RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Just bought myself one of these batteries.

http://alshobbies.com/shop/lookupstock.php?pc=48838

Thought it was a damn good price for the size so thought I share in case anyone else is interested.

I haven't tried it out yet, but also have a 5500mAh one of same dimensions and only comment is although will fit in the HL battery compartment where the lead comes out means it wont with out making a hole or something for it.

I tend to use Hobbyking, as they have reasonably priced batteries. I usually buy 2100 or 2200mah packs as LiPo packs seem to have a fairly short lifespan even when in storage. The smaller-capacity packs are cheaper to replace, and as I often kill my packs by overdischarging, spreads out my risk.

Interesting point about the life span. But with a larger capacity battery you’ll less likely to overdisharge it. My 5500mAh one I ran in my metal Tiger on the grass, and over three 20 - 30 minute sessions (across a few days) measured voltage at battery and was 7.0v so was far from empty. Charged the battery and took about 3750mAh so it still had 1/3 charge left.

But my main reason for the large capacity is for when I take to meets and battle events I shouldn’t have to worry about running out of charge.

r32 wrote: as LiPo packs seem to have a fairly short lifespan even when in storage.

Please explain? I have had the same lipo batteries for over 4 years and have not used most of them for every bit of 2. They are still at full charge and work just fine.. They are the hobby king hard case 4000's.. Lipo's need to be stored at full charge. I have ditched all of my NiCd / NiMh cells as they are the ones that take a dump in less than a year.

Just remember the batteries that are for sale have the deans connectors you will have to change one of the connections to deans or tamiya to get it to match a tamiya or HL tank.
Stevie

JayBrd wrote:

r32 wrote: as LiPo packs seem to have a fairly short lifespan even when in storage.

Please explain? I have had the same lipo batteries for over 4 years and have not used most of them for every bit of 2. They are still at full charge and work just fine.. They are the hobby king hard case 4000's.. Lipo's need to be stored at full charge. I have ditched all of my NiCd / NiMh cells as they are the ones that take a dump in less than a year.

I'm not sure if its because you have extraordinarily good luck or that I have extraordinarily bad luck but both me and my mate's cheap 2200mah packs died within 2 years (bloated). I keep mine charged all the time so that I can have a squizz with the tank around the house whenever I like. I suppose qualitatively the 5000mah packs might be better since they're intended for racing? I'm not sure, but mine are usually a 20c discharge only.

That could be just luck

But honestly that was the main reason I switched to lipo was the batt life and charge hold..


Although most of the mid range hobbyking batts are still cheaper than NiCd/NiMh packs so I guess it's a fair exchange. But I had to ask with seeing low life span on yours..

I still have some of my 1st lipo kicking around from 5yrs ago. Its matching the right battery for the right job.Balance Charging the battery,putting into a storage charge when not going to be used.

I'm not sure, but mine are usually a 20c.

If that is the type of battery you are using to power a tank or car. 20c is not enough. That type of battery would be used to power electronics on an nitro power heli as an example.
So go for a 30-35c and above. The burst charge of 20c is not enough with 2 motors on it. so it ends up cooking the battery over time.
hope this helps as to why yours don't last too long.

Dropping the battery voltage under 6v from over discharge also won't help the battery life.

I'm new to LiPo batteries and was told don't take battery below 50% capacity on first five or so goes and always charge in balance mode to help extend battey life.

Yes TB you are right on what you have said.
Once the Lipo has beded in. You aim to take the full charged battery to 90%. If you only use the lipo for a short time,say 30%, and will be using it again in a few days. Don't charge it back to full. Leave it and finish using the charge left. This will help in a Lipo's life span. Its not like the old type of batterys,as when left they kept dropping the charge. A lipo will hold its charge for months. One other thing unlike the old NiCd/NiMh packs ,when placing a lipo into storge they like it cold. This will keep the batteries over all condition much better.