Serial number interpretation
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Hey folks,
was wondering what information can be derived from a Cougar’s serial number.
- Any guidelines which serial numbers were built in what year?
- Any known differences in quality known between different batches?
- Anything else that might be of interest?
Am looking at picking up an extra Cougar but it’s third hand and the seller doesn’t know when the original owner got it. He’s supposed to tell me the serial later so am curious if I can get any info from that
Thanks!
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You can look at the original serial database, but it really will tell you much. First Cougars were out in Europe, with North America next, followed by Asia. I would be more interested in the slop in the joystick and any problems with the buttons, or fraying on the cables. I have a really old cougar and other then replacing the micro stick, it works great. I have a fairly new stick (was bought for parts) and the stick part kind of flops down and it is the only problem which I did know about it before purchase.
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Hey folks,
was wondering what information can be derived from a Cougar’s serial number.
- Any guidelines which serial numbers were built in what year?
- Any known differences in quality known between different batches?
- Anything else that might be of interest?
Am looking at picking up an extra Cougar but it’s third hand and the seller doesn’t know when the original owner got it. He’s supposed to tell me the serial later so am curious if I can get any info from that
Thanks!
The major differences in Cougar and Warthog sets were two fold, afaik:
1. Early Cougars didn’t have a pcb ground cable to case or a ferrite noise ring on the power cable. This created situations where unfiltered or fluctuating power could damage the PCBs, especially the TQS.2. Early and later Warthogs had different paint jobs. The shiny black ones hold up to hand oils and sweat than the Matt black ones IIRC. This resulted in paint coming off quicker, but functionally the same.
(S/N break point unknown).
my early Cougar and TQS are still going strong too, but I’ve replaces the brake shoe in the TQS and conver tend the stick to a FCC3. Also found the correct red paint at an auto store that restored the pickle and trigger buttons. Oh yes, also added a second stage spring to the trigger. If you want these to last, don’t beat on them unmercifully when yanking and banking, plus keep them clean and covered when not in use.
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Hi guys, great forum, came here looking for info on Cougar, look like this is the place… I am also interested in serials. Do they indicate when they were produced? For example, could early number vs. later number be years apart?
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So a little while back, I asked TM Customer Support if they knew what serial numbers on TQS when they started the 5.0v PCB with grounding update (the older ones had a lower 3.8v operating potential and a floating ground electrically, and this could cause damage to the circuits).
Why this is important is, some countries home power don’t use a ground line; thus the TQS is more succeptable to shorting. A buddy of mine in Greece had a problem with blowing TQS PCBs out. The voltage difference means more range across the throttle pot and thus more stable and line noise resistant. The upgraded TQS is more preferable IMHO.
Their response was basically, they don’t know. If you buy a used TQS, it’s preferable to have the upgraded ones. IIRC, you want serials over 15,000. That being said, I’m still using my original TQS and its serial number was under 10,000. And yes, serials were an indication of build order and age.
–-------- my question -------
Hello Support,
Do you have a Cougar stick rubber boot spare part?
Also, what TQS serial number did u start using the 5v pcb instead of the original 3.8v pcb?
----- CUSTOMER SERVICE ANSWER -----
Dear Mr. Customer,
Regarding your Hotas Cougar.
We thank you for your reply.
For the Cougar assembly we no longer have that particular component assembly available as a spare part.
Regarding the second inquiry this information is not available for distribution.
We thank you for your understanding and we rest at your disposal for any other inquiries.
Thrustmaster Technical Support is at your disposal for any other information you may need. You can reach us online at the following addresses:
http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng for the latest updates and FAQs
or by telephone at one of the numbers listed on the following page: http://ts.Thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=contact
Kind regards,Your Thrustmaster Customer Support Agent, Octavian
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Hmm… hope mine doesnt blow. Mine is in the 3 thousand range, so relatively old I guess
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My serial number (bought used) is worn out. Any way to read it out from the chip or so?
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So a little while back, I asked TM Customer Support if they knew what serial numbers on TQS when they started the 5.0v PCB with grounding update (the older ones had a lower 3.8v operating potential and a floating ground electrically, and this could cause damage to the circuits).
Why this is important is, some countries home power don’t use a ground line; thus the TQS is more succeptable to shorting. A buddy of mine in Greece had a problem with blowing TQS PCBs out. The voltage difference means more range across the throttle pot and thus more stable and line noise resistant. The upgraded TQS is more preferable IMHO.
Their response was basically, they don’t know. If you buy a used TQS, it’s preferable to have the upgraded ones. IIRC, you want serials over 15,000. That being said, I’m still using my original TQS and its serial number was under 10,000. And yes, serials were an indication of build order and age.
–-------- my question -------
Hello Support,
Do you have a Cougar stick rubber boot spare part?
Also, what TQS serial number did u start using the 5v pcb instead of the original 3.8v pcb?
----- CUSTOMER SERVICE ANSWER -----
Dear Mr. Customer,
Regarding your Hotas Cougar.
We thank you for your reply.
For the Cougar assembly we no longer have that particular component assembly available as a spare part.
Regarding the second inquiry this information is not available for distribution.
We thank you for your understanding and we rest at your disposal for any other inquiries.
Thrustmaster Technical Support is at your disposal for any other information you may need. You can reach us online at the following addresses:
http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng for the latest updates and FAQs
or by telephone at one of the numbers listed on the following page: http://ts.Thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=contact
Kind regards,Your Thrustmaster Customer Support Agent, Octavian
Ok mine is #32.xxx but still as im in Greece i have a grounding problem cause the house actually is relativelly old. Is there a way to fix this anyone have an idea?
Edit: Nevermind it was a circuit problem of the elctrics at home. Anything metallic was ground. Im lucky i found it before anything happens and forget the completion of the Phantom afterwards
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Mine is a sub-6000 serial, I’m at work now so can’t check exactly but I know it’s one of the earliest. After 15 years it’s only ever had 1 throttle pot replaced. There’s loads of play in the stick gimbal but the pots in the stick still work fine.