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Charger & Battery question/s

Zippy1

Rock Stacker
Joined
Aug 18, 2017
Messages
88
Location
In the woods
I guess if I'm still asking these questions, I'm still a noob. Try to make this short as possible.
When I got back into the RC life earlier this year. I purchased a Traxxas Slash 4x4, and the,
Traxxas 3S Battery/Charger Combo: (2) 11.1V 5000mAh LiPo Battery, (1) EZ-Peak Dual ID Charger.
Then came the TRX4, and what I have works fine. I guess. So now I went and bought the RC4WD Marlin Crawler, a couple weeks ago, which I have yet to use.
And last night I was cruising the world of epay, and found a great deal on the Vaterra 1/10 1972 Chevrolet K10 Pickup Ascender 4WD RTR. Good thing I've got a great woman in house."thumbsup"
So the questions are. Can I get by with the Traxxas charger. And just get Traxxas style connectors, and change over the other two trucks, or change everything over to Deans, and make up some adapter wires for the charger?
OR, get a different charger all together? Your suggestions... And, what are the popular batteries you all are using in the Vaterra?
These rigs are not used for comps, just back 180 off roading. I did have a PM conversation with Codyboy, about alternative batteries for the TRX4, but not sense the addition of the two latest rigs.
If you all would be so kind to offer your suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated. Cause the more I search for these answers, the more confused I get.
Thanks,
Todd
 
Easier to solder and to plug are the xt60 connectors, if you change all to one style. I use xt60 on my crawler and trail rigs and castle creations 6.5 bullet connectors on my rockracer.
But also you can get a charger (recently bought the skyrc d100 v2) which supports different style of connectors.
As it goes to batteries i use zippy compact or turnegy nano techs, cause i can get them here for a good price, they are reliable so far. Hobbyking has a battery searcher where you can look what fits your battery compartment.
 
Easier to solder and to plug are the xt60 connectors, if you change all to one style. I use xt60 on my crawler and trail rigs and castle creations 6.5 bullet connectors on my rockracer.
But also you can get a charger (recently bought the skyrc d100 v2) which supports different style of connectors.
As it goes to batteries i use zippy compact or turnegy nano techs, cause i can get them here for a good price, they are reliable so far. Hobbyking has a battery searcher where you can look what fits your battery compartment.

"thumbsup"

XT-60 on everything for me, easiest to solder, great connection, relativley easy to grip and unplug, re-usable.

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/catalogsearch/result/?erp_category=&q=xt60+plugs
https://hobbyking.com/en_us/batteries.html

Hitec X2 AC/DC charger does 2 batteries concurrently. "thumbsup"

Another great charger will do 4 batteries concurrently.
https://www.getfpv.com/batteries/ba...-4x-100w-nimh-lipo-with-built-in-balance.html
 
I have run Traxxas connectors on everything I own for about a decade and I’m just now converting to XT60 cuz the esc’s and batteries I’ve been getting almost all XT60. I found some trx to XT60 adapters on banggood to ease the transition:).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
You all are great. Lot of options given."thumbsup"
I've got a drawer full of Deans plugs from years ago, just didn't know if I should change over "everything", or put the Traxxas plugs on the other two rigs, or what...:roll:
Thinking with the limited dexterity of my one hand, I'll change the other two over to Traxxas plugs. Bigger, and better grip. Just didn't know what you all thought about the connection factor. Back in "the day", there was nothing that compared to the Deans plugs.
Then just use the Traxxas charger, and buy a few more off brand batteries, change those plugs over to Traxxas, and live on.
Thanks for the info, it's greatly appreciated."thumbsup"
 
HK link above, plugs are inexpensive, most lipos I buy these days come with them already installed and that's half the battle. Traxxas plugs are too hard to solder, but are very picky about absolutely no solder past the wire contact area or they won't insert and seat properly in the black plastic housing. Deans were hot back when they came out, but they've always been a pita to solder especially with larger gauge wires. Use the plugs you're most comfortable with. :)
 
