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Better brushless esc CONTROL - budget program card For Racerstar / Surpass / GoolRC

29/4/2020

16 Comments

 
This review and advice article covers the use of the surpass hobby/racerstar/goolrc brushless ESC programming card which can be used on most in not all power systems from these suppliers. It is a simple <$10 device that allows you to easily change the parameters of the ESC - how fast power comes on, how power braking is and much more. 
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One of the easiest ways to upgrade your brushed RC car is to change the brushed motor and ESC with a brushless ESC. If you are lucky like me the drive train (gears, differentials, driveshafts) are designed to take brushless power but even if you don't there is a way to tame you power and still get the benefits of fast acceleration, higher top speed and better battery life. I've used budget Surpass Hobby (also branded as Racerstar) systems on both a large 4x4 SCT brushless upgrade here and the very popular WLtoys 144001 brushless upgrade here and can confirm the programming card works for both
There are several cards that can be used to program these ESCs but the one I recommend is the Racerstar LED Program Card that works with all of the ESCs and motors branded as surpass hobby, goolrc, racerstar and probably more. 
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Programming card works on my ultimate brushless upgrade guide for the WL Toys 144001 (2838 motor and 35a esc)
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Programming card also works on the Surpass 3650 motor and 60A esc combo I reviewed here
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Here is the racerstar program card you want that works for Racerstar, GoolRC and Surpass Hobby ESCs
In order to use the program card disconnect the plug that connects the ESC to the receiver, plug it into the program card instead, plug in your lipo and turn the switch on. The leds will move through a light sequence and rest on their current setting. The arrow buttons allow you to highlight the parameter and settings you wish to adjust and the "programme" button allows you to set that adjustment. Reset changes all settings back to default. Easy!!
Picture
Closeup of the Racerstar program card adjustable parameters
There are 5 sets of parameters that can be adjusted using the programming card and Ill run through those now:
  1. Low Voltage Cutoff. If you are running Lithium Polymer Batteries (Lipo) then you will want to set this to 3.1v. This the minimum I'd want to run it at (the maximum allowable with these ESCs) What this means is when you lipo battery gets down to an average of 3.1v per cell, the esc will go into limp mode to protect the battery. Going lower will damage your lipo battery if you rely on the low voltage cutoff. 3.1v was the default setting on my setup
  2. Start mode.  Soft, medium or strong reflect the 'punch' you will get off the line - technically the peak current the ESC will allow to pass through to the motor. Strong will pull more current, stress your drivetrain more but you will have some pretty violent acceleration. Soft will ease this acceleration but put a lot less stress on you battery and drivetrain. Adjusting this to soft will really protect you car if it was not designed for brushless power. Medium is fairly self explanatory and was the default setting on my setup.
  3. Max. brake force. This is the peak braking power your ESC can provide. Increase for more breaking strength on a grippy surface or decrease when you loose traction/control on a slippery surface. 50% was the default setting on my combo
  4. Max reverse force. This is the maximum reverse power available. 100% is means that if you use maxium reverse on you transmitter, you car will go as fast backwards as it is able to go forwards! I turn this down to 25% because you only need as much power to get yourself out or away from an obstacle. 50% was the default setting on my combo
  5. Neutral range. This is the 'dead zone' before the ESC registers a command. Another way the think of this is how far you have to squeeze the trigger before the car starts moving. I like to tune this to the transmitter for control. Most 2.4ghz transmitters are very accurate so you can turn this down to 6% if you wish. 9% was the default setting on my combo. Note: although it is in the same line, the 'working state' field says that the program card is working and is not a parameter of Neutral range.
Picture
Low voltage cutoff, maximum reverse force and neutral range will likely never need to be adjusted again once set as there are clear 'best' settings here.

​Maximum brake force could be changed if you switch the same car between high and low grip surfaces e.g. gravel vs tarmac or carpet where the high grip surfaces allow you to have more braking power available without losing traction. But the most important setting available I believe is starting power (also called punch). If you have a car with and older or weaker drivetrain designed for brushed motors then you will definitely want to set this to "soft". This will limit the maximum current the ESC allows between battery and motor - this is always during heavy acceleration and this is where the impact will be noticed. For this reason it is also good for protecting your ESC if you are having overheating issues.

You will probably find acceleration is still much stronger than the brushed setup it replaced plus you get the benefit of top end speed and efficiency. Conversely if you have a tough, reliable drivetrain with an over-specced ESC then the 'strong' setting will be your best chance of wheelies and skids - impressing kids in the neighbourhood 🤘💪

This Racerstar programming card for Surpass Hobby and Racerstar ESCs is a low-cost upgrade I definitely recommend - everyone runs their car in different conditions with different style and so this is a great way to customise performance to suit you personally.
​Thanks for reading, if you found this article useful please feel free to like or share, the facebook links below directly link/like this article. Links are affiliated and help me buy the bits I need to produce this type of content. If you are looking for quads or parts check out my coupons and discounts page which I keep updated with only the parts and quads I like at a proper discount
16 Comments
Zacharias
25/2/2021 04:03:15 am

Hi,

Thanks a lot for the valuable information and the effort you put in this.

