Maxamps and Neuenergy lipo testing

[lincpimp]

Ok, since I have converted to enerland cell based packs and noticed large difference between them and my maxamps paks I figured that some testing will be in order.

I have a neuenergy 5000mah 3s 25c lipo, and bdebde is sending me a maxamps 5000 3s lipo (thanks). Maxamps claims to have a 20c constant rating, and that has been the basis of alot of conjecture.

Heres a link to each battery:

http://www.rc-monster.com/proddetail...eu3s5000car25c

http://www.maxamps.com/Lipo-5000-111-Pack.htm

I know that this is an apples to oranges comparision since the neu pack has a higher rated C value. My main intention is to show voltage drop under load, and see how the pack's actual performance compares to their advertised ratings.

Test vehicle will be a crt.5 with a variety of different motors. Currently setup with a MM and a plett maxximum. It has the rcm ext chassis, stock susp, diffs and center spur. I am currently running a maxamps 4200 3s pack, but will move the equipment around to fit the longer lipos. I also have a few other vehicles that can use the packs. I may also test using them, but will first focus on the crt.5. Gearing will be listed for each test, as well as my subjective thought on the performance.

Test equipment will include a voltmenter, eagle tree datalogger, bushnell radar gun, IR non-contact thermometer, and the seat of my pants! Charging will be done on either a hyperieon 5i or a duratrax ICE. I may test the setups twice and use each charger to make sure that my charge times and mah used are correct/accurate.

I plan to test both packs with the plett, a novak hv 6.5 with the 5mm shaft, and a hacker c50 6l. Both the plett and novak have similar kv ratings, around 3100kv. The hacker has a kv of 4400 and will be used if the batteries prove strong enough for the other motors, or I just need more load than gearing can provide. I will gear all of the setups up as testing goes, in order to place more load on the equipment.

Testing site will be a mixture of street and grass. My main intention is to get a decent load on each pack and determine voltage drop. I will radar each setup to verify loaded kv and attempt to match each motor/gearing combo. The eagle tree will be used to record data during the run, and graphs will be posted. If time allows I may also run each pack to the lvc to validate the pack's capacity claims. I do set my lvc to 3.1v per cell, just to be on the safe side. Keep that in mind if I post any capacity results.

Any and all info, questions, suggestions, and other test results (and critisism) are more than welcome. It is my hope that this testing will help validate the mfg ratings and give potential buyers some addl info about their planned purchases. I will do my best to minimize the variables and provide an unbiased test of each pack. I will also be honest with my findings, so I would appreciate it if non fact-based comments be left out of this thread. Not to sound harsh, but I really do not care how great you think x brand lipo is unless you have tested everything else.

And I will TRY (note the prvious word) to get some videos together of the runs. This is dependent on my painter bringing me his camera.

[VintageMA]

I for one will be eager to see your results. I have been using the MaxAmps 5000 mAh packs in 3S and 4S for a while now and am curious to see the differences.

When the MMM comes out, I want to get a 5S pack for my XB8EC and would like to have some data to justify a purchase of the Neu packs over the MaxAmps.

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by VintageMA

I for one will be eager to see your results. I have been using the MaxAmps 5000 mAh packs in 3S and 4S for a while now and am curious to see the differences.

When the MMM comes out, I want to get a 5S pack for my XB8EC and would like to have some data to justify a purchase of the Neu packs over the MaxAmps.

No prob, I should have some tests done next week. I can safely say that ypu wil have better results with the neuenergy pack. I replaced my maxamps 5s 5000 20c pack with a polyec 5s 3700 25c pack and it gives better punch and the same runtimes. The poly rc and neu are made with enerland cells, which are viewed by most to be the best available. Even with this info I will still do these tests, just for some hard data!

Finally!!!! Now when I get in this argument over max amps not holding up to what there rated for, I know where the graphs are LOL!

Thanks linc!

looking forward to it, i have only been running maxamps 5k cells in 4s and 3s and want to go to a neu 4s 5k pack , keep us posted

[cart213]

Sounds like a good test! I've got a few 4s 5000 polyquest packs, so it'll be interesting to see how their enerland cells stack up against maxamps.

[VintageMA]

Originally Posted by lincpimp

No prob, I should have some tests done next week. I can safely say that ypu wil have better results with the neuenergy pack. I replaced my maxamps 5s 5000 20c pack with a polyec 5s 3700 25c pack and it gives better punch and the same runtimes. The poly rc and neu are made with enerland cells, which are viewed by most to be the best available. Even with this info I will still do these tests, just for some hard data!

Looking on Neu's site I have thinking of getting either the 30C - 3300mAh cells (99A constant) or the 25C - 3900mAh cells (97.5A constant).

Mike had made a custom battery tray for me with the exact dimensions to fit the MaxAmps 5000mAh packs for my XB8EC - both of these cells would fit the tray perfectly.

I've found my average max current draw to be ~78A. So if the votlage drop of either pack was less than that of the MaxAmps packs would be a great advantage - the 5S packs with either cell is only aout 25grams heavier than the MaxAmps 4S packs.

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by VintageMA

Looking on Neu's site I have thinking of getting either the 30C - 3300mAh cells (99A constant) or the 25C - 3900mAh cells (97.5A constant).

