If you are asking about a-123 or the newer rectangle cells that are 3.3 nominal voltage then these things have many variables which you have not stated.
Comparing the two (with all other variables being equal)
lipo is lighter (size and/or weight equal)
lipo can discharge the most capacity if all else is equal
lipo can discharge the most current if size/weight is equal
life can discharge the most current if capacity is equal
lipo can hold the most capacity if size/weight is equal
the major improvement in liFe battery is that, its safer.
Safer, can be charged at ridiculous rates (15C anyone?) so recharge times are minimal, and unlike lipo they can be run to empty like nimh's (no voltage cutoff needed) but unlike nimh's output is consistent all the way down.
I ran a 1450 ma LIFE receiver pack for the first time in place of my usual 2200ma LIPO w/o regulator in my mbx6t saturday night. Aside from the safety/durabilty benefits(the reason I got them) here is what I noticed: 7.1 volts max right off the charger(balanced) vs 8.4 for lipo. The truck felt sluggish/slow in the steering dept so I had to take out all the curve (in the radio) that I normaly have to use w/lipos to slow the steering down some. Once I got rid of the curve it felt great again. Basically the lower voltage is slowing the servos down and I had to make them run at 100% speed again. IMHOthe HIgh C charge rates dont apply to the smaller receiver packs anyways cause you will burn the wires off of them. Overall I would give them a 8 out of a 10. only because of the lower voltage. Going from nimh to life you will love it, Going from Lipo to LIFE will be wondering if you made the right choice........ I know I am still wondering....... Time will tell.
what makes them safer? I'm not trying to jinx myself, but I have no seen a single lipo accident yet. I know they have the possibility of bursting into flames, just have not seen it any where yet but youtube.
I ran a 1450 ma LIFE receiver pack for the first time in place of my usual 2200ma LIPO w/o regulator in my mbx6t saturday night. Aside from the safety/durabilty benefits(the reason I got them) here is what I noticed: 7.1 volts max right off the charger(balanced) vs 8.4 for lipo. The truck felt sluggish/slow in the steering dept so I had to take out all the curve (in the radio) that I normaly have to use w/lipos to slow the steering down some. Once I got rid of the curve it felt great again. Basically the lower voltage is slowing the servos down and I had to make them run at 100% speed again. IMHOthe HIgh C charge rates dont apply to the smaller receiver packs anyways cause you will burn the wires off of them. Overall I would give them a 8 out of a 10. only because of the lower voltage. Going from nimh to life you will love it, Going from Lipo to LIFE will be wondering if you made the right choice........ I know I am still wondering....... Time will tell.
When you were running a lipo, were you using a voltage regulator?
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Besides the safety of the newer cells & the charge rates, I don't see much else that is a positive for me.
The packs cost alot more money & put out less voltage. 120$+ for a 4500Mah 6.6v Battery? No thanks
If you don't have a LiFe compatible charger, that is an added expense. And can only get up to 20A charge rate (as I am aware of) for just over 200$ for 1 charger.
LiFe batteries better have a faster charge rate, as I could not afford many batteries after dropping 200$ on a new charger and would have to charge the same battery all day long
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I don't see Lipos as "unsafe" anyway. Things can go wrong but I've seen nimh blow up too, yesterday in fact. I'm not going to go from 7.4v DOWN to 6.6v either(nominal voltage)
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Lifepo vs. Lipo
(nominal voltage)
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