POLL: Lipo or Nimh
08-08-2007, 10:31 AM
#62
Lipo (& brushless) for me.
Can't beat the convience of lipo: Leave the battery in the buggy and top it back off. No cycling, no discharging, no cooking cells (I had mastered that one
). I watch my lipo's charging and the temp never goes up by more than 3-4 degrees during the charge.
I actually have time to work on my set-up and improve my driving skills - what little I have
I can also spend some time with the family during the evenings, instead of maintaining my batteries (& motors).
There were a couple of comments on the higher voltage. Check your speedo (or receiver for nitro guys) for its input voltage rating, I know the GTB's I use are rated for 1.2V/cell or 2-cell lipo. If your esc is rated for 7 cells or more than it can take the 2-cell lipos voltage of 7.4 volts. Spektrum receivers can take up to 9.6 volts. The servos may be a problem but you can purchase a regulator for $30.
Just my $.02
Can't beat the convience of lipo: Leave the battery in the buggy and top it back off. No cycling, no discharging, no cooking cells (I had mastered that one
). I watch my lipo's charging and the temp never goes up by more than 3-4 degrees during the charge.I actually have time to work on my set-up and improve my driving skills - what little I have
I can also spend some time with the family during the evenings, instead of maintaining my batteries (& motors).There were a couple of comments on the higher voltage. Check your speedo (or receiver for nitro guys) for its input voltage rating, I know the GTB's I use are rated for 1.2V/cell or 2-cell lipo. If your esc is rated for 7 cells or more than it can take the 2-cell lipos voltage of 7.4 volts. Spektrum receivers can take up to 9.6 volts. The servos may be a problem but you can purchase a regulator for $30.
Just my $.02
08-08-2007, 10:36 AM
#63
I am looking at doing lipos for next year. I like the concept of using 1 battery for the entire day instead of multiples. With my daughter getting more interest in the hobby, it would work out quite well to only have two packs, 1 in each car to worry about instead of the warchest of packs I would need.
Right now, Nimh packs for me.
Anyone look more into those LIMN packs? They don't go boom, pricey, but if thats your worry, they don't. Would like to know how good they are.
Right now, Nimh packs for me.
Anyone look more into those LIMN packs? They don't go boom, pricey, but if thats your worry, they don't. Would like to know how good they are.
08-08-2007, 10:53 AM
#64
I am looking at doing lipos for next year. I like the concept of using 1 battery for the entire day instead of multiples. With my daughter getting more interest in the hobby, it would work out quite well to only have two packs, 1 in each car to worry about instead of the warchest of packs I would need.
Right now, Nimh packs for me.
Anyone look more into those LIMN packs? They don't go boom, pricey, but if thats your worry, they don't. Would like to know how good they are.
Right now, Nimh packs for me.
Anyone look more into those LIMN packs? They don't go boom, pricey, but if thats your worry, they don't. Would like to know how good they are.
http://www.rctech.net/forum/showpost...1&postcount=41
That would explain why Orion claims their packs don't go boom.
And I'm still looking for a report of a Orion pack fire. Nothing to date.
08-08-2007, 12:58 PM
#66
I use both but believe that Lipo and Brushless is the future of the sport. I also have seen alot more NiMh batteries go boom than lipos catch fire. I have only seen one lipo swell up but it did not bust and catch fire.
08-08-2007, 01:04 PM
#68
Lipo
08-08-2007, 01:28 PM
#70
Lipo does not explode like a NiMh cell does. It bust and catches fire. What would you rather have a can explode and send shrapnel into you or a pouch bust and catch fire. Both are bad things to consider but is NiMh really safer than Lipo. I disagree especially after seeing and hearing NiMh explode. I remember hearing about a nimh battery exploding and embedding itself into a racers leg at silverstate too.
08-08-2007, 02:20 PM
#71
I can personally vouch for the fact that a peak LiPo actually STOPPED a fire.
My speedo shorted out bad, and it caught fire. The fuse in the end of the 4800 blew and it went out before the car was totally consumed. The battery was history at that point, but it's way better than having a melted car.
And for the "LiPo goes boom" crowd...crack a book, get a life and maybe you'd learn something. A mylar pouch doesn't have enough strength to provide the containment necessary to create an explosion. Yes, some LiPo cells (not Peak/Orion), can catch fire, but none can explode.
All batteries can go south...they can all cause damage...ONLY NiMh can explode...and they do it regularly. They're in a sealed steel can (aka: "a bomb") I've heard three of them personally, one just last week. Meanwhile, the only LiPo fire any of you have seen is likely to be on YouTube.
My speedo shorted out bad, and it caught fire. The fuse in the end of the 4800 blew and it went out before the car was totally consumed. The battery was history at that point, but it's way better than having a melted car.
And for the "LiPo goes boom" crowd...crack a book, get a life and maybe you'd learn something. A mylar pouch doesn't have enough strength to provide the containment necessary to create an explosion. Yes, some LiPo cells (not Peak/Orion), can catch fire, but none can explode.
All batteries can go south...they can all cause damage...ONLY NiMh can explode...and they do it regularly. They're in a sealed steel can (aka: "a bomb") I've heard three of them personally, one just last week. Meanwhile, the only LiPo fire any of you have seen is likely to be on YouTube.
08-08-2007, 04:34 PM
#73
I can personally vouch for the fact that a peak LiPo actually STOPPED a fire.
My speedo shorted out bad, and it caught fire. The fuse in the end of the 4800 blew and it went out before the car was totally consumed. The battery was history at that point, but it's way better than having a melted car.
And for the "LiPo goes boom" crowd...crack a book, get a life and maybe you'd learn something. A mylar pouch doesn't have enough strength to provide the containment necessary to create an explosion. Yes, some LiPo cells (not Peak/Orion), can catch fire, but none can explode.
All batteries can go south...they can all cause damage...ONLY NiMh can explode...and they do it regularly. They're in a sealed steel can (aka: "a bomb") I've heard three of them personally, one just last week. Meanwhile, the only LiPo fire any of you have seen is likely to be on YouTube.
My speedo shorted out bad, and it caught fire. The fuse in the end of the 4800 blew and it went out before the car was totally consumed. The battery was history at that point, but it's way better than having a melted car.
And for the "LiPo goes boom" crowd...crack a book, get a life and maybe you'd learn something. A mylar pouch doesn't have enough strength to provide the containment necessary to create an explosion. Yes, some LiPo cells (not Peak/Orion), can catch fire, but none can explode.
All batteries can go south...they can all cause damage...ONLY NiMh can explode...and they do it regularly. They're in a sealed steel can (aka: "a bomb") I've heard three of them personally, one just last week. Meanwhile, the only LiPo fire any of you have seen is likely to be on YouTube.
I know this guy who left a phase wire of and BOOOOOM!!!!! Lots of smoke. See those Lipos are dnagerous!
08-09-2007, 01:45 AM
#75
LiPo all the way!