Lipo, or Motor

[drperry]

Originally Posted by MonkeyFist

I should have stated that they were Venom packs. Only 3300mAh. He said that he ran each about 4 to 5 times a day for 3 days straight. He's a complete newbie, I tried to warn him but he didn't listen.

I had a few of those packs... They are absolutely NOT for any high current use!

[Saber186]

I run a Turnigy 5000 in my stock Slash with no problems and it has alot more power than my friends Slash running a Orion rocket pack
http://hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store...idProduct=9172

[Firehawk989]

If my Duratrax ESC can handle a LiPo, then your Traxxas one should have no problem with LiPo either. Just remember to buy a cutoff for it, they're $10-$20 on EBay.

[OG RC 10T]

I have a basher with a brushed motor in it, that I use on occasion. When I put my lipo pack in that buggy I can get almost an hours run time with a huge noticable difference in power and overall performance.

You can charge a lipo numerous times a day with out damaging them. I have a 6000mah smc 28c sport pack and bought it from tower hobbies for $89. and there is a night and day difference between it and the matched cell smc 4600 energy pack that I have.

There is a considerable weight difference as well.

A good lipo will double the run time that you are currently getting with your venom pack, it will weigh less, give you more power over a longer duration of time with your current motor and esc set up.

If you keep your same 3300 stick battery and go with a different motor and esc, brushelss or not, you may see a little difference in speed, but you will sacrafice your run time.

Not to rip on your current batteries but venom packs are made cheap to keep costs down and are not known for performance.

Buy good quality batteries first, get the most performance out of what you already own, and then replace your motor and esc when the motor wears out.

I have been down the same road, and thats just what I would do if I had to do it all over again.

just my .02

[mwiley]

If you are just messing around in the yard then get a nice brushless system, just because of the low maintance. If you are going to do any racing then you can't beat good batteries even if you don't have the best motor. I have been racing and playing with rc cars for over 20 years. With electric racing batteries are everything, but for everthing else I love low maintance.

[St. George]

Speaking of LIPOs, how many charges are they generally good for? They're just so expensive, I'm wondering what kind of longevity to expect from them.

[tacoracer]

LiPos are good for around 1,000 charge cycles. They'll last you around 3-5 years if you take proper care of them.

[St. George]

Originally Posted by tacoracer

LiPos are good for around 1,000 charge cycles. They'll last you around 3-5 years if you take proper care of them.

Do you know how that compares with NiCds and NiMHs?

[OG RC 10T]

Originally Posted by St. George

Speaking of LIPOs, how many charges are they generally good for? They're just so expensive, I'm wondering what kind of longevity to expect from them.

Considering the longer run time, mostly do to a higher mah availibility, and the fact that you can charge them numerous times a day, versus the recomended 3 to 4 times for a NIMH pack they are actually cheaper.

Figure you have to buy two stick packs, charging one while the other is cooling, and so you dont over use them - which causes them to loose battery life. You can buy one lipo battery pack and have the same results.

Price out a good matched NIMH pack and your looking at $60 - $80 when you include deans plugs and battery bars - and or buying an assembled stick pack for $45, your still going to need two NIMH packs to get the same overall results with one lipo battery. SMC has a good 6000 mah pack 28c discharg rating for $89.

With a 19t or 10.5 in a buggy you can get almost an hour run time with one full charge. (6000mah)

Lipo is definately cheaper in the long run.

Also in my b44 I replaced three matched cell packs, which cost me $70 each, with one Lipo saddle pack that cost me $120. If I would have done that from the start I would have easily saved $90. and the cost of a smart tray battery balancer.