B4 and Saddle pack lipos

[leelar]

I am thinking of getting some 4800 lipo saddle packs for my D4 but i am not sure if they will fit a B4 can anyone help please

[AmiSMB]

As long as each saddle is the same size as a subc saddle then you should be able to put them together so that the overall length is equal to a stick pack.

[RogerM]

Might be too tall to go under the B4 brace!!! Best check the dimensions.

[Al3xis007]

see this vid... yes they did the stupidest thing but could this happen if you accidentally charged a lipo on a nimh setting??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpUXuEg3fNE

[Cockerill]

Have you personally experienced a Lipo battery fail in such a spectacular way under normal RC conditions? Or do you just not like Lipo and want to scare people? Either way the end of your post was totally pointless, under no circumstances should/would anyone plug a lipo of any kind to a wall socket!

Personally I have never seen a Lipo fail under normal conditions, granted I have not been around them very long either tho. I have seen at least 2 NiMH cells go bang in a fairly major way under what I would call normal use (not BRCA Recommended tho), luckily there were no injuries.

Regarding saddle Lipo in a B4 I would do as Roger suggested and check the dimensions as can be found on www.trakpower.com

[Al3xis007]

i dont hate them, i was told about the video on youtube today. i havn't seen any NiMh blow up yet, even 2 chargers on a 5cell pack at well over 10amps. i know lipo's the future but we cant get too hyped about them if we're not allowed to use them at 1/10th OFF ROAD NATIONALS.

i had a saddle pack in 1 hand and a b4 in the other about 4 hours ago and it dont fit, sorry. its too tall, they'll fit in a b44/bj4/d4 tho.

[Al3xis007]

plugging a pack into a wall is stupid but the pack could do this if you accidentally charge it on your nimh setting

[mark christopher]

I am thinking of getting some 4800 lipo saddle packs for my D4 but i am not sure if they will fit a B4 can anyone help please
they fit the d4 but you need to lift the rear top deck by 3mm, and extend the battery posts
they will fit a b4 if your creative with the brace and how it fits
the 3200 saddle will fit in both with no mods
track power saddle pack lipo's wont fit in a b4, no way. i saw some today and they're HUGE!!!!!!!!! i tried the freebie pack given to 'the r-ace place' today and they dont fit in a xx4 cr or b4 :confused:.
doubt they'll be alowed for a while cause they go BANG:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpUXuEg3fNE
1/ that aint a trakpower pack
2/ thats abused to make it go bang
3/ they dont got bang if you use them in the manufatures guide lines

i dont hate them, i was told about the video on youtube today. i havn't seen any NiMh blow up yet, even 2 chargers on a 5cell pack at well over 10amps. i know lipo's the future but we cant get too hyped about them if we're not allowed to use them.

i had a saddle pack in 1 hand and a b4 in the other about 4 hours ago and it dont fit, sorry. its way too tall, they'll fit in a b44/bj4/d4 tho

you can use them they are allowed to be used under the BRCA at touring nationals and any other meeting unless regionals nationals dont allow em, ie the schumacher winter serries thats just gone


and again they do fit a b4 if you modify the battery strap, tho the 3200 saddles will fit in no modification in both
the 4900 stick is designed for the b4

think its fair to say your making some unfounded claims!! :thumbdown:

[Gayo]

If you plug your PC's mouse on a wall socket, I'm sure it will go bang too ! But does it means that we need to ban mouses ?

Let's ban wall sockets !

[leelar]

Cheers guys think i will get some 3200 so theres no messing around

[RogerM]

Mrk, I'm not asking for any other reason than curiousity but..........

what advantage does the 3200 lipo offer me over a NiMh of 4200+ mAh???

I am tempted to get a Lipo to use for practice sessions but it would need to give me an advantage over the NiMh cells I have (4500s by the weekend hopefully) and fit in the RB5.

You've always been helpful in the past with Lipo info so please don't let me down now!!! :D

[vader]

plugging a pack into a wall is stupid but the pack could do this if you accidentally charge it on your nimh setting

I hope you don't have any screw drivers in your toolbox as they can be lethal if you accidently stab yourself with them :woot:

Or travel to race meetings in a car as there deadly if you hit a wall at 100mph :woot:

Or we could all use a bit of common sense :thumbsup:

[Cockerill]

For equal capacity Lipo normally offer longer run times. A 3200 Lipo would probably offer the same or slightly longer run times than 4200 NiMH.

