Lipo Receiver Batteries a good idea?
 

I need to buy a new NiMH receiver pack for my Revo, and wondered about Lipo. I don't see why they won't work, but I bet you'd have to run a LVC with one, which seems like a PITA.

I was just curious as to what the general consensus was on using a Lipo battery for your RX battery?

J

no need for LVC. just check your pack once in a while to get the idea of runtime.

my 1500mah RX pack lasts 2 hours powering two futaba BLS servos.

and unless your receiver and servos can handle high voltage dont forget to get voltage regulator

Oh, ok... good one. I wouldn't have caught the HV thing. I'd have to bet that they don't, since they are standard 2075 servos, or Hitek's. Nothing fancy.

Thanks!
Jason

2s lipo is 8.4v fresh off the charger, and 7.4v nominal. If your receiver and servos can handle this voltage (and the added current generated by this higher voltage), then go with it. As you said, you'd need an LVC, or some other way to monitor the voltage (LVA, telemetry, etc).

5 NiMH cells is around 7v fresh off the charger (~1.4v/cell), but drops pretty quick to the nominal 6v value after running and when loaded heavily (from a high power steering servo). Most receivers/servos handle this ok.

Personally 2s lipo is too high. If anything, 2s LiFe cells would be better. A 2s pack with those cells would be 7.2v fresh off the charger (3.6v/cell), which is much closer to NiMHs fresh off the charger, and 6.6v nominal (3.3v/cell).

Yep, 2 a123 cells would be the way to go. No need for a reg or a lvc. Plus you can get close to 1000 charges...

Ok cool. So literally buy two cells and solder them together, run a lead, and be done? Or can you buy specific A123 packs for RX's?

2 loose cells would be the best bet, unless you can score a deal on a already made pack. Someone on rcgroups was making rx packs, IIRC.