Who is in to buy LIPO?

SgRddY · February 07, 2008, 07:17:18 PM

Just wondering if anyone out there wanting to get in on LIPO purchase. Please reply.

WhoDoYouThink · February 07, 2008, 07:21:06 PM

Which LiPo?
From where?
Hard case?
How much?
Over-Discharge circuit built in?

SgRddY · 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.

Grinder · 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.

WhoDoYouThink · 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...

gotnitro · February 07, 2008, 09:46:13 PM

wow already a touchy subject

RC51 · 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

Shawn68z · 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.

Grinder · 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?

Shawn68z · 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.

Blake · 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

gotnitro · 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?

Shawn68z · 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.

Grinder · February 08, 2008, 01:04:24 AM

The GTX does NOT have LVC. Novak makes an external 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.

Grinder · 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.