What would be your recommendation on starting power setting on the 2838 brushless upgrade for the 144001. I noticed in that thread medium is mentioned(default).

By the way. Have you run that upgrade also on 3s as I have come across some reviews facing ESC issues with 3s.

Regards,
Zaharias

Reply
QuadifyRC
25/2/2021 10:04:24 am

My pleasure!

I'd go with stock (medium) on 2s and go from there. Whether you choose to go with more or less power will be determined by you driving style, conditions, grip, etc. Have a play!

3s I was fine for the 3-4 runs with 15t before my car was stolen but I was cautious on not pushing it in thick grass. If you want piece of mine the hobbywing 16BL30 is small but can easily handle this

Reply
Zacharias
25/2/2021 10:57:59 am

Thanks a lot for the reply. Will look into that as it looks quite compact.

As I will not be with the stock shell (currently preparing a phat bodies atak) and will have a bit more space I was looking into the surpass hobby waterproof 45A (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Surpass-Hobby-Waterproof-Brushless-Speed-Controller-45A-60A-120A-150A-ESC-/283639115797?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292).

Looks a little bit more powerful and also with a fan to keep it cooler.Would this be an option?

Again thanks a lot for your time!

QuadifyRC
25/2/2021 11:47:10 am

Honestly I only recommend the ESCs I have personally tried of which I have two of the 16BL30 models. Both have been run successfully on 3s with 2838 4500kv and 2445 5400kv (at 109km/h)

The surpass is probably fine but have no direct experience.

Reply
Htaa12
8/6/2021 02:28:12 am

Hello, is there a difference between the grey card and the red one? nope, right?

Reply
QuadifyRC
8/6/2021 12:58:36 pm

The grey one linked about is the one you want, not the red crawler one.

Reply
pjs
14/8/2021 02:13:13 am

Hi,

I am using flysky gt2 and gr3e reciever and 20A brushed esc with
4*1.2v nimh battery pack.

When i turn on esc, theres some voltage coming to ch1(servo) and also to dc motor even if transmitter is still off, then i tried switching on transmitter also, gave throttle, is working but when stopped giving throttle, still that voltage is being passed and motors are slightly rotating.

Do you think faulty esc or transmitter kit? Can you please help on this

Reply
QuadifyRC
17/8/2021 04:29:50 pm

Sorry have never used anything like this setup before.

Reply
Ken Degraaf
11/9/2021 04:21:48 am

I have this card. Trying to program my esc. Plugged in properly. All first row lights come on and work state light keeps blinking an beeping. Cant change anything.
Thanks.
Ken

Reply
QuadifyRC
13/9/2021 05:12:01 pm

Sorry to hear, I can only guess that the ESC you are using it with is incompatible.

Reply
jhon
27/9/2021 12:23:22 pm

good writing mate, can you help me? I have brushless esc goolrc.. This thing doesn't have set button to set n program.. Just on off button , I'm new to this hobby.. Can you help me quadifyrc..

Reply
QuadifyRC
28/9/2021 05:01:08 pm

Thanks! Here is the article you need: https://www.quadifyrc.com/rccarreviews/better-brushless-esc-control-budget-program-card-for-racerstar-surpass-goolrc

Reply
Kodak_jack link
30/1/2022 01:39:46 am

I have an FY-03 that I bought already converted to brushless. It has a TrackStar 60 amp ESC and a 3600 kv motor in a blue can. With the buggy, I also got a TrackStar programming card, but it's an actual card with touch buttons under the plastic cover, different looking than the one you show, but the same functions. There is a Click Here button on the lower right corner and it feels as if it is making and breaking the switch. When I plug the throttle lead into the card, the LED at the upper left = Cut Off Voltage - Auto Lipo lights and I can't get anything else to happen. I can press the Click Here button until the cows come home and nothing happens. My problem is that it wants to apply full brake when I let up completely on the transmitter throttle. I can't drive it unless I ease off the throttle slowly. I guess I can live with it if I have to, but it's certainly not right. My transmitter is a FlySky GT3C with a 3 channel receiver. Thanks.

Reply
Dave
11/3/2022 07:09:06 am

Why are there so many stupid people into rRC that seem incapable of doing their own research??!

Reply
Dale Tomlins
22/9/2022 08:49:19 pm

Hi there
I have a gool rc 3650 4300kv brushless motor and 60a gool rc esc
My racerstar card work on my eachine EAT14 but doesn’t work on my gool rc gear
Or my hsp 94111 brushless model
Think that has a hobby wing esc
Program card Blue light just keeps flashing on both gool and hsp
Some are advertised as for gool and others but don’t want to buy another unless I know it works
There is a black programming card on eBay says for gool surpass etc
But says only for crawler rc?
Any info appreciated

Reply
QuadifyRC
23/9/2022 11:35:55 am

Sorry I can only comment on the ones I've used specifically. Hobbywing is definitely different from Surpass. GoolRC is a rebrand that often but not always uses Surpass.

Reply



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