Mike had made a custom battery tray for me with the exact dimensions to fit the MaxAmps 5000mAh packs for my XB8EC - both of these cells would fit the tray perfectly.

I've found my average max current draw to be ~78A. So if the votlage drop of either pack was less than that of the MaxAmps packs would be a great advantage - the 5S packs with either cell is only aout 25grams heavier than the MaxAmps 4S packs.

For your setup the 25c 3900 5s pack looks good, it has enough cont rating and will have longer runtimes than the 3300 30c pack. Plus I read that the 30c cells were not as good as the 25c cells. Not sure if it was all of the 30c cells though...

I am sure that you will see that the Neu will hold voltage better than the maxamps pack.

[Patrick]

Sounds good. Are the packs of similar age and type of use? It wouldn't be really fair comparing a newish pack against a worn out pack. I'm going for the enerland cells though of course.

[lincpimp]

Well, the neu pack has a handful of cycles on it. Not sure on the maxmaps pack, but lipos are supposed to be good for quite a few cycles before they start to lose potency. I guess that I could buy a new maxamps lipo for this test, but I do not think that I want to give them any more money.

[Patrick]

Maybe if maxamps believe their packs are as good as they say (I have read a post with a maxamps guy saying their cells are superior to enerland cells) then they could give you a free pack to test, since it would be good advertising for them when you prove how good their packs are. But on the other hand...

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by lincpimp

Well, the neu pack has a handful of cycles on it. Not sure on the maxmaps pack, but lipos are supposed to be good for quite a few cycles before they start to lose potency. I guess that I could buy a new maxamps lipo for this test, but I do not think that I want to give them any more money.

Well it is nice to see that you are putting your free time to good use linc, and with the assistance of a few good butler monkies it should not take long at all. This matter could actually end up being a good subject to get published into one of the R/C magazines for circulation so everyone could read it. I would be willing to bet that the entire community would love to see/hear the results of such a test. Especially for consideration of any new purchases that are being considered at this point. With the pending release of the MMM and the Tekin Pro1MT I know I would like to make sure that I am buying the best packs available for my money. We appreciate the selfless sacrifice that you are about to embark upon in an effort to help us all. Thank you pimp and keep us posted Sir.

[lincpimp]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Maybe if maxamps believe their packs are as good as they say (I have read a post with a maxamps guy saying their cells are superior to enerland cells) then they could give you a free pack to test, since it would be good advertising for them when you prove how good their packs are. But on the other hand...

Yeah right... It would be nice... They have the meane to test their cells performance, but they chose to let the ad dept do the talking. If the maxamps guy was saying that their cells puffing ability was superior to enerland cells than he is right on!

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

Well it is nice to see that you are putting your free time to good use linc, and with the assistance of a few good butler monkies it should not take long at all. This matter could actually end up being a good subject to get published into one of the R/C magazines for circulation so everyone could read it. I would be willing to bet that the entire community would love to see/hear the results of such a test. Especially for consideration of any new purchases that are being considered at this point. With the pending release of the MMM and the Tekin Pro1MT I know I would like to make sure that I am buying the best packs available for my money. We appreciate the selfless sacrifice that you are about to embark upon in an effort to help us all. Thank you pimp and keep us posted Sir.

Thanks Jerry, I had to let the monkey butlers go after an unfortunate accident involving feeces and my slippers. Never mind, I will ge tht ehouse sprayed for fleas and move on...

In all likelyhood I can image the critisism that this test will draw. I am biased, as we all knowe (sarcasm) so I am sure that the various lovers of maxamps will have something to say. I may make a duplicate thread on the nitrokillers forum, but that may be going to far. I wonder if the admin (jason) would delete it? Here I go again, stirring the pot!

[Arct1k]

Like for like compare will be difficult - best thing i would have thought is to use a drag race. Same car, setup and gearing - 4.2v off the charger on identical life, capacity, rating batteries.

Back to back 200 yeard drag race WOT - 250 yards - brake and check amp/volt graphs.

Then random non logged driving to 3.7v on both packs and repeat drag run...

Just an idea...

[JERRY2KONE]

Thanks Jerry, I had to let the monkey butlers go after an unfortunate accident involving feeces and my slippers. Never mind, I will ge tht ehouse sprayed for fleas and move on...

In all likelyhood I can image the critisism that this test will draw. I am biased, as we all knowe (sarcasm) so I am sure that the various lovers of maxamps will have something to say. I may make a duplicate thread on the nitrokillers forum, but that may be going to far. I wonder if the admin (jason) would delete it? Here I go again, stirring the pot![/QUOTE]

OK heres the thing linc. Anytime you match up two competitors that are battling for their piece of the pie you are going to stir up some controversy no matter how fairly you run your testing. You are going to get some criticisum and arguements from one side or the other. Especially if one side comes out looking like S*$& with egg on their faces. All you can do is try your best to remain impartial in your lab work so to speak. Once your analisys is completed, no matter what the results I think you should post up on the nitrokillers and any other site who is involved with or uses these cells. The worst they can do is lock out the thread, but it may just force whoever comes out looking bad to change something in the way they are making their products to compete for their place at the table. Lets be real here. What you are about to do (testing) has the ability to cause some serious problems $$$$ for someone out there. The truth will set thee free. This is surely going to be ineresting from the cheap seats.