Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Like Tree12Likes

Batteries

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-15-2025 | 05:48 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Tech Adept
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 127
From: Liberty, SC
Default Batteries

I wanting to switch over to NiMh batteries, In my TRX4, Mojave 4s, and Tekno DB48. I know the cars Will not go as fast as lipo but that doesn't bother me cause I could care less if they go 50+ mph. As long as they go pretty Fast and I get some long Run times that's all that matters to me. With that said What are some Strong Long Run Time NiMh batteries I could get?
Bsud is offline  
Old 01-15-2025 | 06:30 PM
  #2  
OffRoadJunkie's Avatar
Tech Champion
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 6,324
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by Bsud
I wanting to switch over to NiMh batteries, In my TRX4, Mojave 4s, and Tekno DB48. I know the cars Will not go as fast as lipo but that doesn't bother me cause I could care less if they go 50+ mph. As long as they go pretty Fast and I get some long Run times that's all that matters to me. With that said What are some Strong Long Run Time NiMh batteries I could get?

Can I ask why you wish to make the change? Lipos are stronger and last longer than NiMh batteries.
OffRoadJunkie is offline  
Old 01-15-2025 | 06:35 PM
  #3  
gigaplex's Avatar
Tech Champion
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 7,766
From: Melbourne, VIC
Default

Agree with OffRoadJunkie, LiPos should have higher capacity than NiMH.
gigaplex is offline  
Old 01-15-2025 | 07:26 PM
  #4  
trilerian's Avatar
Tech Elite
iTrader: (51)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,393
From: Lexington KY
Default

A quick search online shows you can get some sub C NiMH batteries around 5000mAh. If memory serves me correctly, I think the last NiMH I actually used was an IP 4200mAh.

That said... Good lord, why? I most definitely agree OffRoadJunkie , you can get much longer runtimes and performance out of LiPo batteries. They also last longer and are much easier to take care of. Yes there are downsides that I will not go into.
trilerian is offline  
Old 01-15-2025 | 08:30 PM
  #5  
Tech Elite
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,351
From: Arizona
Default

Only thing I can think of why he wants to ditch Lipos is he watched some videos of Lipo fires!
dontfeelcold likes this.
glennhl is offline  
Old 01-15-2025 | 09:46 PM
  #6  
disaster999's Avatar
Regional Moderator
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,285
From: Hong Kong
Default

Judging from the Mojave 4s name, your cars takes 4s lips. To have the equivalent voltage output as lipo, you need 14 nimh cells. Not really sure what size pack your chassis take, assuming they all use standard 2 2S battery packs, then you can probably only fit 2 6 cell nimh pack. Will be slightly slower but seems like you dont mind. Runtime and power wise will be significantly less tho.
disaster999 is offline  
Old 01-15-2025 | 10:09 PM
  #7  
Varcracer's Avatar
Tech Apprentice
 
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 95
From: VA
Default

Please don’t go to nimh. Lipos are higher capacity, give more runtime and power and are cheap. That’s like going from a lambo to a pinto lol.
Varcracer is offline  
Old 01-16-2025 | 12:01 AM
  #8  
Roelof's Avatar
Tech Lord
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 14,051
From: Holland
Default

Maybe a goot thing to say, when going for lipo, be sure your charger is able to charge LiPo, most RTR chargers for NiMh are not...
Roelof is offline  
Old 01-16-2025 | 12:49 AM
  #9  
Thread Starter
Tech Adept
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 127
From: Liberty, SC
Default

Originally Posted by glennhl
Only thing I can think of why he wants to ditch Lipos is he watched some videos of Lipo fires!
Umm yeah had one do it and I'm Done with lipos! I'm either going something safer or I'm selling everything I got
glennhl likes this.
Bsud is offline  
Old 01-16-2025 | 03:05 AM
  #10  
petersen114's Avatar
Tech Elite
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,400
Default

Originally Posted by Bsud
Umm yeah had one do it and I'm Done with lipos! I'm either going something safer or I'm selling everything I got
Damn sorry to hear that. Hopefully there wasn’t any damage other than the battery. You could switch over but your speed controller needs to be set up for NiMh batteries.
petersen114 is offline  
Old 01-16-2025 | 05:17 AM
  #11  
Tech Adept
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 185
From: Melbourne, Australia
Default

Originally Posted by Bsud
Umm yeah had one do it and I'm Done with lipos! I'm either going something safer or I'm selling everything I got

Converting to NiMh may not be straight forward. It will likely trip the ESC low voltage cut as the voltage will sag. Arrma Spectrum brushless ESCs are usually programmed for Lipo only. You may have to swap out the ESC for one with a programmable low voltage cut. You maybe able to buy a program card and flash the ESC firmware to make it work too. You may also need to fit new battery connectors.


