I need to take the plunge to lipo

[JThiessen]

Somehow, over the last year, all 5 sets of my NiMh packs went bad. Not certain why, but I have a new superbrain charger which I had some difficulties getting set up correctly, and I have a new HV-4.5 system in my E-Maxx. I'm getting great performance for the first two minutes, but then it just pukes. I sent it back to Novak for testing, but it worked fine for them. So that puts me in a fix. Since I need to purchase batteries, I might as well start converting to Lipo.
I dont race - pure bashing. I have two Emaxx's and one revo. The Emaxx's are powered by HV-4.5's, and the Revo WILL have a MMM/Fiego 10L. The 4.5's limit me to a maximum of 4S, and 16.8V. What I dont know right now is, how much battery do I need, and should I go with 2 2S packs instead of a single 4S? Or should I be "safe" with the HV's and run only 3S???
I have a gift certificate to Tower, and so far have narrowed it down to: Flight Power Evo 25 3700 4S 14.8V
FlightPower Evo 25 3700 3S 11.1V
FlightPower Evo 25 5000 3S 11.1V
FlightPower Evo 30 4500 3S 11.1V
TrakPower 4900 2S 7.4V (seems to be very popular here)

Battery size isnt really an issue for me - I have to remake my battery trays anyway.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge!

i would go with 2 trakpower 4900mah 2cell. and just wire them up so you get 4 cells.


idk how your erevo is going to be setup. are you going to set it up so you have one big battery or you are going to have it like the new erevo where you use 2 batterys.

if its like the new erevo i would just go with the trakpower 2 cells cause it would fit perfectly on both trucks.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by drkros3

idk how your erevo is going to be setup. are you going to set it up so you have one big battery or you are going to have it like the new erevo where you use 2 batterys. if its like the new erevo i would just go with the trakpower 2 cells cause it would fit perfectly on both trucks.

It currently has two aluminum battery trays that are sized for 6cell Nimh packs. So I have to rebuild those anyway - therefore, I'm open to anything regarding size.

[brushlessboy16]

Before you spend big bux, check out Zippy Lipos on unitedhobbies.com

Originally Posted by JThiessen

Somehow, over the last year, all 5 sets of my NiMh packs went bad. Not certain why, but I have a new superbrain charger which I had some difficulties getting set up correctly, and I have a new HV-4.5 system in my E-Maxx. I'm getting great performance for the first two minutes, but then it just pukes. I sent it back to Novak for testing, but it worked fine for them. So that puts me in a fix. Since I need to purchase batteries, I might as well start converting to Lipo.
I dont race - pure bashing. I have two Emaxx's and one revo. The Emaxx's are powered by HV-4.5's, and the Revo WILL have a MMM/Fiego 10L. The 4.5's limit me to a maximum of 4S, and 16.8V. What I dont know right now is, how much battery do I need, and should I go with 2 2S packs instead of a single 4S? Or should I be "safe" with the HV's and run only 3S???
I have a gift certificate to Tower, and so far have narrowed it down to: Flight Power Evo 25 3700 4S 14.8V
FlightPower Evo 25 3700 3S 11.1V
FlightPower Evo 25 5000 3S 11.1V
FlightPower Evo 30 4500 3S 11.1V
TrakPower 4900 2S 7.4V (seems to be very popular here)

Battery size isnt really an issue for me - I have to remake my battery trays anyway.

Thanks in advance for your knowledge!

with your E maxxs the 4.5 is a really low turn motor with monster trucks its better to tun a higher turn motor they will run cooler but you could run dual 2s packs ( anything with Enerland cells would be great).... a pair of the Trakpowers run in series would be good and with your Revo run a XL size can...the L can will heat up faster due to the lack of torque...either a 4s with 9XL or 5s with 10XL

[TexasSP]

With those trays you don't need trakpowers. The trays will obviously protect the lipos so might as well save the weight and get flightpower. Even check out the evo lite as they are a true 20c now in the higher mah. I have some and they are great lipos.

Trakpowers and Flightpower are the same cells I do like the 4mm connectors of the Trakpowers though

[killjoyken]

I love the Trakpower packs. Very durable and great cells. You can always get another later if you want to step up to 6s.

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by azjc

Trakpowers and Flightpower are the same cells I do like the 4mm connectors of the Trakpowers though

If that is directed at me I am quite aware of that, I am referring to the weight savings of not having a metal case.

[killjoyken]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

If that is directed at me I am quite aware of that, I am referring to the weight savings of not having a metal case.

The cases are plastic. I weighed 2 Trackpowers and 1 4s 4900mah Neu pack and they were very close with the Trackpowers a little heavier.

When I get home tonight I'll weigh them in both 4s and 6s configs.

At first I was concerned about being limited to 12 ga wire and 4mm bullets since Castle only rates them to 75 amps, but after running the 6s config on my MMM/1515 1y Savage, the wires and connectors were barely even warm.

[brushlessboy16]

Nice ken!
how much do all those weigh together?

[kulangflow]

If you don't care about size, have you considered a123s? Much cheaper and more durable. They're biggest drawback is size.

Just a thought anyway.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by kulangflow

If you don't care about size, have you considered a123s? Much cheaper and more durable. They're biggest drawback is size.
Just a thought anyway.

You know, I havent really considered them. Their ratings confuse me (not that Lipos are much better!), so I have never been sure what I could run, or need to run. I definitley would not be against going that route. How do I equate their ratings to NiMh packs?
Also, I'm not certain my superbrain 989 can charge them.

[kulangflow]

Originally Posted by JThiessen

You know, I havent really considered them. Their ratings confuse me (not that Lipos are much better!), so I have never been sure what I could run, or need to run. I definitley would not be against going that route. How do I equate their ratings to NiMh packs?
Also, I'm not certain my superbrain 989 can charge them.

The 989 cannot charge them, but you can add a Dapter to the 989 for only $40 that will take care of that problem.

An a123 cell is 3.3V nominal and about 3.7 fully charged. One cell is 2300mAh, so running them in parallel gets you 4600mAh. My E-maxx works great with 5s2p a123. The great part is that you can charge them super fast and you don't need an LVC for them. You don't even need to balance them. They also last for 1000 cycles, compared to only 300 for lipos.

[TexasSP]

I don't think the 989 can.