Introduction
If you are into RC cars like the ARRMA Kraton and ARRMA Felony, you may wonder about Can I install the Felony ESC on Kraton ESC. This question becomes even more important when you consider how both vehicles are designed for different purposes. One for high speed street racing and the other for rough off road adventures. When it comes to remote control (RC) cars one of the most exciting aspects is modifying and upgrading parts to enhance its performance. Among the most crucial components is the Electronic Speed Controller (ESC). This part directly impacts how fast your car can go and how well it handles different terrains.
In this article, we will explore Can I Install the Felony ESC on Kraton ESC, how compatible they are, and what you need to keep in mind before making the switch. We will also discuss the installation process and provide the advantages and disadvantages of using the Felony ESC in the Kraton.
Understanding ESCs: What is This and Why it is Important?
Before discussing Felony and Kraton ESCs, we must understand what an ESC does. It is a key part of your RC car. An ESC controls the speed and direction of the motor. It connects with the receiver, battery and motor of your car. The ESC takes signals from the controller. It translates them into actions for the motor. This allows you to accelerate, brake, and reverse. Without an ESC, your car couldn’t read the controller’s signals. The motor may be stationary or uncontrolled.
Key Functions of Can I install the Felony ESC on Kraton ESC:
Controlling Motor Speed: The best function of an ESC is controlling the speed of the motor. When you press the regulator of controller, ESC decides how much power is needed to send to the motor. This makes the car go faster or slower, depending on your input.
Braking and Reversing: ESCs also manage the brakes and reverse in most RC vehicles. ESC cuts power of the motor when you release the throttle or push it in reverse. It also reverses the current flow to change the motor’s direction.
Power Management: The ESC ensures the battery’s power goes to the motor. It does so smoothly and efficiently, without overheating or overloading the system.
ESCs vary in complexity. Some are basic and control simple functions. Others are advanced and allow fine-tuning of performance. They can adjust throttle curves, brake strength, and even telemetry feedback. Choosing the right ESC for your RC vehicle is key. It maximizes performance while ensuring durability and safety.
Felony vs. Kraton: Can I Install the Felony ESC on Kraton ESC
You know what an ESC does. Now, let’s look at the ARRMA Felony ESC and the ARRMA Kraton ESC. Both are for high-performance RC vehicles. But, each serves a slightly different purpose. They are optimized for different driving conditions.
ARRMA Felony ESC Overview
The ARRMA Felony is a sleek, high-speed muscle car designed for street racing. It comes equipped with a BLX185 ESC, which is a brushless speed controller built for power and speed. This ESC allows the Felony to reach speeds of up to 80 mph when paired with the right motor and battery setup (typically a 6S LiPo battery).
The BLX185 is known for its high current handling, making it ideal for on-road applications where speed and acceleration are prioritized over ruggedness or durability in off-road conditions. It features a built-in cooling fan to help manage heat during high-speed runs, and its smooth power delivery ensures that the Felony stays in control, even at top speeds.
ARRMA Kraton ESC Overview
The ARRMA Kraton is a best designed for off-road bashing. It is built to handle jumps, rough land, and long bashing sessions. In older Kraton models, the same BLX185 ESC is used, but in the newer versions, you’ll find an upgraded Firma 150A Smart ESC. The Firma ESC is designed to offer extreme performance and durability in the most challenging conditions. It can handle high power and is optimized for torque. It is perfect for crawling over rocks, bashing through dirt, and navigating uneven terrain.
The Firma 150A also comes with Smart technology, which allows for real-time telemetry. It gives you information about the performance of system. It maintains temperature and voltage directly on your controller. This feature can be extremely useful for preventing overheating and managing battery life in intense off-road situations.
Comparing Felony and Kraton ESCs
While both the BLX185 and Firma 150A are powerful ESCs, they are optimized for different driving conditions. The Felony ESC is geared toward speed and precision on smooth, paved surfaces, whereas the Kraton ESC is built for durability and torque in rough off-road environments.
- Speed vs. Torque: The Felony ESC is all about high top-end speed, while the Kraton’s ESC is focused on providing torque and durability for off-road bashing.
- Cooling and Heat Management: Both ESCs come with cooling features like fans and heat sinks, but off-road conditions often generate more heat, making the Kraton’s ESC better suited for prolonged bashing.
- Telemetry: The Kraton’s Firma 150A Smart ESC offers telemetry data, which can be a game-changer for monitoring your vehicle’s performance in real-time. The Felony ESC lacks this feature.
