Maxamps Thread...

[TexasSP]

I guess all in all I fail to see a market need here.

Smaller, lighter, and less expensive packs with higher c ratings are the way of the future. It's just to much of a hassle to try and get one type of cell to be the end all and be all for all of my vehicles.

I also see too many potential problems here for most to want to mess with them. Trying to keep up with each individual cell and it's cycle number will be a headache in and of itself.

I just see a whole lot of down for very little if any up side.

[crazyjr]

The only thing i see as an advantage is varying the voltage, for an outrunner direct drive. If you have this set you can adjust the voltage for where you are comfortable then buy solid packs. I would consider it for that and testing it only

[reno911]

They should include an extra lead so that it can also be used as 2 2s lipos, at the price I don't see how some extra deans wire and two bananas with a traxxas plug could hurt.

[Finnster]

If there were to be done a more safe way, and you wished to avoid a lot of potential product liability risks, you would design a better connector that would prevent any accidental misconnections.

Something like a modular molex connector into which snapped individually hardcased 1S cells. The connector & cell would be polar so it cannot be plugged in backwards and short a cell. Another molex could snap in the back of the pack for support, and all the structural strength would come from the cases and connectors.

I still think the balancing technique is questionable however, and does not solve mismatch of differently aged cells. Overall I think it has limited market appeal and seems more like a solution in need of a problem

[nitrostarter]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

I guess all in all I fail to see a market need here.

Smaller, lighter, and less expensive packs with higher c ratings are the way of the future....

You have to remember, they don't make cells, they just assemble Grade A cells here in America.

[reno911]

I am not too sure about this but I am having a hard time visualizing how this can be shorted. If you plug one cell in backwards, say in the 3s conf, wouldn't it just make the pack a dud. So your leads will either be positive and positive, or negative and negative.

(
+ -
.......)
- +
(......
- +
.......)

[lincpimp]

As far as innovation goes, it is gimmicky to me.

I think the resource that they expended on this project would have been better utilized to pushing the 5c charge ratings and informing the newer hobbyist about fast charging.

Get the prices down on the 5c capable chargers and power supplies to match. This is the next big thing to hit lipo, 10 min charge times. Only thing keeping it from happening is cost. Most if not all of the new packs are 5c capable, but having a charger that can fast charge a 4s 5kmah pack is costly, 500watt chargers are expensive and not mainstream at all. Now a big hyperion (250watt output model) can do a 2s 5k pack at 5s, and for the t/c or 2wd racers who run 2s I would think it was the way to go...

Just my thoughts.

I could see doing something like MA did with the enerland style cells, tabs on each end of the pack. You could have polarized connectors, permanently attached to the cells, that could only be assembled as a series pack. That way you would not run into getting it wrong. Plus have snap over hard cases that are sized to fit 2s,3s,etc packs, keeping all of the cells together and protected.

You would need some sort of balancer harness, as I do not think parallel charging is a good idea. Or maybe do something like the little HC charger that charges the cells individually, and just hook them up one by one to that. But that requires new equipment, and dis-assembly every time you want to charge or run.

Having to take a lipo pack apart that often is just not smart. There is no benefit to parallel charging, not with the modern internal balancer chargers. I just do not see it...

For testing purposes, maybe, but we know what will work with 95% of the setups run. Not a big market in the other 5%...

[TexasSP]

Originally Posted by reno911

I am not too sure about this but I am having a hard time visualizing how this can be shorted. If you plug one cell in backwards, say in the 3s conf, wouldn't it just make the pack a dud. So your leads will either be positive and positive, or negative and negative.

(
+ -
.......)
- +
(......
- +
.......)

It's not the issue of when the batteries are simply connected to themselves, but when you connect the pack to something else, either ESC or charger.

I see the flying gurus are not going for this idea either. So it's not just us RCM bullies after all.

[Bondonutz]

Mods dont cringe, I'm playing nice here and sincere apologys for previous posts.

I just watched the video and my concern isn't so much how they should or shouldn't charged etc because thats ben thoroughly covered. My thoughts are on how the metal plugs are going to prevent these packs fitting a lot of batterys trays. Then the trays they will fit, the metal plugs will likely be damaged from the packs whacking around in the tray during crashes and bad landings. The design of the packs almost seem like a good idea but it's gonna take the right person to utilize the design and not get fustrated with the method of swapping everything around per application and charging.
Def not Noob friendly, IMO they look to be a pita ?

[Arct1k]

Thank you for all playing by the rules - A constructive maxamps thread... :)

[reno911]

Originally Posted by TexasSP

It's not the issue of when the batteries are simply connected to themselves, but when you connect the pack to something else, either ESC or charger.

I see the flying gurus are not going for this idea either. So it's not just us RCM bullies after all.

Still the most that would happen is reverse the poles. Most esc and chargers have something to detect this.

[BrianG]

OK, imagine a 2s pack. You stack the cells like so for running:

 
 (-)======(+) ******* (+)    (To ESC)
/
\ 
 (+)======(-) ******* (-)

On the left is the jumper, on the right are the wire leads to the ESC.

Now, let's say you forget to re-orient the cells and install the jumpers for parallel charging, like so:

 (-)======(+)
/            \
\            /
 (+)======(-)
  *        *
  *        *
  *        *
  *        *
  *        *
 (to charger)

That will cause a major issue!

[crazyjr]

BrianG, If i'm right, you will get a spark from a closed loop long before getting to the charger. but you are right, that's a closed loop and likely to swell the pack

[reno911]

I see Brian!

I don't think you will even get as far as getting the bullet in before something bad happens.

I pray for the first person who gets the banana in too far!

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by reno911

Still the most that would happen is reverse the poles. Most esc and chargers have something to detect this.

most esc's fry with reverse polarity