after my debate with Jason, and calling me a Liar, I know what he's all about... and I don't care...
These were the packs that I had a few years ago... I decide to open them up, to see what cells they were.. Of course now, they have the manufacturer put MaxAmps on their cells...
http://www.geocities.com/aqwut/MAXAMPS/Old.Maxamps.JPG

This is my story :rules:. I bought 2 4000mAh 3S packs from them to try it out. They shipped out the 2100mAh. I sent them back and they even paid for them. So what you're saying is that if you pay for the warranty, it's not good? If so, I think Max Amps should regroup real fast to avoid some pissed off clients.

I mean their 30 day no puff waranty. I would almost say that the 300 cycle warranty is mandatory. But that would up the price up even more, and then you might as well buy a better lipo. I can say that all of my packs that I had issues with had 10 cycles or less, most had 5 or less.

I would rather buy a product that does not fail and lives up to its advertised spec, than buy an over-rated item with a great warranty. I hate sending stuff back. Hell, I have had more luck buying used enerland cell packs off the plane guys on rcgroups that I have had with brand new maxamps packs.

I agree 100%. Max Amps, better do something fast. A lot of places have found some good sources for lipos and they are selling them at good prices.

Not for nothing, but I never had a problem with a MaxAmps pack when it was shipped fresh. For the first 20 - 25 cycles that packs were very strong (5k cells) and it's only after a while that they can't handle the draw.

If you do test with a newly shipped pack - cycle it hard about 15 times before comparing it with another pack.

Problem with all of the test and graphs we see is that you can be sure they have been run on a brand new pack at it's strongest.

My concern is longevity. When I have been running the pack for a year I want to know that it's still going to be a good qality pack.

I have been using TP and Apogee packs (the 900, 1320, and 2100 mAh ones) in my 1/18 scale buggies and currently have a few packs that are over 2 years old with no problems and no puffing.

I actually wanted to ask you guys for suggestions for making my testing better. It's pretty unscientific so far.

I like the fact that my tests are "real world" in an actual car on the ground, but that makes them hard to repeat pack to pack. I think I should do multiple runs per pack and test them within their first few cycles, then again like around 20 cycles like VintageMA suggested.

How long do you think I should run each test? I think that 10 minutes should be enough at 10 samples per second. How many times should I repeat each test per pack? An average of three sounds about right to me.

If Austin is willing to send me a pack for this, I definitely want to make the testing worthwhile. I'll probably take video of the testing as well so people can see the set-up and what-not.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Run that pack till the lvc kicks in at 3v per cell. That way we can see what kind of capacity it has. Also some balancer info would be good. I would be interested to see how well the pack stays in balance during a full run. I had issues with my maxamps packs staying in balance during a run.

aqwut,

They claim that pack is 20C? Man, they are in deep crap. I just noticed the part number and the 15HR means they are 15C here is the discharge graph for it http://www.tronicshz.com/down/839.jpg. I actually spoke with the owner of Tronics regarding their LiFePO4 batteries and he is a class act. This is what he said in the last e-mail, "Tronics is not a new company, we do the high rate Li-polymer from 2003, is the first one suppliers in China. Including Polyquest, MaxAmps, CheapestPoly, and other big fright offers, we have so many good cooperation in the world". Now correct me if I'm wrong, but Polyquest is made by Enerland which is one if not the best lipo manufacturer out there. I have attached the discharge graph of a 25C rated cell and in my opinion it is only good for 15C discharge.

How do you monitor balancing during a run? Do you mean to just check to see if it's still in balance after the run?

Man, that will take forever to test each pack all the way to LVC in my buggy, especially if I need to repeat the tests. I need something with a higher amp draw that I can run on 2s. I have a VXL Stampede, but it is light enough that it doesn't seem to draw much current. I could use my bl-Revo or stock E-maxx, but they'd be boring as crap on 2s.

Ideas?

Just run it down to the lvc the first run and then after a dozen cycles. Would be interesting to see how the capacity changes after time.

Yeah, see if it is still in balance after the run, and then charge it at 1c and see if it can balance itself out during the charge. Alot of my packs needed charging at a lower rate, or filling up a bit, then blancing while off the charger, then charging again thru the balancer. It was a PITA, to say the least. My neuenergy, polyquest, fp, and polyrc do not need this, they will rarely go out of balance, and if they do it requires little balancing to get the right. I am a charger freak, check this out!

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...p/DSCF1873.jpg

I noticed that too lutach.....

Lutach,

PQ is indeed enerland cells.

There are many unscrupulous sellers in china. At a Chinese trade show one of the employees of Novak went up to the hobbywing booth and had the HW rep tell him that they produced the ESC's for Novak. The novak employee then informed the HW rep who he was. Open mouth, insert foot. Novak does not have HW make ESCs for them.


I just may say something to one of my reps about this. He knew all along where MA was getting their cells, and had some interesting tibits about tronics last time we talked.

HW is another case that is driving me nuts. They told me they couldn't send the 120A car controller here because of the relationship with Speed Passion. Now Venom and Orion will have their system branded. I told HW I would like a controller that had double the power board and a few changes of software so it would be completely different from SP, Venom and Orion. HW told me I needed to buy 2000 units a year, well I told HW I could buy 2000 units right away as I can cover Brasil with their product and no answer from HW. The Asians knows how to build stuff, but their business ethics has to change. The battery industry their is somewhat the same way. I contacted a few places asking for some samples and at first they all agree to send samples. But for some reason they tend to go the other way after I send them all my info.

What I would've paid to see the look on that guys face.. :surprised:

Lutach.. Business ethics in China, LOL... I don't think it'll ever change.. sell at ALL cost.. :oh:

They don't want to sell, that's the problem :lol:. All they told me to do is wait for the 1/8 scale controller, but I've heard Speed Passion will come out wit one as well and my guess is the HW will be making them for SP. All I can do is shoot for HV car controller and join the big club: Schulze, Kontronik, MGM and Actronic. Those are the only ones I know that makes HV 12S controllers and up.