pershing battery help!

[gliggsy]

Hi guys as the title suggests, I think that the battery in the M26 has past its sell-by date and don't seem to get more than ten minutes running time for about six hours charging, have done some trawling on the site but can't see anything regarding battery upgrade, would like to go lipo if possible and would appreciate any links to any info that may be relevant, thanks in anticipation ......glyn

[JayBrd]

Here you go...one of the best (cheapest) LiPo's I have ever had. I have raced with these with excellent results. I am now running them for my Tanks...

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbycity/stor ... roved.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You'll need LiPo low voltage alarm also unless running ElMod. They used to have one for them but do not list one anymore for some reason..

I'll be updating my build thread with how I wired it into the HL electronics soon..

[caddyshack]

The two main diffance bewteen the 2 batterys are ...the lipo must never be run below 3.1 per sell..also to charge a lipo you will need a good balance charger and a balancing board for that battery.

Charging a lipo...you must be aware that they can catch fire ..they swell up and go off like mini bombs.a charging bag is best to have.

your old battery many come back if you cycling the battery a few times..

hope this helps a little

[Dietrich]

Hi gliggsy,
I would look at buying a much better battery charger than the usual trickle chargers I use a PRO-PEAK VARIPULSE
http://www.wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/62954/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I paid less but this just shows you what it looks like and what it does.
It can fast charge the batterys and also slow charge them to 'recover' dead ones. On the fast charge mode it signals an alarm for 16 seconds ( Unless you hit a button ) to tell you that the battery is charged and ready to go.
I know that a lot of people like these Lipos but I guess that you NOT ONLY need to BUY the battery but ALSO need a specialist charger and then having to monitor the charge levels in a battery AND then it might blow up on recharge....is all a bit too scary for me.
I am not being funny guys,but I will stick to the old fashioned kind until this charger breaks and hopefully by then the Lipo technology will have been perfected or replaced by something a bit less 'Demanding' on money and watching it while it recharges, just in case.

[jackeb]

Hi,
That'll be you on the Heliguy forum then!
If it's the NiCad try deep discharging and charging a couple of times. That usually brings them back. If you go the li-po route get a li-po alarm and a decent balance charger. The Imax B6 (from Forgebear) is a pretty good bit of kit. I've used one for a while now, for the helis, and it's spot on. You can save loads of cash by getting a laptop power supply of fleabay for it.
Apparently Elmod don't do a li-po alarm because the latest Thinktank units have a low voltage monitor built in, but you'll need the configurator to connect to your PC to set it up (It's set up for 7.2 volt NiCads as default)! I run Elmod with 3 cell (11.1 volt), 2200mah li-po's, the same I use for my helis, and I get about an hour running. This set up give loads of grunt and my Tiger, pretty much, copes with any thing I throw at it.
I set my li-po alarm for 3.6 volts per cell, the same as I set my heli low voltage monitors, to give a good safety margin. It's best to always err on the side of caution with li-po's.
Providing you use a good balance charger explosions and fire are few and far between with modern li-po's. I've had one puff badly, but I accidently shorted that, and I've wrecked one by over discharging it.
Hope this helps.

[gliggsy]

thanks for the replies guys, I am aware of lipo technology and the inherent dangers and do own a decent lipo charger, I will however, try to recover the standard batt' first of all but will keep my options open for the time being, another question though, what sort of running time should I expect with the standard 1700 battery and yes you're right Jackeb, helis for flying and tanks for a little more relaxing time.......Glyn

[jackeb]

Obviously, being into the helis, you're well up with li-po's. There's a good chance you'll recover that NiCad.
Tanks are more relaxing, oh yes!

[caddyshack]

I hope my post didn't put you off in your quest to change battery types...

I just want to make you and others who may be thinking of swapping to Lipo thats is not just a plug and play thing (even coming down to possibly having to buy another charger)..

Also you must never charge or balance charge a lipo in your model you run the risk of losing them both..

I have many lipo that i use in helis planes cars etc..where weight to power comes into play..But in a tank i personally can't see any advantage its going to give over a good standed battery of around 5000mha.. After all in a tank we want weight to make it look and feel more realistic..

Also more Volts meens more heat on all of your electronics..7.2v in a 2 cell lipo is upto 8.4v..on a model that is not ment to ripp the grass up, i just can't see where a lipo comes into play in a tank..

I have been on the end of a lipo when charging that caught fire..its not good to say the least, always use a lipo bag to charge in and a bucket of salt water at hand if you see the lipo starting to swell.