Vampire SR1 - The Future of ESC's?
 

Interested to see what people make of the Vampire ESC's advanced features......

So, looking around at Speedo's - having tried many and melting my brain with the crazy options available regarding 'timing', 'boost' and 'turbo' etc, and having recently bought a Renventon Pro with 'Hybid Boost' as my latest speedo, i'm not entirely convinced.
It's all complicated, and yet another thing that I need to set correctly to get the best out of it at each track.

Then - it was brought to my attention that the Vampire speedos do all this for you, no crazy settings, the speedo just works it all out for optimum performance!

Quote from Jimmy's news page - "The SR1 Series both use Vampire Racing exclusive “PTS – Power Timing System”, providing a distinct advantage over most other brushless systems. Designed as an adaptive system which continually calculates the ideal timing value gained from multiple parameters, resulting in a much improved feel for your car. This not only provides more performance, it especially means that it can handle the massive power of today’s brushless systems better than ever before…."

Link to news article : http://www.oople.com/forums/showthre...hlight=vampire

Having seen a 7.5 system run in a 4WD, it was an absolute missile, much quicker than one would expect of a 7.5, so maybe this is the way speedo's will go now - removing the 'user' from the equation and the speedo working out the optimum settings / timing etc based on these elusive 'multiple parameters'.

So - question is, is this 'distinct advantage' really fair play?
Also - looks like Vampire dropped the 'distinct advantage' text from many press releases....

If I were to buy a speedo, based on what I know and I have seen, it would be this one :)

What do other people think - is this tantamount to a driver aid I wonder, as electronics are stepping in and making changes throughout the race.

Sorry , just re read that. You were talking about my car after all. I just bought another :thumbsup:

Indeed Jim - there were a couple of team drivers running them too and their cars looked nice and smooth in the infield - but plenty quick on the straights:)

You were just ballistic everywhere!

I'm kind of fed up with all the complicated ESC settings - and the Vampire stuff looks like a 'step change' in ESC technology - simple to use and optimum performance.

Seriously considering selling my gear and swooping, but I am interested to see what people think re the advantage this must give you?

When I explained it to one racing pal he was very surprised it was allowed....

I believe it's the same unit (internally and mostly externally) as the Yokomo BL-PRO2TW Turbo that Bally (MB) has just started doing: http://www.rccarshop.co.uk/index.php...rs/yokomo.html It's the same apart from a plastic moulded part of the case, everything else is the same, specs, leads, caps, even the box they come in. Software may be different though?
I've just picked one up for my GT12 car, which is great as it runs 1S lipo without a booster. I run it in blinky, so not played with the timing, but have been very impressed with it so far after my first meeting.

I've been running the sr1 in both my cars since they first came out. I moved on to them from speed passion, which I always rated as being nice an smooth. I was nervous of the change at first, but needn't have been, the vampire stuff is very smooth, and easy to set up. I've been very happy with mine.

Anyone else switched and rate the Vampire?

What are the available settings - and does the adaptive system give you the best of both worlds, smooth at slow speeds, and high top speeds?

Neal - I did wonder about the Yokomo ESC - not cheap though!
I wish Bally (MB) sold the Vampires now!

I don't think Vampire are doing anything fundamentally different to others, but they have done it really well. They're not measuring any external parameters more so than anyone else, throttle position and then the variables available from the sensor wire. The key is in the software and user interface.

I run a 7.5 in my 4wd (and an 8.5 in 2wd), commonly with up to maximum timing. This is because this allows for an extremely smooth bottom end but winding up to a great top end. The difference compared to the manufacturer I ran before and compared to some other manufacturers I've tried when trying others cars is that the software makes the transition completely smooth and linear and as a result it feels like you've motors that are like a 7.5, 7.6, 7.7 etc.

If you're at Batley today you're very welcome to have a go on my car.

Cheers Dan :)

Doing my mothers day duties today - so no racing :(

I recently bought Orion and Speedpassion ESC's, kind of wish I'd known then what I know now. The Orions are nice and smooth, but the Renvention is a bit much on the bottom end and the settings leave a lot to be desired IMO.

Think I'll give a Vampire a run outdoors, is there much between the 2 versions - and are they equally at home with motors from other manufacturers?

I've recently changed to Vampire Speedos and motors and I'm very impressed, fast and smooth - they have it all.

I came from Speed Passion speedos (GT2.0 and Reventon Pro) and Speed Passion and Reedy motors and can definitely say the Vampire stuff is a big improvement over what I have previously run.

I've got the SR1 in my 2wd and the SR1+ in my 4wd. The SR1 comes without a fan and cant go as low motor turn wise... Its absolutely fine in 2wd though. I'm running an 8.5 2wd and 7.5 4wd and fairly low timing. Ill probably stick with these motors for outdoors and up the timing a little. As Dan says. even with the timing up at max it's still smooth around the infield, but a nutter down the straight!

Can you put a fan on the SR1?
Are you running VPR motors as well?
Wheres a good place to check pricing in the UK?

this sound too good.

What settings can you change on the Vampire esc's? Punch, brake level etc?

Yes you can fit a fan to it, in fact I have done.! Yes I'm running with the vampire motors too. Great quality. DMS is a good place to look at pricing.

I'm not about to just up and change due to the cost factors, but interested in any real word experiences from Orion users now running Vampire.

Yes I could ask other pro drivers, but I don't think it's 100% fair to provide feedback when it's a sponsors product.

I remember a while back one pro driver said to me if it's reliable then you're doing fine.

MB have just ordered some ESC's to go with their stock of Vampire LIPO's and motors. Based on the prices in the link above, they are about 30% cheaper too.....

