Quick Question..

[thekaboom]

Originally posted by thekaboom
the 5.5 was the one that i was going to get, since you recommended i'll have one more reason to get it..but does the 6.5 and 5.5 have that much of a difference?

thanks for the help

ok then well.. thnx for the help everyone, i really appreciate it.

[thekaboom]

Originally posted by Papa
However, if you have nothing IE....charger, packs etc.... you might be better off financialy going lipo right away. Yes there is a learning curve. However the leaning apllies to Nimh as well. If you are in this for a while eventually you will want to go lipo. For a first lipo system theFMA Scorpion Lipo system is a relatively painless integrated system. The initial outlay of cash will be about the same. Charger about $85plus one pack 1p2s at about $135. Three quality matched side by side packs will set you back about the same.

also you recommed the 3200 mah pack or the 6400 mah pack? cause i'm leaning towards the cheaper one. ;)

[Papa]

They will provide equal amounts of power. The difference will be in runtime. Twice as long with the 6400.

[thekaboom]

Originally posted by Papa
They will provide equal amounts of power. The difference will be in runtime. Twice as long with the 6400.

the 6400 would give like in the 30 min range for runtime?

[MetalMan]

It would probably give closer to 22-25mins. The 3200mah would give more like 10-13mins.

[thekaboom]

Originally posted by MetalMan
It would probably give closer to 22-25mins. The 3200mah would give more like 10-13mins.

nice that still quite a bit, i was just wondering if the 8000 mah li-po pack from maxamps would be as good as the 6400 mah battery pack from fmadirect.
just wondering because the one from maxamps is cheaper :rolleyes:

[Papa]

The pack from max amps does not have built in cell balancing, or built in LVC. Nor, can you charge it to 90%in 20 minutes. Proper cell balancing and a lvc are critical for safety and the packs longevity.

If you fail to properly charge your lipo packs, charge them out of balance or run them below their recommended voltage there is indeed a safety risk and fire hazard.

The Scorpion packs all but elliminate those factors. Is that a risk that you are willing to take?

[thekaboom]

Originally posted by Papa
The pack from max amps does not have built in cell balancing, or built in LVC. Nor, can you charge it to 90%in 20 minutes. Proper cell balancing and a lvc are critical for safety and the packs longevity.

If you fail to properly charge your lipo packs, charge them out of balance or run them below their recommended voltage there is indeed a safety risk and fire hazard.

The Scorpion packs all but elliminate those factors. Is that a risk that you are willing to take?

i think i'll go with the fma lipo , thnx for the info, you've been alot of help and i'd like to thank you for that..:p

[MetalMan]

The FMA packs are the only ones offered as a complete (expensive) system that will monitor and control everything. If you buy another brand of battery, and buy a charger, a balancer, and a LVC device, it will be compatible with other batteries as well (as long as they have the same balancing connector). The FMA packs and devices only work with each other, and the packs cost a lot. But since money was already initially spent with them, you might be unwilling to go with another (potentially) better battery.

For people like me that are looking for the most cost-effective system, and that already have a charger and LVC, stand-alone packs (or home-made ones) are much better. I would only reccommend the FMA packs to those just entering the LiPo scene that have no knowledge of it but desire the advantages.

[SpEEdyBL]

The kokams still offer the best performance. Just so you know, I think the balance pro charger and the balance pro 2s pack are the same as the scorpions. Are they not? That will save you $30.

@ Metalman,

This is a little off topic, but how do you balance the cells with the duratrax ice (which I have)? Do you have to charge each cell individually or is there a balancer that can be hooked up to the charger that sends the correct voltage to each cell?

[Papa]

They are the same cells, minus the built in low voltage cutoff.

[MetalMan]

I personally balance the cells by first charging the pack up to ~4.15v/cell, and then take it off the charger. Then I charge each individual cell.
One could buy a balancer that would plug into a connector on the pack (that allows access to each individual cell) and balance the pack as it charges.

The extra $30 between the Scorpion packs and the BalancePro ones is that the Scorpions have a built-in LVC, whereas the the BalancePro don't.

I don't have one but, this unit looks pretty useful. It connects in between your charger and battery and keeps cells balanced.

[MetalMan]

That certainely is one of the balancer options out there.