The 3200, 4900 and 5400 TrakPower packs fit straight into a B4/CR/B4 so I would assume they will fit into a RB5 as well. Looking at the dimension's on the TrakPower site the 3200 is lower than both the 4900/5400 so it may need some extra spacing.

The advantages of the Lipo are that they require very little maintenance and up keep compared to NiMH from my experience. This is great for a battery that will only be used for practice sessions. They can also be charged days/weeks before an event and still hold there charge.

It also means that your NiMH's will be kept in top condition for the races that count.

[RogerM]

Cockrill, thanks for the response. I am confussed about your comment that you get more run time mAh - mAh with Lipo ..... anybody explain how that works.

Pardon my ignorance but I know very little about this cell technology.

[bodgit]

have you thought about getting the trackpower 4900 they fit perfectly in my b4 and give great run times, as for charging them I use a much more ac/dc silent charger about £75 from dinball/ebay or £125 in gb. also use a charging pouch about £10. My b4 get plenty of abuse and the lipo,s are fine. I suppose any battery would explode if connected directly to the mains. Trakpower 4900 are Brca approved to ease your worries

[bodgit]

Cockrill, thanks for the response. I am confussed about your comment that you get more run time mAh - mAh with Lipo ..... anybody explain how that works.

Pardon my ignorance but I know very little about this cell technology.
Dont know exactly how they do it but you do get 2 full 5 min runs plus more from the 4900 packs (Ive had about 20 mins including pre race testing) They wiegh a lot less than nihm so have less work to do in my expierience they leave my nihm 4500 for dust. You just charge them up and as they have a very low self discharging rate you can charge them up weeks in adavnce and have no problems. A big plus is they do not need discharging, you just run them and recharge. If you do get them you must never let them drop below 6.2v. You can get the novak smart stop to do this simply connect to reciever and battery wires and the car will stop and a blue light lights up to let you know you have reached the lowest safety voltage for your lipo pack or your esc may have lipo protection built in.

[Cockerill]

Cockrill, thanks for the response. I am confussed about your comment that you get more run time mAh - mAh with Lipo ..... anybody explain how that works.

Pardon my ignorance but I know very little about this cell technology.

I don't know the science behind it, but I *think* Lipo have a lot lower IR, therefore they are capable of producing more Amps for a given voltage. I'm sure Mark C will be able to tell us exactly why it happens.

[jimmy]

I'd have thought the nimh getting hot to the touch whilst being used was itself using up energy?

[Lee]

Why do lipo`s become "unstable" once they drop below a certain voltage?

Surely when they are manufactured they dont start there life at 6V+??


Just curious, not having a go:)

[mark christopher]

sorry for the delay, wanted to get this right so asked trakpower direct

3200 seems like 4200 due to the way the cell works, because they sustain a higher voltage under load, (the science bit) the watt hours are higher than a nimh pack, this in turn reduces amps for the same output giving the cell a better ability to deliver thier capacity more efficiently, hence the packs dont get hot loosing efficincey and the 3200 lasts longer in run time


next

low voltage causes a chemical reaction in the pack this turns to heat, gases are created and fire can occur. this occurs under 3volts per cell
i presume when the packs are made there is a residual voltage in them from the chemistry
capacity is measured on a lipo FROM the cell being at 3 volts so a cell is at 3 volts, its charged then that will give you its capacity
by discgharging below this at high current draw will result in swollen/damaged packs. if you have left the pack plugged in over night and the draw is only low, the cell can still be damaged, but it is possible in some cases to recover the pack, i can unoficially tell you how when i have more time, its not the done thing but it can be done under close scruitiny

hope that helps a bit, any more questions and ill do my best to get you correct answers!

[RogerM]

Perfectly clear ...... as I always say ... everyday is a school day!!!

[Al3xis007]

you can use them they are allowed to be used under the BRCA at touring nationals and any other meeting unless regionals nationals dont allow em, ie the schumacher winter serries thats just gone

and again they do fit a b4 if you modify the battery strap, tho the 3200 saddles will fit in no modification in both
the 4900 stick is designed for the b4

think its fair to say your making some unfounded claims!! :thumbdown:

calm down mate everyone just wants to argue on this site

im talking about the 5000mah saddle pack not fitting in a b4 (not sure if they have been released, model images just got sent a pack and there was a b4 to hand)

[mark christopher]

calm down mate everyone just wants to argue on this site

im talking about the 5000mah saddle pack not fitting in a b4 (not sure if they have been released, model images just got sent a pack and there was a b4 to hand)

not arguing just dont like to see false facts
trakpower dont do a 5000 saddle pack???

i have a 4800 saddle, a 4900 and 3200 stick, 3200 saddle is on its way:thumbsup:

[modelimages]

Alex is referring to the 4900(*edit it's 4800*) track power saddle lipo pack i have been sent to trial, it wont fit in a xx4 and i am not sure how it will go in a b4 as the height is excessive.
john

[Lee]

Why are companies making batteries that will not fit in standard cars??


