RCCrawler Forums

acrosteve · 08-16-2009, 10:30 AM

I have two different saddle packs that use the Elite 1500 NiMH 1500 mAh cells. One pack is 6 cells and the other is 7.

For charging purposes, what is the actual capacity of each that I chould put in my charger settings?

Thanks

ultimate_monkey · 08-16-2009, 10:37 AM

generall you want to charge at 1amp per 1000mah rating, so both you would want to charge at 1.5 amps, but 1 or 2 amps (what most "cheaper" chargers have for settings will do just fine.

but it sort of sounds like your charger you can set the where it peaks... so i would set it at 1500mah, just like the batteries are rated at

JeremyH · 08-16-2009, 10:59 AM

Some folks will charge them at higher currents, but I like to stick with 1C for mine. For example....if I have a 1500mAh pack, then I charge at 1500mA. The number of cells will not matter when selecting a current at which to charge....it simple increases the output voltage.

Offroader5 · 08-16-2009, 11:00 AM

The "capacity" of both packs is the same...1500mah. The voltage is the only difference (7.2v vs. 8.4v)

squatch71 · 08-16-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Offroader5

The "capacity" of both packs is the same...1500mah. The voltage is the only difference (7.2v vs. 8.4v)

yep

I charge mine less than 1C...just to keep the packs from being cooked..even thou they won't...gives me the peace of mind.

acrosteve · 08-16-2009, 03:44 PM

OK. I guess that makes sense.

I can change my charger sittings in .1 amp increments, so whatever I want.

I understand the 1c guide. Do you guys feel that is an across the board thing, or do you sort of have a limit?

In other words, I also have a couple of 5000 mAh packs and have not been charging them at the full 1c - 5 amps. Just thinking that might be a little much for some reason. I have been using 3 amps.

squatch71 · 08-16-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acrosteve

OK. I guess that makes sense.

I can change my charger sittings in .1 amp increments, so whatever I want.

I understand the 1c guide. Do you guys feel that is an across the board thing, or do you sort of have a limit?

In other words, I also have a couple of 5000 mAh packs and have not been charging them at the full 1c - 5 amps. Just thinking that might be a little much for some reason. I have been using 3 amps.

I charge my 3300 mAh at 2A. This is what I was saying earlier...more of a peice of mind thing...but Some do charge the 5000 mAh at 5A with no problem. Charge what makes you feel good....when I charged at 3.3A, the battery felt to warm for my liking...back in the day we use to charge our batteries in those pop cooler holders...just to keep the batteries cold...

acrosteve · 08-16-2009, 06:13 PM

So, if I wanted to convert a 6 cell to a 7 cell pack, I can't really mix and match.

Adding one of the cells from a 1500 pack would not work with the 5000.

clockworks · 08-17-2009, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acrosteve

So, if I wanted to convert a 6 cell to a 7 cell pack, I can't really mix and match.

Adding one of the cells from a 1500 pack would not work with the 5000.

No. It's important that the individual cells in a pack are the same.

JeremyH · 08-17-2009, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acrosteve

So, if I wanted to convert a 6 cell to a 7 cell pack, I can't really mix and match.

Adding one of the cells from a 1500 pack would not work with the 5000.

Only if the capacity of the individual cells is the same, which I doubt...

Offroader5 · 08-17-2009, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyH

Only if the capacity of the individual cells is the same, which I doubt...

Well...since he said a cell from a 1500 pack to a 5000...I'm going to assume that they are not the same capacity

acrosteve · 08-17-2009, 05:32 PM

Yep.

How many cells can a Sidewinder take? I know 7 is the limit for the Rooster on my son's rig, but can the Sidewinder take 8?

I can't really do anything with the 5000's, but I have a total of 19 1500cells so I could get two 8packs out of them.

Ghost · 08-17-2009, 05:59 PM

Yes you can get 2 8 cell packs from 19 cells, with 3 left over, 2x8= 16 cells
hope that helps
you can go 3 cell lipo with a 4600 kv brushless with a sidewinder, I have run a 8 cell nimh with no problems.

squatch71 · 08-17-2009, 07:34 PM

I think the max on a sidewinder is 12 cell nimh or 2S lipo....

goodoldlevi · 08-17-2009, 08:31 PM

The sidewinder can handle a 3s. It has the same capabilities as the mamba minus the direct usb connection.

