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I have pushed the XLX2 in some of our two lap runs to 350 amps. It took several runs to get it over 110 degrees using Don Huffs cooling jacket. These Castles will be a game changer for the Q class. The X8 is more compact and seems to handle 250 amps easily.
Mic
 
I have run nitro since 1978 (due the math) so I have a bit of knowledge on costs. I have built and set up nitro record boats and FE record boats. It took years to break into a 24 second 2 lap with an OB tunnel. Motor. carb, pipe not cheap and maybe 100+ glow plugs testing, pistons bearings and gallons of nitro. All wore out and gone.
My first FE record tunnel (same model Vision) still holds Q-S-T records 24 and 23 second records with a motor and esc about $500. My current Q mono will run under 13 second per lap for 6 laps. with a $300 Castle and a $150 TP. $200 worth of batteries which I still can run. Today 2 burnt plugs and a gallon of fuel $80. Can't reuse them.
My P/l hydro has run under a 22 second 2 lap at trials $60 motor and $50 esc. On the big end my RR E-Max with and the new Castle XL2 and a TP 4070 ($600 of power you can buy over the counter) broke into the 16's for a 2 lap. All still running. Show me nitro mono, hydro and tunnels that will come near these costs. You CANNOT! Yes, I have burnt up plenty over the years but the new out of the box Castles have addressed the weakest point of FE- ESC's
Your choice to run nitro but at $10 a glow plug and $60 a gallon fuel I won't be building any new nitro. OS 21 OB are over $700.
Mic
 
And.. then Mic you drove home my personal view on FE..

If its easy.. then my personal reward is reduced.. (thats just me).. sounds the opposite to you. Thats cool...

for me.. I don't care about the cost.. its all relative... I have had the same OS outboard on my boat for 11 years or so.. LOL.. that little dog still hauls ass too...LOL.. same Piston and liner and one set of bearings.. IN 10 YEARS!

My fuel at 45 per gallon costs me around 35cents a ounce.. I burn 6 in a heat.. just around 2 bucks per run... 5 rounds (we seldom get 5 so lets included a test run).. 10 bucks in fuel to race my boat for the weekend.. give or take.

Pickle the motor.. a buck.... and.. wipe it down.. 10 cents.

11 dollars and 10 cents to run my tunnel boat for a weekend race.

I spend more at the Mexican restaurant after the race for petes sake!

Build and fly high power rockets.. or sight in a new rifle or buy a bass boat..

All relative.

Grim
 
10.00 glow plugs??

Not me. I bought Mc-9's by the hundreds years ago and still have plenty..

Al sells plugs all day for 4- 6 bucks here on IW...

Oh, and run time...no comparison...
FE- turn and burn six laps....funs over.
Recharge for an hour.

Nitro/ gas....mill time,, race... add fuel, check plug..back in the water.
 
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And.. then Mic you drove home my personal view on FE..

If its easy.. then my personal reward is reduced.. (thats just me).. sounds the opposite to you. Thats cool...

for me.. I don't care about the cost.. its all relative... I have had the same OS outboard on my boat for 11 years or so.. LOL.. that little dog still hauls ass too...LOL.. same Piston and liner and one set of bearings.. IN 10 YEARS!

My fuel at 45 per gallon costs me around 35cents a ounce.. I burn 6 in a heat.. just around 2 bucks per run... 5 rounds (we seldom get 5 so lets included a test run).. 10 bucks in fuel to race my boat for the weekend.. give or take.

Pickle the motor.. a buck.... and.. wipe it down.. 10 cents.

11 dollars and 10 cents to run my tunnel boat for a weekend race.

I spend more at the Mexican restaurant after the race for petes sake!

Build and fly high power rockets.. or sight in a new rifle or buy a bass boat..

All relative.

Grim
Who said anything was easy. What does work for me 70+ years old with metal knees is I can set the boat in the water do my testing, rarely need to retrieve, hook up my computer, download motor and gps data and at the end of the day grease the flax shaft and put it away.
Mic
P,S, you got me started in Fe so it's your fault
 
A Castle controller costs $275-$300 depending on where you buy it and the cooling adapter is around $40. So it's practically a wash. Either way it's great that Castle are bringing back a marine product. I was the lucky one who got to do the Beta testing and these controllers are awesome for 4/6/8 cells. As Mic said these will handle really high amps, enough for any race boat and most SAW applications. They are waterproof and have enough safeties that guys should not be burning down boats. Plus they have the best data logging out there.

Hopefully they will continue the trend and release a X8S marine version and hopefully a HV version in the future.
 

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