Or are these cells not initially designed for the RC market?

[mark christopher]

Alex is referring to the 4900 track power saddle lipo pack i have been sent to trial, it wont fit in a xx4 and i am not sure how it will go in a b4 as the height is excessive.
john
trakpower do NOT do a 5000 or a 4900 saddle pack, it IS 4800! www.trakpower.co.uk (http://www.trakpower.co.uk) a model shop employee/owner should know this or you could be false selling!
it will fit in a d4 b44 its a saddle pack made for saddle pack cars, but i will take a pic tonight of one in my b4! they will fit if you mount the strap differently, i fail to see though why you would awant to fit it in a b4, just use the 4900 stick pack, it fits in with no modification as thats whats its designed for

if you want a saddle in your B4 get the 3200 saddle which will be the same size as the 3200 stick pack hieght wise

[mark christopher]

Why are companies making batteries that will not fit in standard cars??


Or are these cells not initially designed for the RC market?

the 3200 saddle will fit with no modification, to get the 4800 capacity in the saddle they had to be taller, these will fit most cars with small mods
all the saddle packs from any manufacture (high capacity) as taller that a sub c pack

the 3200 and 4900 stick fit directly into the losi.kyosho.associasted 2wd cars with no mods
buy the pack that fits a b4, job done! :thumbsup:

[RogerM]

they will fit if you mount the strap differently, i fail to see though why you would awant to fit it in a b4, just use the 4900 stick pack, it fits in with no modification as thats whats its designed for


Possibly becasue they want 1 Lipo battery and have a saddle pack 4wd car!!!!

[mark christopher]

Possibly becasue they want 1 Lipo battery and have a saddle pack 4wd car!!!!
then do like im suggesting, buy the 3200 saddle, that will fit both no mods

of course if you did buy a stick pack and a saddle its still cheaper than 5 sets of nimh!

[RogerM]

5 sets? I have only ever run 3 sets since we went to NiMh cells, 2 runs per day each.

1 practice, 4 qualifiers, 1 final = 6 runs / 2 =3 packs of cells. Even if you regularly make A finals then you only need one more pack IMHO.

Not trying to argue but if anybody new to 1/10th off-road is reading this I believe that it's improtant they understand what is actually required.

It's sort of an irrelevence at the moment as you have to run NiMhs at meetings and can only use LiPo to practice. Next year may be different.


Great to know there is an option that will fit all 6 inline and 3x2 based cars though!!! Also great to know that quality info is available for those who feel differntly ... keep up the good work Mark!!!

[mark christopher]

Trakpower saddle in a B4

just to prove a point, here is my B4 with a Trakpower 4800 saddle fitted
to make it fit all i did was raise the thumb screw grub screws
the battery brace fits in the rear shock tower and luckily locks the rear of the cells in place

so in sumarry they DO fit with minimal modification to the car
http://www.mark.christopher.btinternet.co.uk/Webpictures/4800inb4/4900saddleinb4.1.JPG

http://www.mark.christopher.btinternet.co.uk/Webpictures/4800inb4/4800saddleinb4.2.JPG

http://www.mark.christopher.btinternet.co.uk/Webpictures/4800inb4/4800saddleinb4.3.JPG

http://www.mark.christopher.btinternet.co.uk/Webpictures/4800inb4/4800saddleinb4.4.JPG

Job Done!!

[RogerM]

Just one question ... does the body still fit on????

There is no way an RB5 would be able to have it's shell on with the pack sitting that high!!!!

[modelimages]

i do apologise, it is indeed a 4800. and it does not fit in a xx-4. i will try it in a Aero, which i think it will fit by extending the thumbscrew bolts. not sure about body clearance but we will see. yokomo next but i am doubtful without getting some sort of extended battery post, predator no chance it will foul the body.
john

[craigosh]

I just received mine today and it wont go in bj4 properly!!

i can get them in the car using longer screws through the straps, but the joining lead prevents the shell from going on, the balancing port is to high on the plug!!

