How are a123 packs a step back? You can charge them in 15 minutes compared to 1 hour +, you can always motor up if you want more power in 2wd truck, if you want more capacity you can always run a 9200mah pack & still charge them in 15 minutes, the cells have vents that actually work so they don't blow up and catch flame, you don't have to worry about a lvc because of their power curve, you will know when its time to pull them. The biggest thing that these cells can do for you though is that they will allow you to run a main, get bumped up, & then recharge in 15 minutes, run a main, get bumped up & recharge again. If you get bumped w/ lipos then you better prepare to have a second lipo waiting for you. A 8kmah lipo w/ a gtb 5.5 will not be good for 20 minute main followed by another 20 minute main 30 minutes later.
for those that are interested. crcrc in columbus is having an outlaw truck class with 20 minute a= main . lipo up to 6000 and what ever motor you want to run. must use lipo sack or bunker with uncased cells. january tenth is first day of practice.
Why is there a limit to 6000 if its OUTLAW truck.
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Yeah, I wouldn't limit the capacity for 2wd truck. Running a gtb 3.5 or something isn't going to make you any faster in this class & since people have already been running the class w/ 8kmah packs its going to send possible participants away.
partywagon... don't make me defend craps, dangit!!!!
Lipos have a higher voltage and good cells hold it better than A123s.
I like the A123 cells for some things. They are great for super fast charging and are very safe and last forever. I still have not run them but I do plan to grab a Dewalt pack sometime soon. I have some of the new smaller 1100mah cells to play with. It's the charging thing that has me interested... for a basher vehicle.
But for long races especially.... they get heavy and awkward compared to lipos. I guess a 3p hump style pack would be too bad but still, it's not as slick and light as a 6-8k lipo.
In 1/8 buggy it's even worse... how can you fit a 4s or 5s pack, even at just 2p it's a brick. I figure it would take a 5s3p (or 4s4p) pack to replace my 4s 8000mah lipo.... and that would make my FAT 8000 lipo look small. Only way it could work is running a 2p pack and doing a pit stop.
We are talking about 2wd truck. A 2s 3p pack is actually right at the same weight as a 6 cell stick which is exactly what these trucks were designed for. As far as 1/8th scale buggies are concerned I wouldn't try running them in a setup to make a 30-45 minute main, but you can easily come up w/ a setup for a 20 minute main that would not weigh too much.
How are a123 packs a step back? You can charge them in 15 minutes compared to 1 hour +, you can always motor up if you want more power in 2wd truck, if you want more capacity you can always run a 9200mah pack & still charge them in 15 minutes, the cells have vents that actually work so they don't blow up and catch flame, you don't have to worry about a lvc because of their power curve, you will know when its time to pull them. The biggest thing that these cells can do for you though is that they will allow you to run a main, get bumped up, & then recharge in 15 minutes, run a main, get bumped up & recharge again. If you get bumped w/ lipos then you better prepare to have a second lipo waiting for you. A 8kmah lipo w/ a gtb 5.5 will not be good for 20 minute main followed by another 20 minute main 30 minutes later.
A step back in voltage and step back in capacity with something that doesn't fit real good in the truck. As far as the 8000 mah and longer races including bumping up from a "B" main. We had this senario at the last ECNS race with 13 qualified for the "A" main and 2 more were added after a 15 minute "B" main to complete the 15 truck main at the Farm. The 2 bump-ups had they're batteries re-peaked ready to go before the end of 2 classes following finished they're 15 minute "B" mains to have plenty of time to make the start of the "A" Main.
Alot of us have been motoring down all season and with 8000 mahs and a 7.5L Novak motor is getting over 40 minutes of run time that equals to "A" mains. Some have even went to 10.5 motors only using 4800s to easily make the 20 minutes and they even claim to get around 30 minutes of run time. So there is no point going backwards to get batteries we really do need because we can fast charge them. 20 to 30 minutes is plenty of time on the drivers stand before taking a break anyway and besides t/x batteries need to be recharged sometime too.
The 8000 mah li-po is just a little taller that takes a simple battery bar adjustment and weighs about the same as the 6 cell pack it is replacing that most RCs are designed for.
I am sorry, but you have long ways to go to sell me on the rapid charge batteries I don't need.
Ever been to a track where your required to pit by your self & have to use a lipo sack? It sucks pretty bad. These cells vent so there is no need for a lipo sack or safety precations. I know lipos aren't really dangerous, but there are still people scared silly of them.
Craps, the thing as I understand it about a123s is that the mah on them can be decieving. From what I have read, it appears that you get better longevity of runtime than what the mah would lead you to believe. why exactly, I don't really know.
A123 has packs out from what I have seen in pictures that fit excellent in 1/10 scale vehicles. no shaving of the sides needed (saw it in a pic for the review of the IFS TA05). If they put two of them together ( I think they are 2200mah?) to get the 4400mah, could give you the excellent runtime, not have as much high COG, and give a better weight for the vehicle. Plus, the fast charge thing and elimination of fire concerns is a big bonus too.
The voltage thing is an issue, but, since its mod, just go with a hotter motor. spec classes will be an issue however.
I love my lipos, but can't argue that if A123 can get better fitting packs out there, they could be the way to go.
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