Which is better? I need Lipo technology.

[captain harlock]

I looked at the FMA lipo packs at towerhobbies( 3200-6400) and they are reasonably priced, but not to be shipped via air, because its "flammable". Now, I dont think that lipos are really prevented from being shipped via air in all hobby shops. Some other places like FMA DIRECT itself or FineDesignRC or ThunderPower do not give such notes and I'm starting to really consider these types of batteries for their amazing characteristics
and exceptional performance. I want to get it from towerhobbies along with the balance pro charger, however, I can get the charger, but not the batts, so...what should I be doing?

[coolhandcountry]

If and when you get these. Please let me know what you think of them captain. I have heard alot of good stuff about lipos.Just not sure if I want to put out the money yet. Thanks.

I think I remember Mike or someone saying Mike has the lipos as well. You may want to get in touch with him. Mike may be able to hook you up with some. I could be wrong on this. Hope not!

[captain harlock]

I asked befor, but he didn't reply. He has been away from the forum most the time. I guess he is working alot.

[Batfish]

I use both the 3200 and the 6400 FMA BalancePro packs. I can tell you that both Tower (Great Planes) and Horizon Hobby ship them ground only. I don't know about other shops, but you can be sure that if those two are doing it that there's some regulation about it.
On a performance note, the lipo batteries pack serious punch and sustained performance over nimh. My example is the 4wd buggy class at my local track. I'd been running my xxx-4 with a Peak Dynasty 19t spec motor and 6-cell IB3600 or matched 6-cell GP3300 against a 10t double xxx-4 for a couple weeks. Most of the time I could keep up in the technical parts of the track, but I was easily out run in the straight. My 3200 BalancePro pack came in, I charged it up, and now the 19t can match the 10t motor in the 100' straight.
The big difference is that the lipo packs don't drop voltage under load like the nimh do. It's also nice that it weighs less.

[coolhandcountry]

He was just on. Send him a pm. I don't like to bother him some time but you have to do it some time to give him the money.

So you think they worth the money batfish. I know they cost a little more. I just not sure if I want to invest yet.

[captain harlock]

I have my mailbox in New York and Towerhobbies can ship them to me, but the mailbox of mine which is Aramex( international transportation company) might not do it once they get it. Mike is my hope right now.

[standard_63]

If Mike can't get what you want, I bought my bigger packs from tis place:

http://www.espritmodel.com/accesories_batt_thunder.html

I'm pretty sure I got mine via air.

On a side note -- anyone use a cell balancer for their lipos? I saw that MGM Com Pro has one listed on their site, as does TP on the link above. I wonder if I should get one?

[captain harlock]

Is the Pro Balancer charger considered as a balancer?

[Batfish]

Originally posted by captain harlock
Is the Pro Balancer charger considered as a balancer?

The FMA BalancePro charger also balances the cells, yes. Being able to charge up to 3C and automatic balancing with every charge are the two reasons I am willing to spend the extra $ on the BalancePro setup.
Because the 3200 pack barely gets warm in use, and the charger can charge so fast, I use only 1 battery pack for a night of racing. The pack charges fine between races.

[MetalMan]

The cells in the BalancePro packs are just the standard Kokam 3200mah cells. They are just bundled up with some electronic equipment under the shrink wrap, and then are called BalancePro. So, you could still use the BalancePro charger with the Kokam 3200mah packs, but you will have to buy a charging cable to hook up to the battery.

[Batfish]

Originally posted by MetalMan
The cells in the BalancePro packs are just the standard Kokam 3200mah cells. They are just bundled up with some electronic equipment under the shrink wrap, and then are called BalancePro. So, you could still use the BalancePro charger with the Kokam 3200mah packs, but you will have to buy a charging cable to hook up to the battery.

Although I don't doubt this, there are some things I just won't experiment with myself. I'd rather purchase the assembled, approved packs to use with the BalancePro charger.
I do have a couple of the 3s 3200 packs as well; I just use the ICE to charge them at the normal 1C and I don't balance them. If I buy any of the standard 2s 3200 packs I'll be using the ICE on those, too.

[aqwut]

I think the Kokam/FMA lipos are the best.. they have a 20C continuous discharge rate.. every other pack Tanic, Thunder are 12 to 15 coloumbs discharge rate..... Lipo are good for hot, cold.. whatever.. there aren't any liquids inside.. it's just metal and plastic... but Lipo's are a lot more sensitive.. if you puncture it, it will burn.... Lithium deteriate if exposed to air, but when lithium touches water... WOAAAHH BABY... It's burn and glow bright red.. it'll burn a whole in Cement...

I really like the astro flight charger... it's very consistant in charging... plus it can do 9 cells....

[coolhandcountry]

Do you see a difference between balanced and un balanced packs? If no difference why get them? If a difference how much?
If you have a pack with the taps on it can you charge it individaully threw the taps?

[MetalMan]

Originally posted by aqwut
I think the Kokam/FMA lipos are the best.. they have a 20C continuous discharge rate.. every other pack Tanic, Thunder are 12 to 15 coloumbs discharge rate..... Lipo are good for hot, cold.. whatever.. there aren't any liquids inside.. it's just metal and plastic... but Lipo's are a lot more sensitive.. if you puncture it, it will burn.... Lithium deteriate if exposed to air, but when lithium touches water... WOAAAHH BABY... It's burn and glow bright red.. it'll burn a whole in Cement...

I really like the astro flight charger... it's very consistant in charging... plus it can do 9 cells....

The Kokam cells also weigh quite a lot for their "20C" continuous rating, which they aren't capable of. They would be better labelled as heavy 15C continous cells that are more robust than standard LiPo cells.
Lipo cells actually don't work well when cold. Performance is increased when their temperature gets to 100 deg. F. There is no elemental Lithium in these batteries, so if the insides of one of these cells touches water, there won't be anything magical.
The Astroflight 109 isn't actually what might be called a standard LiPo charger. Most chargers are "CC/CV", whereas the 109 is somewhat of a pulse charger, which will pulse the cells to 4.35v (this means that it can't really be used with balancers).

Originally posted by coolhandcountry
Do you see a difference between balanced and un balanced packs? If no difference why get them? If a difference how much?
If you have a pack with the taps on it can you charge it individaully threw the taps?

An unbalanced Lipo pack can be hazardous. When one is unbalanced, one of the cells can get to a higher voltage than the other cells in the pack during a charge, which will shorten the life of that one cell, thus creating a chain reaction of cells becoming bad. Also, if a pack is unbalanced, one cell can be overdischarged, causing damage to it.
Basically, a balanced pack will ALWAYS be better than an unbalanced one, in terms of performance and safety.
You can't really buy a balanced pack, as the only way to get something like a balanced pack would be to get one with cells that all have similar IRs (internal resistance). Maxamps is the only company that claims to make packs with cells that have a similar IR. This is not an option offered by companies, though.
A pack with taps is always a good thing to have. A pack can be balanced through the taps by charging each individual cell to 4.20v, as opposed to charging the pack as a whole (where imbalances may occur). Depending upon the type of taps, you can only charge at up a certain amp rate (limited by the resistance of the taps).

[coolhandcountry]

I know what you saying one the amp through the taps. But that does help me out alot. I was looking running about 6-8 s. Thanks for the info. Not sure if I ready but I may wait a little longer. I would like to try some.