Basics of Batteries

[Freddybnj_2004]

Hi... can anyone give me a rundown of batteries...
I understand Nihm Vs NiCad, MAH is the runtime, Volts 1.2 is the power it gives, and You put batteries in a pack to gain more power.(depending on how much your motor and ESC can handle..
Matched cells are better because (a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link)....
WHat else is there to know about batteries when deciding to buy some.. I want to buy batteries to make my own pack.. but what about sizes? AA , AAA , sub C???? WHat is the difference in sizes?
Does Size really matter?
Also if anything I wrote above is inccorect please clearify... Thanks....

p.s. If money was not a consideration what would be the best batteries out there and why?

 

[lykan]

A not for you. Recharables are 1.2 volts, where as alkalines are 1.5v. More volts=more speed/power availible for the driven motor. More cells=higher voltage.

Running 4 aa recharables sets you at 4.8v(rx and servos are buiolt for 6v), this means your servos could possibly turn slower, and not have as a good a response time. Some people use 4 rechargables and it works, It just isn't what it's desighned for.

They make a battery called a 2/3 aa they are a little shorter, and seem to bea little chubbier. You can actually fit 5 2/3 aa's in the spot 4 regular aa's would go.

5 2/3aa rechargable batteries in a pack will provide you with 6volts, as well as adding another cell. Most good rx packs on the market for the maxx, etc, are 5 aa's at 2/3 the size.

My generic 5 cell hump pack in the maxx lasts a good day and half.

My thoughts for you would be a 5 cell pack made of 2/3 batteries. Of course of the nihm type. They last a lot longer and have no "memory"

Last suggestion, get a good chager. Your batteries are only as good as the charger too. you want to make sure you can get a good clean full charge, without every having to worry about overcharging.

Me, I had an old radio shack r/c with the 9.6v sport packs made of aa's. I just cut open the packs, and bought a 1.39 battery box. When they are all dead, I put them in the battery box, and peak charge them as if they were an electric sportpack.

Gluck, any more question's just ask. It gts confusing quick

 

[mattyk6]

I have to point out one thing about lykan's post:
"More cells=higher voltage" - only if wired in series, if wired in parallel, the voltage stays the same.

Most electric car's and trucks run off 6 sub-c cells for 7.2 volts. The best sub-c batts right now are the GP3300s.

IMHO, the two best place to buy racing batts would be from ProMatch or SMC. If you are just bashing, I would get the cheapest GP3300 batts that you can find.

Matt

 

[Freddybnj_2004]

Okay... but what is the difference between a 2/3 aa and a 2/3 c?
Does one have more power or just higher MAH? What about for a HPI RS4 Micro? Also a TA TC3... any differnces?

 

[lykan]

A not for you. Recharables are 1.2 volts, where as alkalines are 1.5v. More volts=more speed/power availible for the driven motor. More cells=higher voltage.

Running 4 aa recharables sets you at 4.8v(rx and servos are buiolt for 6v), this means your servos could possibly turn slower, and not have as a good a response time. Some people use 4 rechargables and it works, It just isn't what it's desighned for.

They make a battery called a 2/3 aa they are a little shorter, and seem to bea little chubbier. You can actually fit 5 2/3 aa's in the spot 4 regular aa's would go.

5 2/3aa rechargable batteries in a pack will provide you with 6volts, as well as adding another cell. Most good rx packs on the market for the maxx, etc, are 5 aa's at 2/3 the size.

My generic 5 cell hump pack in the maxx lasts a good day and half.

My thoughts for you would be a 5 cell pack made of 2/3 batteries. Of course of the nihm type. They last a lot longer and have no "memory"

Last suggestion, get a good chager. Your batteries are only as good as the charger too. you want to make sure you can get a good clean full charge, without every having to worry about overcharging.

Me, I had an old radio shack r/c with the 9.6v sport packs made of aa's. I just cut open the packs, and bought a 1.39 battery box. When they are all dead, I put them in the battery box, and peak charge them as if they were an electric sportpack.

Gluck, any more question's just ask. It gts confusing quick

 

[NooP]

Running 4 aa recharables sets you at 4.8v(rx and servos are buiolt for 6v), this means your servos could possibly turn slower, and not have as a good a response time. Some people use 4 rechargables and it works, It just isn't what it's desighned for.

Not 100% true. I have seen some Rx say they can handle up to 10v, but what matters is what your servos can handle. Most servos run on either 6v or 4.8v. Most manufactures also give specs for both voltages. Some servos also can only run on 4.8v. Like this one here.

Before you decide how much voltage you put to your servos, you should see what the manufacturer recommends.

--NooP