Advice on Lipo for RC10B4

[DusterX17]

Hey Guys,

So i have decided to purchase my first Lipo battery for my RC10B4. I am running a Novak ss5800 brush less motor.

I don't race or do any competitive driving with this thing, i only use it for recreation, so i'm not looking for the best of the best, just a good quality, decent priced Lipo with a high capacity for extended use.

I currently have a 4200 mah 7.2 NiMH battery (used to be 6 cell.. one cell got screwed up so i rebuilt it as a 5 cell) so i would like to get a battery that has atleast as long of a battery life (15-20 minutes?)

i did some light research on Lipo's and have a vague understanding of the importance of the discharge, and i am well aware of the importance of charging, discharging and storing safety (my charger can handle Lipos)

I found this one battery, it seemed to have a decent price for the specifications it's offering, but i wanted to check with you guys before i went ahead and bought it. Any opinions or better alternatives?

http://www.all-battery.com/74volt-5000mah15cli-polylipobatterypack1-1.aspx

Thanks you guys! if there is anything else i should be aware or, or just general advice about Lipo or batteries in general feel free to share! (if i should be changing gear ratio for more powerful battery, etc)

Duster

[SamRCRacing]

With a 5.5t motor I can get 2 five minuet races in with a 5400mah 50c, http://www.m-k-racing.com/product_info.php?products_id=8698 this is a great lipo. My stepdad has the saddle version but they are the same specs. We only do 2 races to make sure but im sure it could do 15 minuets. Have you got a 'smart' charger? if you dont you will need http://www.m-k-racing.com/product_info.php?products_id=8925.

HTH

Sam

[colmo]

It doesn't sound like you need much - certainly not a £75 race spec lipo as suggested. As you don't race, there's little point getting a lipo on the BRCA homologation list, as they're always so expensive.

I would advocate a hardcase, though - lipos are well protected in a B4, but it only takes one freak occurrence to cause a puncture and thus disaster.

A quick search of ebay found this for under £30 delivered (click photo):
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqYOKpEE3uNLdC8bBOHwWFIEug~~0_12.JPG (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-4v-5000mAh-30c-Li-Po-Car-Hardcase-Top-Spec-Vapextech-/220813915101?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item336988f3dd#ht_2320wt_990)

Vapextech are UK based, reputable, and supply BRCA listed race packs (probably not this one though). 5000mah at 30C is 150A peak output, which is way more than you are using!

[DusterX17]

Thank you both of you for your prompt replies.

@Sam: 75 is a bit much for me, and on that note, i'm located in the US, so 75 pounds = 100+ dollars for me haha.
I do have a smart charger already, when i first bought all my equipment i planned for the future and tried to get the most versatile one. (don't have product name off hand, not home atm)

@colmo: that battery looks good, the price is pretty good too, does this company ship to the US though? 30 pounds =~ $45 (which is less than the one i linked with similar specs).

Do you know of any US equivalent companies? possible also in the sub $50 (30-35 pound ) range? I want to make sure i don't buy something too "budget" and end up having a potentially hazardous battery.

thanks again for prompt replies.

Duster

[colmo]

@colmo: that battery looks good, the price is pretty good too, does this company ship to the US though? 30 pounds =~ $45 (which is less than the one i linked with similar specs).

Do you know of any US equivalent companies? possible also in the sub $50 (30-35 pound ) range? I want to make sure i don't buy something too "budget" and end up having a potentially hazardous battery.

thanks again for prompt replies.

Duster

Hmm, not sure. The best lipos outside the UK I know of are the Turnigy Nano-tech batteries from Hobbyking. They're very good, and also very cheap, but have to be shipped from Hong Kong. Don't order any that aren't shown to have plenty of stock, you might have to wait a while! It might be worth getting 2 or 3, or pick up other sundries like wire, connectors etc to offset high shipping.

