RCCrawler Forums

Merkur · 10-10-2010, 02:12 AM

Howdy,

Newbie, picked up a Losi mini crawler today. Been a blast running it around indoors, but the battery length is just killing me. Done as much research as possible but I'm new to RC anythings - the battery Pilmat listed sounded perfect, the 'Thunderpower 1S 350mAh,' ~30 minutes runtime would be sweet.

What I was hoping to know -

Will that fit on the rear axle, like the stock battery does (moved it from the stock location)?
Will running 3.7 volts vs the stock 4.8 affect anything? Not like this needs to go fast at all.
Will the plug require modification?
What is the cheapest decent wall (AC) charger I can find for the Thunderpower battery? Nobody seems to list links for actually buying these things, and my google-fu is failing me.

Thanks in advance.

sforsancho · 10-10-2010, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merkur

What I was hoping to know -

Will that fit on the rear axle, like the stock battery does (moved it from the stock location)?
Will running 3.7 volts vs the stock 4.8 affect anything? Not like this needs to go fast at all.
Will the plug require modification?
What is the cheapest decent wall (AC) charger I can find for the Thunderpower battery? Nobody seems to list links for actually buying these things, and my google-fu is failing me.

Thanks in advance.

Onboard hoping for a good answer. Back when I was into helicopters and airplanes a few years ago there was a serious fire threat from overcharging, over discharging etc etc, worried me so much I charged in my fireplace

. Do the new hobby packs cure this or is there still some minor, obscure threat that I'll have a flaming pack on my hands!?

chicostaxxs007 · 10-11-2010, 09:08 AM

whats the max size battery i can use one the micro quick charger?

jevyguy · 10-11-2010, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merkur

Howdy,

Newbie, picked up a Losi mini crawler today. Been a blast running it around indoors, but the battery length is just killing me. Done as much research as possible but I'm new to RC anythings - the battery Pilmat listed sounded perfect, the 'Thunderpower 1S 350mAh,' ~30 minutes runtime would be sweet.

What I was hoping to know -

Will that fit on the rear axle, like the stock battery does (moved it from the stock location)?

YES

Will running 3.7 volts vs the stock 4.8 affect anything? Not like this needs to go fast at all.

NO, It will run fine, but will not have the LIPO cutoff

Will the plug require modification?

YES.

What is the cheapest decent wall (AC) charger I can find for the Thunderpower battery? Nobody seems to list links for actually buying these things, and my google-fu is failing me.

I purchased a cheap 1s wall charger off thEBay for like $12 shipped from HONG KONG. Seems to work well
This one is even in the US... Same Charger
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Heli-Max-1S-...item5adc837fa4

Thanks in advance.

Yup

sforsancho · 10-11-2010, 12:16 PM

How long does the cheap-o wall charger take to charge it? Would a premium charger charge it any better or any faster?

Does the charge completed LED work as it should?

Thanks in advance

jevyguy · 10-13-2010, 07:48 AM

It depends on the battery as fas as charge times go, but you would want to get a battery that is close to 400mah for this charger. I would say charge times would be around an hour

A premium charger will not charge a 3.7v any better than this because there is only 1 cell and no need for balancing

The charge light indicator LED works as it should

Merkur · 11-04-2010, 05:11 PM

ran into some 'issues' with this - picked up the Thunderpower 350 mAh 1 cell, got the plug swapped out to fit the LOSI, plugged it in, and the ESC / receiver started smoking within about 5 seconds, without even having turned it on. any ideas what I did wrong? don't have the original battery (poached the plug for it), not sure if I've buggered the ESC completely, don't want to try plugging the Thunderpower back in again.

dockman · 11-04-2010, 07:21 PM

You sure you got the pos and neg leads hooked up right when you put the connector on the battery?

