Castle Sidewinder SV2 VS LRP NEXXT 4X ESC Showdown!

[ngnaw]

So I have now tried them both and I think they both deserve a final review! You can follow the initial threads here

LRP NEXXT 4X
http://traxxas.com/forums/showthread...s-Nexxt-4x-esc

Castle Sidewinder SV2
http://traxxas.com/forums/showthread...-SV2-ESC-Mount!!!


LRP NEXXT 4X Final Review
When I first opened the box and saw how small it was and how it does not have a heatsink, I was skeptical on how it would perform in my MERV. But it did not disappoint! Big performance in such a small package.

PICS:
http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...orter%20Wires/

PROS:
- Small and no mods to chassis to mount
- Waterproof
- Easy calibration
- 3.5 bullet connectors like velineon 380 motor
- 5 programming modes
- MODE 0 (internal temp check system 2) tells you how far or close you were to thermal shutdown temp.
- Autocell System knows if lipo or nimh battery is being used
- Smooth sensorless driving
- Change mode settings without transmitter
- Quiet functionality more quiet than Sidewinder SV2

CONS:
- No programmable lipo cutoff (But it was slowing down around 3.6-3.7V/cell)
- Need velcro to safely mount it or you need to use the double sided sticky tape provided
- No heatsink??? Not sure if a pro or a con lol!

RUNTIMES:
20-25 minutes on 1x 20C 2S ***** Lipo

WHEELS and GEARING
2.2 size wheels and 28T pinion 50T Spur

TEMPS:
HIGHEST ESC - 43.6 Celsius
Velineon 380 MOTOR - 39.8 Celsius

PRICE: $110 CAD taxes + shipping included


Castle Sidewinder SV2 Final Review
When I first got the Sidewinder SV2 at a great price on ebay, it was basically as a backup solution to the LRP NEXXT 4X. I was also looking for a non-mod-to-chassis way of mounting it. I thought well let's see what other are doing. Came across www.e-revo.net and this guy mounted his ESC sideways. I thought hmmmm Sidewinder let's mount it sideways lol!

PICS:
http://s191.photobucket.com/albums/z...20ESC%20MOUNT/

PROS:
- Easy calibration
- 9 programming modes
- Smoother sensorless driving than LRP, no cogging what-so-ever!
- Waterproof? See CONS

CONS:
- Have to build a mounting bracket to securely mount it sideways without any chassis mods
- 4mm bullet connectors, need 4mm male -> 3.5mm female adapters if using Velineon 380 motor
- If for some reason you are switching back and forth between LIPO and NIMH you have to go to the 7th mode to program it, no auto detection
- Programming needs to be done with Transmitter
- Noisier than LRP
- Not waterproof? New HPI Firestorm is using the Castle Sidewinder SV2 and they are claiming it is waterproof...
http://www.ultimaterc.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=121655
http://www.hpiracing.com/press/105878.html

RUNTIMES:
23-28 minutes on 1x 20C 2S ***** Lipo

WHEELS and GEARING
2.2 size wheels and 28T pinion 50T Spur

TEMPS:
HIGHEST ESC - 31.8 Celsius
Velineon 380 MOTOR - 43 Celsius

PRICE:
$63 CAD taxes + shipping included


FINAL THOUGHTS
Very very tough decision but in the end since I do not run my MERV in wet conditions (cleanup is annoying!) and I also noticed the Sidewinder SV2 is much smoother than the LRP, however the LRP is smooth... I will be using the Castle Sidewinder SV2 esc throughout the spring, summer, fall in my MERV. Also the LRP was very hard to find and more expensive than the Castle Sidewinder SV2. Maybe the hard fun work put into making the mounting bracket also made me want to use the SV2 lol! I don't know lol! The sidewinder sv2 runs cooler but makes the motor a little warmer. I get more runtime with the Sidewinder SV2 mainly due to the programmable lipo cutoff which I set to default 3.0V/cell cutoff. I kind of find that Castle is more geared for the North American RC users and the LRP more towards the European RC users... The LRP is way cheaper in Europe and the Castle stuff cheaper in North America... But in the end, these are 2 great alternative ESCs for the 1/16 E-Revo!

