Island Radio Operated Car Club

Racing Topics => Electric Touring => Topic started by: SgRddY on February 07, 2008, 07:17:18 PM

Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: SgRddY on February 07, 2008, 07:17:18 PM
Just wondering if anyone out there wanting to get in on LIPO purchase.  Please reply.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: WhoDoYouThink on February 07, 2008, 07:21:06 PM
Which LiPo?
From where?
Hard case?
How much?
Over-Discharge circuit built in?
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: SgRddY on February 07, 2008, 07:30:29 PM
Not sure yet.  Just trying to get some ppl together to get a better deal.  Any suggestion?  Since there won't be a club purchase maybe we should get together and decide.

Which LiPo? Maybe Trinity?
From where? Maybe from Phil?
Hard case - yes
Over-Discharge circuit built in - yes
How much? I guess depends on my many we are going to buy.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Grinder on February 07, 2008, 09:10:08 PM
I think Jody is working out a deal on LiPo - I'm sure he'll post the info here.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: WhoDoYouThink on February 07, 2008, 09:30:53 PM
"I think Jody is working out a deal on LiPo - I'm sure he'll post the info here."

That's what I understood as well at the Executive meeting... that, and/or something through Phil/T Bang.

That's why I was asking Ken what he had in mind. It appears Ken was just fishing and doesn't  have any "sweet deals" lined up as far as LiPo's go.

Oh well...
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: gotnitro on February 07, 2008, 09:46:13 PM
wow already a touchy subject
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: RC51 on February 07, 2008, 11:01:51 PM
Club purchase pricing was passed to the executive prior to the meeting.

I think it's great to get TrakPower from Jody and Kurk or other execs. I am sure the packs are great and the prices is as well.

They are still available elsewhere, too, so whatever works best for racers in terms of price, quality, warrantee and service is  most important. Just make sure that your voltage cutoff is either embedded in the pack or your esc.

Happy racing.

Phil
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Shawn68z on February 07, 2008, 11:25:50 PM
Sure I am in.  There are two main (real) options to run. Phil has them both. If you want the low voltage protection built in, then the Trinity 4500 Mah is the only pack to choose. To my knowledge its the only pack with built in protection.

As for with out the protection, the two best LiPo are TrakPower 4900 (gold), and the Team Checkpoint 5400 (made by Trakpower).

Apagee makes a 5800 Mah LiMn that is actually safer then any lipo, but doesnt have a hard case.  

MaxAmps batteries refer to a hard "skin", but i dont think it really counts as a hard case though.

Shawn.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Grinder on February 07, 2008, 11:44:12 PM
LiMn (Apogee) doesn't need a hard case.

What are you refering to as protection?  Low voltage cut off would need to either (most) plug into the ESC or have some very high current inline cut off - I suspect it wouldn't have the high current inline cut off... are you sure it isn't built in balancing?
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Shawn68z on February 08, 2008, 12:22:12 AM
Quote from: "Grinder"LiMn (Apogee) doesn't need a hard case.

What are you refering to as protection?  Low voltage cut off would need to either (most) plug into the ESC or have some very high current inline cut off - I suspect it wouldn't have the high current inline cut off... are you sure it isn't built in balancing?

Trinity says there LiPo pack has a Low Voltage Cut Off circuit built into the pack, so it doesnt matter what speed controller its plugged into it.

I am thinking of running the LiMn just because of the increased safety of the LiMn battery. Alittle more expensive, but well worth the money.

Shawn.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Blake on February 08, 2008, 12:47:41 AM
Quote from: "RC51"Just make sure that your voltage cutoff is either embedded in the pack or your esc.

Phil raises a very important point here.  We need some LiPo safety tips/practices posted soon by some of the LiPo "aware" members.  These batteries can be damaged by over charging and over discharging and therefore all IROCC members must know what they're dealing with - especially if you're running older ESCs and chargers.


