I bought a "temp-gun" today.

[el tomaso]

Today I bought an infrared temp-gun, since I need to be sure with the expensive motors and esc's that they don't overheat. The 5 second finger isn't the most reliable method I've found.

What temp is normal operating temperature for motors, and where is the line IYO?(farenheit)

What temp is normal for esc and batts, and when should I worry?

Thanks in advance, I hope this helps others too.

Thomas G

[nativepaul]

Turn your boiler up till you cant hold on to your radiator for 5 deconds any more, then shoot it with your new temp gun and note the temp, normal is anything lower than that, anything higher than that is worrying

[suicideneil]

Motor = 180*F max, ideally 120-140
ESC = same as above
Lipos = 120*F max, ideally less.

Strange though, I see people saying that upto ~160 if max for lipos, but that seems rather too high to me. True, lipos wont output max power until they warm up abit ( ~100*F ), but I'd love to know a true safe maximum temp, provided by a manufacturer or long-term tester of lipos...

[E-Revonut]

From what I've seen 140 is the max safe temp for lipos. On the motor it's nice to see 120-140 but on my truly I regularly see 140-160 when I come off the track, I'm geared pretty low to keep from going crazy on the track, 180 is max though. On the esc if it is a CC product and it thermals something is wrong, otherwise I wouldn't worry about it to much. It's hard to get an accurate reading on a MMM with the plastic casing around it but a true reading on the heat sink shouldn't really ever be above 160 IMO, I believe thermal shutdown is around 185

[lincpimp]

I would say that a good lipo can handle 140f as measured on the side of the cells. Keep in mind the center cells will be warmer than that. The 30c enerland cells seemed to run around 130f, but zippies and others seem to run cooler. Some lipos do not like being cold, the 30c enerlands were very bad about this. If you can get lipo temps around 120f in the summer, or less you are doing ok.

We all know what happens to lipos when they get too hot...makes the hindenburg look like a cake walk. Keep in mind that a regular (non maxamps) lipo has about the same energy density per square acre as the sun. Extrapolating those numbers would show that a std 500mah 1 cell lipo has the potential energy equal to 15 8mega ton nuclear warheads. So it is best to not annoy or taunt you lipo. Shorting the main leads will cause plasma to be formed, and an inevitable space-time continum collapse as well. This would spell the end of our 3 dimensional universe as this kind of power would flatten out the local singularities and alter the physical make-up of all of the matter located in our gravity well. This in turn would manifest is something not unlike fat people jogging. Visulaize the rolls bouncing and you get the picture, very awesome power, and nothing to trifle with.

Be careful with your temp gun, please.

[nativepaul]

I can convert lengts and weights in my head but celcius to farenheit and vica versa just confuses me, with that being said Enerland quote max of 60degC and Kokam 63degC, I dont even know who the chinese manufactures are never mind seen the datasheets, I would be interested if anyone has the info though.

[el tomaso]

Thanks guys, that really helps. I ruined a hacker C50 13L and a feigao 580L 10L this winter, and I don't plan on loosing another motor. The hacker really hurt my feelings

Thomas G