Lipos ROCK

[Darin Jordan]

Also at the same time lipos were being introduced, high amp Neu motors came in. Boats grew and so did the cost to race competitively.

To be accurate... Neus were here, and boats were growing, WELL before Lipos were considered... We went from 22" N2 boats to 26" N2 boats, and from 24" P-boats to 30+" P-boats.. in one season... with the potential to make them even bigger... and all with NiMH cells (4200s...) All adding lipos did at this point was make it so these same setups could be run without having to scap cells every 10-cycles...

We were NEVER going to get away from the initial startup costs... Now that things are in place...prices are coming down... new a better chargers and balancers, etc., are here... and the info, experience, and advice are out here to help people make the right decisions on equipment...

The initial shock should be wearing off now... Time to stop arguing and embrace the new age of FE... It REALLY is GOOD!

And if any old timers are still on the fence... Maybe they can look at what many of the nay-sayers are doing now... there are quite a few people out here who originally fought the change, who have turned 180-degrees and are fully onboard... because they've SEEN that it's all good...

I agree that the implementation could have been done a little differently, but let's face it... NO way of doing it would have made EVERYONE happy... NOT a chance... I'm very sorry to hear that people have actually left the hobby over this, but as I head into this next season with the same box full of cells that I started last season with, and have them still fully perform as they did last year, I have a hard time understanding why someone would stay away... The boats are a little larger and more drivable... the cells are lasting many, many times longer.... Hull availability is great and they are very reasonably priced... and their hasn't been a house or car burned down to date... Seems like good times...

[Bill-SOCAL]

Bill its all about the cost. To convert a 12 nimh boat to lipo at the time would have cost over $500 with a decent changer. Also at the same time lipos were being introduced, high amp Neu motors came in. Boats grew and so did the cost to race competitively.

Yes, I understand that, but it still amazes me that people would quit the hobby. And honestly from many of the posts I've read over the past few months it seems like cost is the reason given, but there appears to be more to it. There are some folks that just seem content with the status quo.

Oh well, competition costs money. Always has. When I first started flying IMAC a 25% plane with a YS 140 4-stroke was HUGE and could cost maybe $750 to get going. Now there are guys flying basic with 40% planes with engines that cost $1,500 and all up costs of nearly $7,500. And IMAC has flourished during this change over. The major difference is that it was not forced by the rules, but rather it was the natural result of the pilot's desire to be competitive.

[SJFE]

Invest in a simple little thing called a lipo cut-off. Novak makes several different ones for the number of cells your running

Thanks for the suggestion Dale. I own 3 of them. The probem is they monitor voltage only. It's the Mah thats getting depleted past save levels. I've been instructed not to run long enough to hit the lvc anyway. So again I say I need to watch my run time and recharge rates for optimal run to discharge ratios. If there where programable LVC/LMAH monitors my little world would be one step closer to perfection

[SJFE]

"Talking Timer"

Brilliant!!!! LOL I shall acquire one of these magnificent devices immediately: D

[Hydromaniac]

To be accurate... Neus were here, and boats were growing, WELL before Lipos were considered... We went from 22" N2 boats to 26" N2 boats, and from 24" P-boats to 30+" P-boats.. in one season... with the potential to make them even bigger... and all with NiMH cells (4200s...) All adding lipos did at this point was make it so these same setups could be run without having to scap cells every 10-cycles...

We were NEVER going to get away from the initial startup costs... Now that things are in place...prices are coming down... new a better chargers and balancers, etc., are here... and the info, experience, and advice are out here to help people make the right decisions on equipment...

The initial shock should be wearing off now... Time to stop arguing and embrace the new age of FE... It REALLY is GOOD!

And if any old timers are still on the fence... Maybe they can look at what many of the nay-sayers are doing now... there are quite a few people out here who originally fought the change, who have turned 180-degrees and are fully onboard... because they've SEEN that it's all good...

I agree that the implementation could have been done a little differently, but let's face it... NO way of doing it would have made EVERYONE happy... NOT a chance... I'm very sorry to hear that people have actually left the hobby over this, but as I head into this next season with the same box full of cells that I started last season with, and have them still fully perform as they did last year, I have a hard time understanding why someone would stay away... The boats are a little larger and more drivable... the cells are lasting many, many times longer.... Hull availability is great and they are very reasonably priced... and their hasn't been a house or car burned down to date... Seems like good times...

ITS ALL GOOD???? WOW. Once again Darin I'm without words........Decline in Racers, Decline in memberships, Decline in friendships BUT ITS ALL GOOD.

[SJFE]

Now that I'm done being silly I can offer a point of view from a pure sport boater. Last year around this time I made my battery purchases for the season. I had them all built by Mr Hill and all said and done I had 500 invested in 12 packs of IB3600s 4-8cell 6 6cells and a set of 7cell packs. I paid about 6 bucks a cell then so add in the Ice charger I bought I invested 610 bucks. Now all those cells where used all summer and where never really race quality cells to begin with. I sold them off for less than half what I had paid for them.

This year I took that 600 dollars bought 12 more packs and only had to put out an extra 139.99 for the latest Hyperion balance charger. From what I have read I will not have to buy batteries for @ least 2 or 3 more years with the mild use of sport running on my conservative setups. I say it's a win win all around for both racers and sport boaters.

[ReddyWatts]

I am planning lipo's for my next electric build in 2008. It is a Miss Bud with a Blackjack motor combo. I had hoped the price of Lipo's would come down more than it has by now. My nimhs have lasted a long time, since I use the HV setups using less amps.

[SJFE]

Well Mr Watts it would seem prices vary depending on who you are. I had some first hand experince with this. Not that I got a really slammin deal but I think the general public prices may a bit diffrent than what people with an "in" pay. I think it goes al little further than just " since you spent x amount I'll cut you a break". I wish we all could just get the same fixed price.

[ReddyWatts]

Ok SJFE, set me up with a contact. ha

[SJFE]

My friend ther is nothing I would like more. Unfortunately I can't gettem there any more .

[Darin Jordan]

I'll take this to an appropriate thread... You are right dude... LIPOS ROCK!

[Steven Vaccaro]

Lipo's do rock!!! They have allowed me to do things that I would never have even considered before. Now that prices have come down I haven't bought a sub c pack for a year and look forward to using last years lipos this summer. My one and only complaint is the changing charging tech. I will be buying a improved charger. But thats by choice, not necessity.

[Darin Jordan]

My one and only complaint is the changing charging tech. I will be buying a improved charger. But thats by choice, not necessity.

I hear that! I thought I was heading into next season with what I "need" as far as chargers go... then Hyperion comes out with a whole line of REALLY cool stuff that makes me "need" something else!

Just have to keep telling myself "live with what you have... live with what you have... live with what you have.... spend your money on stuff you really need from OSE... spend your money on stuff you really need from OSE... "

[Bill-SOCAL]

Trust me, the new 0610i DUO is WAY cool. I am liking mine a great deal. With boats that have 4 packs in them, trust me, chargers are an issue. One thing I really like is at start up it asks you to confirm the number of cells before actually starting to charge.