What's your E-Maxx runtime?
 

Hi All. Been into robotics for a while now and recently bought an E-Maxx to mess around with. So far, I'm extremely pleased with it.

I'm interested in what everyone's runtimes are with stock titan motors and mostly full throttle during that time, and what batteries you are using.

To start, I'm using Epic Motorsports 3000mah NiMH packs and get roughly 35 minutes of constant running up and down the hill behind my house which is about 35%-45% incline.

holy crap! I've heard that the runtime for an Average E-Maxx was like 10 mins.. How'd you get yours to run so long, And how much will it cost?

Wow...didn't realize my runtime was that good. I have a very specific ritual that I go through for my batteries.

First, to be specific, they are labeled Epic Motorsports, 3000 NiMH. I got 8 of them at tower hobbies. I immediately marked them as "Set A", "Set B", "Set C", "Set D". This way, they are always used together in the same pairs as after repeated use, they will begin to drain differently and will eventually damage one of them.

When I got the new packs, I charged them on my trusty 'ol Duratrax Intellipeak at 2.5 amps with a fan cooling both battery and charger. This takes about 3 hours to complete. Then I used a DC meter and light bulb to drain them to 5.4 volts, or 0.9 volts per cell, and charged them again. This way I get maximum capacity and therefore runtime.

I always store my packs fully charged in the refrigerator. They maintain their charge much better this way. Before use, I warm them to ambient temperature, plop them in my E-Maxx and start messing about. After 30-35 minutes, they suddenly die and the truck barely moves...not much curve at all, these things just go full blast and then die.

After a run, the packs are just warm to handle. I let them cool and repeat the same charge process.

I don't know if my good run times are entirely due to my battery conditioning or if I'm just that lucky. All 8 packs perform equally.

And the best part...they were on sale for only $18.95 each at Tower! Can't beat that.

I have to try that MHz:nod:

If I ever purchase an E-MAXX, I'm doing this :)

hi i have been in this hobby for 5 years and i have to say 35 min of run out of a e-maxx is just nuts. all the ones i have driven average 20 to 25 min! but i also number the packs so that they get used the same. im working on some sub D cell packs that should increase my run time by 7-10 min. or as they were called clod packs!

esc
 

i'm planning to get a 2nd hand e-maxx (1st release), but it doesn't have an esc. what do you recommend for it. i have a lrp sport esc lying around, can i make use of it?

I have an E-Maxx, and on 1500's they run about 10 - 16 minutes (give or take). With 3000's and 3300's, It runs about 25 - 30 minutes on 3000mAh - 3300mAh.

Unless there's a tree...

vtl1180ny
Tech Adept

Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Plainview, NY
Posts: 209

quote:
I have an E-Maxx, and on 1500's they run about 10 - 16 minutes (give or take). With 3000's and 3300's, It runs about 25 - 30 minutes on 3000mAh - 3300mAh.


Unless there's a tree...



you shut up over there.. they just walk out of nowhere! i don't understand why they don't like me! :cry: i know where you live so don't make me come over there you little bast***. :lol: :ha:

You know threatening a cop is a crime... I could lock your butt up right now... Your parents would probably thank me... hahhaha...


Ok, back on the subject...


Has anyone tried D cells? I'm getting my son an E maxx for christmas...

You know threatening a cop is a crime... I could lock your butt up right now... Your parents would probably thank me... hahhaha...


yeah I take it back (pshhh not)

Wouldn't D cells require cutting up a lot of the chassis?

That's what Dremels are for...

Good point.

There's no way you get 30-35 minutes continuous running. There's a lot of stopping and going there. To run 30 minutes on 3000mAh batteries, you would have to average just 6 amps. The Titans pull about 8-9 amps each at max efficiency so that's 16-18 amps total. That looks like about 12 minutes of continuos running to me. Not saying that you can't go out an play for that long, but there are many variables when it comes to runtime.

There's some nice C cells out there (3600mAh), but I'm not aware of any D cells that can't hold up to high current drains. You gotta watch motor and esc heat too. These systems were designed with 3000mAh capacities in mind.