Blake
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: gotnitro on February 08, 2008, 12:50:25 AM
so the Novak GTX should be okay but do i need something to protect the battery and esc?
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Shawn68z on February 08, 2008, 12:52:09 AM
Quote from: "gotnitro"so the Novak GTX should be okay but do i need somethi
ng to protect the battery and esc?

You can either run the Trinity 4500, (which has low cut off circuit) or use this.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXPGM8&P=7

Shawn.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Grinder on February 08, 2008, 01:04:24 AM
The GTX does NOT have LVC.  Novak makes an external  (http://www.teamnovak.com/products/lipo_cutoff_module/index.html) LVC.  If you maintain your battery properly you don't need a LVC - add it if you don't want to have to worry about it.

I'm leary about the Trinity LVC.  Does it plug into your reciever?  If not how does it turn off the battery?  Anything inline on the power is going to have some sort of voltage drop - some devices worse than others.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Grinder on February 08, 2008, 01:09:11 AM
Quote from: "Shawn68z"
Quote from: "Grinder"LiMn (Apogee) doesn't need a hard case.

What are you refering to as protection?  Low voltage cut off would need to either (most) plug into the ESC or have some very high current inline cut off - I suspect it wouldn't have the high current inline cut off... are you sure it isn't built in balancing?

Trinity says there LiPo pack has a Low Voltage Cut Off circuit built into the pack, so it doesnt matter what speed controller its plugged into it.

I am thinking of running the LiMn just because of the increased safety of the LiMn battery. Alittle more expensive, but well worth the money.

Shawn.

LiMn is about 10-20% heavier for the equivalent LiPo (not an issue - we will have to add weight anyhow even with LiMn) however it is not flamable.  If the specs or any of the testing I've done on them for the past year and a bit they have about 5x the life cycle of LiPo and they can be charged at 4C (not that your charger will be able to put that much current out...)  I can't speak for the Apogee as I believe they are a different manufacture but I've heard they are good.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: SgRddY on February 08, 2008, 10:13:20 AM
yes i was fishing.  maybe it's too early or no one seem to be offering any group buy so i thought i get the thread started.  i am not the track all winter long so they might be offers that i have missed.  please post here if you guys decided on what to do with LiPo.

thanks.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: RC51 on February 08, 2008, 10:30:52 AM
Hi, Ken.

I did offer a club buy to the exec but it wasn not supported or passed on to the membership here. You can see the details in the other post from Tom yesterday. On a related note, we have set up a dealer account with MaxAmps and with Tekin! More options for everyone.

Phil
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Shawn68z on February 08, 2008, 12:07:53 PM
Quote from: "Grinder"
Quote from: "Shawn68z"
Quote from: "Grinder"LiMn (Apogee) doesn't need a hard case.

What are you refering to as protection?  Low voltage cut off would need to either (most) plug into the ESC or have some very high current inline cut off - I suspect it wouldn't have the high current inline cut off... are you sure it isn't built in balancing?

Trinity says there LiPo pack has a Low Voltage Cut Off circuit built into the pack, so it doesnt matter what speed controller its plugged into it.

I am thinking of running the LiMn just because of the increased safety of the LiMn battery. Alittle more expensive, but well worth the money.

Shawn.

LiMn is about 10-20% heavier for the equivalent LiPo (not an issue - we will have to add weight anyhow even with LiMn) however it is not flamable.  If the specs or any of the testing I've done on them for the past year and a bit they have about 5x the life cycle of LiPo and they can be charged at 4C (not that your charger will be able to put that much current out...)  I can't speak for the Apogee as I believe they are a different manufacture but I've heard they are good.

4C Charge Rate?  How about two chargers in parrallel ?  :twisted:

Where can I get some more information about the LiMn batteries? Apogee is the only source I have been able to locate.  Another nice thing is the Apogee 5800 is only 18mm high, which means I dont have to grind my T2 bulkheads.

Shawn.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: SgRddY on February 08, 2008, 01:07:42 PM
Quote from: "RC51"Hi, Ken.

