This FAQ Page is applicable to the following ESCs: Phoenix Edge 50, Phoenix Edge 75, Phoenix Edge 100, Phoenix Edge 130, Phoenix Edge 200, Phoenix Edge Lite 50, Phoenix Edge Lite 75, Phoenix Edge Lite 100, Phoenix Edge Lite 130 and Phoenix Edge Lite 200.
1.) Why did you get rid of the ICE controllers?
Improvements in technology came about, and we felt we could offer customers more versatility for their models at the same low price.
2.) What are the difference between these and the ICE?
The white auxiliary wire gives the user more capability, added a couple other controllers to the low voltage lineup to fill the gap between the 100A and 200A range...the EDGE 130 and 130 LITE, and now you can also purchase all of our high voltage controllers in Lite form without the heatsinks!
3.) What functions can the white wire perform?
The white auxiliary wire can be used for helicopter governor gain input adjustments mid-flight, serve as an audible beacon after an “unexpected landing”, act as an RPM output for 3-axis gyros that support RPM sensors, be used as an ESC arming lock or as a receiver arming lock.
4.) Are these just for helicopter guys?
No, these highly versatile controllers have all the programing capabilities to fill the need of airplane and helicopter enthusiasts alike.
5.) Is the white wire for heli functions only?
No, airplane users will find the audible beacon feature quite useful for those "unexpected landings" as it makes the motor sound off louder than during plug in and arming, the ESC arming lock and will prevent the ESC from powering up accidentally while your battery is plugged in, and the receiver arming lock will prevent your entire system from powering up during the same scenario
6.) What is an "ALK" (arming lock key) and what does it do?
An arming lock key (ALK) prevents your ESC from arming while the key is plugged into the socket. Once the key is removed, and your ESC receives a low throttle signal, the ESC will arm. If the key is inserted while the motor is running, the ESC will go into the arm lockout state stopping the motor from running and preventing the ESC from arming. More information can be found here.
7.) Where do you connect the white auxiliary wire on your receiver?
You can plug this into any channel on your receiver. It is up to the user which channel they choose to plug this into depending on the function they choose the auxiliary wire to perform. Please refer to page 3 in your Phoenix EDGE User Guide for more information.
8.) Has the BEC capability increased on these models versus the ICE?
It has not, however the allowed voltage output has increased from 7V up to 8.4V on the Edge line of controllers allowing for high voltage servos to be operated to their full potential
9.) Do I have to use the auxiliary wire if I don't want to?
No, you do not have to use it. You can either leave it unplugged and is disabled by default.
10.) How do I program what I want the auxiliary wire to do?
You plug the EDGE into the Castle Link, go to the "Other" tab, and hit the drop down for the "Auxiliary Wire Mode". Select the function you would like to use, and hit "update" in the lower right hand corner to send the settings to the device. You will then need to configure your radio's auxiliary channel to the appropriate values to complete the setup.
11.) What is the maximum recommended operating temperature of the EDGE ESCs?
We recommend a maximum of 180° F/82° C. The over-temperature error code will start at 220°F/104° C. It will thermally shut down at 250° F/121° C.
12.) Do the EDGE controllers have all the datalogging capability of the ICE controllers?
Of course! We have kept the datalogging function to provide feedback on your setup. We simply added even more versatility by adding the auxiliary wire function. We've added governor gain logging and added current, voltage, and temperature cutoff bars in the graph viewer. No steps backwards here!
13.) What is the difference between the EDGE and EDGE Lite ESCs?
The EDGE Lite ESCs are intended for applications with extreme air-flow, such as EDF planes where the ESC is in direct airflow of the exhaust, or applications with average current requirements much less than peak current requirements. They also weigh less than the standard version of the Edge controllers for applications where weight is a concern.
14.) What types of motors will the Phoenix EDGE ESCs run?
Castle Creations makes every effort to ensure that our speed controllers will run every sensorless brushless hobby grade motor currently available on the market.
15.) My EDGE is beeping and/or flashing in a pattern. What does this mean?
These are error codes built into the EDGE controllers to let you know what issue your setup is currently experiencing. Please refer to pages 2 and 3 in your Phoenix EDGE User Guide for more information.
16.) I have heard there is a new datalogging feature called "Automatic Data Reset". What is this?
At power up, Automatic Data Reset checks the amount of memory used. If that value is more than the programmed limit, the controller will erase the entire data log. This ensures that the last few runs are saved to memory and available for analysis. This setting can be disabled or set to always erase on startup using the Castle Link USB programmer. Please note that erasing only takes place after the controller arms.
17.) Can I still manually clear my datalog prior to a flight?
Power controller up with TX & RX on and set to full throttle. The controller will chime the normal power up chimes. Leave TX at full throttle for 6 seconds after power up. The controller will emit a short tone after 1 second and then a long tone 5 seconds later. The controller will then erase the entire data log. Move the throttle stick to lowest position to arm the controller.
18.) Can I purchase the Arming Lock Key separately?
Yes! You can now purchase an extra Arming Lock Key through our website. You can find the Arm Lock Key for sale here.
19.) Can I remove the ferrite bead (gray ring) from the receiver lead on my EDGE ESC?
NO! This is ensuring that you get the best possible signal quality between your ESC and receiver, and removing it can potentially cause radio interference issues.
20.) Will my Phoenix EDGE work with batteries other than LiPo and NiMH (A123/LiFePO4)?
It will. Check with your battery manufacturer for the proper cutoff voltage, and use our Castle Link Programmer to set the proper cutoff voltage for your particular cell type.
21.) Will my Phoenix EDGE work with "HV" 4.35v/cell LiPo batteries?
Yes, but not up to the max cell count of the ESC and without Auto-LiPo detection feature. The new HV cells charge up to 4.35 volts per cell compared to a standard LiPo at 4.2 volts per cell. If you run the ESC to it's maximum cell count rating you will over volt the ESC. So if the ESC has an "8s" LiPo rating you will be limited to a 7s with using HV LIPo cells. The Auto-LiPo detection feature will not work correctly with HV cells; the ESC will detect an extra cell and set the cut-off voltage too high. When using HV LiPo cells you must set a custom cut-off voltage setting via Castle Link or B-Link.
22.) Why does the throttle not work on my Spektrum AR620 receiver?
The new Spektrum AR620 receiver uses numbers for the channel slots instead of the function. At the time of this writing there is no reference to what channel number is associated with a particular transmitter function. Through testing we have determined that slot "1/data" is the default throttle channel; it is the second slot from the left, next to the "Batt" channel.