SCX-10 needs more horsepower!

[Jus]

Just like the title says, my scale rig needs more power.

Right now I have a Traxxas XL-5 waterproof esc with an Integy 35t lathe motor and 18t pinion.. I was running a 24t pinion I but I smoked a set of brushes really badly.. Well that and the muddy water really trashed it too.. Oh and mostly using a 5000mAh 8.4v NimH battery..

The one thing I MUST retain is the run time, I usually get between 1-2hrs of continuous runtime.. I literally take this thing on hikes with me through the woods, there is some great terrain and hiking trails in my area so I get exercise and my truck gets to play.

I know my first step is batteries... I have an Onyx 230 so I'm lipo capable, I just need a balancer.. I was looking at SPC for lipo batteries.. I'm torn between 7.4v and 11.1v.. Yeah I'm sure I'll hear more is better, but if I understand it correctly, lipo is more consistant power output from start to cutoff, where as what I'm used to with nimh that slowly drains and gets lesser and lesser performance, so I might be OK with 7.4... And as far as runtime, with a comparable 5000mAh lipo would I be at about the same or a little more runtime vs a Nimh 5000mah? I'd like to go 8000mah but the price is significantly more, and I want to get two.

Now the esc and motor.. I was thinking a Castle Sidewinder.. I have one already in my crawler so I'm somewhat familiar with it.. Good choice? I have no idea for a motor.. Will my 35T Integy hold up to the lipo power, especially if I go 11.1v?? Will it wear the brushes out significantly faster?? I'd like to go brushless as it's much less maintenance and less friction and much more effecient.. My only concern is low cogging and losing the slow crawling ability.. I don't crawl super slow with my scale rig, but I need some low end controllability.. If I did go brushless what are my options for a low kv motor?? Would a VXL 3500kv motor be too fast?? I love this motor in my slash, seems very durable to me and the torque is fantastic.. With a low enough pinion I think it'd crawl somewhat decent.

I can be long winded sometimes, for that I apologize! Whatever you can advise me on these questions, I greatly appreciate it. "thumbsup"

 

[Lushtrucker]

I would not recommend the vxl motor in a crawler, I have seen someone try it and he kept launching at gates and such, not sure what he used for gearing but it did not seem very controllable.

I personally run a 7t cobalt puller in my scaler, get about an hour and 45 minutes of run time on a 3s 5000mAh Lipo from hobbycity, tons of power and plenty of wheel speed with excellent low speed control too

 

[dkf]

Waterproof ESC
http://holmeshobbies.com/product.php?productid=274&cat=0&page=1

If your going to be getting into some muddy water you don't want and expensive motor. If you can stay out of the water a 35t handwound or a puller on 3S will do the trick.

 

[wanantrdsc]

ProMatch batteries

 

[tklatti]

Waterproof ESC
http://holmeshobbies.com/product.php?productid=274&cat=0&page=1

If your going to be getting into some muddy water you don't want and expensive motor. If you can stay out of the water a 35t handwound or a puller on 3S will do the trick.

x2 8)

 

[Jus]

I guess I didn't explain properly. I'm done playing in the water with it.. It's too much of a hassle to maintain the rig.. Part of the reason I'm ready to upgrade to a nice powertrain.

Promatch lipo?? I tried thier 4600mah Ener-G 7-cell nimh and have had 3 batteries fail within the first 5 runs in my VXL Slash.. They don't make the batteries themselves I know, but still very discouraging...

 

[DrunkDriver]

I don't think you should limit yourself to just waterproofed esc's. There are other ways to water proof your ESC outside of purchasing one that already is. I put my FXR in a radioshack project box and it stays dry. I run a 35t on 3s in my SCX10, using the FXR.

If you are planning on more horsepower, why not 3s?

As for run time, I get more out of my 2200mah 3s than my brothers freshly charged 3600mah Nimh. I would bet a 5000mah lipo would last a bit longer than the battery you already have.

Drunk

Edit: There are lots of nice batteries out there, but I use some cheap turnigys from hobbyking.com. Last night I ordered another lipo from Rcmart.com, much 'cheaper' than some other brands. They work great for me.

 

[Jus]

I've heard about those Cobalt 7T pullers before they do sound insane.. Concern though, if I go with the sidewinder which I do really like, apparently they can only handle 19t brushed motor limit in forward/revers.. So that means no motor BELOW 19t right, so is it that simple, I couldn't use the Cobalt 7t???

 

[Joshs4x4toyz]

Pullers are the poo thats what I run but I dont submerge them in scalers or anything...that said get rc4wd silver can 35t+holmes waterproof esc and put a hurt on that thing with 4s or more"thumbsup"

Josh

 

[Joshs4x4toyz]

Oh yeah forgot i'm not sure how it all works out with the draw or something on the esc but JRH says the 7t is equivelent to a higher turn motor, higher than a 19t i believe..double check with him but i know you can run them on a sidewinder and 3s or atleast i have seen it with no problems

 

[DrunkDriver]

Some people run 7t pullers on a FXR, which has a 35t motor limit on 3s. The motor is built differently than a standard 540. I'm sure the man himself could give a specific reason as to why this is. Just try doing some searches.

Drunk