I did offer a club buy to the exec but it wasn not supported or passed on to the membership here. You can see the details in the other post from Tom yesterday. On a related note, we have set up a dealer account with MaxAmps and with Tekin! More options for everyone.

Phil

Anyone in with the offer from Phil?
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Shawn68z on February 08, 2008, 01:38:23 PM
Quote from: "SgRddY"
Quote from: "RC51"Hi, Ken.

I did offer a club buy to the exec but it wasn not supported or passed on to the membership here. You can see the details in the other post from Tom yesterday. On a related note, we have set up a dealer account with MaxAmps and with Tekin! More options for everyone.

Phil

Anyone in with the offer from Phil?

Yeah I am in with you ken. $105 for the trak power is a great price, and $75 for the trinity is great too.

Are you making a list or shall I?

Shawn.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: SgRddY on February 08, 2008, 03:19:40 PM
If you could make the list Shawn, it would be great.

Thanks.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: haddow on February 09, 2008, 02:49:48 AM
Quote from: "WhoDoYouThink""I think Jody is working out a deal on LiPo - I'm sure he'll post the info here."

Sorry, cant list a price
Phil has set prices so low that dura-lite is not going to even bother posting a price.

I could get a bit of a discount, but higher than 105, and it would have to be a bulk order, so I dont even want to go there.

J
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: RC51 on February 09, 2008, 11:31:26 AM
Quote from: "haddow"Phil has set prices so low that dura-lite is not going to even bother posting a price. I could get a bit of a discount, but higher than 105, and it would have to be a bulk order, so I dont even want to go there.

Hey, J.

Yeah, this is a one-time purchase while we have the stock. Prices will go back up after this purchase. The prices is available to IROCC guys only and there are a few members who still bitch about it or make up stories, right guys? :wink: We just looked at what is what and wanted to give the best price we could and let the club make the choices.  The price we quoted is the best, bottom line price we could do. Batteries are always a losing venture and we carry them not because we want to, but because racers need them.

Re: LVC, we are having *issues* with the NOVAK sourcing because T-Bang is racer-focused, has low prices and threatens the brick and mortar stores. These were almost verbatim responses and I have been on the phone with a couple of the cdn sources. However, MaxAmps has come to the party and they have an inline version. For those who are into the LiPo shift, let me know what your thoughts are about this and we can bring it in: http://www.maxamps.com/CellProLVC.htm
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: RC51 on February 09, 2008, 11:36:48 AM
BTW, if you have questions about the product, please go to their website. Thanks!

P.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: Grinder on February 09, 2008, 03:11:10 PM
Just a word of caution I've used some LVC circuits that don't work with the DSM recievers (LipoShield was one).  Find out if the one you want to get is compatible with your equipment.  That may have all changed and they all work with everything now but just FYI.....
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: RC51 on February 09, 2008, 03:55:58 PM
Excellent advice, Kurk. I didn't know about this.

P.
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: haddow on February 09, 2008, 05:28:50 PM
Quote from: "RC51"Hi, Ken.

I did offer a club buy to the exec but it wasn not supported or passed on to the membership here. You can see the details in the other post from Tom yesterday.
Phil

The exec is not stopping the club from moving forward with a group buy from you. The exec is also not going to post pricing and details of your business offerings in an official post as you suggest tom should have done in his post about the seasons rules. We would have let the club know about your pricing but rather in person at the races. Your post above also makes it sound like the exec has prevented the "membership" from getting a good deal or that we have blocked it in some way. Please try to keep the exec decision making and announcements separate from your business ventures. Another thing the exec has been discussing is a new forum on this site that will be created just for commercial related posts, look for that soon.

Thanks

Jody
Title: Who is in to buy LIPO?
Post by: RC51 on February 09, 2008, 05:44:49 PM
Okey Dokey. Group buys are just easier to manage. I've had approx 30 PMs in the last two days. Crazy. Thanks for taking the batteries on, Gord. I'll take the tire details tonight. I had to post price since there was no way I could keep up individually. It's underway as it is. A commercial forum is a great idea particularly if people need financials right away.

P.