battery placement (inside of tires)

[Highmark]

Uhhh yeah, that would just be stupid.

You mount the batterys on the knuckles because it's the lowest possible spot you can mount them without looseing ground clearance in another area.

Mounting them on the wheel would make them lower, but only when the wheel is at a certain point in relation to the ground. At other times the batterys would actualy be higher than if they where mounted on the knuckle, not to mention the possibility of damage from flailing them around on rocks.

Also, as previously stated by mrpink you add rotational mass which is bad. Rotational mass makes the rig react slower to throtal inputs, and react quicker in rollover and downhill situations. All adding led wieght to the front does is move the COG frontwards. It's okay on 2.2 because the wheels are smaller than on a super, but if you add a proportionaly large amount of mass in the same location on a super you'll reach a point of deminishing return VERY quickly.

 

[mrpink]

why add it to the inside when you dont have to? You are adding strain to the drivetrain that is un needed on a clod (which is that we are talking about). If you could choose between adding the weight to the knuckle or the wheel, you choose the wheel? now on a TLT or other rig I can understand, not a very large knuckle to mount anything to. I can also understand adding bb's because that gets the weight as low to the ground as possible; and they also roll around in the tire (as does water) so I would not consider that rotational mass... maybe I am wrong- wouldnt be the first time.

matt
cincy

 

[rockwerks]

Uhhh yeah, that would just be stupid.

You mount the batterys on the knuckles because it's the lowest possible spot you can mount them without looseing ground clearance in another area.

Mounting them on the wheel would make them lower, but only when the wheel is at a certain point in relation to the ground. At other times the batterys would actualy be higher than if they where mounted on the knuckle, not to mention the possibility of damage from flailing them around on rocks.

Also, as previously stated by mrpink you add rotational mass which is bad. Rotational mass makes the rig react slower to throtal inputs, and react quicker in rollover and downhill situations. All adding led wieght to the front does is move the COG frontwards. It's okay on 2.2 because the wheels are smaller than on a super, but if you add a proportionaly large amount of mass in the same location on a super you'll reach a point of deminishing return VERY quickly.

dont tell anyone but The batteries are seperated from each other and evenly spaced around the rim. Im not saying its perfect but much better than a stick on the chassis.

So you dont add any weight in the tires of your super?

 

[mrpink]

Uhhh yeah, that would just be stupid.

You mount the batterys on the knuckles because it's the lowest possible spot you can mount them without looseing ground clearance in another area.

Mounting them on the wheel would make them lower, but only when the wheel is at a certain point in relation to the ground. At other times the batterys would actualy be higher than if they where mounted on the knuckle, not to mention the possibility of damage from flailing them around on rocks.

Also, as previously stated by mrpink you add rotational mass which is bad. Rotational mass makes the rig react slower to throtal inputs, and react quicker in rollover and downhill situations. All adding led wieght to the front does is move the COG frontwards. It's okay on 2.2 because the wheels are smaller than on a super, but if you add a proportionaly large amount of mass in the same location on a super you'll reach a point of deminishing return VERY quickly.

it took me longer to type it Highmark; same story- you put it a little better than I.

Only one thing- no one here is "stupid" We are here to help each other out, cross ideas and come up with solutions.

Ohh and yes rockwerks I do own a crawler- you sold me a lid for it! "thumbsup"

matt
cincy

 

[Highmark]

dont tell anyone but The batteries are seperated from each other and evenly spaced around the rim. Im not saying its perfect but much better than a stick on the chassis.

So you dont add any weight in the tires of your super?

True, but knuckle packs are still better.

Also, with the setup you're talking about you have 4 huge open electrical connections waiting to be fowled or contaminated.

No, my super has absolutely no weight in the tires- and it hasn't all season.

 

[Highmark]

it took me longer to type it Highmark; same story- you put it a little better than I.

Only one thing- no one here is "stupid" We are here to help each other out, cross ideas and come up with solutions.

Ohh and yes rockwerks I do own a crawler- you sold me a lid for it! "thumbsup"

matt
cincy

:lol:

Right, but can I still say the idea is stupid?

 

[rockwerks]

True, but knuckle packs are still better.

Also, with the setup you're talking about you have 4 huge open electrical connections waiting to be fowled or contaminated.

