Hey all,

I have an older Team Associated Factory Team starter box for my RC10GT2 and I was rebuilding the car and the old 12v gel cell battery i used to use is too old and "dead".

I was looking into battery options and could get another gel cell battery, or could get a lipo or life battery. My question is, If I go 4S Lipo would that higher voltage hurt the motor? I believe when a 4S Lipo is fully charged the voltage is 16.8v and the motor wants 12v - is that OK? The starter box was designed for 12v gel cell or NiMH batteries.

Thanks!

Wouldn't a 3s be better in this case? a 3s has voltages closer to what the starter box is looking for. If not, you could always go with a riding lawn mower battery, they are some what cheap, and very easy to find.

I was thinking of 3s, but would that be lacking juice? Fully charged the voltage would be 4.20x3=12.6v and at storage would be 11.4v. I guess that sounds doable. They have a Hobbico Torqmaster 12v gel cell for $25 at Tower hobbies, the only problem i see with it is weight and it contains lead (it's sealed, but for disposal when that time comes).

A 3s should be fine. What your really worried about is voltage under load, a lipo will have more usable energy and voltage under load.

I've linked a very long winded article about using lipo vs AGM (gel cell) in marine applications. It maybe more information than needed, but still interesting. https://www.victronenergy.com/blog/2...um-ion-vs-agm/

Another thing with the lipo batteries, you will need to pick up a small voltage reader that plugs into the balance port. That way you can check to make sure your not going below cutoff voltage. I have linked one below that will buzz at cutoff voltage.

https://www.amazon.com/Femitu-Batter...QV2P2YSJ1JMBW5

I use a Y harness and 2 -2cell lipos. Have been for 4 years on the same box. No issues so far. Since its under load 99% of the time, free wheeling speed is not an issue. Also, at a higher voltage, the current draw goes down so it runs cooler. And considering it runs for seconds at a time are all reasons its lasted. That said, I wouldnt even consider higher than this...

I dont think you understand how electric motors work. Simply increasing the voltage to a motor doesn't cause it to run cooler. Did you swap out the motor for something with higher turns? Higher the turn, higher the torque and lower the RPMs. So you increase voltage to get back to your target RPMs.

Also, are you using a parallel or series Y harness?

Been working with electric motors for 30+ years so I have picked up a few things. It has the original motor ( HUGE single motor) Older true start Ofna. Also doing it in an Associated box. Using a series Y harness.

Oh and your right, just adding voltage does not make it cooler. But at a given load such as we have and for the short duration runs, mine run cooler as the current load goes down.

https://www.amainhobbies.com/team-as...-asc1750/p7964
this box? I have two I run 4s through with no problems besides occasional glazing of the contact plunger

I had a feeling from the short duration the motor is in use it wouldn't matter to much. I always worry some one, will read that the can just increase voltage and then will burn out a motor.

Do these starter boxes use something different than a brushed motor? I always figured they used a old school style brushed motor.