CSaddict

iTrader: (13)

How are the Venom Lipos? No one has any decent capacity 3S lipos in stock anywhere near me except one Venom 3S 5400 20c. Are these decent? I have heard conflicting info on the Venom stuff. I have an SMC 2S in my slash and it has treated me well but the local shop says the 3S are on not coming in for a while.

scwrod

iTrader: (2)

Personally I did not like Venom batts. SMC is a great product but you want a 3s with some capacity. Common sense makes a 3s 5000mAh 30c battery. I have not used this one but have many other Common Sense batts. I have had good luck with Common Sense. I use them in my TX and RX. I also use a 2s and a 3s for my 18T.

Reedy makes a 3s 3200mAh, you may want more capacity.
Flight Power would also be a choice.
Thunder Power also has some choices in a 3s.
If you just take the time to look around you will find that you are in no way limited to Venom.

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

Venom lipo quality has been iffy. Some have been great, others poor. I would put my money elsewhere. SMC has a 3400 3S, but its only 18C rated. You can find some alternatives here -

http://www.rclipos.com/


Or wait - you can query Danny with SMC here in these forums as to when SMC is planning to have newer, higher cap 3C lipos available.

CSaddict

iTrader: (13)

I need a 4000mah or better to finish a race. The guys using 3400's always dump early. I know gearing has to do with that but I don't want to be limited by a battery.

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

TP makes a 5000mah 30C 3S, FP has a 5400mah 20C, Hyperion a 5000mah 25C.

If you're considering getting the Venom from lhs, ask them if they'll stand behind it if you don't get the performance from it you want.

CSaddict

iTrader: (13)

What about the lower C rating? Will that have a huge effect?

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

Depends on what you're running it in and if its an accurate C rating to begin with. 5400mah at 20C should be 108amps continuous if the rating is for real. Thats been the prob with Venom - sometimes they don't deliver what they advertise. Its hard to tell if its an over rated prob or poor quality cells to begin with.

CSaddict

iTrader: (13)

The car is an Ofna Hyper 7 PBS converted to brushless. It runs a Traxxas VXL3s speedo (I got new for $30) and a Novak HV 6.5 ( I got for free). I built the car on a tight budget but I would at least like to be able to keep up with the slower cars. Im new to the RC race world. I have only raced twice with a Slash and now am going to move up to the 1/8 electric so I need all the help I can get. I think I should really be looking at a higher C rating. Most of the guys run 4s and I can't due to the speedo.

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

Knowing that you're running a relatively heavy RC, I'd agreed - need higher C rating. Lipo is an area where you need to make any errrors on being to much and not too little. If the lipo is undersized amp wise, it'll get hot running and will not last long running hot. Lipo should be just warm - little more than ambient temp.

scwrod

iTrader: (2)

If you plan on racing competitively then you should just buy some quality 2s packs. You will want a new ESC at some point. You will be able to use the 2s when you do upgrade the ESC.

Just my thoughts.

CSaddict

iTrader: (13)

Funny you say that. Our local track is very techincal and the shop owner was just telling me most the 4s guys were either taking out a bunch of throttle or going to a 3s.

I bought a Thunder Power 3s 40c 5000 tonight.