Brushless / LiPos on a budget

[farmboy]

Hi

Does anyone have any general advice on moving over to brushless motors and to lipos (not necessarily at the same time)?
I've a small amount of experience of lipo batteries, having had a few contra rotating helis but assume no proper knowledge!

Thanks in advance.

[Si Coe]

Well it depends on what you plan on doing. For just basic bashing or club running there are some very cheap but not BRCA approved brushless systems like the EZrun (do a search on ebay) which cost less than a motor from LRP or Novak but offer a full system that is surprisingly competitive.

Lipo wise it depends on your brushless system and how you plan to use it, but you can pick up 25C Lipos in the 3500mAh region for about £40. Again they tend not be be BRCA approved but they are hardcased, from reputable manufacturers and perfectly safe.

[farmboy]

Thanks!

[coolcars782]

you can pick up 25C Lipos in the 3500mAh region for about £40. Again they tend not be be BRCA approved but they are hardcased, from reputable manufacturers and perfectly safe.

Microtech racing, Trakpower 3600mAh 35c, £40.86 (http://www.microtechracing.com//product_info.asp?name=TRAKPOWER+3600MAH+2S1P+30C+&ID=17895&Pcat=BATTERIES&cat=LIPO+PACKS) :thumbsup: BRCA legal aswell CLICKY (http://www.microtechracing.com//product_info.asp?name=TRAKPOWER+3600MAH+2S1P+30C+&ID=17895&Pcat=BATTERIES&cat=LIPO+PACKS)

[Huckster522]

Depending on budget levels, you cant go wrong with a Losi xcelorin combo.

both sensored and sensorless are available for a really good price at
www.dms-racing.com (http://www.dms-racing.com)

use sensored if you plan on doing competitive racing or sensorless if your are only bashing and dont need precise power control.

other options are to keep a lookout on places like ebay for some good prices on seperate controllers and motors etc.
I picked up a new team orion 70amp controller and xcelorin 10.5 motor for my stepsons xx4 and only paid £72 for the pair.

others have already answered on Lipo's, but keep in mind when buying you will also need a good balance charger and leads to keep the lipo's working at peak perfomance, thus adding to the outlay.

[Si Coe]

Fusion Exceed (http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=ShowSpecification&ItemID=34311) is cheaper than the Losi, plus less likely to explode in a cloud of white smoke!

Balance charging is seriously overrated. As a rule I give up balancing my packs about 6 months back, and just regular charged. Since I'm only racing my packs are never flattened, just topped up.
Due to the snow and being stuck in I decided to balance charge a few packs, and was surprised to discover they weren't out of balance at all.
In any case a charger like this (http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=ShowSpecification&ItemID=32526) can balance and comes with all the leads for £50.

[Marvin]

I'd tend to agree Si Coe, but balancing doesn't add any charge time (really) if the cells are very closely balanced/matched. Not balancing for extended periods would be something I'd only suggest if you have packs from a brand where you feel their cell matching is top-notch. The better matched the cells, the less they should (theoretically) discharge at different rates - hence the voltage difference and balancing.

[Huckster522]

Fusion Exceed (http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=ShowSpecification&ItemID=34311) is cheaper than the Losi, plus less likely to explode in a cloud of white smoke!

I only recommended the losi combo as "bang for buck" i think they are very worthwhile(everybody has there personal opinions of setups), with exceptionally fast motors.
I myself have had one packup, but the speed and service from horrizon hobby soon got me running again.

In any case a charger like this (http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFunction=ShowSpecification&ItemID=32526) can balance and comes with all the leads for £50.

I was only stating that this was another factor to consider in cost and budget as he may have only had a Ni-Mh charger at moment.

[Luis]

Mathed cells sold by trackpower and such, retain equal voltage,
but a lower cell voltage could destroy the pack, and over voltage
could make the pack instable I think.

[Chris-S]

Worth looking at DemonPower for batteries: http://demonpowerproducts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=46_142&products_id=4259

[dodgydiy]

i use demon 3600 hard cased lipo's and they are fine, have not had any problems with them, although they can take a little time to balance if you dont do it frequently, this is not an issue to me as i balance on every charge after the experience of a bad cell in a plane pack becoming a balloon on charge. demon charger seems good too, i have had no problems at all with mine and its relatively easy to use. take a look at the ezrun stuff if you are not likely to do brca meetings, have had a very positive experience with mine and no problems with them at all unlike my freind with the excelorin smoke machine speedo! i have 1 9turn with 35Aesc in a 2wd buggy, 1 13 turn with 35A esc in a touring car and 1 18A esc in my homemade 1/18 buggy

[AaronX6]

I have been running the ezrun 5.5 system for over 12 months and lots of racing, no problems and very competitive.
A great first time system, as you improve and want to run nationals just change the motor for an Mtroniks 5.5 motor, no rules as to what speedo you run. For the price worth the risk. :D