Gotta say i'm unimpressed considering how long its taken to come to market! That it wont fit in cars it was supposedly designed to fit in. Had such high hopes after my great year with the 4900 stick i have. :thumbdown: :(

[jimmy]

The smaller capacity version will fit in all cars, but this version is a chunky one and really you need to test fit before buying to make sure it will fit.
Can you make a new joining wire with the plug solered at 90degrees?

[modelimages]

looking at marks pictures of his b4 it appears that is what he has done, might be a stupid question but why bring out a 4800 which doesn't fit all cars when you have the 3200 that does, what advantage does a 4800 have over the 3200 apart from capacity

[mark christopher]

Just one question ... does the body still fit on????

There is no way an RB5 would be able to have it's shell on with the pack sitting that high!!!!
yes loads room

[mark christopher]

looking at marks pictures of his b4 it appears that is what he has done, might be a stupid question but why bring out a 4800 which doesn't fit all cars when you have the 3200 that does, what advantage does a 4800 have over the 3200 apart from capacity

yup made the lead bit of wire and two corally plugs

the 4900 was released before the 3200 which is still in the final stages of being produced 4900 will fit many cars with some modification
maxamps high capacity pack is the same hight as trakpowers

4900 gives more capacity and a higher discharge output 20c x 4900 = 98 amps
3200 x 20c = 64 amps

is xx4 a current production car?

[mark christopher]

The smaller capacity version will fit in all cars, but this version is a chunky one and really you need to test fit before buying to make sure it will fit.
Can you make a new joining wire with the plug solered at 90degrees?
yup see my pics

[mark christopher]

I just received mine today and it wont go in bj4 properly!!

i can get them in the car using longer screws through the straps, but the joining lead prevents the shell from going on, the balancing port is to high on the plug!!

Gotta say i'm unimpressed considering how long its taken to come to market! That it wont fit in cars it was supposedly designed to fit in. Had such high hopes after my great year with the 4900 stick i have. :thumbdown: :(
make new joning cable
somin im going to ask trakpower to change i think more like the one in my pictures

attached is D4 instalation

[OldTimer]

looking at marks pictures of his b4 it appears that is what he has done, might be a stupid question but why bring out a 4800 which doesn't fit all cars when you have the 3200 that does, what advantage does a 4800 have over the 3200 apart from capacity

There is a thread on here from a while back, were myself and a few others said the 3200 saddle was the way to go, as it is a drop in replacement for pretty much any car which takes saddles or sticks.

Its good to see trakpower have listened to what was said :thumbsup: just need some one to bring out some big lumps of lead, as a 3200 will make the cars pretty light.

[PaulRotheram]

Those metal/lead plates that was brought out for 2wd cars seemed pretty good, all the weight low down, could be a good idea for some one to take up for the 4wd market to make some moola out of?:)

[mark christopher]

with uncased 3200 i have to add two strips of lead to my D4 between the cells between gearbox and suspension plate/diff
there well heavey are buggies any how

ill lay my 3200 stick pack on it a weight it tomorrow if i remember

[mark christopher]

There is a thread on here from a while back, were myself and a few others said the 3200 saddle was the way to go, as it is a drop in replacement for pretty much any car which takes saddles or sticks.

Its good to see trakpower have listened to what was said :thumbsup: just need some one to bring out some big lumps of lead, as a 3200 will make the cars pretty light.
the trakpower team watch this site and attend meetings, to get feed back, Trakpower dont like to sit back and not listen to thier end users:thumbsup:

[craigosh]

Well i just made a new link cable but not with the balancing port, as i didnt want to take the supplied one apart.

They should of made it like yours to begin with Mark, if i want to change it do i just take it off the existing cable and solder to the middle of a new bit?

I couldn't really get a chance to test fit it before buying, wouldnt of thought that many people will do! I was just assuming it would fit based on what i'd read in some of the other threads.

Dunno what to do with it now though really, keep it and run it or try and flog it and wait even longer for the 3200 version :rolleyes:

[mark christopher]

use the original lead for charging or pm me your address and ill post you a new 2mm connecter to make a balance port like mine thought like previous use the oringinal to charge /balance, just leave it pluged to your balance cable

use it till the 3200 come out and then if you dont like it flog it, the 3200 will be cheaper much like the stick pack prices

note this offer is for Craig only!!

[trf14]

Anybody a pic on how to install the 4800 saddle pack into a trf501x ?
thx:cry:
trf14

[chrispattinson]

Ive decided to get the Trakpower 3200 saddle packs for club racing, but can't find anywhere to purchase them. Can anyone suggest a UK model shop, thanks.

[mark christopher]

there not yet available so you will have to wait a short while