Smitty1092

hey are discharger a "Need Be". I just started racing and im going to be being about 3 new 4600mah packs, and since they are so expansive(or maybe im cheap), but i dont want them losing performance anytime soon.

Ediaz

iTrader: (2)

I don't know much but the Kyosho guys helped me out

I got a charger that discharges, got an ICE on ebay, the batteries now perform better and have a lot of punch since i discharge and charge.

Im no pro but race with them, I get my batteries from all-battery.com( funny your post had a banner from them) they have packs 4200 and up from less than $40.

Smitty1092

yeah the ICE is nice, but i not ready to move up to that. Plus the ICE doesnt equalize the cells, which is something i would really like

racer1812

iTrader: (31)

I use a Novak Smart Tray. But if you don't want to spend the $120-$135 for an Ice you probly don't want to spend $70 for a discharge tray either, can get used ones for about $40 though.

Smitty1092

oh ok, well i was looking at the Trinity Absolute Zero Equalizer which is 43 brand new. But at a discharge rate of 2 amps, wouldnt that take a long time, plus the time to cool down and then charge again. My track doesnt give us that much time

JeromeK99

iTrader: (3)

There is a big difference between a discharger and an equalizing tray. If you run NiMh, you really need both.

Use the discharger with a higher amp rate, I use a 20amp bulb discharger. Then you want to equalize the cells to bring them all down to an even empty level for storage and before recharging.

Even the best matched packs will start to go bad after even a handful of charges.


Jerome

Smitty1092

oh ok i think i have it. I would use this charger to bring the pack down fast.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHMR5&P=FR

then i would use this to equalize.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXVFB4&P=FR.

All for about 65 dollars.
But one question is that the duratrax takes the cells down to .85v so how could the Much MOre Racing equalize them if they are under .9v

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

Discharging cells at 20amps, you'll see the voltage recover that much quicker, if you don't just leave them on teh discharger, which you're not supposed to. By the time you get them on the equalizer they'll be over teh voltage that you want to equalize them at.

I scroed my Smart tray used for only $25. I had used an Indi zero equalizer, but batts seemed better without doing that, just being trayed, but I wan't racing either.

Watch out for the tenergy batts from allbattery - I wasted my money on a pr of pacs that turned out to be junk. They wouldn't talk to me about them either. Spend a little more and buy cells of better quality. There's a reason they're so cheap, and its not cause they're the best cells made either!

Smitty1092

can you explain this one more time

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

I was using the smart tray before I got the indi zero equalizer. I could def tell a change in the pacs from using the smart tray and bringing them all to 0.9v. I got the zero equalizer as part of a trade. I started using it after pulling pacs off the smart tray. I didn't see any change in my pacs, they did take a little more on charge, but it wasn't significant. I didn't see any change in the way they ran either, so I stopped after using it several times. I was running ordinary, but solid cells, not cheap, not the most expensive. Like I said, wasn't racing. Maybe these cells wouldn't see any benefit since they were just house brand cells.

Smitty1092

ok, well from any of the racers, what is the best way to cycle the cells, at the track, or should you just run them and charge them and then give them a good cycle at home

b4wires

iTrader: (19)

This is what I did with my 4600 NiHM. I would discharge them at the track
with a duratrax 20 AMP discharger but not all the way where the LED light where out. Just one or two LED lights are dim. Then I would put the pack on a Novak Smart Tray tell all the LED lights on smart tray went out. Then charged them. Race the battery and then after racing the pack, put the battery in the battery case. Don't discharge the pack until next weeks race or practice.

If you are looking for a Discharger. I have one for sale. It's a Duratrax 20 AMP Discharger. I bought it new a year ago, and it works great. Origional box and instructions. If you are interested PM me.

I sold my Novak Smart Tray

Smitty1092

but is it ok to cycle pack two time a day. just like they say you can charge them 2 times a day

b4wires

iTrader: (19)

You mean like practice, discharge, smart tray or equalize them and then charge the pack for a qualifier or race?

racer1812

iTrader: (31)

If B4wires is right...I don't know where you race but when would you have time to do all that?? Even if you ran the pack almost dead it would still take like 10-15 min in the tray..another 20-30 to cool to room temp. and then another 45+ min to charge..min. 1 1/2 hours.. Just the way it sounds to me... I did all my equalizing and stuff at home the night before and then charge the night before or on race day and then peak before running. Just what I DID....Gone LIPO and never goin back.