Lipo ? Is a LVC a must ?

[Simon.O.]

I am slowly coming round to the idea of LiPo power.
I can get my hands on a 2300mAh 2S pack and am interested in giving it a spin in my rigger.
Small problem. None of my ESC’s are programmable for low voltage cut off.
I can get an external LVC module but this now starts to put the cost up.

How stupid is it to run without a LVC for Lipo.

[NorthernBoater]

If your ESC does not have a LVC I would get one. What is the C rating on your packs?

[ghostofpf1]

IMHO you really ought to protect your investment if at all possible. I have one of these in my SV27 and it works well...very small and not too awfully expensive.

http://www.dimensionengineering.com/LipoShield.htm

Ghost

[Simon.O.]

I can get 15C for a good price but if I need more like 20-25C then the whole project will have to wait......$$$
I am running a 23t can over a 531 prop, I guess loads are not excessive as the whole system is only just warm after 2 mins at wot.

[62 bugzilla]

time runs

You can time your runs and at first do short runs to make sure you don't run your batterys to low and then check voltage and then dial in how long it takes a certain set up to run the batterys down to safe level. I use a small timer on my controller that goes off. It's a good peice of mind using lvc for sure but it can be done without it just inch up on it don't make big jumps in time.

[Ub Hauled]

Simon,
an external LVC is much cheaper then the lipos that you may waiste by trying to guess when a good time to stop is... IMO, get an external LVC.
If you really must not buy one (mistake), you can time it a couple of times until it starts loosing power (slowing down), give it good time cushion, then run always with a stopwatch... be sure to never run more then the time you figured out.

[Bill-SOCAL]

I simply time my runs. I have never exceeded 80% capacity and am normally around 60%.

If your know your set up, and time your runs, then an LVC is not really needed.

But if you don't use a timer each and every time, or are not familiar with your set up, then an LVC may save your packs.

[crabstick]

check out these Lipos

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6245

run these as 4s2p and you can suck some decent amps out of them, ive had about 5 runs on my set so far - 76kmh or 47mph with an 8xl and x440/3 in my scratchbuilt 33 inch cat

[SweetAccord]

check out these Lipos

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6245

run these as 4s2p and you can suck some decent amps out of them, ive had about 5 runs on my set so far - 76kmh or 47mph with an 8xl and x440/3 in my scratchbuilt 33 inch cat

Are Zippy Lipo's any good??

[ghostofpf1]

Are Zippy Lipo's any good??

I have quite a few zippy packs and they have all performed well to date in my boats and helis.I use the 4300 2s packs (x2) in my sv27 and my friends were so impressed they asked me to buy 8 more for them .

HTH
Ghost

[SweetAccord]

They are more affordable than the Elite's from Cheapbatterypacks.com. I'm sold!

[crabstick]

the loong max and Zippy are the same cells

I havent had mine past lukewarm yet in my Cat, but very good value for money, and you dont need the mega expensive charger to charge the 4s packs - thus why im using 4s2p

i have a hextronic charger that charges via the balance tap at 2.0 amps, takes around 1 hour to charge

Hopefully I can put these Zippys into the 50mph club in the morning.

[deestingray]

One of the best pieces of equip that I ever bought for my boats was my eagle tree logger. It tells you heaps of things that are beneficial in setting up a boat, including MAH used per run. I have found that it is pretty accurate too.
My runs are generally 5 or so laps of a 200 metre course and I know that per run I use around 1300 mah. Whilst I do have a LVC in my esc, it won't kick in as long as I know how much capacity I am using. I generally get 2 runs out of a set of 25C 3800 Lipos and I know they are spent.
But to answer the question, yes they are a good thing and you should look at protecting your investment by investing in one. Unlike Nimh cells, if you take the cells down to too low a voltage per cell(under 3V is bad), you will reduce their lifespan dramatically.

I and a couple of friends have bought the Turborix packs from R2Hobbies at really good prices. I recently got a pair of 3S 2200 20C packs for 35USD each incl postage!!!

[SweetAccord]

Ok question for any of you in this thread please,

This item: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...ead_(2_x_3S)6S_

Would it be ok to charge two of these?: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=6656

They (HobbyCity) could not tell me.

Also, 2s1p that is a 3s right? So two of 2s1p in series is 6s right? I'm trying to get the lingo right. . . .

Thank you.

Peace~

[ghostofpf1]

Looks like that product is an adapter for charging 2 3s packs off a 6s port so I'm not sure it would work for 2s packs
2s is 2 cells....3s is 3 cells....

a 2s2p is 2 cells in parallel with 2 other cells for a total of 4 cells having the voltage of 2 cells
HTH
Ghost