CADA battery with 4 motor outputs and remote control

[fosamax]

Yes I saw that model and despite some similarities, I don't think that's the same moc.

That one is indeed better yet has no instructions available so reverse engeneering the full moc would not be a trivial task.

I also found a moc by Charbel and it's clearly different with a bigger part count.

[coinoperator]

On 9/29/2018 at 8:20 AM, Saberwing40k said:

For some reason, Buwizz capacity is rated in watt hours, and not milliamp hours, so I can't say for certain. They also helpfully do not list the nominal voltage of the battery.

looks like Buwizz doesn't want to give too much inside information

too late however... buwizz is now available on ali

[AVCampos]

I'm overall satisfied with the CaDa unit I bought: earlier this week, it managed to power two (official LEGO) L motors under heavy load plugged to a single port without significant performance difference from an SBrick powered by Ni-MH batteries. I didn't test the battery capacity yet, though.

 

6 hours ago, coinoperator said:

too late however... buwizz is now available on ali

I'm not familiar with the official BuWizz app, but from the screenshots posted on those items for sale it seems that they're BuWizz imitations and not the real deal. The fact that the buyer must contact them to get the app instead of downloading it from the store is also suspicious.

[edit] Also, isn't the button on the real BuWizz round?

[fosamax]

6 hours ago, coinoperator said:

looks like Buwizz doesn't want to give too much inside information

too late however... buwizz is now available on ali

I took a look at those so called buwizz clones from aliexpress and I don't really see how it could be a good deal. 

With a retail price of 70 € it's not so far from original Buwizz. Furthermore, what you see on their video is quite strange as there is 2 different battery boxes shown : one is  3 studs heights with a 2,4 ghz marking on the side (looks really similar to CaDa), the other seems to be 5 studs height, making it difficult to integrate with a lot of moc.

You can't download the app to be sure it's compatible with your smartphone and it's probably not as configurable as buwizz.

Needless to say that voltage and capacity is omitted (probably no ludicrous mode).

I like Cada battery box for the pretty low price (starting @ 30 € with or without extra parts) and physical control. I know there's some drawbacks like the lack of analog control or precise steering, as well as being limited to 7-8v output power. Battery life is quite decent.

But for sure, I will not put more than twice that price for something that looks more like a development board (prototype ?) and a probably buggy app, if you can ever get it.

Offtopic. I asked Gearbest seller for the 919 CaDa model and power functions are not included so don't buy that one if you wan't to get battery box and remote. Better go with the yellow buggy.

[coinoperator]

3 minutes ago, fosamax said:

With a retail price of 70 € it's not so far from original Buwizz

But it will have junk quality Batteries.

But more important is that only really BLEEP persons will buy such a STOLEN design that was crowdfunded.

And ontopic
Buy the plain Cada set on ali
It works great, it's not stolen design
Forget about the sets, it junk plastic that breaks for no reason at all.
really really really terrible junk if I read about it on facebook

but the remote set...oh well, it's a bargain for such a simple functional set.

[roeleman]

Hello,

 

I am new here.  I just logged in to tell the following.  After I was experimenting with the CADA power brick, I blew 2 of the chips, due to the heat, the model of the chips became visible.  Thes are Sinotech Mixic Electronics MX1616L http://www.mixic.com.cn/ browse to products -> motor drivers,  it's somewhere in the list.  It takes 2 to 8V and 1.5A continous and 2.5A peak.  I attached the spec.

I didn't find the chip for sale yet, but I did find the MX1616 that has a little higher voltage rating.  But I think the L in mx1616L stands for low, so probably the MX1616 will be to big to fit the cada case.

 

 

 

Edited June 11, 2019 by roeleman
removed link to moc

[fosamax]

Not sure if advertising clone brand that sell moc from madoca1977 without consent should be done here.

CaDa brand is somehow different since parts exhibit slight changes from lego design (still compatible though) and they only provide original model so far (latest jeep wrangler is cool but I'm not sure they got jeep approval TBH so I won't post pics or link).

I got some trouble with Cada servo (bad return to center) so I will try to keep cost as low as possible and try to buy battery box and receiver only if possible.

I think It's also better to refrain from using too much motors with the same battery box, or at least don't use them at the same time.

