Run Times

[wiskers]

Does anyone have any run times that could be posted?
I'm planning on using 3s 25c 1300mah in an otherwise stock minicat hydro

[badag98]

I was running a similar set up and was getting about 5-7 mins out of mine with out any issues.

[wiskers]

Thanks, I can live with (already have the lipo from crawler).

[badag98]

I had a seaking 35amp esc with the lipo cut off, I never had issues with heat on motor, batteries, or esc but usually could tell the battery was getting low buy preformance.

[wiskers]

Great. How much time did you have, from when you noticed the boat slowing down, to get back to shore?

[wparsons]

What prop and motor kv are you guys running to get 5 minutes out of a 1300mah pack?

I usually get ~6 minutes on my small bolt, but I'm putting about 1500mah back into a 2200mah pack. I'm running the stock 2700kv motor, and a metal x632 prop (S&B).

Not sure how much lipo experience you have, but try to make sure you're not draining it more than 80% (ie not using more than 1040mah on a 1300mah pack), even if the voltage is still high. Some high C packs (or lower amp draw boats) will totally drain a pack without hitting the LVC.

[wiskers]

I have no lipo experience. Got the lipo for my crawler and never used it. It's still in the box it came in a year ago. Picked up the Micro Hydro yesterday from the local hobby shop. this what should be there. The motor is red, no other markings.
Specifications
Length Overall: 380mm)
Beam: 200mm
Hull - Hand laid fiberglass hull and hatch.
Power - Water cooled, 20mm x 40mm, 2 pole, 2600KV 64g
ESC - Water cooled 30a continuous, 40A (10 seconds), 6-12 NiMh, 2-3 Lipo, 2A-6V BEC, programmable, 27g
Servo - High Performance
Our famous CNC machined hardware.
Drive System - Flex shaft, 4mm prop shaft, drive dog
Propeller - Plastic 30mm x 36mm, 4 different diameters available
REQUIRED: 3S 11.1V Lipo Battery and 2 Ch Radio

[wparsons]

For the first couple runs I would suggest making them shorter (2-3 minutes) and see how much current you're putting back into the pack, and up the run time from there.

If you want longer run time, 3s 2200mah packs are like $9 from hobbyking.

[wiskers]

Thanks for the info. I've never seen prices like that. Our local hobby shop wants $30.00+. I'll have to ask them to check into Turnigy.

[SweetAccord]

It's hard to beat Hobby King, but also HobbyPartz is another one to consider. The Blue Lipo's are excellent performers for the price. Turnigy, Rhino, Zippy are good also. I have only had one Zippy fail on arrival but for the price I can order two to three more and still be ahead on the cost.

[wparsons]

If you're in the US, hobbypartz.com has REALLY good shipping. It's not so great to Canada though.

[SweetAccord]

What prop and motor kv are you guys running to get 5 minutes out of a 1300mah pack?

I usually get ~6 minutes on my small bolt, but I'm putting about 1500mah back into a 2200mah pack. I'm running the stock 2700kv motor, and a metal x632 prop (S&B).

Not sure how much lipo experience you have, but try to make sure you're not draining it more than 80% (ie not using more than 1040mah on a 1300mah pack), even if the voltage is still high. Some high C packs (or lower amp draw boats) will totally drain a pack without hitting the LVC.

Your stock motor is a 2700kv? Interesting, have not seen that yet. Normally it's the 2604kv one I've seen. Where did you get yours?

[wparsons]

Mine's 2600kv, 2700 must've been a typo.

[martin]

How do you tell how much you have taken out of the lipo, Does it show on the charger when you charge again. What should i be looking for to see how much has been taken out or needs putting back in on say a 2200mah 3s lipo Thanks.

[wparsons]

My charger shows me the mah put back in real time, and keeps the total displayed when the pack is done until I turn it off or start another pack.

You can roughly guesstimate it based on charging current and time, but the last 2% or so charges at a much lower rate and adds additional time.

[martin]

My 2200mah 3 s normally takes around 63 minuets to charge after use, Does that tell you anything. Thanks.

[wparsons]

Time means nothing without know what current you're charging it at.

If you're charging at 1C it should take just over an hour for a fully depleted pack.

1C = 1 * the capacity, in amps. So charging a 2200mah pack at 2.2amps is 1C.

[martin]

When you say a fully depleted pack does that mean one that still has 20% still in the pack so your not letting the pack discharge to much. Thanks.

[wparsons]

Nope, I meant fully depleted (ie needed 2200mah back into a 2200mah pack).

It usually takes about 45 minutes for me to balance charge (balancing takes a bit longer) my 2200mah packs at 2.2amps.

[martin]

Im wondering if i have a problem with one of my 2200 40c-90c 3s packs. I seem to be getting shorter run times than i did. As before i would run up until it slowed & when put on charge it would show 9.9v at the start of charge, Now when i put on charge after running boat to the same point where boat starts to slow i get close to 11v when i put on charge. Any ideas if that shows a possible problem with lipo. Thanks.

[wparsons]

Has anything else changed? Colder weather, different prop?

[martin]

The only thing that ive changed is the esc, I used an Etti 45amp but i an trying a cheaper one just to see if any of these various cheap ones are any good or not. So far performance wise it seems to be working as well as the Etti ones. I know the Etti has a cut off voltage on 3s at 9.9v which is bang on what you get but this cheapo one on 3s they state 9v but i dont get anywhere near 9 v when i put it on charge. Perhaps its the esc as you cant set cut off voltage as its preset with the 3s choice of voltage, But their again so is the Etti as well.

[martin]

Ran the boat today down to its lv cut off & then balance charged & it took 63 minuets & it took 1983mah. This is a Turnigy Nano Tech 3s 2200, Is it discharging to much as speed seems slightly down than what it was. Thanks.

[wparsons]

I would cut the run off about 30 seconds earlier if it was me, 1800mah is about all you want to drain out of a 2200mah pack.

[martin]

Ive been running these packs for around 5-6 months now continuous so they have had a lot of charges & do run them quite hard with the set up ive got. Are they possibly showing signs their past their best & time for some new packs. Thanks.