4600:
Up to 3s LiPo
5-12 cell NiMH**
5700:
Up to 2s LiPo
5-8 cell NiMH

squatch71 · 08-17-2009, 08:39 PM

thanks for the correction...the reason I could remember it went up to a 2S was I was looking at the 5700kV...

stand corrected.

goodoldlevi · 08-17-2009, 09:03 PM

My mind is in crawler mode as for the two being comparable

Its all good and IMO castle products are great. Until you try or see a truck running a 3s you wont believe the wheelspeed difference jumping up to 11.1v. My 35 turn on 3s 1300 lipo is almost twice as fast a my friends 35 with a 1600 nimh 6 cell and we both have comparable run times of about a half an hour of constant crawling. I would also stick with the advice given obove and charge at 1 amp. I burnt up two of my 1600 saddle packs trying to get fast charges on them and learned the hard way.

acrosteve · 08-18-2009, 04:07 AM

Well, I am not running the sidewinder brushless, so I probably will max out at 8 cells.

jamesdicken · 08-18-2009, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acrosteve

Well, I am not running the sidewinder brushless, so I probably will max out at 8 cells.

just go 3s lipo and never look back. a lipo will be way lighter then all of those nimh cells!

p.s. wayyyyy lighter!

08-16-2009, 10:30 AM	#1
acrosteve Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jackson Posts: 141	Question on capacity of packs I have two different saddle packs that use the Elite 1500 NiMH 1500 mAh cells. One pack is 6 cells and the other is 7. For charging purposes, what is the actual capacity of each that I chould put in my charger settings? Thanks

08-17-2009, 05:59 PM	#13
Ghost Rock Crawler Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 573	Yes you can get 2 8 cell packs from 19 cells, with 3 left over, 2x8= 16 cells hope that helps you can go 3 cell lipo with a 4600 kv brushless with a sidewinder, I have run a 8 cell nimh with no problems. Last edited by Ghost; 08-17-2009 at 06:06 PM.

08-16-2009, 10:37 AM	#2
ultimate_monkey Rock Crawler Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Victoria BC Posts: 988	generall you want to charge at 1amp per 1000mah rating, so both you would want to charge at 1.5 amps, but 1 or 2 amps (what most "cheaper" chargers have for settings will do just fine. but it sort of sounds like your charger you can set the where it peaks... so i would set it at 1500mah, just like the batteries are rated at

08-16-2009, 10:59 AM	#3
JeremyH I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 16,952	Some folks will charge them at higher currents, but I like to stick with 1C for mine. For example....if I have a 1500mAh pack, then I charge at 1500mA. The number of cells will not matter when selecting a current at which to charge....it simple increases the output voltage.

08-16-2009, 11:00 AM	#4
Offroader5 Picky Fab'r/Acetal Junky Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arizona Desert/AJ Posts: 3,073	The "capacity" of both packs is the same...1500mah. The voltage is the only difference (7.2v vs. 8.4v)

08-16-2009, 03:44 PM	#6
acrosteve Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jackson Posts: 141	OK. I guess that makes sense. I can change my charger sittings in .1 amp increments, so whatever I want. I understand the 1c guide. Do you guys feel that is an across the board thing, or do you sort of have a limit? In other words, I also have a couple of 5000 mAh packs and have not been charging them at the full 1c - 5 amps. Just thinking that might be a little much for some reason. I have been using 3 amps.

08-16-2009, 06:13 PM	#8
acrosteve Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jackson Posts: 141	So, if I wanted to convert a 6 cell to a 7 cell pack, I can't really mix and match. Adding one of the cells from a 1500 pack would not work with the 5000.

08-17-2009, 05:32 PM	#12
acrosteve Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jackson Posts: 141	Yep. How many cells can a Sidewinder take? I know 7 is the limit for the Rooster on my son's rig, but can the Sidewinder take 8? I can't really do anything with the 5000's, but I have a total of 19 1500cells so I could get two 8packs out of them.

08-17-2009, 07:34 PM	#14
squatch71 I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: four o six Posts: 2,101	I think the max on a sidewinder is 12 cell nimh or 2S lipo....

08-17-2009, 08:31 PM	#15
goodoldlevi Rock Crawler Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 527	The sidewinder can handle a 3s. It has the same capabilities as the mamba minus the direct usb connection. 4600: Up to 3s LiPo 5-12 cell NiMH** 5700: Up to 2s LiPo 5-8 cell NiMH

08-17-2009, 08:39 PM	#16
squatch71 I wanna be Dave Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: four o six Posts: 2,101	thanks for the correction...the reason I could remember it went up to a 2S was I was looking at the 5700kV... stand corrected.

08-17-2009, 09:03 PM	#17
goodoldlevi Rock Crawler Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 527	My mind is in crawler mode as for the two being comparable Its all good and IMO castle products are great. Until you try or see a truck running a 3s you wont believe the wheelspeed difference jumping up to 11.1v. My 35 turn on 3s 1300 lipo is almost twice as fast a my friends 35 with a 1600 nimh 6 cell and we both have comparable run times of about a half an hour of constant crawling. I would also stick with the advice given obove and charge at 1 amp. I burnt up two of my 1600 saddle packs trying to get fast charges on them and learned the hard way.

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08-18-2009, 04:07 AM	#18
acrosteve Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jackson Posts: 141	Well, I am not running the sidewinder brushless, so I probably will max out at 8 cells.

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