The New ZipZap PCB's are fixed
 

I just opened up a new black Mustang. It's now the same speed as a stock MS. Put in my NOS w/red gears and the thing amazed me. It's still not anywhere near as fast as my dual batt one, but I don't think I'll be swapping out the PCB's anymore. I haven't opened my Gold Civic yet, but I did open up a red porshe and had the same results. All three came with the new controllers with the rougher knobs that stick out a little further. That may be the indicater. Today is a very good day!!! I'll look at the PCB's and compare them to see what they did different a little later.

edit...............
Went back downstairs and played with it somemore. It flipped on me. It actually flipped!!!! My dual cell has been the only one I've ever rolled over.

Here's a pic of the differences on the top of the PCB.

That back of the PCB has many other differences as well. The resistors have a different color code (I used to know how to read them) and the Mosfets are much bigger.

Cool
 

I got a brand new black Mustang that has been sitting here on my desk for a week. I was not going to open it, But now Stride comes along and says they fixed the PCB prob and now there faster............ Damn you............ Should I or shouldn't I open it ??????????

I was in the same situation. :D Atleast now I can keep the old ones I've had for four months in their box. Make sure it has the new controller knobs. I'm guessing that's the indicator. So far I'm 2 for 2 with them. :)

Here's another pic with some close-ups.

New controller
 

New controller knobs ?? do you mean the rasied knobs that a kinda knurled ??? if so thats what it has, But so did my first ZZ I got way back in November.

Hmmmm........
 

Any chance of shooting a pic of the different controller knobs?

My new gold Civic is a fast one alright, but the controller is absolutely identical to my old ones (with the exeption that it is junk!- it doesn't charge the car but the steering & forward/backwards do work).

My black Mustang is slow, but the controler is a junk one like the gold Civics' is!


Thanks!
John

The only controllers I have with the old knobs are either still boxed or have joysticks glued on to them. This was just a theory. I haven't had a new Zip for over 2 months. I just noticed that these controller knobs were raised more and had a rough surface. Where as the other ones are smooth and more flush with the controllers surface. This was just a theory. If the new controllers have been out since November, then my theory goes right out the window. :) I guess you'll have to just get lucky to find one with the new PCB. I've heard that not all of the new Zips (Gold Civic & Black Cobra) have their PCB altered. I can tell you one thing...chances are if the ZZ KIT has the old controller, the PCB is old as well. Leave those on the shelf unless you like doing PCB swaps. Your best chance is picking up the newer cars that have the newer controllers. Those are more likely to have the new PCB. They might not even come with the old controllers....just watching out for you people. :rolleyes:

controller pic
 

pic of controllers

SOn of a B!!!!!
I looked them over lastnight and didn't see that. I guess tonight is gonna be another long one.

Thanks Dutch!
 

All (4) of my ZZ controllers have the raised knobs like on the right in the pic, and they all have a textured end.

I bought my first ZZ in mid-December '02.


John

I just pulled out the old zip pcbs and compared them to the new ones. My gold civic is The same as the old ones but the mustang does have the "changes". I dunno exactly know what these changes are, not being an electrical wiz, but the stang does seem faster. Unfortunatly I tested these two cars and didn't really see any differance speed wise in a timed drag. The only differance I saw was when I put the stang with the nos motor on carpet. It moved from a dead stop, never happened before with the older cars. Is there any way torque can be increased through the pcb?

The amout of amperage that can be passed through the circuit board will affect the torque. Better circuit board will pass more amperage, thus better torque.
I would sure like to know that I can get a Zip with a better PCB. All the Zip Zaps I have now have other PCB's in them. I hope more people will post here to confirm. Well, I guess it's off to the several nearby Radio Shack stores to see what I can find.

So has anyone tried a Bit motor in a ZZ w/ the New PCB yet? And if so, does it work properly?

B

Yeah, try a 3.0 or larger Bit motor in a new Zip Zap. That would be the test. None of my old Zips would run a 3.0.