Core RC 5000mah Lipos...
03-05-2008, 07:59 PM
#496
With the Core's I'm seeing the beepy blinky by Astroflight??? Don't quote me on that, cause I'm not sure who makes it.
Also I've seen a lot of people go the way of Hyperion because they have built in balancers and the JST-EH adapters.
Also the Core chargers have been hard to keep on the shelves because they have a built in balancer as well.
Personally I balanced my Core 5000 for the first time today and I laughed cause it was in great shape for 150 or so cycles
Also I've seen a lot of people go the way of Hyperion because they have built in balancers and the JST-EH adapters.
Also the Core chargers have been hard to keep on the shelves because they have a built in balancer as well.
Personally I balanced my Core 5000 for the first time today and I laughed cause it was in great shape for 150 or so cycles
03-05-2008, 08:34 PM
#497
What's the next evolution in Lipo? Obviously durability and capacity but anything we should be looking out for? What about the ability to charge them at higher rates?
Lipo looks awesome and not very expensive either compared to the equipment needed to maintain the best performing NiMH but I want to be sure that what I buy today won't become obsolete tomorrow due to a new break through.
Lipo looks awesome and not very expensive either compared to the equipment needed to maintain the best performing NiMH but I want to be sure that what I buy today won't become obsolete tomorrow due to a new break through.
03-06-2008, 07:06 AM
#503
Dane:
Good question there.
I've been around and using lipo since it's entrance into the RC flight side of the hobby around 7yrs ago or so, and it's made steady improvements since then. The first couple of years we had to make our own packs from loose cells, and about the best you could find was 2-5C capable cells. They were fairly intolerant of any abuse, and 2200degF flaming destructive failures were pretty common at that time.
If you fast forward to the present, obviously no one builds their own packs from loose cells anymore, by my C rating evaluation system, there are quite a few 20-25C packs around, and that's the best C available right now. Flaming destructive failures are actually pretty difficult to make happen nowadays (compared to past technology) as well.
So when you look at the history, the discharge capability (C rating) has gone up dramatically, the safety has improved dramatically, and the general knowlege base has made them more understood and therefore easier to deal with over time.
So what's next?
Similar to NiMH cells - you can thank Craftsman, DeWalt and Ryobi for every NiMH, NiCad and lipo cell you've ever run in your car. RC isn't even an afterthought in battery factories. The power tool makers wanted an acceptable discharge rating and form factor to power their tools. Thus, lipos have stabilized at around 20C discharge at a nice energy density for almost two years now. The power tool makers are concerned with safety, and while the top discharge has stayed much the same, the safety has greatly improved over the last couple of years. Power tool makers are now looking into faster charge rates. Due to the CC/CV charging algorithym lipo needs, even with increased charging rates, it's difficult to decrease the TIME of the charge appreciably without altering something within the cells fairly radically.
So as far as the consumer's perspective goes - these last two years have been the most stable as far as being able to buy top line stuff and not have it become obsolete next month, next week, or tomorrow. There is a lot of experimentation going on with "the next step" in power tools, focusing on quick charging and greatly increased safety. My logic tells me they'll be going to A123 cells or something similar within a year or so. Those cells aren't condusive at all to the car market right now though. So for Lipos, I know there are some claimed 30C cells on the horizon, and safety will continue to improve, but I think we'll most likely remain at this basic performance plateau for another year or two at least. Just be careful chasing the latest C rating claims, because without any standardization at all of what those claims really mean, they remain exactly that - just claims.
Good question there.
I've been around and using lipo since it's entrance into the RC flight side of the hobby around 7yrs ago or so, and it's made steady improvements since then. The first couple of years we had to make our own packs from loose cells, and about the best you could find was 2-5C capable cells. They were fairly intolerant of any abuse, and 2200degF flaming destructive failures were pretty common at that time.
If you fast forward to the present, obviously no one builds their own packs from loose cells anymore, by my C rating evaluation system, there are quite a few 20-25C packs around, and that's the best C available right now. Flaming destructive failures are actually pretty difficult to make happen nowadays (compared to past technology) as well.
So when you look at the history, the discharge capability (C rating) has gone up dramatically, the safety has improved dramatically, and the general knowlege base has made them more understood and therefore easier to deal with over time.
So what's next?
Similar to NiMH cells - you can thank Craftsman, DeWalt and Ryobi for every NiMH, NiCad and lipo cell you've ever run in your car. RC isn't even an afterthought in battery factories. The power tool makers wanted an acceptable discharge rating and form factor to power their tools. Thus, lipos have stabilized at around 20C discharge at a nice energy density for almost two years now. The power tool makers are concerned with safety, and while the top discharge has stayed much the same, the safety has greatly improved over the last couple of years. Power tool makers are now looking into faster charge rates. Due to the CC/CV charging algorithym lipo needs, even with increased charging rates, it's difficult to decrease the TIME of the charge appreciably without altering something within the cells fairly radically.
So as far as the consumer's perspective goes - these last two years have been the most stable as far as being able to buy top line stuff and not have it become obsolete next month, next week, or tomorrow. There is a lot of experimentation going on with "the next step" in power tools, focusing on quick charging and greatly increased safety. My logic tells me they'll be going to A123 cells or something similar within a year or so. Those cells aren't condusive at all to the car market right now though. So for Lipos, I know there are some claimed 30C cells on the horizon, and safety will continue to improve, but I think we'll most likely remain at this basic performance plateau for another year or two at least. Just be careful chasing the latest C rating claims, because without any standardization at all of what those claims really mean, they remain exactly that - just claims.
(im tired of my 6 nimh packs now)
03-06-2008, 04:23 PM
#505
www.teamfusionracing.blogspot.com
There are kits for the 3250 and 5000... that can be used to make them equal to a 42oonimh pack.
My 5000 is 9.6 oz and I add a 4.2oz plate and 1.1oz piece for total of 15.2oz.
03-06-2008, 04:44 PM
#506
i'm using this with my Mi3,
in the first picture you can see the cut out that is on the back side of the weight bar, that is for adding lead, they also make one now that does not have the cut out.
http://www.rctech.net/forum/showthread.php?t=202121
in the first picture you can see the cut out that is on the back side of the weight bar, that is for adding lead, they also make one now that does not have the cut out.
http://www.rctech.net/forum/showthread.php?t=202121
03-06-2008, 04:55 PM
#507
just recieved my core rc udc-20 charger, nice unit, small and light and comes with adapters for tamiya plugs male and female, dean plug, transmitter battery plug (like i have on my lipo for my ko/jr) a plug for rcvr packs like on my align 600 and nitro car, and a couple i have never seen before even has a banana style for transmitters (plug on the side of the transmitter case)
Last edited by skypilot; 03-06-2008 at 06:09 PM.
03-06-2008, 06:45 PM
#509
For personal reasons (mainly safety) I never have and never will.
I prefer the original intention of LiPo technology of being able to use one battery, one charger, and have the one battery and one charger last 5 times that of a NiMh.
Edit: My views on the abuse and treatment of LiPo batteries are 100% my own opinion, I am a firm believer in the longevity and safety of LiPo batteries and the safety that comes with correct use of the equipment.
I prefer the original intention of LiPo technology of being able to use one battery, one charger, and have the one battery and one charger last 5 times that of a NiMh.
Edit: My views on the abuse and treatment of LiPo batteries are 100% my own opinion, I am a firm believer in the longevity and safety of LiPo batteries and the safety that comes with correct use of the equipment.