After a long drawn out over thinking expedition with my brain, I decided to order the XT60 connectors. Hell, for $7.00 and change for ten sets, I mean, one can't go wrong."thumbsup"
Well truth be known. I had a buddy give me a couple of the Traxxas connectors, and they felt rather sloppy on the connection. I "thought" the replacements would be like the connectors that came with the RTR rigs, but they are not. The female didn't have the extra "grippy" part molded in/on.
Now to just make my mind up on batteries. I've got them for the TRX4 and RC4wd. But want to stick with the "shorty" packs for the Vaterra Ascender, rather than getting/building a holder to fit a stick pack.
Anymore suggestion on a good choice? Want something that I can get a 1/2 hr or better on stock equipment. 2S, 3S? This rig is a new one to me, so I have no experience with what to use, or what to expect for run times with what battery.
Thanks for setting me strait on the XT60's."thumbsup"
 
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Hi Todd,

I'm also from the woods :ror:

I've had deans and traxxas but what I did was change everything over to XT60--all my batteries, ESCs, and even all the chargers.

As far as 3s, there will be a huge speed jump compared to 2s. I have many different batteries and just put on whatever I feel like playing with.
 
After a long drawn out over thinking expedition with my brain, I decided to order the XT60 connectors. Hell, for $7.00 and change for ten sets, I mean, one can't go wrong."thumbsup"
Well truth be known. I had a buddy give me a couple of the Traxxas connectors, and they felt rather sloppy on the connection. I "thought" the replacements would be like the connectors that came with the RTR rigs, but they are not. The female didn't have the extra "grippy" part molded in/on.
Now to just make my mind up on batteries. I've got them for the TRX4 and RC4wd. But want to stick with the "shorty" packs for the Vaterra Ascender, rather than getting/building a holder to fit a stick pack.
Anymore suggestion on a good choice? Want something that I can get a 1/2 hr or better on stock equipment. 2S, 3S? This rig is a new one to me, so I have no experience with what to use, or what to expect for run times with what battery.
Thanks for setting me strait on the XT60's."thumbsup"

You can get better-priced Li-Pos at the site StomperCrawler posted than what I did for my first battery - but to give you an idea on performance - my 2S 4000mAh "Shorty" pack gives me a solid 1.5 hours of climbing repeatedly up a steep and rocky slope, spending quite a bit of time spinning all 4 tires. That's with a stock RTR Vaterra '72 Chevy K10 Ascender. I have not yet got myself a Shorty-sized 3S pack - but since I do like the stock battery position I may also blow off ordering myself the battery relocator bracket. I do have four 3S full-size packs for my Bomber build.
 
Hi Todd,

I'm also from the woods :ror:

I've had deans and traxxas but what I did was change everything over to XT60--all my batteries, ESCs, and even all the chargers.

As far as 3s, there will be a huge speed jump compared to 2s. I have many different batteries and just put on whatever I feel like playing with.

That's pretty much my plan. ent with the 2s batteries. Should be able to take the rig out for a "smoke" test. I'm thinking, "smoke" is the last thing I want happening...:lmao:

You can get better-priced Li-Pos at the site StomperCrawler posted than what I did for my first battery - but to give you an idea on performance - my 2S 4000mAh "Shorty" pack gives me a solid 1.5 hours of climbing repeatedly up a steep and rocky slope, spending quite a bit of time spinning all 4 tires. That's with a stock RTR Vaterra '72 Chevy K10 Ascender. I have not yet got myself a Shorty-sized 3S pack - but since I do like the stock battery position I may also blow off ordering myself the battery relocator bracket. I do have four 3S full-size packs for my Bomber build.

Yes, that's what I ordered. 2S 4000mAh "Shorty" pack."thumbsup"
One more thing off the list...
 
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IMHO 2s lipos are a waste of money. With 3s you get the same low speed crawling plus higher top end and longer run times. As I've seen someone's motto on here: gear down and volt up! :)
 
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