NiMh cell performance car vary a lot. In my experience, the larger capacity cells, circa 5000mAh are not as good as the smaller cells circa 3000-3600mAh. If you want to do it you'll need 2x 7.2V 6 cell packs for the Arrma 4S. You could maybe use 1x 6 cell and 1x 7 cell (hump pack) for a bit more performance.


For what it would cost, you could look how to improve the safety of your LiPo setup. What do you have now?


Consider buying a a good quality charger, charger leads, new packs and one of those bat-safe charger boxes if you want. Inspect them from time to time. If the wiring is good, charger works properly and the batteries are properly secured in the vehicle they wont be a problem.
Team Steve is offline  
Old 01-16-2025 | 06:06 AM
  #12  
Tech Champion
iTrader: (33)
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,410
From: Austin,TX
Default

I can't find the right article which discusses the key differences but an equal capacity NiMh of 5000mAh compared to a LiPo of 5000mAh is staggering where the NiMh will be close to double the weight and nearly immediate loss of punch with high drain brushless systems.

You can't charge NiMh nearly as fast as LiPo either.

NiMh only makes sense for older brushed motors or very low drain 540 brushless motors.

https://hobbiesdirect.com.au/blog/ni...o-rc-batteries
billdelong is offline  
Old 01-16-2025 | 11:03 AM
  #13  
Thread Starter
Tech Adept
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 127
From: Liberty, SC
Default

Originally Posted by Team Steve
Converting to NiMh may not be straight forward. It will likely trip the ESC low voltage cut as the voltage will sag. Arrma Spectrum brushless ESCs are usually programmed for Lipo only. You may have to swap out the ESC for one with a programmable low voltage cut. You maybe able to buy a program card and flash the ESC firmware to make it work too. You may also need to fit new battery connectors.


NiMh cell performance car vary a lot. In my experience, the larger capacity cells, circa 5000mAh are not as good as the smaller cells circa 3000-3600mAh. If you want to do it you'll need 2x 7.2V 6 cell packs for the Arrma 4S. You could maybe use 1x 6 cell and 1x 7 cell (hump pack) for a bit more performance.


For what it would cost, you could look how to improve the safety of your LiPo setup. What do you have now?


Consider buying a a good quality charger, charger leads, new packs and one of those bat-safe charger boxes if you want. Inspect them from time to time. If the wiring is good, charger works properly and the batteries are properly secured in the vehicle they wont be a problem.
Right now I have an Imars Charger, 4 Zeee 4s packs. I have a lipo Bag I always charge in (Outside). I don't run them a whole lot and I store them for quite sometime But I store them at 50% capacity. We do have some pretty Cold temps here in SC So they are stored in my bag in my building so the packs does get pretty cold at times.
Bsud is offline  
Old 01-16-2025 | 12:09 PM
  #14  
OffRoadJunkie's Avatar
Tech Champion
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 6,324
From: California
Default

Originally Posted by disaster999
Judging from the Mojave 4s name, your cars takes 4s lips. To have the equivalent voltage output as lipo, you need 14 nimh cells. Not really sure what size pack your chassis take, assuming they all use standard 2 2S battery packs, then you can probably only fit 2 6 cell nimh pack. Will be slightly slower but seems like you dont mind. Runtime and power wise will be significantly less tho.

When he asked for NiMh equivalents, The first thing that I pictured was the old RC dragsters that had 20 batteries stacked on them.
OffRoadJunkie is offline  
Old 01-16-2025 | 02:21 PM
  #15  
PDR's Avatar
PDR
Tech Elite
iTrader: (31)
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,207
From: Sydney, Australia
Default

I did a super, super, quick analysis, based on one hobby shop, so the results are not universal. I offer without opinion, a graph comparing mAh vs $ for NiMh and LiPo batteries they had in their catalog.


Notes:
  • It's one hobby shop in my region, not across the globe. Data will like change on local availability of products
  • It only shows price and capacity; no other characteristics which have already been discussed in this thread
  • You too can perform analysis like this! Modern tools make it so much easier.
OffRoadJunkie likes this.
PDR is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.