[Petertje60]

Nice review. Thanks for sharing.
Move to Europe. The LRP stuff is cheaper over here. On the contrary to Castle Creations.

[E-RevoVXL]

Yeah, nice review. Very informative.

[ngnaw]

Night time bashing with Sidewinder SV2 esc

[well spoken waffles]

i'm wary of 1/18 scale esc's - for a short while i was using the mamba micro pro in my merv and although it worked, the esc could get too hot to touch.

[crusey]

How about buying a wattmeter and testing if there is any difference between them in terms of amps drawn / power

Is one faster than the other ?

Cheers

[ngnaw]

How about buying a wattmeter and testing if there is any difference between them in terms of amps drawn / power

Is one faster than the other ?

Cheers

Interesting you brought that question up! Cause I was looking back at my LRP video and maybe just maybe I think the MERV with the LRP is a little faster... But that's just judging from the eye... and it could be from the video angles. But also the sound of the motor seems to be higher pitched than with the Sidewinder... I do have the 40C lipos that I haven't used yet... but maybe I should recheck my calibration and programming modes just to make sure.

Can you tell me how I would find out the power and amps drawn with a wattmeter? That could be interesting to do!

[crusey]

Buy a $30 wattmeter from the well know Chinese hobby shop and connect it up

Will tell you the following

Max Amp Draw
Min Voltage under load

Or buy an Eagltree logger and log everything including GPS speed etc... great piece of kit allthough not cheap at $200 or so for all sensors

Cheers

[Slono]

After days of careful deliberation, I've decided to get the LRP Nexxt 4x. Its going to be used with the stock Velineon 380 motor, but from what I've read it shouldn't be a problem. I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Slono]

I'm smacking myself in the head now because I just saw a Mamba Max Pro 2400KV setup BNIB for $95 shipped =(((((((((((

[well spoken waffles]

it sounds like the short course truck edition - tower won't have it till mid april. where did you see it for that price?

[E-RevoVXL]

it sounds like the short course truck edition - tower won't have it till mid april. where did you see it for that price?

Yeah, it is.

Where do you find a price like that?

They're like $240!!

[Meebert]

just got my LRP nexxt ESC this weekend, got the plugs all soldered up last night and tonight i'm going to finish assembling my MERV, I can't wait to drive this

[ngnaw]

just got my LRP nexxt ESC this weekend, got the plugs all soldered up last night and tonight i'm going to finish assembling my MERV, I can't wait to drive this

SWEET! Share some pics, vids, temps, run times wtv you can lol!

[Meebert]

I'm hoping to make a video tomorrow morning and I'm working on a photo album, only potential problem is my VXL motor is at traxxas and I haven't tried out my 2 new motors yet, I guess by the end of the week I'll have a good review on everything. (the motors are a ******* 480s and a venom VXL size motor)

[Slono]

Looking forward to your videos. I'm hoping this is better than the SV2 only because I paid more for it and its German made, HAHAHA. Otherwise I should have bought that MMP and sold the motor.

[JonasRafael]

Castle Sidewinder SV2 with stock motor velinion 380 is fine on 3s lipo?

[E-RevoVXL]

Castle Sidewinder SV2 with stock motor velinion 380 is fine on 3s lipo?

I think that you still have to run the "speed pinion", but I'm not sure.

[Slono]

Castle Sidewinder SV2 with stock motor velinion 380 is fine on 3s lipo?

Yes its fine. Always watch temperatures though.

[ngnaw]

Castle Sidewinder SV2 with stock motor velinion 380 is fine on 3s lipo?

I'm running the 28 pinion on 2S and temps are low... i'm sure you can try it with 3S with no problems... but you need to check temps in case. I may buy 2 3s lipos just to see but I will first mount my 33T pinion with 2S first... cause that should give me the same speed with 2S lol!

[JonasRafael]

I'm running the 28 pinion on 2S and temps are low... i'm sure you can try it with 3S with no problems... but you need to check temps in case. I may buy 2 3s lipos just to see but I will first mount my 33T pinion with 2S first... cause that should give me the same speed with 2S lol!

and what's the different between C.sidewinder sv2 and the normal sidewinder?

[Petertje60]

SCT and Sv2 are (the same) new versions of the "old" sidewinder.