No, my super has absolutely no weight in the tires- and it hasn't all season.

cool. Ive seen it run, never said Id do it but it is a sound idea. Im builidng my first super. have a new set of GT's going on it on narrowed clod rims...bater packs will be on the back side of thee axle......txt funky thing

 

[mrpink]

cool. Ive seen it run, never said Id do it but it is a sound idea. Im builidng my first super. have a new set of GT's going on it on narrowed clod rims...bater packs will be on the back side of thee axle......txt funky thing

glad we cleared that up (or did we?)... now get back to work on those FJ lids you promised everyone by Xmas! "thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup"

matt
cincy

 

[rockwerks]

glad we cleared that up (or did we?)... now get back to work on those FJ lids you promised everyone by Xmas! "thumbsup""thumbsup""thumbsup"

matt
cincy

you get coal!:lol:

 

[Cloak]

you get coal!:lol:

I'll take coal, so long as it is wrapped in a couple of those bodies.

 

[mrpink]

I'll take coal, so long as it is wrapped in a couple of those bodies.

X2!!"thumbsup"

matt
cincy

 

[chb]

I never thought this post would be so confusing but i think you guys have the Idea. Maybe I was wrong when I said I thought I seen “one or two rigs with the batteries mounted on the wheels“. Maybe they were just on the steering knuckle. Sorry about that.

Yes I mounted the batteries to the OD of the wheel/inside the tire like I said. And yes the batteries go around when your crawl with it. Everyone has seen a garden hose reel before right? How come the hose doesn't get all twisted up when you reel up the hose? This is exactly set up the same way except you are dealing with electricity. Instead of a rubber
o-ring you have positive and negative wires that are attached to two rings. These rings rotate as the wheel rotates. On the stationary side which will be the axle/steering knuckle two spring loaded brushes (I used pen springs) are attached to the wires that go to the ESC so when the wheel spins the brushes rubs across the copper rings to transmit power to the esc. The pen springs are use to keep the brushes in contact with the copper rings. I tried to explain it the best I could but I’ll try to post pics later.

I’m been running my rig this way for over a month now and it work great.

chb

 

[chb]

i hope at least one of you think this is a good idea.

 

[chb]

 

[andy b.]

i can't speak for anyone else, but i think it is a cool idea, and nicely executed in your case. how often do you need to clean the "brushes"?

andy b.

 

[Big Mike]

Good and bad - you just have to decide how good and how bad.
One detail that I really think makes this a cool modification - the batteries are totally and utterly hidden from view. That aspect I really like.
But, you are attaching the biggest chunk of weight on your truck to the worst possible place - the wheels. Rotational weight is far more detrimental to performance than just plain weight on the chassis. This will lead to accelerated wear and quicker/easier breakage of driveline and suspension parts. Highmark is absolutely correct - the added weight will slow the "reaction time" when you accelerate, but will have the opposite effect in a rollover, it will make it happen quicker and easier.
With that said, I still think it is a great idea. It will become a much better idea when technology shrinks batteries even further.
Also chb, I must add that your execution of this idea turned out looking super-clean. Those are TXT axles? Very well fabricated, sir.

 

[chb]

Brush cleaning is unknown. Only time will tell. I’ve been running my RC for over a month this way with no problems yet.

The Center of Gravity is lower with this design in regards to placing the batteries On Top of the axle. I’m running 9.6 v 2700 mah “AA” batteries in my. (total of 8 cells... 4 cells in each wheel). CG would be in the center of the axle. If you mount the batteries On Top of your axle your CG will be ABOVE the center of the axle. Yes you have rotational weight but is that really bad????? You’re not trying to break the speed of sound. And with AA batteries theirs not a whole lot of weight to begin with. If you’re running “C” batteries, weight could be an issue depending on your rig.

I know a lot of you think it’s a stupid idea and that fine. To me it makes sense especially if you already add wheel weights. Plus I wanted a little cleaner design then just having my batteries hanging off the axle.

I have a lot more corn ball ideas that i'll post when i finalize them.

Great site..."thumbsup"

 

[RockShocker]

I was a little confused at the start of this thread like a few others were too,
but after seeing the pics,I think it's a well done idea.
As far as the weight issue,it is unsprung weight and probably one of the better places for it (I'm new to crawlin though,so what do I know):?:

My biggest concern is what damage might occur to the batteries when
going over sharp edges ect?
GOOD JOB THOUGH!!"thumbsup"

 

[Etype R]

Thats a pretty cool setup, I was a bit confused at first as well. But I knew something like that could be done with contacts, your setup looks very clean.

Do you know about the MNRCRC group? we have a thread in the GTG section of the board. And in the summer we have comps every other weekend up in Taylors falls Would be cool to see another Jugg/TXT besides mine in the club.

 

[chb]

I’m running foam inserts in my tires so that protects the batteries somewhat. I’m really new to this so I’m not for sure what works and what doesn’t but I wanted to try this idea and I’m happy with it.

No I don’t know about the MNRCRC group Etype R. I’ll check it out. I don’t live to far from Taylors fall so I might have to take you up on the offer.