[roeleman]

I removed the link, didn't know it was a moc.  I have the same problem with the servo, it doesn't always return to center.  The L-motor already gave up and the remote doesn't work 100% anymore.  If I turn to right it goes to right, if I turn to left it turns to ... right. Same for back and reverse.  I got new motors from CADA, but didn't get a new remote.

[MattL600]

Hey there, I've been gone for about 2 quarters and have now started to spark interest in lego now.

I've always wanted to get a buwizz, but the thing is the buwizz costs 185.72 AUD for just one until... and that's with the current sale!

So, being turned off with the price of the buwizz, I looked around for an alternative and found this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32982026707.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.69a87b8cgvMIOS&algo_pvid=1bde53d3-ead8-4f06-a2e1-3c04b3ff420c&algo_expid=1bde53d3-ead8-4f06-a2e1-3c04b3ff420c-0&btsid=9a31bbcd-daa1-4119-b36c-aa2701f6b655&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_3,searchweb201603_52

Has anyone had experience/is willing to throw some money for science? 

[syclone]

 

[Samolot]

I have such a device. However, it worked only for three months. I thought the battery was dead. But after visiting an electronics specialist in a store with RC models. It turned out that the control electronics broke down.

[agrof]

I got mine broken... charging failure. Unfortunately also no positive response from seller, so no replacement, no refund.

[Maaboo the Witch]

Cheap counterfeit crap. Wouldn't waste my time.

[kbalage]

And an important difference - we like BuWizz because it offers higher voltage if needed. These ones from China don't, maybe even weaker then LEGO's rechargeable battery was.

[fosamax]

I found Cada system to be OK for power function.

Lately there's even a starter pack that include everything you need for a small moc.

https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/33042204817.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000014.23.7d5674b1KgLFQg&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.13338.112281.000000000000000&scm_id=1007.13338.112281.000000000000000&scm-url=1007.13338.112281.000000000000000&pvid=60acd836-fe6c-4058-b483-faff8b4fc037

I would buy this first and switch to buwizz if you need more power or analog control. I've had good performance with battery box and L-motor.

I don't own their m motor so I can't tell.

Servo are not reliable under load even if they work OK for lighter models.

[johnnym]

2 hours ago, agrof said:

I got mine broken... charging failure. Unfortunately also no positive response from seller, so no replacement, no refund.

Have a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psHgBxb1Esc (description and video). It's in German, so I'll try to make a short translation:

What the guys says/writes is basically, that he'll collect complaints from buyers whose CaDA battery box doesn't work and send the collected demand to CaDA, who will then send a number of replacements to this guy, who will then forward them to the affected buyers for postage. He wrotes "throughout Germany", but Hungary isn't that far away. Maybe you contact him for further details.

This "campaign" runs until 2019-08-05, so better be quick.

I seem to remember from the video, though I don't remember the time code where he speaks of this, as I watched it already some time ago:

As proof affected people should make a short video (e.g. on YouTube) of the battery box not working when trying to charge it.

Edited August 2, 2019 by johnnym

[grum64]

My advice. Don't do it. Bide your time and go for a BuWizz when you have the money.

The BuWizz is a high qualty device that'll give years of service. In the highly unlikely case it did develop a problem at least you know it'll be repaired/refurbished quickly and by a company that prides itself on its excellent customer service.

[agrof]

4 hours ago, johnnym said:

Have a look at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psHgBxb1Esc (description and video).

What the guys says/writes is basically, that he'll collect complaints from buyers whose CaDA battery box doesn't work and send the collected demand to CaDA, who will then send a number of replacements to this guy, who will then forward them to the affected buyers for postage. He wrotes "throughout Germany", but Hungary isn't that far away. Maybe you contact him for further details.

This "campaign" runs until 2019-08-05, so better be quick.

Thanks for the hint, I will definitely contact him (luckily german is no problem here)! I have a video about the issue.

Edited August 2, 2019 by agrof

[MattL600]

 

 

 

 

2

20 hours ago, fosamax said:

I found Cada system to be OK for power function.

Lately there's even a starter pack that include everything you need for a small moc.

https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/33042204817.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000014.23.7d5674b1KgLFQg&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.13338.112281.000000000000000&scm_id=1007.13338.112281.000000000000000&scm-url=1007.13338.112281.000000000000000&pvid=60acd836-fe6c-4058-b483-faff8b4fc037

Do you know whether I can run two of these without interference?

