RC newbie that wants to learn about LiPo batteries and chargers

[bora.the.explora]

hi. i bought myself a traxxas slash VXL 1/10 a few days ago and i'd like to know more about LiPo batteries.

i've found plenty of decently reviewed 5000mah batteries (the size that i'm interested in) but i don't know too much about LiPo chargers.

who's using LiPo and can recommend me a charger with a balancer? any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[MRA3S]

http://www.hobbypartz.com/thac6smbachw.html Built in balancer and AC/DC converter, all for $45

Just like NiCD and NiMH batteries, the higher the mAh rating the longer you'll be able to run. Now LiPo batteries also have what is called a C rating. This rating basically tells you how much "punch" the battery can deliver (mAh * C). More "punch" the quicker your car will accelerate. Usually a higher C value will demand more money.

Lipo batteries typically hold their voltage better under load. You might think "why would I use a 2S Lipo over a 7-cell NiMH?" While a fully charged 7-cell NiMh battery has a voltage of 9.8V and a fully charged 2S Lipo is only 8.4V, under load, the NiMH batterie's voltage will drop significantly more than that of a LiPo.

[bora.the.explora]

thanks a bunch for the information and recommendation! it looks like I'll have to hack one of those leads for my traxxas plug but that's not a big deal. oh, and I guess I should buy one of those LiPo safe bags.

[MRA3S]

Honestly a safe bag isn't necessary. It's actually more difficult to destroy a lipo than a nimh battery especially with a lower power charger like in that link. Also you shouldn't need to hack anything. Your LHS should carry a traxxas connector that will plug into the banana jacks of the charger.

One thing I forgot is that with lipo u must make sure you are running the esc with low voltage detection. If you over discharge a lipo it's trash.

[bora.the.explora]

the LiPo safe bag is pretty much a fire-proof bag, right?

yeah, i've read about low voltage detection mode for LiPo batteries in the manual. thanks for the reminder. i needed a quick charger so i figured why not go LiPo while i'm at it.

i ran the truck for the first time yesterday and it's a ton of fun. i left it in sport mode so i can just get used to the throttle right away but i made sure to be slow and steady. i haven't crashed it, yet. even with just the 8.4v 7-cell it came with, it got squirrely at 3/4 throttle.

i can't wait to get the charger and maybe one or two LiPo packs to extend my fun time.

[koston.]

3 lipos, that's the magic number. Gives you around an hour of run time on the VXL, and if you are near a power source, you can extend your bash sessions nearly all day.

Get a bag, good cheap insurance. And stick to hard packs for truck bashing - they're better protected from damage. Bonus points if they're "ROAR" approved; these cases can withstand 30 minutes of internal fire, caused by deliberate overcharging (required to get the ROAR sticker).

Gens Ace is pretty ok... but not getting the same lifespan of my dirt cheap Hobby King Flightmax hardcase 2s.

And don't be fooled by C ratings... 30c is all you need for VXL.

[bora.the.explora]

yup! i picked up 3 LiPos. two gens ace 5500mah 2S 25C and one gens ace 5000mah 2S 40C. i also picked up a few TRX male/female connectors to solder on the leads. i can't wait until they get to my door. my original NiMh battery has all sorts of condensation in it now since my slash took a swim in a puddle. i've cut slits in the plastic case for the moisture to evaporate and i think this will be my "dry only" battery pack since i already see signs of rust on the cells inside.

i also bought some trenchers since the stock tires aren't holding any ground at anything more than 3/4 throttle. this is getting addictive.

[kwh4375]

This has been helpful...I'm getting ready to buy a Traxxas Stampede 4x4 and had alot of questions on LiPo batteries and chargers. Are there certain brands of batteries and chargers to look for, that may be better than others?

[bora.the.explora]

I'm very happy with my AC6 charger (as recommended above). it's fast enough for me and it's super versatile. it'll typically charge a 5500mah LiPo in a little over an hour. I can also recommend the gens ace brand of battery that I purchased from hobbypartz.com. after you figure out how much power your ESC and your type of driving will require, be aware that the batteries may come in different sizes. my mistake was that after I bought a hard case LiPo (fit perfectly in all my RCs), I later bought a couple soft pack batteries assuming that they were the same size. I was wrong. they were longer than could fit in my cars. good luck!

[elizasteave]

Nowadays in the world of RC motors LI PO batteries are in great use today. It is due to their efficiency, performance and safety that people are now getting dependent more and more on these batteries and get more satisfaction.