I need to take the plunge to lipo

[JOEX]

Originally Posted by highflier

...
I run a E-maxx on 6s1p A123 packs. It moves quite nicely. Effectively the packs cost me 60.00 a piece.

Highflier

How much run time do you get with one pack?

[highflier]

It's hard to say the way I bash. when My wife and I go for a walk through the woods I get about 1.5 - 2.0 miles of walking in on the first pack or about 45 minutes it's rough terrain.

When I run in the back yard it is 10-15 minutes. Many others will tell you to run
6s2p packs. Then you will nearly double your run time and you will actually have better power. The voltage will hold better under hard load. However I found that the 6s1p pack puts out enough power to break Diff's, Clutches, and drive shafts. Now I have upgraded all of them and hopefully it will be realiable. I figure if it has enough power to break all of those items it has enough power :)

I don't mind a batter swap every 10-15 minutes. My motor needs cool down time anyways. When I get a higher quality motor. (should be here today) I will see if it can handle longer run time in summer heat. If so I may try a 2P pack. I just don't like the idea of adding that much weight to the truck.

Highflier

[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.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by highflier

I run a E-maxx on 6s1p A123 packs. It moves quite nicely. Effectively the packs cost me 60.00 a piece.

No doubt, you must make your own packs to get them at that price. I'm not all that fond of soldering, mostly because I've messed up so many electronics with my haphazard approach (if a little heat is good...more must be better!!)

So I've seen a recommendation for 5S2P, and 6S1P...if my math is correct, the HV has a limit of 16.8V, which means I should stick with the 5S, and I would likely want to run a 2P setup giving me 16.5V, 4600mah, right? But what about their limit of 4S for lipo - does that stand for A123's also?

Where is the best place to purchase premade packs? I seem to remember MaxAmps carrying them, but I'm sure there are places that sell them cheaper.
On edit....well those arent much cheaper....Maxamps has A123 5S1P for $145.....maybe I'd better look into making my own!

[TexasSP]

This place makes them.

https://www.tanicpacks.com/product_i...roducts_id=958

Got that off the CC site.

[highflier]

Don't know much about the novak but I would guess it would live with 5s A123

They would give you about 2 more volts..... HMMMM... not sure if that will work or not.

Highflier

[kulangflow]

Just buy the cells cheap and have someone on RC-M build the pack for you on the cheap.

I'd offer to build it, but you probably shouldn't trust the packs I build. I think lincpimp and BrianG both know how, and I'm sure there are several others that would be willing.

Just a thought.

[JThiessen]

I just purchased two 2S2P A123 packs (6.6V, 4600maH) off ebay for just under a 100, and I bought one of those 'Daptors....thanks kulangflow for the link. I'm going to send an email to MRC to see what they have to say about the 'Daptor, and how it might work.

[highflier]

2s2p for 100ish Ack...... that is 4 cells or more then 20 a cell. I will build a pack for you at that cost, I got the cells already.

No I am not trying to Rip you off I am trying to advice you to search for deals around 10 for cells or no more then 15.00 built up.


Highflier

[kulangflow]

He got two 2s2p packs, which is a total of 8 cells for $100. It's really not a bad deal at all considering they're built already and everything.

[JThiessen]

Originally Posted by highflier

2s2p for 100ish Ack...... that is 4 cells or more then 20 a cell. I will build a pack for you at that cost, I got the cells already.

No I am not trying to Rip you off I am trying to advice you to search for deals around 10 for cells or no more then 15.00 built up.


Highflier

Yeah, it was 12.50 per cell.

But I'llyou up on that deal (15 per cell).......pm me if you are interested.

[JThiessen]

So now I have 4 of those 6.6V 4600's coming, and the 'Daptor. Now my question is has anyone had any experience with the 'Daptor? Can it charge two packs at the same time? I'm wondering if I may be better off selling my 989 to my brother in law (he's about to buy one), and just purchasing a pair of the A123 chargers and a power supply......I dont know anyone who has experience with either one....

[kulangflow]

I haven't actually used the Daptor, but I have a killer Hyperion a123 charger for sale if you're looking for one. It will charge both those packs at the same time at 10A.