My track currently races the 13.5 and 10.5 4 cell classes. I'm also interested in running the BRL truck class. A track a few hours away runs a 21.5/LiPo class.

I'm thinking about buying a new ESC but I'm not sure which one to get. The 4 cell version would save some weight but it's not LiPo compatible. If I get the GTB, what disadvantages are there in using it for the 4 cell classes (if any)?

Thanks for your comments.

Kevin Minster

Panman, someone make a plate where you remove the fan and heatsink from the gtb to get the weight down. Also, I bel;ieve that Novak does not recommend using the 4 cell with Lipo, with the voltage difference.

Novak makes a plug in your receiver Lipo cutoff thing so that you don't have to use a "lipo" speed control.

my .02

The newer GTBs have a lipo cutoff system built in, I don't think the 4-cell does, check the Novak site it will have all that information www.teamnovak.com (http://www.teamnovak.com).

The 4-cell GTBs are 4 NiMH cells, only. There is no lipo equivalent to 4 NiMh.

I have a 4 cell with spetrum that is 4 months old. New out of the box one of the harness wires to the receiver was broken off the circuit board. I soldered it back and ran it for a while, last week another wire broke off. It is going to cost me $69.00 plus shipping to get a replacement unit. The replacement will be a 6 cell GTB. I bought a new ESC this week and it was a LRP shere.

I would not recomment the 4Cell unit!!

Personally, I'm a fan of the ORIGINAL GTB over all the rest...(Mainly because that's what I've been running w/o ANY issues)

Since I run Spektrum based radios, I'd like to try one of the ones with Spread Spektrum but at this point I don't see the real need.

I would also like to have the LIPO cutoff since we'll be running LIPO in '08, but the old original GTB is working just fine there too...and we aren't taking but around 2000 mah about of the battery.

I personally didn't care for the 4 cell unit not having replacable harnesses like the regular GTB, but some find that more appealing...

http://teamnovak.com/products/esc/gtb_4cell/1714_gtb4cell_lg.jpg

If all you need is re-soldering the wires, we can do that for a small service charge.

Contact jackie@teamnovak.com for assistance.

I have a 4 cell with spetrum that is 4 months old. New out of the box one of the harness wires to the receiver was broken off the circuit board. I soldered it back and ran it for a while, last week another wire broke off. It is going to cost me $69.00 plus shipping to get a replacement unit. The replacement will be a 6 cell GTB. I bought a new ESC this week and it was a LRP shere.

I would not recomment the 4Cell unit!!

A track a few hours away runs a 21.5/LiPo class.

Would this track be Freddies? If so we're running the ARCOR 21.5/LiPo COT class. Only legal esc's are the SS, SS+ and XBR.

Would this track be Freddies? If so we're running the ARCOR 21.5/LiPo COT class. Only legal esc's are the SS, SS+ and XBR.

Robertw321,

Yes, you're right - the track I'm talking about is Freddie's.

You bring up a very good point - the GTB is not legal in Freddie's LiPo COT class. I completely forgot about that fact. I probably won't run the class (I'm more than 2 hours away and I don't have a LiPo battery or charger) but I wanted to keep my options open.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. At this time, I'm leaning toward getting the GTB.

Kevin Minster

Panman, someone make a plate where you remove the fan and heatsink from the gtb to get the weight down. Also, I bel;ieve that Novak does not recommend using the 4 cell with Lipo, with the voltage difference.

Novak makes a plug in your receiver Lipo cutoff thing so that you don't have to use a "lipo" speed control.

my .02

98Ron - Do you know who makes this plate? Does anyone have any contact info on where I can get this plate?

Thanks.

Kevin Minster

98Ron - Do you know who makes this plate? Does anyone have any contact info on where I can get this plate?


Here's the thread:
GTB Cover (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=168949)

kevin, i been running the regular gtb for years without a heatsink or fan on it in the 13.5 class, and its never hot after a run at all. i dont not as of now run the cover on it either, but jw's machinest buddy made me one, but i aint seen it yet.

and you got pm !!

Here's the thread:
GTB Cover (http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=168949)

LARCGuy,

Thanks for the info! I'll contact Randy today via email.

I went with GTB instead of the 4 cell. Ordered it yesterday. Thanks to all for your assistance!

Kevin Minster

Brian,

Got your PM and sent one back at ya'. Thanks.

Also, thanks for your input on the GTB. As you can see from my last post above, I've ordered the GTB and I'll probably go with the machined aluminum heatsink plate.

See you sometime soon.

Kevin Minster

Anyone run the capacator that comes with the esc? Ive been told you dont need it in the 13.5 class. And Ive been told you do need it.

HillJack,

I run the capacitors on any/all my ESC's that require them...

Think of the capacitor as a SMALL battery - ANY TIME you can use something that STORES Battery Power...USE IT!

Anyone run the capacator that comes with the esc? Ive been told you dont need it in the 13.5 class. And Ive been told you do need it.

A few of the guys at our track said they talked to Charlie at Novak about it and the word was... you can run without the cap if you keep a spare $180 in your pocket. So we've all gone back to running them in all classes.

Running it also! http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/images/icons/icon10.gif

For a .35 of an ounce weight savings and the 4cell has small dia wire on it I really dont see the need for it, go with the regular GTB and remove the heat sink and place a cover on it....................

A few of the guys at our track said they talked to Charlie at Novak about it and the word was... you can run without the cap if you keep a spare $180 in your pocket. So we've all gone back to running them in all classes.

Just thing of the transcap module as a cheap insurance policy.

Bought a 4cell gtb ran it 4 times ended back at novak for repairs took 4 weeks got the new one ran it 2 times and doing the same thing the old 1 did . Now need to send that 1 in for repairs NOT HAPPY Bought a lrp 2007 ed no problems . VERY HAPPY