Merkur · 11-04-2010, 08:18 PM

think so, don't know how you could mess up red and black. had a guy at hobbytown solder them. here's pics. opened up the esc case, looks like it's burnt toast.
and, case it helps diagnose -
thunderpower battery
heli-max charger

what the hell did i do wrong??

helifrek · 11-09-2010, 04:27 PM

I don't know a whole lot about crawlers but I have been doing electric rc helis for 10+ years. I just got my Losi mrc yesterday and am also disappointed with the run times. My plan is to get myself a couple of the ZIPPY 240mAh 20C single cell batteries. and to add some connectors. I have been using zippy lipos of my helis for years and never had a bad battery pack. from small 100mah for stuff like the blade msr to big 6S 4000mah packs for my swift 16. And for $1.82 it'll be worth it to try. as for a charger I am either going to get a celectra 4 port or the thunder power 4 port charger and open them up to add connectors. this way I can charge 4 packs at a time and the charger is only $37.

dockman · 11-09-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merkur

think so, don't know how you could mess up red and black. had a guy at hobbytown solder them. here's pics. opened up the esc case, looks like it's burnt toast.
and, case it helps diagnose -

To be honest I would take it back to Hobbytown, if all you did was plug in the battery and that happened I would say they did something wrong.

I was looking at the connector that is on the battery and was wondering why there is heat shrink by the plug, there isn't any there usually and makes me suspicious. I would cut it off and have a peek to make sure they didn't swap the wires in the plug on accident by matching it up with the plug on the ESC.

Either that or the battery itself was wired incorrectly internally and would be the batteries fault.

One way or the other take it back.

murderface · 11-09-2010, 10:07 PM

why didnt you just put a jst connector on the rig? i guess that woulda been too easy

Merkur · 01-01-2011, 08:45 PM

Got this resolved today. I had a guy at the hobby shop tell me it was a better practice to swap the plugs on the ESC, rather than on the battery. I'm not 100% sure if that was the issue, but I took the shrink wrap off and the Thunder Power wires were significantly thicker than those on the Losi plug, it could have been the necking down that was a problem. Or crummy soldering, I'm not sure.

Anyhow, got a new battery (same one as before), new ESC, swapped the plugs on that, and it's all working nicely now. Lasted about 20 minutes on my first run today, and still had juice left.

Thanks to everyone for the previous help.

(Link to build thread over on Scale 4x4: http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=55449)

ben'smicrocrawler · 01-02-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dogbreath

stock batt 10 min max

240 2S Lipo 16-20 min

350 2S Lipo 20-25 min

450 1S Lipo 30+ min

450 1S2P Lipo 60+ min

could you put a link up hear to where you can buy the 60 min run time battery for micro crawler

RCrally · 01-03-2011, 06:05 AM

how much about for 450 1S Lipo and charger?

evilunclefred · 01-04-2011, 05:31 AM

I have no clue about lipo batts except the videos I've seen on youtube. But I can't stand the stock pack anymore. Whats a good, easy and safe setup for a micro? Charger and batt?

T-buck · 01-04-2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evilunclefred

I have no clue about lipo batts except the videos I've seen on youtube. But I can't stand the stock pack anymore. Whats a good, easy and safe setup for a micro? Charger and batt?

Which charger please...

1s Lipo?

advice for lipo

lipo chrger

http://www.losi.com/Products/Feature...rodId=LOSB0862

10-10-2010, 02:12 AM	#21
Merkur Newbie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: State of Denial Posts: 4	Howdy, Newbie, picked up a Losi mini crawler today. Been a blast running it around indoors, but the battery length is just killing me. Done as much research as possible but I'm new to RC anythings - the battery Pilmat listed sounded perfect, the 'Thunderpower 1S 350mAh,' ~30 minutes runtime would be sweet. What I was hoping to know - Will that fit on the rear axle, like the stock battery does (moved it from the stock location)? Will running 3.7 volts vs the stock 4.8 affect anything? Not like this needs to go fast at all. Will the plug require modification? What is the cheapest decent wall (AC) charger I can find for the Thunderpower battery? Nobody seems to list links for actually buying these things, and my google-fu is failing me. Thanks in advance.

