RX18 Max Voltage

[Tankbear]

Hi Greentank1,

Good news it worked. Battry was flat so did a quick charge too 150mAh (about quarter charge). Plugged in turret and set it running until battery went flat, which was just over 6 minutes.

Only thingI noticed was when I tried using the airsoft the motors slowed down slightly and the airsoft struggled to run. This didn't happen with elevation or turret turn motors so might of been a bad connection or something.

Also after running it all I felt the electronics and didn't find any hot areas, even the motor heat sink was still cold. But this was all done with no load on the motors.

Hope that helps.

Ian

[greentank1]

Thanks for risking it. I use my battery (9.6v 700mAh) as a back up, haven't use that battery for about 6 months... I use it when all my batteries can't hold a charge. I read somewere that you can make a battery charge again when it won't charge...let me know if you want the link...(sorry if it is a little off topic, still talking about batteries, right?)

[Tankbear]

No worries wasn't really risking it as it is one I had removed from a tank and replaced with a RX18 so it was spare anyway.

Batteries I think as long as all the cells are fine should be able to recharge. The 9.6v I originally used was left in rc car for last 8-10 years so totally discharged but did a charge at was fine.

[greentank1]

Ok, so some batteries can last a long time, great. Has anyone try a lipo in a tank? All that I know about lipo's is that they don't like heat...or they are on fire or over charging them, they like catching on fire...

[Tankbear]

Like a say I think unless a cell fails batteries are good. As battries have cells in series if one goes it effects the circuit and basically makes the battery a dud.

Regarding LiPo yes using one in my Tiger with a load of metal parts so heavy. You've got to treat them very different to others. Special charger, etc. I read a lot of horror stories online but these are mainly because people treated them like regular batteries which led to fires etc.

If you go LiPo route you'll need a smart charger with balance mode, change to deans connector in stead on tamiya and also add a 10A fuse to protect your tank wiring.

Ian

[Tankbear]

Hi guys

Been a few months since my last post so thought I give an update.

I changed the DIY 3:1 gearboxes in the test tank for some Asiatam steel 3:1 I had removed from another tank. Now these latest gearboxes one of the motors was slightly faster than the other but with the extra juice form the 8cell battery it seems to exaggerate it further. Not really an issue as during use often turning etc.

I also bought a new battery 2600mAh 8 Cell as the previous only gave about 20 minutes run time. This one easily lasts over an hour twenty. Plus with a good 45minutes tough running over slopping lawn everything behaved as it should, only comment I have is the battery gets a bit warm but probably no hotter than the yellow HL 6 cell battery.

I like to say the electronics are still ok, but got to say yesterday I blew a RX18. Although I would say not because of the voltage but because I wire came loose and shorted something internally as it happened after I had been working inside and put the lid back on. Doh. Anyway put in another RX18 and all is running great again.

Ian.

[Dietrich]

Hi Tankguy,
I tried this and everything worked fine, for a while....but suddenly there was no 'sound' being made by the unit. I dropped back to the 7.2 volt and still no sound even with a new volume control...so the sounds maybe the first weak link, that fails with the increased voltage........
Alb.

[Tankbear]

Hi Alb,

Sorry to hear (No pun intended) your sound has failed. I'm now on my second RX18 and no issues yet, what revesion board is the RX18, all mine are rev 7.

Or alternatively have you anything else set up different i.e. different speaker, volume on max, etc.

Ian.

[twain7]

which one is the rx18? is it labeled on the board somewhere? i have an m1a2 with the 2.4ghz controler that came with the tank. I just ordered the upgraded version of this controler that is supposed to be able to handle lipos and more powerful motors but i still dont know which one is an rx18 so could someone help with this for clarification?

[Tankbear]

The rx18 is the older version before the 2.4ghz version came available. I Don't use the heng long electronics any more so don't know if the newer version can handle the higher voltage.