Nimh to Lipo

[Simon.O.]

It is now time for me to consider Lipo as a power source.
I have damaged one of my best IB4200 packs and to replace it will cost more than one of these.

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8357&Product_Name=ZIPPY_Flightmax_4000mAh_2S1P_25C_Car_Lipoly

Is this an ok pack to replace a 6pack of IB4200.??

A couple more questions.

My charger does not have any plugs or sockets etc for the balance plugs of a Lipo pack to go into. The instructions do say that it is Lipo capable and the menu screen will scroll to a Lipo option.

Do I NEED to have a balance capable charger or is charging at 0.5C o.k as we did with Nimh packs?.

How wet is too wet for a Lipo pack to get.??
My rigger from time to time will come back with a bit of water in it. The battery is raised off the tub floor and sometimes gets a bit of water on it.
Will this be ok for a Lipo pack.

[lomdel]

I use a separate balancer ( http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...ncer_2-5_Cells. ) that I keep plugged in while charging a lipo and it works flawless! It'll balance my 3S packs to within 0,04V per cell. I check voltage with http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...y_Monitor_2-6S . These are cheap and easy to use tools for SPORT running and will keep my lipos in good shape, I hope.
Charging rate should be 1C for example a 4000mah pack to be charged at 4A.
Never discharge or run in your boat to below 3V per cell for example a 3S pack not to be discharged below 9V, preferably 9,3V is minimum IMO.
Water should obviously be kept to a minimum, but a little moisture in the packs should be dried out as soon as possible without any lasting damage to your pack.
For boats don't buy 20C packs, not enough punch. 25C or max 30C packs should be considered, IMO.
Hope this helps a little...

[ED66677]

Simon, you can go for the balancer as Lomdel said, in the meantime you can make an adapter to charge each cell (one at a time) @ 1C through the balancer port, that's how I do it before I get a descent charger/balancer one of these days!
For the water issue, you can get or make (thermoforming) some battery case and seal them when silicone! some Lipo pack on ebay already have plastic case!

[egneg]

I use this balancer with my triton charger I did need an adapter from RC lipos (part # PQ-AL-2S) as the card is for align plugs (there seems to be a few different standards for these). But I guarantee that you will be very happy with the performance over nimh's.

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7443&Product_Name=CY-_B6_plus_balancer_(2-6S_series)

http://www.rclipos.com/Accessories.htm

[JimClark]

What Charger Simon?

[Simon.O.]

Jim, I have this charger

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXKSY1

I note you have found this thread over on rrr too.
I do on occasion run two threads to cast my net wide.

[Simon.O.]

I have nearly settled on my Lipo choice and a new charger/balancer.

Before I go 2S I want some thoughts on going 3S
This is for my rigger
http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/for...ead.php?t=3984

Fiegao 8S on a 431 prop.
A 3S would take my rpm from 26k to 39k, Is this too fast.

I ask because there are a LOT of suitable 3S packs available locally at a good price due to the number of helis sold here.

btw I am about to try the little bugger on 7 conditioned IB4200's,

[Simon.O.]

I thought I should refresh this thread instead of starting a new one.
I now have my 2S lipos to replace my aging IB4200's. They are Zippy 5000 mAh 25C
I put a pack in the cat and and taped it down. In the water, gentle on the trigger and then full power.
$%%#@&*%$#@ !!!! That is outrageous.
Out of the water, then on its tail and away, full throttle and it would torque roll on the prop, lift the nose and blowover.
I had to bring it in and load a couple of 9v square cells in the front as ballast.
Now it runs on the sponson tips and prop. no blowover.....yet.
The difference between Lipo and Ni is like when I went from Brushed to BL and people say 20C to 35C is the same again.
I am now convinced that my BL setups is what killed my already old IB cells. No more buying them for me, the ones i have will make a good Rx pack for my big offshore tug and power packs for my 1/8 crawler.
Nimh to Lipo ?? Do it now if you have not done it yet !!

[egneg]

Simon you are probably wondering why you didn't do this sooner - crazy fast now!

[785boats]

Simon.
Another convert. treat them well & they wil reward you well.
All my 4200 packs are pretty much wasted now & I only run lipos even in all my scale boats.
I just smear silicon in & around the wires & the ends of the heat shrink on my packs to keep the water out.
Cheers.
Paul.

[Mash13]

I blew one of my old 3600 stick packs today in my SV27. I wondered why it just stopped in the middle of the pond, I swam out looked in the hatch. Pop! LOL all these people looking at some bloke swimming after a boat only wearing jocks in less than desirable swimming water :)
I'm ordering low voltage cutoff today and some zippy packs!

[motoxbob11]

You will get a ton of good advice on this forum and one piece of advice is don't swim to get a boat! Rescue boats are easy and fun to create. That boat may be farther out than you think once you go in after it.

[z400]

Simon, are you wanting to get rid of your nimh packs?

And also, if you havent already done so, may want to reconsider that hardcased lipo for either of these soft packs.

Simply compare the feedback on that wbsite.

https://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8578

https://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7653

[Doby]

I have a few sets of the Zippy Flightmax 2S 25C 5000, and the 4S of the same.

Seriously, for the price you can't go wrong.