How Can I Install the Felony ESC on Kraton ESC?
Now we have covered the ESCs of both vehicles. Now address the main question, Can I install the Felony ESC on Kraton ESC? The answer is yes, but with some cautions are always needed. Both the Felony and Kraton can use the BLX185 ESC, as they are built on similar platforms. This makes the swap relatively straightforward from a physical installation perspective.
However, it is not always the best idea depending on what you want to achieve with your Kraton. The Felony ESC is optimized for high-speed and on-road driving. Whereas the Kraton is designed for off-road bashing. Swapping the Felony ESC into the Kraton might give you more speed on flat surfaces, but it could compromise the vehicle’s performance on rough terrain, where torque and durability are more important than top speed.
Compatibility Between Felony ESC and Kraton
When considering installing the Felony ESC on a Kraton, one of the main factors to focus on is compatibility. While both vehicles belong to ARRMA’s high-performance RC family, they are designed for different environments, which means their electronics are tuned differently as well. However, as both the Felony and Kraton share similar platforms and even the same BLX185 ESC in certain versions, this swap is possible, but there are several compatibility factors to consider.
Power Output and Current Handling
The Felony ESC, specifically the BLX185, is built to handle high current and is well-suited for the Felony’s speed-focused design. It can handle 150A of current and is typically paired with a powerful 6S LiPo battery, which is capable of producing immense bursts of power to drive the Felony at speeds nearing 80 mph.
The Kraton, on the other hand, also uses the BLX185 ESC in older models. This means in terms of pure power output and current handling, the two ESCs are virtually identical. So, in theory, swapping a Felony ESC into a Kraton model that uses a BLX185 should work without any significant electrical compatibility issues.
However, the newer Kraton models use the Firma 150A Smart ESC, which has been fine-tuned for off-road performance. It can handle both high current and sustained power requirements that are typical for bashing, where torque and endurance matter more than outright speed.
Physical Compatibility
Physically, the Felony ESC should fit perfectly into the Kraton. Both vehicles share similar frame layouts. It means that installing the ESC would be a simple case of swapping the units and securing the ESC to the chassis using double-sided tape or screws. There are no significant size differences that would require modifications to the vehicle’s body.
ESC Tuning and Programming
While physically and electrically compatible, there’s more to consider when it comes to tuning the Felony ESC for the Kraton. The Felony ESC is optimized for high-speed, on-road performance, which means it may not be tuned to handle the off-road bashing, jumps, and uneven terrain that the Kraton is built for. If you decide to install the Felony ESC on your Kraton, you may need to adjust the ESC settings to optimize for low-end torque, throttle response, and braking—functions that are critical for off-road performance.
Many ESCs, including the BLX185, come with programmable features that allow you to tweak these settings, but this requires a bit of technical knowledge. You’ll need a programming card or software that can modify the ESC’s parameters to better suit the Kraton’s driving style.
Cooling and Durability Considerations
The Felony ESC is built to handle high-speed driving on smooth surfaces, which typically doesn’t generate as much heat as off-road bashing does. When you run a car like the Kraton, the motor and ESC can be put under more stress due to the rough terrain, which leads to higher temperatures. The Firma 150A Smart ESC in the newer Kraton models is equipped with advanced cooling features and smart telemetry that monitors temperature in real time.
If you install the Felony ESC in the Kraton, make sure that you have adequate cooling in place. The Felony’s built-in cooling fan might not be enough to prevent overheating in long off-road sessions. So you may need to add external cooling fans or heat sinks to ensure stable performance.
Step-by-Step Installation Process
If you have decided to go ahead and install the Felony ESC into your Kraton. It is important to follow a proper step-by-step process to ensure everything fits correctly and works as it should. Swapping an ESC is a relatively straightforward process. There are a few important steps to keep in mind to ensure that the installation goes smoothly and that the system functions correctly.
Tools you’ll Need:
- Screwdriver set (hex drivers preferred for RC vehicles)
- Soldering iron (optional for wire connections)
- Heat shrink tubes (if repairing is required)
- Zip ties (for establishing and locking wires)
- Double-sided tape or Velcro (for securing the ESC to the chassis)
Disconnect the Battery and Remove the Stock ESC
Before starting the installation make sure to disconnect the battery from your Kraton. It is done to avoid any electrical issues or potential shorts. Once the power is off, locate the ESC on your vehicle. Then start the process of unscrewing or unclipping the stock ESC from the chassis.
