Novak Smart Tray vs. Higher Amp Dichcharger?
09-16-2008, 06:06 PM
#1
Novak Smart Tray vs. Higher Amp Dichcharger?
Which one would be the best to balance out your batteries? Say a 25 amp Integy discharger or a Novak smart tray? I dont want to spend over $40 shipped so I want to get it used. My batteries: slingshot ep4200 "race" matched, 1.217, 2x gp3300 matched by team scream, 1.17, 1 crappy Venom 3600, and a very bad radio shack 2000 nicad that I barely use. Also have a nicad battery for my lathe. SO if I get the Novak Smart tray and I balance packs that arent SXS and are stick packs like Venom? What would give me better performance and longetivity? How long do you discharge them after a run? And how long will it take to discharge at 25 and 2.7 amps? thanks
09-16-2008, 06:15 PM
#2
Well that all depends on which Integy discharger you are talking about...
The Novak Smart trays are equalizing boards to bring each cell down to the same amount.. it is not made for discharging a pack after running.. it will take hours and be very hot.. possible damage it... you need to bring the pack down to around 6v before placing them on the tray.
Integy makes both dischargers to bring the pack down and equalizing trays.. their newest one is very similair to the Nova Smart tray.
You can make a 20amp discharger out of 10 automobile tail light bulbs (GE 1157). Use this to bring the pack down to near 6v and then put them on a tray. You can get about 9-10 minutes on 20amps from a fully charged 4200 pack. This will give them the best life and will also allow you to see how they are doing.
If they take a long time on the bulbs.. or if they cells do not equalize on the tray in about the same time, the cells are not doing well.
You could I suppose go LiPo and not worry about it all.. but then you'd need a new charger most likely.
Jerome
The Novak Smart trays are equalizing boards to bring each cell down to the same amount.. it is not made for discharging a pack after running.. it will take hours and be very hot.. possible damage it... you need to bring the pack down to around 6v before placing them on the tray.
Integy makes both dischargers to bring the pack down and equalizing trays.. their newest one is very similair to the Nova Smart tray.
You can make a 20amp discharger out of 10 automobile tail light bulbs (GE 1157). Use this to bring the pack down to near 6v and then put them on a tray. You can get about 9-10 minutes on 20amps from a fully charged 4200 pack. This will give them the best life and will also allow you to see how they are doing.
If they take a long time on the bulbs.. or if they cells do not equalize on the tray in about the same time, the cells are not doing well.
You could I suppose go LiPo and not worry about it all.. but then you'd need a new charger most likely.
Jerome
09-16-2008, 08:31 PM
#3
Well that all depends on which Integy discharger you are talking about...
The Novak Smart trays are equalizing boards to bring each cell down to the same amount.. it is not made for discharging a pack after running.. it will take hours and be very hot.. possible damage it... you need to bring the pack down to around 6v before placing them on the tray.
Integy makes both dischargers to bring the pack down and equalizing trays.. their newest one is very similair to the Nova Smart tray.
You can make a 20amp discharger out of 10 automobile tail light bulbs (GE 1157). Use this to bring the pack down to near 6v and then put them on a tray. You can get about 9-10 minutes on 20amps from a fully charged 4200 pack. This will give them the best life and will also allow you to see how they are doing.
If they take a long time on the bulbs.. or if they cells do not equalize on the tray in about the same time, the cells are not doing well.
You could I suppose go LiPo and not worry about it all.. but then you'd need a new charger most likely.
Jerome
The Novak Smart trays are equalizing boards to bring each cell down to the same amount.. it is not made for discharging a pack after running.. it will take hours and be very hot.. possible damage it... you need to bring the pack down to around 6v before placing them on the tray.
Integy makes both dischargers to bring the pack down and equalizing trays.. their newest one is very similair to the Nova Smart tray.
You can make a 20amp discharger out of 10 automobile tail light bulbs (GE 1157). Use this to bring the pack down to near 6v and then put them on a tray. You can get about 9-10 minutes on 20amps from a fully charged 4200 pack. This will give them the best life and will also allow you to see how they are doing.
