Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

Some esc lvcs pulse the power so you'll see a hestitation, I believe others, power is cut. Its quite noticeable. As you get more experience, you'll notice a slight power fall off as you approach the lvc - I shut mine down when I 1st notice the power fall off, I rarely drive all the way down to the lvc.

Balancing charger - you'll see that individual cell voltages, or can by pressing buttons on the charger. The lipo charge routine is diff than charging other batts like NiMh. Lipo charge has two phases - its CC/CV. In the 1st phase, the lipo is charged at a Constant Current that the charger determines based on the cell count (2S, 3S, 5S, etc) and capacity (mah) that you input. This proceeds until the max cell voltage of 4.2v/cell is reached. Then teh charger switches to Constant Voltage - holding the max voltage on the lipo as the lipo tops off. You'll see current decreasing in this phase and as it gets pretty close to zero, the charge is terminated and chargere signals lipo is finished.

A proper lipo charger will do it all for you to keep everything safe. All you have to do is make the connections and input the correct info about the lipo you're charging.

davidg01234

iTrader: (-1)

Ok so can you hook up a balancer and a charger to a battery at the same time, otherwise would i have to guess how many volts it has charged it up 2 then take it off the charger and hook it up to the balancer, then if its not high enough i would have to hook it back up to the charger? is this how it works?

If so im gonna get the charger than TEAMFTW said he has.

I just about fully understand how this works

davidg01234

iTrader: (-1)

What is a good 4s battery for a MMM 2200KV motor
And what is a good charger and balancer without an outrageous price?

Duster_360

iTrader: (21)

Balancers work in a couple of ways - theres a standalone balancer that just discharges all cells down to teh lowest voltage indicated by any cell. Then there are charge thru balancers that balance while charging, there are some that do both standalone and charge thru. Then there are chargers that have the balancer built into the charger so it charges and balances like the charge thru balancer.

The connections all have to be right to use a separate balancer while charging. Thats an additional piece of equip that you have to carry around. With a balancing charger, its all in one box, no extra wiring. The Onyx 230 is good only for 1 - 3S, so you need a diff charger. I'd get one that has enough charger output so you won't be current limited due to the power limitation of the charger. The power limited chargers will charge a 4S, it just takes longer. I'd get something like this -

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXVZA8&P=ML


Here is one that has only 50watts of power and it will be limited - it will take longer to charge your 4S -

http://www.allerc.com/product_info.p...oducts_id=3367

These are both balancing chargers. As far as lipo, I tend to stay with the expensive ones as they've always been trouble free and provided years of run time. Can look here and explore -

http://www.rclipos.com/

vannon

iTrader: (6)

If you are on a budget / bashing, I use the Zippy 4S 5000mah 30C for under $100. You can also get the Losi hardcase versions for about $200.

For a balance charger, again I use a budget one - imax b5 - about $50+/-. I think these days, the latest one is the imax b6 for that model. Works well if you are on a budget like me. You can always go with the Hyperion chargers, and they are good. There are lots of makers out there, so do your research.

davidg01234

iTrader: (-1)

How much run time do you yourself have will that 5000mah battey?

and how good is that balance charger?

vannon

iTrader: (6)

I get a decent 15-20 mins with bashing (up and down the street). The one I use does the job for a budget basher.

davidg01234

iTrader: (-1)

What battery is it and what charger do you use and what motor do you have

vannon

iTrader: (6)

Its a zippy 4s 5000mah 30c + MMM 2200 setup. Charger is imax B5.

It is on a Losi 8ight coversion, 15t pinion.

davidg01234

iTrader: (-1)

Hey dont you have a video of that on youtube, because there is one of that exact same setup on the 8ight.

How good is the imax B5, is it a balancer too?, how long does it take to charge that battery?

vannon

iTrader: (6)

I don't have a video of it. But I guess it is a common setup that works well for a lot of people (racing or bashing).

The imax b5 is a balance charger. I balance charge every charge. It takes about 60-85 minuted depending on hoe much charge is left on the battery pack. But you'd be looking at atleast an hour at 5amps for a 5000mah pack.

davidg01234

iTrader: (-1)

Can you raise the amps up and it will charge faster and does it take longer to charge while your balancing it

vannon

iTrader: (6)

No, that would not be recommended for the battery. 5amps is max for it. Plus my charger can only go 5amps max.

davidg01234

iTrader: (-1)

Oh ok then i guess i will get 2 batteries because that isint much fun if your racing. LOL this is where nitros have electrics beat, but i still prefer electric.
I am gonna get the B6

vannon

iTrader: (6)

In another thread, you can parallel wire 2 x 3s 5000 or greater mah packs to get double the runtime.

Read the entire thread here:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/electric...questions.html