Question on capacity of packs

[acrosteve]

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]

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]

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]

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

[squatch71]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[goodoldlevi]

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]

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]

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]

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

[jamesdicken]

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!