MM on 6s A123 and Kb 45 questions

[snellemin]

Originally Posted by rcmonkey

So is a cut off voltage of 2v per cell fine for A123?

Yes, but I don't bother with the cutoff.

[highflier]

Ya no need to use a cutoff with A123. Youre truck will get really really slow and you will want to charge it up. No harm to the batteries. The last run of the day I make sure that I pop them on the zip charger for a least 1 min so that I bump them up to spec before I put them away.

The difference between when the cutoff would kick in a a empty battery could be as short as 20 seconds.

Highflier

[highflier]

Originally Posted by Duster_360

I've read that the 36v Dewalt pack is no longer using a123 cells but some lower volt/capacity chinese version. Have not seen anyone detail how or if you can tell them apart or even a good date when the change was made. I wouldn't want to pay what these are getting on ebay righ now and wind up with the chinese cells.

I just got 2 packs and they contained A123 cells. Maybe the grape vine twisted the reality. A123 cells are not made in a different factory. But they still are A123 cells :)

Highflier

[zeropointbug]

One thing I have found from when I first got some M1 cells directly from A123 website 2 years ago and the cells you buy now from dewalt packs is the quality control. The original cells are absolutely identical... whereas the cells from these dewalt packs are all different, especially when you first use them.

Linc, A123 cells are good to a solid 70 amps, when I say solid I mean 'useful' power in a r/c application, although, I have had burst up to 120 amps (over 50C) on a 7s1p pack, which was 1800 watts. Any more and you should add a cell, and gear down, try it out, etc.

Originally Posted by highflier

I just got 2 packs and they contained A123 cells. Maybe the grape vine twisted the reality. A123 cells are not made in a different factory. But they still are A123 cells :)

Highflier

That's good to hear, I don't know if this is just a rumor or something thats going to eventually happen. It was announced on this board and others I frequent. Last time I looked on rcgroups, other than your thread, I don't see anything.

Maybe you're right - overhyped rumor. One thing for sure, days of buying a Dewalt pac for $69 are long gone.