In most cases the ESC will be mounted using either screws or adhesive tape. Take care when removing the ESC to avoid damaging any other electronic components.
Label and Disconnect the Wires
Once you have access to the ESC, you have to disconnect the wires of motor and receiver. These wires are usually color-coded, but it’s a good idea to label them for easier reconnection during the installation of the new Felony ESC. Be especially mindful of the throttle, motor, and power connections.
Fit the Felony ESC into the Kraton
With the stock ESC removed you can now fit the Felony ESC into the Kraton’s frame. Make sure the new ESC is securely mounted. Use double-sided tape or Velcro according to your preference. Properly mounting the ESC is crucial to ensure that it does not move around during driving. It could lead to performance issues or damage.
Reconnect the Wires
Once the Felony ESC is mounted, it’s time to reconnect the wires. Start by connecting the motor wires to their respective terminals on the ESC. If you labeled the wires earlier, this process should be straightforward. Connect the motor with the wire of receiver to the throttle channel. Then finally connect the wires of battery to the ESC.
Test the Installation
Before taking your Kraton for a spin, it’s important to test the setup to ensure everything is functioning correctly. Start by bench testing the vehicle. Power it up and slowly increase the throttle to check for any irregularities. Make sure the motor responds smoothly, and pay attention to any unusual noises or overheating issues.
Rebind Your Controller (if needed)
Some ESC swaps may require you to re-bind your controller to the new ESC. If the Felony ESC isn’t responding properly to your inputs, follow the instructions in the ESC manual for binding or calibration procedures.
Things to Consider Before Installing Felony ESC on Kraton
Before making the decision to install the Felony ESC on your Kraton, there are several key factors to consider. These include the purpose of the swap, your driving style, and any potential drawbacks. It could arise from the installation. Understanding these factors will help you in making a more knowledgeable choice. It ensure that your vehicle performs as expected after the modification.
Driving Conditions and Terrain
The Felony is designed for on-road, high-speed driving on flat, smooth surfaces. The Kraton, on the other hand, is a bashing beast made for off-road use. If you’re primarily driving your Kraton on rough terrain, swapping to a Felony ESC may not improve your performance. You could end up sacrificing the torque and durability that the Kraton’s original ESC is optimized for.
Heat Management
As mentioned earlier, the Felony ESC is built for on-road applications where the car runs at high speeds but with less strain from uneven terrain. In contrast, off-road bashing generates much more heat due to the continuous strain on the motor and ESC. Without proper cooling, the Felony ESC could overheat during long bashing sessions, leading to poor performance or even damage.
Warranty Concerns
Swapping out the ESC is considered a significant modification, and in most cases, it will void any manufacturer warranty on your Kraton. If something goes wrong after the modification ARRMA may not provide support or replacement parts. It is important to weigh the benefits of improved performance against the potential loss of warranty protection.
Conclusion
In short, can I install the Felony ESC on Kraton ESC. It is a good idea if you want to go faster on smooth surfaces. However, the swap comes with a few trade-offs. The Felony ESC on Kraton ESC is for high-speed and on-road driving. So, it may lack some of the off-road performance, torque, and durability of the Kraton.
If you love long, rough off-road sessions, the Kraton’s original ESC might be better for you. If you want to mix on-road and off-road driving and push your Kraton’s speed, the Felony ESC could help. It could boost your speed, but you must fix potential overheating and adjust the ESC’s settings.
Before making the switch, consider what you want out of your RC vehicle. Swapping an ESC is a big decision. It can greatly change your RC car’s performance.
FAQs about Can I Install the Felony ESC on Kraton ESC
Q1. Does the Felony ESC improve the speed of Kraton ESC?
A1. Yes, it can increase top speed, especially on smooth surfaces, but it may sacrifice low-end torque for off-road performance.
Q2. Does the Felony ESC well-suited with the Kraton’s motor?
A2. Yes, both use brushless motors, and the Felony ESC, like the BLX185, is compatible with Kraton’s motor in many models.
Q3. Can installing the Felony ESC cancelled my Kraton’s warranty?
A3. Yes, modifying core components like the ESC will likely void the vehicle’s warranty, so it’s important to check the terms first.
Q4. Will I need to make other modifications after installing the Felony ESC?
A4. You may need additional cooling solutions to handle potential overheating during off-road bashing sessions.
Q5. Can the Felony ESC handle off-road conditions on the Kraton?
A5. While it works, the Felony ESC is optimized for on-road driving, so it may not perform as well in demanding off-road environments.
