Ok, so I'm completely ignorant about lipos. I've already asked and checked around and found that I'm most likely using the 2S 7.4v 20c in my Caster F18t and my Miniquake and whatever other 1/18th stuff I end up with. I just found this Excell, which has great mah and is dumb cheap http://www.yeshobby.com/excell-2200m...04-p-3215.html

The other one I looked at is the Rhino at HK- http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=7316
So, am I on the right track or is there others I should consider? I guess these things have one connector for the charger and I planned on soldering a deans conn for the vehicle. What's the huge difference over nimh? I understand they charge quicker, but what other benefits would I see? Thanks again guys.

Rhino is the best lipos made in my opinion. I have not used them all, but I have used a bunch.

I was liking the 2200 mah of the other one, quite a bit longer run time. So, the lipos are dramatically better than a comparable nimh?

oh yeah, you will freak if you are running Nimh now. I have the 1750 Rhinos, and the 2200 Turnigy packs right now and the 2200 does have more runtime, but it adds alot of weight. I have had some of my Rhino packs for a very long time and they are still strong as ever.

I have used these these batteries, the only ones that I have used in my experience with electrical, and very good result, besides a very good price.

My issue now is my Duratrax 1600 nimh pack barely fits and it says 34mm wide. The Excell's say 35mm wide. The Rhinos say 34mm. It's only 1mm, but with a 34mm, it snaps in.

I know with the Rhinos, they use very large power wires, and sometimes you have to cut a relief for the wires to exit.

The experience I've had with HC lipos is they are bigger than they say on their site.

I'm new to the LiPo scene as well. The more research I do about the damn things the more I find there are all types, costs and specs. Ones with good warranties cost a lot - you're paying for more than one up front. If you can by an acceptable mAh rating at a cheap price and can get three for the price of one, get it. Unless it is blowing things up and catching fire it should be okay for normal, non-racing use, IMO. It seems to me that all the internals come from just one of three major manufacturers, like the old VCRs and DVD players. The guts were all the same, it was the bells and whistles and the warranty that cost extra. I've been told that maxamps, one of the most expensive out there, are assembled by a guy in his garage. Don't know if that is true, but their warranty is one of the best I've come across, but you pay for it.
I'm just going with if it fits my battery box, meets my specs, and I can't find any negative web comments about it blowing up or catching fire, I'm going to try it. Eventually I'll come across a brand I really like and will stick with it. Even then I'm sure to find some batches that are worse than others. For example, SPC racing is a small outfit from Lewis Run, PA. Spoke with the guy on the phone - an electrical engineer, really nice, IS IN THE SPORT, not just a salesman, and makes decent batteries for a fair price. Just my opinion. Look around, buy a few, try them out.

Seems all the cheap ones are in Hong Kong. Yeshobby has free shipping and their Excells are really cheap. I have no problem cutting a relief for the wires though.