Battery selection?

[akatz]

What's everyone running and I see there's much smaller Lipos than the standard ones?
I will probably stick to 2s until I get everything beefed up more.

[maslin]

Cheapo Venom 3s 3200 hardpack lasts a full hour for me. Good mix of crawling/track/bashing every day. 3300kv, MMP, etc.

[Beorn]

I use Magnum Energy 2250mah 3s packs. I love these packs, nice weight to run time ratio. I get about 45mins to an hour per pack (I sometimes get 1.5 hours when I'm only low speed crawling).
They make a 2s version but I haven't tried it. I buy these at my LHS (The Crawl Space) for about $25 per, sorry I haven't even looked online.
The Venom packs are great packs when they're new but have a nasty habit of bulging and dying soon thereafter.

[akatz]

Originally Posted by Beorn

I use Magnum Energy 2250mah 3s packs. I love these packs, nice weight to run time ratio. I get about 45mins to an hour per pack (I sometimes get 1.5 hours when I'm only low speed crawling).
They make a 2s version but I haven't tried it. I buy these at my LHS (The Crawl Space) for about $25 per, sorry I haven't even looked online.
The Venom packs are great packs when they're new but have a nasty habit of bulging and dying soon thereafter.

The bulging makes me nervous, if you buy a better quality battery is there less chance of that?

[maslin]

I haven't had any issue with the venom packs I have, a few onyx packs are pretty puffy. I've been using that same 3s pack for 2 years now, 4 or 5 cycles a week usually.

[ussprinceton2004]

I've heard good reviews for ValueHobby

[TacoCrawler]

Originally Posted by Beorn

The Venom packs are great packs when they're new but have a nasty habit of bulging and dying soon thereafter.

I have 4 Venom 3s 2100 25c LiPo's
have been used for 2 years... and probably 40 + charges each.
Not one sign of swelling.

Possibly you are charging them at too high of amperage... !?
or using a high amp, low wind motor, geared too tall.

I charge mine at 2.1 amps.
Not the fastest charge.
But it doesn't cause damage.

If I had a swelled LiPo...
it would no longer be used/discarded.

I've seen a few LiPo bursts...
and IMO... it is something to avoid.

Currently I'm also using the Hobby People 3s 2200mah 30c LiPo's
and they have worked just as good.
But cost less then the Venom's did.

Fact is... besides all the distributor name labels adhered
and distributed/sold to the public.

Most every LiPo sold anywhere comes from 3 sources mfgr'd in china.

so pick a distributor whom backs/warranties their product.

And don't over charge them... LiPo fires are no fun.

[akatz]

I balance my 4s in my 1/5 scale every time I have charged it and have done the same with my 2s venom, is it necessary to do every time?


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[mikl]

It may not be necessary, but it's certainly good practice to balance charge every time you charge.

[W1ck3d0n3]

I run anything for Eco Power and ProTek RC brand LiPo's and Ive had no problems with them.

[TacoCrawler]

Originally Posted by akatz

I balance my 4s in my 1/5 scale every time I have charged it and have done the same with my 2s venom, is it necessary to do every time?

My charger will not charge without the balance port plugged in.
So I guess it's balanced during each charge @ 2.1a

But on occasion I will set the charger mode to "balance"
and it charges at a lower amperage in that mode.
.5 amp during that mode. Takes longer too.
But I think it's good for it once in awhile...
As it insures the cells are slow charged equally.