[JonasRafael]

SCT and Sv2 are (the same) new versions of the "old" sidewinder.

got it but.. is there any different in performance between them (sv2 - old sidewinder)?

IF they performance the same (or almost the same).. i can get the old sidewinder more cheap than the sv2 .

[Dadx2mj]

The new SV2 and SCT Sidewinders are different thant he previous Sidewinder.

Quote from Castle SCT webpage.

The all new Sidewinder SCT controller offers a 40% increase in power handling over the previous Sidewinder 1/10 but keeps the same great Sidewinder affordability

[JonasRafael]

The new SV2 and SCT Sidewinders are different thant he previous Sidewinder.

Quote from Castle SCT webpage.

i was missing that part
thank you

[ngnaw]

I got my 33T pinion in the mail today! But it's raining and I don't feel like testing the water resistance of the SV2 lol! Tomorrow and Friday will be sunny so I will try it out then! Woohoo!

[E-RevoVXL]

I was bashing in the water today, again. If that's what nature is throwing at us, then have fun with it!!

[ngnaw]

Installed 33T pinion. Ran it back and forth for some 2S speed runs and it's pretty darn fast! I'd say it's pretty close to what the speed calculator stated of 60-70km/h. Did it for about 3 minutes and the temps of the motor and esc were 32 celsius and 26 celsius. But I think for all-around fun the 28T would be the better pinion to use. Noticeable decrease in acceleration but once you get going the top end is pretty fast for 2S!

[slash116vxl]

Is there that big a difference in smoothness between the 2? I never thought that the Sidewinder was smooth...

[ngnaw]

The SV2 smoothness is noticed when going very slowly. or when you are accelerating and braking when reversing quickly.... I think the term is cogging, like LRP makes stuttering sounds but very minimal. Less than stock esc though. LRP would cog and stutter a little when accelerating on turns. I think you can hear it on my LRP video and compared to the sidewinder SV2 video. But could also be I did have to redo my meshing with the lrp and it could be because i was running in snow. WHoever else bought the LRP can you confirm the minor cogging and smoothness compared to the stock esc cause it would hardly ever cog with the SV2 on 28T pinion. With 33T pinion it was starting to do it on slow acceleration. Less torque too.

[Petertje60]

Since the price is rather ok here, I am considering getting one. If I do, I will let you know how it works.

[ngnaw]

Is there that big a difference in smoothness between the 2? I never thought that the Sidewinder was smooth...

The siedwinder SV2 or the Sidewinder?

Since the price is rather ok here, I am considering getting one. If I do, I will let you know how it works.

It's a definite improvement over stock. Runtimes are longer, temps are lower, no mods needed unless you wanna double sided tape it to a similar bracket mount like I did for the SV2.

[RC-Fan]

The new sidewinder sv2 is 40% more powerfull than the old one almost as powerfull as the mamba max. It is the best upgrade from the stock vxl-3m it runs smoother, cooler, and IMO it feels faster.

[JonasRafael]

what about the sidewinder SCT with the stock motor?

[Slono]

Would you guys happen to know if the Castle Creations Sidewinder V2 is water resistant? Somebody in these forums said HPI's Firestorm has a rebranded SV2 in it, and they claim its waterproof. Is this true?

[Meebert]

Would you guys happen to know if the Castle Creations Sidewinder V2 is water resistant? Somebody in these forums said HPI's Firestorm has a rebranded SV2 in it, and they claim its waterproof. Is this true?

I'll bet if it's not waterproof you can buy an HPI ESC case and call it good.

[well spoken waffles]

hpi esc case? i think you mean the waterproof receiver box (like what traxxas vehicles have)

[crusey]

New HPI Firestorm has a Sidewinder with a different case they claim is waterproof





Looks the same to me, apart from the motor posts





Cheers

[Meebert]

yeah like that^^^^
the only difference I see is at the base of the motor wires the HPI has those plugs there, makes me worried there's some shrink-wrap type of layer underneath. I replaced the ESC case to my XL-10 so I made the guess that others might do the same.

[Slono]

So... if they claim its waterproof I could get the E-Firestorm Flux's ESC and Motor and mount it in my MERV to get waterproof power madness?