Help with battery and charger
 

Just got my boys a Traxxas slash 4x4 rtr. I want to get some LiPo batteries and a good charger. We may do a little bit of racing at the local track just for fun. What batteries and charger do you recommend? I don't need the best but don't want the cheapest either. Ive seen several mention of the SMC as a good value. Agree on the SMC's? What charger should I get that will work with LiPo and NiMH and also do a the discharge/balance for me?

Thanks for the suggestions.

i have 3 of these chargers now no problem they just take a while for the last .01v balance and discharge slowly http://www.amazon.com/iMax-LiPo-Bala...s=rcjuice+imax and this power supply http://www.amazon.com/RCJuice-Power-...s=rcjuice+imax and never had a problem with these batteries http://www.amazon.com/Venom-5000mAh-...gy+hardcase+2s though i prefer these im not sure if they fit the slash you may need to measure http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...arehouse_.html you will have to solder on connectors though and if you get that charger you also need this http://www.amazon.com/RCJuice-Traxxa...ywords=rcjuice and these will need to be soldered to the batteries if you get the turnigy oneshttp://www.amazon.com/Traxxas-3080-C...traxxas+female ive heard good things about these smc batteries but have no personal experience with them http://www.smc-racing.net/index.php?...ory&path=67_97

Smc is the way to go. Since you have a 4x4 you need mah, go with 7200 or 6900 something in that direction because mah translates to runtime. C rating applies more toward stock racing. When you buy a charger you want at least 10 amps. If you buy a7200 mah battery you can charge i at 7.2 amps which would be correct for that pack. A 5000 mah pack would be charged at 5 amps, a 5 amp charge rate will take about an hour, now charge the 7200 at 5 amps it will take more time. Support your local hobbyshop.

I really like the HiTec Chargers and definitely stick with LiPo's. Spend what you can on the charger because it will definitely prolong the life of the battery packs. My first charger was a cheap Onyx charger and it was horrible. I spent the money on a nice charger and it was the best investment to date. Have fun

I like the HiTec chargers also. But I really feel all chargers are about the same. Most importantly, base you charger decision on how many batteries you need to charge at one time. My son and I both race so I usually need to charge 2 to 4 batteries at a time. So I have a 4 port charger.

I like SMC and here is why, quality and price. Everyone I have has been at least as good or better quality as any other battery I have owned. The price is much lower than the competitions. I have had a $165 4s battery go bad by loosing charge in 1 cell within six months (Yes I stored it right and balance charged it.). I just bought the same mah and C rated 4s battery from SMC for $65. If it last more than 2 months its a win but I suspect it will last much longer.