You can adjust the following...

• Cell type (LIPO 1 cell, LIPO 2 cell, NIMH, LiFe)
• PTS - Power Timing System (0 = Blink, then levels 1-6 from progressive levels of boost/power)
• Acceleration rate (5 levels from lowest to highest)
• Current Limit ( 6 settings)
• Motor rotation (normal/reversed)
• Automatic brake (dead stick break as some call it) (11 settings from 0% upwards)
• Initial brake (how much brake comes when you first start braking) (11 settings from 0% upwards)

The 1/8th esc looks interesting, any idea on price?

There will be 8th motors as well right?

It would be good to see another reasonably priced esc, 30% cheaper than the Yokomo unit would be very attractive. At that price (if correct) would surely appeal to many newcomers as well as being easier to program with less settings etc.

I'm dead pleased with all my Vampire stuff, the simplicity of the ESC settings is nice and the way the SR1/+ smoothly ramps the timing up is totally seamless.

The only two settings I change on mine are the initial brake (which gets set to minimum when first setting up, then left alone), and the timing level. The way the timing works is almost like having in-between motor winds to use, 6.5 too fast but 7.5 too slow? Set the timing to 3 on a 7.5 and you have what feels like a 7.0 turn :)

One more thing to note, the ESC's come with the timing set on maximum out of the box. So if it's a bit quick from new thats why!

Cheers for the heads up Rich.

Gunna give one a go when MB get them in - I like the thinking behind the software / settings makes much more sense - I wonder why no one else has adopted it or done anything similar?

Well, I won SR1+ speedo last year in DMS raffle and have been using it since then. I ran it in my 2wd buggy - was very nice to drive but also in TC 17.5 blinky class where it was very quick and I'm more than pleased with this speedo. If you're hesistating then go and get one :thumbsup:

Will it run on 1s without a booster

I believe so. It's forward only though, the Yokomo BL-Pro2 is 1S forward and reverse.

I got two as a replacement for vipers that i got,sr1 are very good escs must be why bloomfield has gone to them

Bought an SR1+ from MB - just need to decide which car to install it into.

Head says put it in the XB4 for outdoors, Heart says put it in the Bmax4 - should have bought 2 speedos...

Finally ran the Vampire in my XB4.

I turned down the settings a lot, so minimum acceleration and a low 'power' setting.

Very impressed indeed. The speedo is very smooth, and the brakes work beautifully with the car not locking up and braking very progressively. Ran a Speedpassion 6.5 in the car outdoors and it was very quick, so no need to ramp up the settings just yet.

Overall, much, much smoother than the Renvention I had in before.

Can anybody give me a starting point for a SR1+ with an AB+V2 8.5T motor in a 2wd for astro? Something that works at Batley would be good :)

Hi

I oddly like someone else earlier in the thread won a sr1 in a raffle. I've just fitted it to my car, but I'm struggling to set it. From reading the instructions I should be changing the setting and then moving to the next menu item and holding set for 3 seconds.

I must be doing something wrong as this has twice resulted in my car going backwards!

Any tips?

Thanks

Steve

Steve,

You press the MENU button for three seconds to enter the set up and the MENU button again when you have finished (just move to the next menu along - which will save the last one) and press (MENU) for three seconds (NOT the SET button - this only changes settings)

I think you probably tired to change your Current Limit (Menu 4) and then moved to Motor Direction (Menu 5) but instead of pressing and holding MENU you have pressed SET which has changed the setting of this option in error.

Try that and let us know how you get on....

Just a thought do you have it in a dex410 and gave the diffs upside down?

Thanks Darren I will give that a try later.

Steve

I just thought about adding a fan to my SR1 as it's going to be hot tomorrow. Unfortunately I've left it a bit late to order one. I have found a plug that fits on a Hobbywing 60amp speedo. When I plug it in it doesn't run, does the SR1 have some sort of fan 'management' and only run when it gets hot, or is the plug not the fit it looks like?

Steve

Yeah, the fan only comes on when you've used it a little, give it a little blast and it should come on.

Where are these available?
With shipping to Aus and preferably without the massive price tag.

I made a thread a little while back about deciding between a Reventon Pro and a Viper VTX10-BE, I've kinda decided to go something different and when I read about these I was interested.
Also interested in the LRP Flow if I can't get a Vampire SR1 for a more comparative price.

Also been reading about the Orca and Dualsky options but unsure and the simpleness of the Vampire is an awesome feature.

Any of our UK dealers listed HERE > www.xfactoryrc.co.uk will be happy to ship to Aus for you....

Fair enough, cool.
So, is the price inclusive of VAT, and does that get taken off for international orders?
I remember quite a while back, I was going to buy a guitar amp from the UK and they mentioned that VAT was taken off for international orders, just wondering if it's the same here?

Ok, so I found I can get an SR1 for about $200.
I think I'll go this way.

Just a couple more questions though...
Is it worth spending the extra bit for the "+" version?
I'll be running in stock/blinky 2wd, but may go to mod later.
I'll also be getting a ST eventually, which is 10.5 blinky or 13.5 with timing (some events are mod though), which I'll likely use a 13.5t.

Is there any program box, being made for them? I realise it's more simple than other ESC's but I still don't really like counting flashes.

Lastly, what kind of support is available for it if I have any issues?

Current Limit Setting
 

I also have a couple of questions:

Could somebody explain the effect of changing the current limit setting? Would it be similar to altering timing?

Also, we all know how quickly things change so curious about whether in the future firmware upgrades will be achievable and how?

Thanks

Andy