Went Completly LiPo

[abadk9420]

Well after years and years of running nicd and nimh I finally switched all of my RC's to lipo batteries, even my main radio now has a 3s 1450mah lipo, here is a couple of pics of my new slash and radio lipo's plus I have 4 more lipo packs for my crawler....

Slash Packs

Transmitter Packs

I switched the bullet connectors out for Deans Plugs on the slash packs. Just not in this Pic...

Crawler Packs the power wires have been switched to 12awg.

 

[slowngreen]

Nice, you will love them! Switching to lipo is the best thing you can do. I have trouble now trying to remember how to charge a NIMH lol.

 

[Rolex]

It's just a matter of time for all of us. I've even started thinking ahead with ESCs and brushless that can also run LiPos, and my helis are already made for them.
I already know there aren't many NiCads here any more since NiMH showed up.

 

[robmob]

The only NiMh packs I use are the receiver batts in my Baja's. Everything else is powered by LiPo.

I just picked up a LiFe pack for my 4PK and a new charger with the capability to charge it. Sadly my Checkpoint TC-1030 chargers will not charge LiFe/A123 packs.

There is a LiFe receiver pack available for the Baja and it's just a matter of time before I convert and be NiMh free at last.

edit: Just sold my old MRC 989 charger so I picked up a LiFe receiver pack for the Baja to try out.

 

[MotoGod]

3s in a Transmitter? Hmm.. What radio are you running?

 

[beason]

he says he has the 4pk.

 

[robmob]

My 3PK and sons 3PM both take a 3S LiPo transmitter pack.

he says he has the 4pk.

He isn't referring to me.

The 4PK actually only takes a 2S pack.

 

[h8z2luze]

I ran it in my xp3d and it worked fine but that was only for one course.

 

[abadk9420]

I am running it in my Hitec Lynx 3D radio, and I ran it a round the house as well as through 4 courses at my comp and the voltage only dropped like .2 volts, with my 8 rechargeable AA batteries I would have been recharging them again when I got home, not to mention they are only $7.50 each and are smaller, less expensive and lighter then the 8AA batteries they replaced.

 

[h8z2luze]

Is it to high of voltage for the tx though? I donno how that works.

 

[abadk9420]

Is it to high of voltage for the tx though? I donno how that works.

I don't think it is, because they peak at 12.6 volts, and that was right around where my 8AA pack that I made peaked out at, and it has worked just fine each time i used it....

 

[robmob]

Any transmitter that takes 8 AA's will work just fine on a 3S LiPo pack.

 

[beason]

my sensor runs on 4 AA what pack would you guys suggest?

also do any TX's have voltage cutoffs? or you just wing it?

 

[abadk9420]

I have no lipo cut off on my transmitter, but it shows me the battery packs voltage on my display screen so i figure when it gets down around 10 volts I will charge it to be safe, as for your sensor It would be running at 6 volts if your were using alkaline batteries, so you might be able to get away with a 2 cell lipo but I would check with the manufacture to make sure that it is not to much voltage...

 

[robmob]

I don't think any TX has a low voltage cut-off. That would actually be a bad thing since your RC will be on it's own if the TX was to shut off. LOL

Some of the high end ones have a low voltage alarm that goes off when a certain voltage is reached. My 3PKS will start beeping. I assume the 4PK is the same.

If you don't have a low voltage alarm on your transmitter, then you really have to keep track of how long you have gone since you charged it last.

 

[abadk9420]

I don't think any TX has a low voltage cut-off. That would actually be a bad thing since your RC will be on it's own if the TX was to shut off. LOL

Some of the high end ones have a low voltage alarm that goes off when a certain voltage is reached. My 3PKS will start beeping. I assume the 4PK is the same.

If you don't have a low voltage alarm on your transmitter, then you really have to keep track of how long you have gone since you charged it last.

Unless your Tx is like mine and has a screen with the batteries voltage diplayed on it, LOL!!!!!

One other thing you want to make sure of with using a LiPo battery in a TX is that you do not leave the battery plugged in. Even though the Tx is off it will continue to discharge the battery and ruin the battery and possibly the Tx, I have heard of this happening which is why I am passing this bit of info onto all of you...

 

[Lessen]

I will also finally be making a transition to Lipo with my boat project. I see no reason to not go lipo in the boat and that will require a charger which I figure it's about time to upgrade my charger anyways. So that will start the process for me.

 

[robmob]

I will also finally be making a transition to Lipo with my boat project. I see no reason to not go lipo in the boat and that will require a charger which I figure it's about time to upgrade my charger anyways. So that will start the process for me.

What charger do you use now?

 

[abadk9420]

I currently use a Ice charger with a Common Sence balancer that can be used while charging or by its self to keep the packs balanced, I prefer to use it while the batteries are charging, and i also have a Venom 2-3 cell balance charger that works great for smaller Lipo batteries like my crawler and Tx packs.

 

[beason]

i have the vemon pro, and love it. it will do nicd, nimh, lipo, life, and even lead acid. I charged the battery in my 1:1 truck with it last night. it comes with about every charge plug you could imagine, along with alligator clips, and some bare end ones you can put ends on. it also comes with a lipo balance connector. it will do AC or DC as well.

on my TX the sensor does have low voltage alarms, but i need to check if it is adjustable. I will also alert me if the RX battery is getting low.