21 hours ago, kbalage said:

And an important difference - we like BuWizz because it offers higher voltage if needed. These ones from China don't, maybe even weaker then LEGO's rechargeable battery was.

That's fine for me, since I like to tinker with rc cars I can rewire a proper lipo into the box. I'm looking for info on how well the bluetooth function works tho

[fosamax]

I can speak only for the Cada system which is not bluetooth but 2.4 Ghz.

The first link you posted shows 2 different models :

- a bluetooth one, more expensive, relies on an app you don't have a link for and thus you can't test the app before ordering. It's also way bigger (5 studs high vs 3 for buwizz which could be really problematic for using with moc designed to use the lego battery box wich is 4 studs high). I find those too expensive for a gambling.

- the Cada one, which cost is between 30 to 40 euros if you buy it alone or in a kit.

I bought one kit (complete with box and instructions) included with a crawler set from gearbest https://fr.gearbest.com/block-toys/pp_009464151272.html?wid=1433363

The crawler is quite subpar and I would probably buy the buggy if I had to choose a kit as of now (you're getting a battery box, a controller, a L motor, a servo, some led and a bunch of parts that don't exist in lego, as well as 4 rims and tires of rather good quality, don't expect nice panels thought and pins are prone to break.)

My shopping experience with gearbest was good since they send me a second kit for free for only one defective shock absorber so I got 2 working batteries and controllers for less than 40 euros.

Things to keep in mind : only use the included power cable to charge : other one don't seem to charge at all.

you can use 2 batteries and controller at the same time : you just have to pair one device and then the other one. Pairing is quite easy : turn on battery box, turn on controller, wait 2 sec untill ther led stop blinking and you're good to go.

Edited August 3, 2019 by fosamax

[roeleman]

@fosamax

I never managed to pair 2 batteries to 1 controller with the cada setup.  I recently broke a batterybox so I can't try, I still have to replace the MX1616L motor driver and check if it works again.  

About the CADA buggy: steering is junk, even after replacing the servo with a lego servo motor.  Just to much clearance on the whole steering/suspension.  Also the differential I had to replace with the lego one.  I also discovered the cada motors have less power then the lego ones.

With the buggy I had also  the problem the car went only forward and right even if I steered backwards or left. I made a complaint but I received a new L-motor and a new servo-motor as they said it was due to the motors.  Of course it was the remote as I stated to them but they wouldn't believe. 

 

Somebody already tried this remote set: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000134410883.html?spm=a2g0o.home.01008.6.650c2c25bj5Qci -> it seems it can drive buggy-motors (or better the 'monster' motor)

[ozacek]

(conversation continued from there)

@kbalage I've quickly tried the Mould King battery box & remote and didn't observe any particular problem. Is there anything I should be testing in particular?

The controller also has an additional interesting functionality, you can combine two outputs at the press of a switch button. Ex. In normal operation button A controls output A and button B controls output B, and if you press the switch, button A controls outputs A & B. So ex. if you have two motors combined on one axle, it allows to dynamically change the power given to that axle.

Edited October 10, 2019 by ozacek

[9v system]

just found this video of the servo and it has a weird problem. has anyone had this issue before. BTW i dont buy knock off stuff but this interest me

 

[ozacek]

On 9/2/2019 at 9:59 AM, roeleman said:

Somebody already tried this remote set: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000134410883.html?spm=a2g0o.home.01008.6.650c2c25bj5Qci -> it seems it can drive buggy-motors (or better the 'monster' motor)

I think it's exactly the same as the Mould King one, which I just started talking about 2 posts above.

[roeleman]

Yes,

 

I bought this one.  2 observations yet: I can't install the android app.  All android smartphones I tried it says "not suitable for this device".  According me nobody can because downloads and reviews on the play store are 0.

Second problem: with the remote frontwards is backwards and backwards is frontwards, so the buttons are switched.  There isn't a button on the remote to change the direction.  Maybe you can do it with the app...

 

It doesn't seem to have a lot of power also.  If the app should working or there should be a API of the bluetooth protocol they use it would maybe be a better deal.