Well with the new season upon us, and a new battery war brewing, what is everyones opinion on the new crop of batteries out there???

I just recently got back into the hobby (last cells I owned were 2000's) and I'm wondering which battery manufacturer to throw my money at.(3700's or 3800's)

As always thanks for your input

If the last cells you owned were 2000's than you must have quit racing about 5 years ago and are starting over. You'll probably need a better charger that can handle the NIMH 3700 and 3800's. From what I've read so far the 3700 and 3800 have similar voltages but the 3800 have lower IR's. Like all NIMH batteries they have a much shorter life span and degrade quickly. Most guys buy new batteries 2 to 3 times per year or more. The old days of using your 2000's for 2 or 3 seasons is long gone.

The voltages and IRs on these new IB3800's are incredible.

Hays at LEFTHANDER R/C just got in a batch of them from SMC with avg voltages of 1.182+ at 35 amps !! And the IRs were around 1.8 !

I'm just wondering when tracks are going to start to allow them for racing ? All the tracks around here are still only allowing 3300's as far as I know.

Actually the IB3800 has more usable voltage and provides more power than the GP cells.

I think racers need to talk to track owners and race organizers and get them to allow the newer generation cells for the start of the season. The new cells should be approved by ROAR and will be legal by January first. It would be ridiculous for a racer to have to buy new 3300 when the newer cells are currently available and will be legal in January.

I think ROAR should make September 1st the new approval date which would mean that the new race season would be when cells would be legal.

September = NEW SEASON

Out here our season runs February to November.

My question...as always is "What will the NEW cells do to IMRPOVE R/C Racing?"

It may be true that NiMh's don't last as long as the old NiCad's, but to say racers have to replace their batteries 2-3 times a year I don't feel is true.

Now, while this may be true for some (The BIGGER Budget guys), I can tell you there are a lot of racers who DON'T and WON'T. They MAY buy One or 2 new Packs and move their MAIN Packs to qualifying packs and bump some down the road, but when you switch to a totally NEW cell...they feel they have to replace they ENTIRE Package at one shot.

I don't feel the need to allow every NEW battery a company mfg's to always become legal...just because it's there. I know I'm in the minority on that subject most of the time...because w/o a NEW Product...Battery Matchers don't have anything NEW and EXCITING to sell.

If we could just figure out a way to eliminate ALL "Battery Sponsored" drivers, and make ALL r/c racers BUY the packs they use, we'd probably see a LOT more racing willing to stick with ONE type of battery a lot longer.

...and before I get beat up by battery matchers, I'm not against you guys being in business and making a living off the battery game, but MY interest is keeping RACING alive...over KEEPING companies alive. MORE racers keep companies alive, moreso than NEW Batteries make NEW racers.

There is no way you can keep cell manufacturers from improving there products. On another not different cell manufacturers trying to come into the high end RC market is positive because it will keep the cost down. If there would only be one manufacturer then they can do what ever they want with the prices. GP3300 had 3 price increase in a 2 and half year period plus GP upgraded the 3300 three times while keeping the same cell shrink.

I think it all comes down to the racer to buy batteries wisely. We know that a pack can run 2 times per day so there is no reason to buy 6 new packs. Just buy 2-3 and when they get old or something new comes along you only have a couple of packs to replace.

Danny
I have been hearing around the track that the 3800's have a short life compared to the 3700's, like 3-5 runs then fall on there face. I have a couple 3800 packs, ran them like 4-5 times and the numbers keep picking up on them. Can you post what you are seeing? I don't want the 38's to get a bad wrap because of some bad rumors floating around.

Danny
I have been hearing around the track that the 3800's have a short life compared to the 3700's, like 3-5 runs then fall on there face. I have a couple 3800 packs, ran them like 4-5 times and the numbers keep picking up on them. Can you post what you are seeing? I don't want the 38's to get a bad wrap because of some bad rumors floating around.

Sorry to jump the gun Danny ... Eric, I have packs that have been cycled/raced 12+ times and they're still as good or better than ever.

Steve.
tqcells.com

I agree that the approval date should be moved up. Most of the track I will be racing at the fall already allow the new cells. Thats what I plan on buying. But for the state championship series in Indiana, 3300s are the only legal cell allowed for the 1st 2 races until after the 1st of the year. Now the few 3300s that I have left are old so I have to send the money on new 3300 just so I can run 2 races. That to me equals more money.

We have sent some 3800 packs to our racers and none have come back to tell us that they are not holding up in fact thy tell us there holding up as well if not better than GP cells . It seems like some people just want to say things without really knowing what is really going on.

ARCOR already allows 38's in 19t and open,most saturday nite tracks do anyway.ROAR had set their guideline previously for once a year approval.

. It seems like some people just want to say things without really knowing what is really going on.

I agree most of the comments I have heard are from people who have neither 37's or 38's.