10-13-2010, 07:48 AM	#26
jevyguy Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 261	It depends on the battery as fas as charge times go, but you would want to get a battery that is close to 400mah for this charger. I would say charge times would be around an hour A premium charger will not charge a 3.7v any better than this because there is only 1 cell and no need for balancing The charge light indicator LED works as it should Last edited by jevyguy; 10-13-2010 at 07:50 AM. Reason: type'o

01-03-2011, 06:05 AM	#35
RCrally Newbie Join Date: May 2010 Location: brooklyn Posts: 6	how much about for 450 1S Lipo and charger? Last edited by RCrally; 01-03-2011 at 06:08 AM.

10-11-2010, 09:08 AM	#23
chicostaxxs007 RCC Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bradenton Posts: 1,299	whats the max size battery i can use one the micro quick charger?

10-11-2010, 12:16 PM	#25
sforsancho Newbie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 31	How long does the cheap-o wall charger take to charge it? Would a premium charger charge it any better or any faster? Does the charge completed LED work as it should? Thanks in advance

11-04-2010, 05:11 PM	#27
Merkur Newbie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: State of Denial Posts: 4	ran into some 'issues' with this - picked up the Thunderpower 350 mAh 1 cell, got the plug swapped out to fit the LOSI, plugged it in, and the ESC / receiver started smoking within about 5 seconds, without even having turned it on. any ideas what I did wrong? don't have the original battery (poached the plug for it), not sure if I've buggered the ESC completely, don't want to try plugging the Thunderpower back in again.

11-04-2010, 07:21 PM	#28
dockman Quarry Creeper Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Newport, South Wales Posts: 257	You sure you got the pos and neg leads hooked up right when you put the connector on the battery?

11-04-2010, 08:18 PM	#29
Merkur Newbie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: State of Denial Posts: 4	think so, don't know how you could mess up red and black. had a guy at hobbytown solder them. here's pics. opened up the esc case, looks like it's burnt toast. and, case it helps diagnose - thunderpower battery heli-max charger what the hell did i do wrong??

11-09-2010, 04:27 PM	#30
helifrek Newbie Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cullowhee Posts: 31	I don't know a whole lot about crawlers but I have been doing electric rc helis for 10+ years. I just got my Losi mrc yesterday and am also disappointed with the run times. My plan is to get myself a couple of the ZIPPY 240mAh 20C single cell batteries. and to add some connectors. I have been using zippy lipos of my helis for years and never had a bad battery pack. from small 100mah for stuff like the blade msr to big 6S 4000mah packs for my swift 16. And for $1.82 it'll be worth it to try. as for a charger I am either going to get a celectra 4 port or the thunder power 4 port charger and open them up to add connectors. this way I can charge 4 packs at a time and the charger is only $37.

11-09-2010, 10:07 PM	#32
murderface Rock Crawler Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Grand Rapids Posts: 918	why didnt you just put a jst connector on the rig? i guess that woulda been too easy

01-01-2011, 08:45 PM	#33
Merkur Newbie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: State of Denial Posts: 4	Got this resolved today. I had a guy at the hobby shop tell me it was a better practice to swap the plugs on the ESC, rather than on the battery. I'm not 100% sure if that was the issue, but I took the shrink wrap off and the Thunder Power wires were significantly thicker than those on the Losi plug, it could have been the necking down that was a problem. Or crummy soldering, I'm not sure. Anyhow, got a new battery (same one as before), new ESC, swapped the plugs on that, and it's all working nicely now. Lasted about 20 minutes on my first run today, and still had juice left. Thanks to everyone for the previous help. (Link to build thread over on Scale 4x4: http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=55449)

01-04-2011, 05:31 AM	#36
evilunclefred Newbie Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Greenfield Posts: 42	I have no clue about lipo batts except the videos I've seen on youtube. But I can't stand the stock pack anymore. Whats a good, easy and safe setup for a micro? Charger and batt?

Sponsored Links

RCCrawler Forums

Thread: Losi Micro Crawler run time?