isn't worth all of this trouble! I bought my original board back in September 2008 and I doubt if I have run the Tiger for a total of more than 2 hours in all this time???

I wish there was an alternative system out there?

same mate i only wanted it for the sound system

now rccommand is (i think and have heard) producing and going to release a board that clips into stock HL and you can out your own sound files on it, as well i think as being a battel system! if its true it will sell exremely well!

thats even if it is just a sound system!

matt

Ex_Pat_Tanker · Post by **Ex_Pat_Tanker** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 12:34 am

Keep us upto date with your dialogue with El-Mod, Rob. I was going to go down the route of the latest and greatest El-Mod for my tiger, but I'm not going to pay $$$ for the boards and $$$ to ship my Tiger home for Cobbaton, if the darned thing is likely going to breakdown after 5 mins >:( >:( >:(
Cheer's
Mart

Aus_Tank · Post by **Aus_Tank** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:40 am

Surely there must be an issue with the latest boards? My big Blaster, TLS with blaster II fitted in the Tiger is bullet proof.

Phill
(prev UnionPac)

Ex_Pat_Tanker · Post by **Ex_Pat_Tanker** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 3:00 am

Thats my fear, Phill - I've not heard of any problems like this with the older boards...

El-Mod need to get their finger out and nail this issue with the ThinkTank III quickly before somebody else comes along with something better...
I can accept variation in a $18 HL circuit board, but the El-Mod products cost considerably more than that and we expect a better product!
El-Mod have rightly positioned themselves as a premium upgrade, but we expect to get something that is more robust than the 'toy tank' electronics that it is supposed to replace >:(

It's not like the state of the art has moved on either, we are still running 1/16th tanks that weigh in at 10-15 lbs with the same gearboxes and motors - so what is the problem here...?

Mart

wibblywobbly · Post by **wibblywobbly** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:10 am

The irony of the situation is that when I originally ordered my boards, it was the day that they switched to the Thinktank III, but they sent me the old ones. The flash card holder wasn't soldered on properly, and fell off before installed it, so I sent it back. They then sent me the new Thinktank III boards, and at the time I thought that was a good deal. Oh, how I wish they had repaired the old board and sent it back to me!

I am amazed that considering what these boards cost, and what they are claimed to do, Elmod do not list compatible transmitters, motors or loading specs? They simply let people buy their kit and figure everything out for themselves, and if they make a mistake and buy the 'wrong' transmitter, or the 'wrong' motors, or make a 'wrong' connection,then tough. They are sitting on a goldmine but a complete lack of customer service is going to be their downfall. For what my Tiger has cost me, a Tamiya would have been very cheap by comparison, and totally trouble free? At the very least they should get someone who speaks fluent English to write their installation manuals, specs, and man a helpline.

I can source an RX14 plus receiver board for Â£10, so I am going to install that and see if the tank runs without problems, if it does then a Darkith unit will go in, and I will await the RC Command unit. My Bulldog has never given a hint of a problem with an RX14 and a Darkith, and will climb any gradient with absolute ease, and I do mean effortlessly. The Tiger won't even go over my foot without melting the esc's? Looking at the solder joints with a magnifying glass there may be a quality control issue here, the repaired board looks like the esc's are 'shipyard welded' on by comparison to a new one, and that gives me the impression that this is a heatsink issue?

Update: I have just removed the Elmod kit completely, and simply soldered the motor wires to an RX14 board, plus the +/- leads from the Elmod switch. Powered it up and the 14lb Tiger rips across my living room carpet like it was on steroids. It climbs gradients, even from a standstill with no run-up. Nothing has been changed except the Â£10 RX14 + Receiver board (I don't even have an ariel lead soldered on). As far as I am concerned this proves beyond any doubt that the Thinktank III, and I had two that both melted and would not transmit anything like enough power to the motors, suffer from a design flaw that makes them self-destruct. I will await comment from Thomas, but if past events are anything to go by I wouldn't hold your breath. As to what Elmod will do I have no idea, it is pointless replacing the chips with same spec items as they will simply melt again. He hasn't replied to the last two emails that I sent him, that had pics attached, so I enclosed a print of the email with the boards when I sent them back. I may well be 2 x Â£90 out of pocket plus the cost of the Blaster card, and the battle system as result of all of this. What a bummer.

STEINER · Post by **STEINER** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 6:32 pm

wibblywobbly wrote: After blowing the surface mounted esc's when attempting to use Jamara 480 BB HS's, I had the board repaired by Elmod (which is still in the box), and then used a brand new board with Protech 400 motors. I thought that this would solve the problems.

However, after running the Tiger for a short while I noticed that distinctive burning odour again, and also that the tank would not climb over any obstacle, or a gradient without a huge struggle or a stall. The big problem was that although the fuse would blow instantly if anything was caught in the tracks (which it should do), it will happily allow esc destroying current to flow when the tank is under any sort of load.

Having removed the plug in soundblaster card for a look at the esc's, I can see that one of them has yet again become dark brown around the edges.

I have no idea what Elmod have done with the design of the latest boards, but although I have never heard of anyone having problems with the old ones that have the afterburner etc fitted, the new ones do not seem to be up to the job. I suspect a design/component problem.

By contrast, the same motors in a Heng Long tank, on an RX14 board will propel a Bulldog or a Pershing around at a vast rate of knots, scamper up incredible gradients and show no sign of overheating whatsoever, even without a fan.

In view of the cost of a complete set up, to say that I am not impressed would be an understatement. >:(

Rob G

Rob, You Know what happened with me, The system would not work at all. In the end, I fitted an RX-18 Board and a damn lot cheaper it is too. The new Elmod " Wonder modules" are not all that they are cracked up to be !!