[DusterX17]

Thanks Colmo,

I checked out hobbyking, i was surprised at how low some of their products are priced, i know the Lipos can be made with different arrangement of batteries, etc.

so i saw these 2 batteries, similar in cost, but what do you think is better?

battery A: N5000.2S.25
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__11934__Turnigy_nano_tech_5000mah_2S_25_50C_Lipo_ Pack.html

battery B: N6000.2S.25
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__11938__Turnigy_nano_tech_6000mah_2S_25_50C_Lipo_ Pack.html


1s heavier, but more capacity, same cost, same voltage, and same discharge rate. i figured i'd get your opinion.

and comparatively to quality and cost, are these both better than the battery i first mentioned?
Battery C:
http://www.all-battery.com/74volt-5000mah15cli-polylipobatterypack1-1.aspx

thanks!

[colmo]

Those are both softcase lipos, not recommended for cars.

Look here instead:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=411&LiPoConfig=2

[BeachBuggyPhil]

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/%5F%5F11938%5F%5FTurnigy%5Fnano%5Ftech%5F6000mah%5 F2S%5F25%5F50C%5FLipo%5FPack.html
I run one of these in my SC10. It's a bit longer than a stock one but there is room in a b4 I think, I can check in a bit.
A soft case battery buried inside the chassis of a car under a large battery strap is pretty safe in my opinion.
I got nearly 40mins with a 10.5t Novak motor bashing around the grass dunes at Gwithian.

[jasjeet]

I can get ~40 minutes bashing out of a 4000Mah Turnigy 2s 7.4v Lipo with my 6.5T Fusion Exceed Combo. You can pick them up for about £25 on ebay. 35C is more than enough.

[DusterX17]

Thanks for the feedback guys,

@beachbuggy: that sounds pretty good, if the hard case ones that sam linked me to have similar capacity, but are hard case, i should see similar performance no? figured might as well be safer.

@jasjeet: Thanks for the recommendation, it seems Turnigy is good brand, i think i might get one of their 6000 mah, with 25C (should be more than enough too, for a car) they are a bit cheaper there too (especially from the "USA warehouse" given i'm in the US)

@Sam. i looked at that list of hard cases that you showed me, so i guess any decent hard case with the correct voltage/dimesions/ and discharge should do correct? i'm thinking this one here:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__19169__Turnigy_6000mAh_2S2P_7_4v_25C_hardcase_pa ck_USA_Warehouse_.html

they are USA warehouse, decent price (even with shipping) and smaller than its other 6000 mah sister battery.

only downside it has a 2C charge rate, vs 3C (but correct me if i'm wrong, 2C still means it can charge at 2 times the capacity in rate? so 2x 6000 ma = 12 A?) that is one heck of a charge rate... (unless they meant 2A)

Duster

p.s. sorry for my wordy replies, i talk alot <_<

[BeachBuggyPhil]

I'm having good results with the Nanotech version. They do big capacity hard case versions.

[DusterX17]

thank you everyone, just an update:

i ended up getting the:
T6000.2S.25HC/19169 Turnigy 6000mAh 2S2P 7.4v 25C hardcase pack

and it only cost me $35 with shipping (which equates to ~22 British pounds)
i'd say that's a solid price with delivery! especially from a reputable company, for a pretty nice capacity and discharge (for my application) :thumbsup:

anyhow, thanks again, for all your solid advice! :D

Duster

[BeachBuggyPhil]

Let us know how it works for you. My Nano tech saddles have been great in my Mardave again this evening.

[colmo]

thank you everyone, just an update:

i ended up getting the:
T6000.2S.25HC/19169 Turnigy 6000mAh 2S2P 7.4v 25C hardcase pack

and it only cost me $35 with shipping (which equates to ~22 British pounds)
i'd say that's a solid price with delivery! especially from a reputable company, for a pretty nice capacity and discharge (for my application) :thumbsup:

anyhow, thanks again, for all your solid advice! :D

Duster

It's not a nano-tech but those Turnigy packs are very popular with bashers. I note HK has a US warehouse, did you get it via that route?