Battery 101?

[fleetz]

Hi Guys,

Having just bought the Traxxas Slash 4X4 I have but a few days to get up to speed on battery charging, handling and storing so I can pass this information on the people who will be using it.

The system will have a NiMH battery which comes with the Slash. What is the correct procedure to using these?

Will I need to charge it first?

Do they develop memories?

How do you store these batteries discharged or charged?

Is there a cut off on the Slash that knows when a NiMH battery is connected? When do you know when to stop using the battery when the car slows or stops?

I have purchased a IMAX B6AC charger however I am tempted to use the Traxx charger for charging this battery and not complicate the matter by using the IMAX.

Why did I buy the IMAX, well I purchased 2 LiPo batteries as well. This thread is written with these in mind. I have purchased a safety Poly Bag.

The batteries I have purchased are Turnigy 3S 11.1V 5000mAh 20C http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=9184 Sorry Alpine I was going to get the 2S 7.2V but the devil made me order the 11.1V !! Declan can practice on the NiMH

I have read and seen what happens to the LiPo if you don't hand and charge this type of battery. Some questions.

Will I need to charge it first?

The IMAX is a balanced charger it appear that charging them in the balanced mode is the best for the batteries?

Do they develop memories?

How do you store these batteries discharged or charged? Would they store OK in the Poly Safety bag?

When the batteries are charged what current do you recommend they be charged at? The IMAX I believe has an "AUTO" mode so I assume there is a manual mode which can have the charge current set. I would prefer to charge these LiPo batteries in the safest mode.

Any other handling and safety input would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry for the barrage of questions.

Regards,

Fleetz

 

[abadk9420]

Yes you will have to charge both the NiMh and Lipo batteries when you first get them, both should be stored at about 50-60% charged, as for the NiMh you will see a pretty big change in power when it dies, or what we call dumping because the battery just kinda dumps off, the lipo will be handles by the lipo cut off in the ESC, as for storage the lipo charging sack should be fine. The only thing that concerns me is the batteries you ordered have a really low C rating and might not be able to handle the draw that the Brushless system will be putting on them and cause to go bad or puff up, when you are drawling a lot of power and in the throttle a lot you want a battery that can respond to that demand, I could be wrong but that has been my experience with Lipo batteries. As for the charger you ordered it probably has different model memories for the batteries that can be preset for each battery type, size, and capacity that you have, safe way to charge is at .1 amp per 100 mah of battery capacity, so your 5000 mah lipo can be safely charged at 5 amps. Once you do it a couple times you will see that it is all pretty easy, have fun.

 

[fleetz]

Thanks for the feed back. Useful information.

Didn't realise these might puff up with use on the slash. I chose the 20C so there was a balance between performance and the length of time they would run. A 12 year boy will be using them in a non competitive situation of course they will at some point need replacing, what rating would you suggest for the Slash 4X4???

The Slash has a 166x49.5x25mm battery size which needs considering when selecting a battery.

Regards,

Fleetz

 

[abadk9420]

I would recommend at minimum a 30C but 40C would be best, they make a battery expansion kit so you can run a larger 3 cell, by going 3 cell the battery gets taller, I would also go with a hard case for added protection to the battery cells, here is a couple links to the expansion kit as well as a couple batteries.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXUVZ8&P=FR

http://www.hobbypartz.com/98p-40c-5000-3s1p-hardcase.html
http://www.hobbypartz.com/77p-sl4400-3s1p-40c-3333-hardcase.html

 

[pugs2300]

I would recommend at minimum a 30C but 40C would be best, they make a battery expansion kit so you can run a larger 3 cell, by going 3 cell the battery gets taller, I would also go with a hard case for added protection to the battery cells, here is a couple links to the expansion kit as well as a couple batteries.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXUVZ8&P=FR

http://www.hobbypartz.com/98p-40c-5000-3s1p-hardcase.html
http://www.hobbypartz.com/77p-sl4400-3s1p-40c-3333-hardcase.html

hey man...not to jack dudes thread but do you know if that make such a expansion kit for a stampede...

 

[abadk9420]

hey man...not to jack dudes thread but do you know if that make such a expansion kit for a stampede...

I came up with this for the Stampeed it cost $5.79

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXTKH2&P=FR

 

[evownsu]

just note...that the turnigy battery doesn't fit that well in the battery holder in the slash. I got the same battery a while back. For the money i am using the venom 3s 11.1....fit nice and easy

have fun