If they take a long time on the bulbs.. or if they cells do not equalize on the tray in about the same time, the cells are not doing well.
You could I suppose go LiPo and not worry about it all.. but then you'd need a new charger most likely.
Jerome
I just dont know if I want to spend $130 in lipo, Orion 3800+balancer.
09-16-2008, 10:16 PM
#4
Rather than spending money and trying to bring back some old packs try these two items. I have that charger and it works great. This will get you into lipo for under $100.
http://www.speedtechrc.com/store/ebp...id=596&id=6297
http://www.speedtechrc.com/store/ebp...nid=59&id=7081
http://www.speedtechrc.com/store/ebp...id=596&id=6297
http://www.speedtechrc.com/store/ebp...nid=59&id=7081
09-16-2008, 10:20 PM
#5
The integy is a discharge only and a balancing tray will be needed. If your charger is Lipo capable spend the money on the Lipo mentioned. It will work well for stock racing. What set up are you using?
It is an Integy 30 amp discharger that Briguy saod he would sell for $30 shipped. My charger IS lipo capapble. I have the DUratrax Onyx 230. Pretty much a sport charger that I use for racing and I dont like it much. Would discharging a battery at 30 amps then then charging it at .3 amps equalize it to a bit? I bet i have around 40 runs on my ep4200 and gp3300 without any cycling and charging at 4 amps. How much of an increase of power should I see? thanks
I just dont know if I want to spend $130 in lipo, Orion 3800+balancer.
I just dont know if I want to spend $130 in lipo, Orion 3800+balancer.
09-17-2008, 12:05 AM
#7
A discharger and an equalizer are 2 very different things.
A discharger is meant to take a pack down very quickly to near empty. Typically at a high rate such as 20 or 30amps. This is similar to a stock or mod motor at full power. This conditions the pack to handle the high rates.
An equalizer takes each individual cell down to typically .9volts each so that they are all equally empty. If each cell has a different level of energy left in it, some cells will be full at the end of a charge, some will be slightly empty and some overcharged will be even more empty and possible damaged if this cycle is done over and over.
If you want to take care of NiMh.. you need both a discharger and an equalizer.
Jerome
A discharger is meant to take a pack down very quickly to near empty. Typically at a high rate such as 20 or 30amps. This is similar to a stock or mod motor at full power. This conditions the pack to handle the high rates.
An equalizer takes each individual cell down to typically .9volts each so that they are all equally empty. If each cell has a different level of energy left in it, some cells will be full at the end of a charge, some will be slightly empty and some overcharged will be even more empty and possible damaged if this cycle is done over and over.
If you want to take care of NiMh.. you need both a discharger and an equalizer.
Jerome
09-17-2008, 02:33 PM
#8
I have a lipo capable charger, but I will also need a balancer. I have a Onyx 230. The Orion 2400 is waayyy too little capacity. That is like 3100nimh capcity and I doubt that will get me thru a heat. I am going to get a Orion 3800 30C battery.
Jerome, if you had to chose between Novak Smart Tray and a Integy 30 amp discharger which one would you chose? Nothing can be worse than not discharging them at all.
Can you put a battery on the discharger right after a heat or does it have to cool down?
Jerome, if you had to chose between Novak Smart Tray and a Integy 30 amp discharger which one would you chose? Nothing can be worse than not discharging them at all.
Can you put a battery on the discharger right after a heat or does it have to cool down?
09-17-2008, 07:29 PM
#9
We usually run 5 minute heats and 6 minute mains at our track.. a 2400 LiPo should be fine.. You will get around 7-8 minutes at full speed with that.. and as you know.... we don't run full speed for the entire race.. just don't take 6 practice laps and you'll be fine!
As for the tray.. I wold be tempted to get the Integy.. I have used their stuff for years.. looks like you need a power source though. I have a Novak Smart Tray at the moment and I like it... no problems..
