First upgrades to my buggy

[rpg711]

Well, the first upgrades that I'm going to get for this buggy are:
Nimh/Lipo reciever pack(any suggestions?)
starter box

Any differences between Nimh and lipo besides the cost? With lipo I'd need a BEC also... so that'd be another 20$, not that I'm limited in money ,but if two 1600mah nimh packs last longer than two 1500MAH lipolys
I'm looking at this pack: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_221_224/products_id/13161
or the integy rx pack...
The starter box i'm looking at is this: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXAXU2&P=0
It seems nice and I save a good 20$ because it comes with a panel and sealed battery(whihc would cost me 40$, and buying the box separate is 54, so 94$)
Any experience with the ofna 1/10 box? I dunno if it even works with 1/8 but I guess as long as the pins can be positioned to secure the chassis it's fine.

[rpg711]

(hears the echo's of my thread and shudders)

[hakmazter]

I personally own that starter box. It has worked great for me. I personally hooked the cables to my truck battery and set the box on the top of the radiator shroud when I used it. I also used the included glow starter. No worrying about low voltage or anything.....However, having wires all over the place adds to the challenge at first...

I would recommend it.

[hakmazter]

As for the battery pack....I think you need a special charger for it? Ask Fusion about all electric stuff for the moment. I'll get up to speed as soon as I can get the time....lol.

[rpg711]

As for the battery pack....I think you need a special charger for it? Ask Fusion about all electric stuff for the moment. I'll get up to speed as soon as I can get the time....lol.
I would need a special charger for the lipo, i know that.
Prob juts get like 4 nimh packs to compensate... cheaper

[Mr Fusion]

There are so many options for rx packs.... I'll just post my odd setup for now. All the other nitro racers can add what they do.

I'm running a 2 cell 1100mah LiFe pack made from the A123 cells used in the new line of Black and Decker VPX tools. $18-20 at Walmart...

It's tough as nails, can be charged at very high amps... (one plane guy has charged his at 10amps repeatedly without any apparent damage yet) and is a nominal 6.6v pack which comes off the charger at 7.4v so you don't need to run a voltage regulator.

[rpg711]

how big are the nanophosphate batteries? I know they are rediculously light but would they fit in the reciever box?
If they can, I would just buy one dewalt battery and build a few packs.
If they are the size of normal Liions... I prob can't fit them in the tiny reciever box... probably will need to figure out some sort of way to secure the battery then.
Fusion... nice idea :)
gonna go with 2x 2s2p packs and 1x 2s pack
4600MAH will be nice :)
Last like a week on my setup... lol
on second thought... it will cost 200$ for a complete a123 setup... (100$ 10 cells, 50$ powersupply, 50$ dapter)
only 80$ for 4 1300mah nimh batteries.
Probably just go for the nimhs... i mean, how LONG can I possibly run before running out of nitro? 5200MAH is already enough to completely use all my nitro(1 gallon)

[Mr Fusion]

LOL


I'm using the little 1100mah ones, that are a common 18650 size like most Li-ion cells.

Cam runs Li-ion packs than are like 2500mah and are the same size, with a built in cutoff.

But my "super" cells can be charged in like 10 minutes, lol and you don't really need to worry about a cutoff or regulator... and they can crank out 20 amps if needed.

[rpg711]

I found these hpi batteries:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXRMR3&P=M
Anyone know if they are the 2/3C batteries that are in reciever packs?
PS. as a side note... I found a crazy ass servo as well...http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHZR9&P=M
over 300oz/in of torque... damn this thing must draw current like no tomorrow

[razzor]

bud that 5 cell pack is a subC pack for the 1/5 scale Baja.
You need a 2/3 pack which has a 1600mah as teh largest capacity available.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXMEY1&P=7


I will suggest going lipo though, ust a lot less hassles.
My 1800mah 7.4 pack ran comfortably 6x 5 min races as well as the 4 min warm ups and when recgarged on my swallow it only took 840mah and thats with me running Ace 1313 1015 servos.
I use a VXR 6v 5 amp regulater with teh lipo.
As for servos anything over 13kg is a bit overboard for steering and throttle.
A 9kg works well for throttle/brake.

[rpg711]

What's a recommended lipo setup? I want to spend less than 150$ so keep that in mind...
I'll probably go with the duratrax onyx 230 charger... it charges 1-3s lipo/life and all the other ones that I may get.

[razzor]

regulaters

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/9718
or
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/13509
===========
Batteries

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/16279
or
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_221_224/products_id/13508
or
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_221_224/products_id/18755

===========
chargers.

http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_221_116/products_id/8455
or
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_221_116/products_id/13288
or
http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/cPath/1_221_116/products_id/25391

[rpg711]

Is the Duratrax Onyx charger ok?
I'll charge the battery through a cell balancer
charger: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/26108
It charges 1-3s, should be enough for all my applications ever.
balancer: http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_info.php/products_id/23940\
That losi pack also looks nice, so I'll go with it.... comes to... 165$ but I need the charger anyways so yeah... if a 2000mah lipoly really runs for that much longer than a nimh pack, I'll go for it.
When I'm charging, I can recharge after every day right? It doesn't have a cycle effect like nimh where if you don't discharge it then it will not recharge to it's full capacity.

[razzor]

That charger will be perfect.
didt list it due to the budget mentioned.
A 2000mah packs will give you easilly well over a hour run time.
and can be charged immediately after use.
I know the LRP/Nosram regulater have a additional charge lead that you can mount out side the radio box so you dont have to keep taking teh battery out so might be an idea to make a adaptor or splice into the regulater plug for a external charge plug.
and dont worry they dont need to be cycled and only need balancing every now and then not with every charge.
You can charge and store it and they wont lose charge over time like nimh batteries.