Re the power consumption:
It would be my reasoning that if a servo is getting warm it will draw more. Additionally, if the board is drawing more power than usual the voltage will drop and when in high load conditions the voltage will drop further. This was learned in NZL in winds over 12 knots. A battery at float levels around 6.4 did, at times, cause the winch to lock out at a broad reach position.
Three failures in three years along with the Phantom in the Bilge was a wall for me on the HS645. I am a serious competitor and cannot affort that kind of failure. The refit of fall 2006 I installed the FUT 9350 digital for NZL and it is still on the board I am using today. I did NZL to over 20 knots, Charleston and Newport, all what I feel was heavy air.
I have learned much about power draw when all is under stress. I am very happy right now becasue I feel I can depend on the servos. Now the damn RX is another story that will be address. Newport was the first regatta in 8 years I had a RX on the board than on the underside of the deck. I got caught. No more on both, I hope.
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