You could put the battery on the equalizer right after a run.. but it would take hours to finish.. I put it on my discharger and run it down to about 6v.. then put it right on the tray to complete the cycle.
Just make sure you let it cool down before you charge it again.
Jerome
As for the tray.. I wold be tempted to get the Integy.. I have used their stuff for years.. looks like you need a power source though. I have a Novak Smart Tray at the moment and I like it... no problems..
You could put the battery on the equalizer right after a run.. but it would take hours to finish.. I put it on my discharger and run it down to about 6v.. then put it right on the tray to complete the cycle.
Just make sure you let it cool down before you charge it again.
Jerome
09-17-2008, 08:01 PM
#10
We usually run 5 minute heats and 6 minute mains at our track.. a 2400 LiPo should be fine.. You will get around 7-8 minutes at full speed with that.. and as you know.... we don't run full speed for the entire race.. just don't take 6 practice laps and you'll be fine!
As for the tray.. I wold be tempted to get the Integy.. I have used their stuff for years.. looks like you need a power source though. I have a Novak Smart Tray at the moment and I like it... no problems..
You could put the battery on the equalizer right after a run.. but it would take hours to finish.. I put it on my discharger and run it down to about 6v.. then put it right on the tray to complete the cycle.
Just make sure you let it cool down before you charge it again.
Jerome
As for the tray.. I wold be tempted to get the Integy.. I have used their stuff for years.. looks like you need a power source though. I have a Novak Smart Tray at the moment and I like it... no problems..
You could put the battery on the equalizer right after a run.. but it would take hours to finish.. I put it on my discharger and run it down to about 6v.. then put it right on the tray to complete the cycle.
Just make sure you let it cool down before you charge it again.
Jerome
09-17-2008, 08:03 PM
#11
09-18-2008, 05:44 AM
#13
I guess Chris didn`t believe me when i told him he needs both the other day .
Chris , equalizer trays like the smart Tray or Integy INDI Digital-03 Balance tray need a 12V power source . The reactor dischargers do not .
Like I told you I`d just go lipo and sell your nimh packs . Once you go lipo you will never go back .
Chris , equalizer trays like the smart Tray or Integy INDI Digital-03 Balance tray need a 12V power source . The reactor dischargers do not .
Like I told you I`d just go lipo and sell your nimh packs . Once you go lipo you will never go back .
09-18-2008, 06:25 AM
#14
Switch to lipo your wasting your money buying nimh crap, You'll wanna sell it down the line and it wont be worth diddly.
get a 3800 lipo at $100.00
You don't need a balancer right away. I have been running orion lipo's for almost a year and i don't own a balancer....
it cannot be.... lol they barely go out of balance.
get a 3800 lipo at $100.00
You don't need a balancer right away. I have been running orion lipo's for almost a year and i don't own a balancer....
it cannot be.... lol they barely go out of balance.
09-18-2008, 07:25 AM
#15
I guess Chris didn`t believe me when i told him he needs both the other day .
Chris , equalizer trays like the smart Tray or Integy INDI Digital-03 Balance tray need a 12V power source . The reactor dischargers do not .
Like I told you I`d just go lipo and sell your nimh packs . Once you go lipo you will never go back .
Chris , equalizer trays like the smart Tray or Integy INDI Digital-03 Balance tray need a 12V power source . The reactor dischargers do not .
Like I told you I`d just go lipo and sell your nimh packs . Once you go lipo you will never go back .
Switch to lipo your wasting your money buying nimh crap, You'll wanna sell it down the line and it wont be worth diddly.
get a 3800 lipo at $100.00
You don't need a balancer right away. I have been running orion lipo's for almost a year and i don't own a balancer.... it cannot be.... lol they barely go out of balance.
get a 3800 lipo at $100.00
You don't need a balancer right away. I have been running orion lipo's for almost a year and i don't own a balancer....
it cannot be.... lol they barely go out of balance.
Selling a few things for friends that is getting me money.