I have a couple of questions....

[brushlessboy16]

Hello all, im new to the RCM forums

I am currently working on a brushless conversion for my Duratrax Raze, so far i have a feigao 9xl mounted with a 14t pinion from century
i am using a a FDM clamp motor. as far as i have looked i cannot find a mount like mikes or rcd's for the raze.
My dilema now is what battery to use.
i have been told too many differnet things, i want answers from people who have done the conversion.
i plan on runnin a Mamba max and 4s.
PS-I am 15 and on a limited budget, thanks for the help in advance

full build here, picture warning
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_62..._1/key_/tm.htm

[lincpimp]

Lipo will require a compatible charger and balancer. For a 4s setup many have had good success with the truerc lipos. I have personal experience with the efuel hobbies lipos, they are good quality and are decently priced. Maxamps makes good packs, however a set of trackpower lipos are very similar in price to the maxamps and appear to have better cells, according to testing by other members here. If I were buying lipos I would go with the trackpowers. They have a hard case, and post good rates, and at 120 each seem to be a good deal. I know that 240 for batteries plus another 45 for the balancer seems like alot, but you get what you pay for. The truerc cells are a little bigger (4000mah packs) and may be cheaper. You will need a good charger. I would recommend a MRC 989, very good, I have one and it is all I use now.

The true rc 5000 packs look good, if the cells are as good as the 4000 they may be the best price for you. At 50 bucks each they are cheap, hope they perform!

You can find the efuel on ebay, mike has good prices and if very helpful. He also has a website. I have his 18c batteries and they are very well assembled and appear to meet their spec.

[brushlessboy16]

i have a charger, and a team losi lipo charge converter...it works my dad uses it on his boats with maxamps packs.
is 4000mah enuff?
should i get 1-4s pack or 2 2s?
keep the help coming

[lincpimp]

I would say 2 2s packs. More useful and easier to package. Plus if you get a smaller/different vehicle and want to run 2s you already have the pack. Unless you can get a deal on a 4s pack, sometimes that happens. The 4000 10c truerc packs will not be enough, you need a pack that can handle about 80 amps continuous. That is why i recommended the trakpower packs. The truerc 8000 packs are much bigger/heavier and cost the same. You may get better runtime off the 8000 packs, but the cells are not as good and heavier. A lighter vehicle is always better as it works the motor/esc/batteries less. I do not have enough experience with my maxamps 5000 2s packs yet, so far I have only run them in my 10th scale lighting conversion truggy, so not as much load/weight as you have. I know that the trackpowers are good, seen plenty of data to prove that. Just remember that you have to have the v balancer to go with them.

[lincpimp]

Or if you want to be a guinea pig

You could try this, I have some of their batteries and they are made by a name brand mfg, not sure which one, maybe enerland or kokam?

]http:////cgi.ebay.com/EFuel-Hobbies-...QQcmdZViewItem

[brushlessboy16]

any links on the trak power 8k's?

[lincpimp]

The trakpowers are about 5k

Heres a link, keep in mind they are 20c batteries and thay can hold over 3.5v per cell on a 100amp load, which is very good. I always try to buy batteries that can provide much more than my system can draw, cause you never know what can happen!

battery: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRWF7&P=ML

balancer: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXRWF8&P=7

[brushlessboy16]

*heart attack...
i like the efuels on ebay...
96a constant

[lincpimp]

Yeah, the efuels are good, kind of strange sized, square almost. Nicely made though.

[brushlessboy16]

so you say i need 90a to be effective? ill browse and post up findings.

What you should go with really depends on what you intend to do with the buggy.

If you intend to just bash around or run on a track, the 9XL is a good start. It will give you decent speed and will give you more runtime before it overheats.

If running on a track is your primary concern, you really have to watch the weight that you put on the buggy. For racing, I try not to go over a pound (454 grams) on the battery. Too much battery can make your buggy handle like a boat.

Unless it's necessary for weight balance, I also try to avoid running packs in series. It's just a pain in the butt. I know that cost is a concern for you, but a $140 battery that destroys itself in the first month isn't as good a deal as a $200 battery that lasts for a year or more.

Running an 8XL in a buggy with a MM controller on a maxamps 4S2P 8000mAh battery, I was able to get the battery over 120*F.

My point is this...your brushless system is only going to be as strong as the battery that you run it on. After dumping literally thousands of dollars on batteries, I now only go for the best. Kokams, Flightpowers, and Neu.

You can get a Flightpower 4S 3700mAh 25C pack for around $170. I don't think that anyone can say that that isn't a good battery. I've never regretted getting the good stuff.

[brushlessboy16]

well i got the motor in a trade for the original nitro. its gonna be a basher.
can the MM saftley handle 6s, i was also lookin at the bk 9020. higher voltage limit. i know i am askin alot when i say im shooting for 2.5hp, or 1750w. from what i read you make the same wattage from higher voltage batteries with lower amp values. Since mike is liquidating the BK's i might get one.

[lincpimp]

The mm can only handle 4s safely. Some have doe 5s, but it does not work on all. I had a buggy running a mm with a 7xl and it really did not get that hot. I would say that you should run your setup with a mm the 9xl and good batteries. A fan on the mm is needed and good ventilation thru the body is a must. Use the RC monster heatsink/clamp on the motor and gear for about 37 mph. That is my magic number. I don't think that you need to go higher than 4s, 5s will be better but you will need a compatible charger. The bk escs are not as smooth or adjustable as the mm. For a basher you really do not need 5s, just good 4s batteries and the right gearing. 35 is fast when bashing, and the electric is much quicker to get going than a nitro. You will not gwt 2.5 hp on a 9xl. My 7xl made just about 2 hp and it was almost uncontrollable. Just get some good batts and setup your system correctly.

[brushlessboy16]

http://www.maxamps.com/Lipo-4000-185-Pack.htm

^^ment the 4s

[brushlessboy16]

is 14/44 a good starting place for gearing with 4s?