This is my take. who cares about ROAR. that organization has gone to hell. like danny said you don't need to buy 6 packs just buy 2 or 3. I for one am going to buy new packs for the Snowbirds. so I'll run 3300's till then.

This is my take. who cares about ROAR. that organization has gone to hell. like danny said you don't need to buy 6 packs just buy 2 or 3. I for one am going to buy new packs for the Snowbirds. so I'll run 3300's till then.

I totally agree with you Dave. :thumbsup:

What kind of voltage numbers are you guys seeing on the 37 or 3800's on the high end ?

........I'm just wondering when tracks are going to start to allow them for racing ? All the tracks around here are still only allowing 3300's as far as I know.We will be allowing the use of any battery up to 3800+ at our track after August 26-which is the last race of our Summer point series. The next Friday race (Sept 2) will be the start of our "any battery legal for use here" rule.
-George
www.racewayathobbyworld.tk (http://www.racewayathobbyworld.tk)

What kind of voltage numbers are you guys seeing on the 37 or 3800's on the high end ?
Mark you got a PM

Mark you got a PM

Why a PM??? LOL.
My packs,(deadshorted) @ 35amps cycle 4.75, 9.5, and 370 runtime. These are the first generation 3800's, and I have at least 6 runs/cycles on them.

Later, Bret

It's no big deal he just said his worst pack was 4.89 415 6.8 @35 amps :D

It's good to see race tracks doing what is good for the racerby allowing the newer style cells and not waiting until January first.

yah I think most of florida will be running 3800's soon. i measn roar has ment well by making this rule just didn't think it out. should be sept 1st of every year. oh yah Danny keep up the good work!!!!!!

LOL, nobody ever happy with rules! The battery rule was put on the books to save you money! The battery of the WEEK thing! What if 3800s are legal today and you buy all you can, then 2 weeks for now GP put out 4000s with 500 sec 1.25v @ 35 amps. Then Sanyo wakes up and puts out 5000s in 4 weeks 600sec 1.30v @ 35 amps. So your brand new 3800 batteries with 3 runs on them are C-main packs (not lower because battery of the week has ran so many drivers away) Its a good rule, live with it!

LOL, nobody ever happy with rules! The battery rule was put on the books to save you money! The battery of the WEEK thing! What if 3800s are legal today and you buy all you can, then 2 weeks for now GP put out 4000s with 500 sec 1.25v @ 35 amps. Then Sanyo wakes up and puts out 5000s in 4 weeks 600sec 1.30v @ 35 amps. So your brand new 3800 batteries with 3 runs on them are C-main packs (not lower because battery of the week has ran so many drivers away) Its a good rule, live with it!

I have to agree with you on that Jimmy,why Sept 1st anyway?

I have to agree with you on that Jimmy,why Sept 1st anyway?

I suppose because for us "Northerners" end of Sept/start of Oct. is when we start to move inside and run on the rug again. Everybody likes to have fresh sticks for that, so why buy new 3300's in Sept. and then buy 3800's again in Jan. ?? If it's going to happen in Jan. anyway, might as well just start running 3800's out of the gate.

Not saying I agree necessarily -- just may take on what the reason is for Sept. 1.

LOL, nobody ever happy with rules! The battery rule was put on the books to save you money! The battery of the WEEK thing! What if 3800s are legal today and you buy all you can, then 2 weeks for now GP put out 4000s with 500 sec 1.25v @ 35 amps. Then Sanyo wakes up and puts out 5000s in 4 weeks 600sec 1.30v @ 35 amps. So your brand new 3800 batteries with 3 runs on them are C-main packs (not lower because battery of the week has ran so many drivers away) Its a good rule, live with it!


go back and read my post before you try to make me look stupid. I said still approve batteries once a year but change the date to sept 1. why sept 1 because mid way through carpet season 1 jan you have to by new packs . so you actually end up spending more money because you quit racing in late march come september you by new packs then on 1 ja you buy more new packs. sept 1st makes more sense.

Works out great if you only run carpet, but some of us race outdoors on caps year round,and for those that race both carpet and paved they end up buying cells twice a year anyway.Let's just leave it alone and let the trackowners decide when they want to allow any new cells.

Works out great if you only run carpet, but some of us race outdoors on caps year round,and for those that race both carpet and paved they end up buying cells twice a year anyway.Let's just leave it alone and let the trackowners decide when they want to allow any new cells.

I typically buy new sticks for carpet season and then just run them outdoors on caps the following summer. Unless there's a really big race I'm going to, I don't buy new sticks during the summer for cap racing.

Yep so if you buy new sticks sept 1st run them all carpet season then by cap season you're running junk,same goes true if you buy new the beginning of cap season then you're running junk by carpet season.I like Danny's idea of buying 2-3 packs at a time and having fresh cells year round, that way it really wouldn't matter when you buy cells or when new cells are approved,you don't have a ton of $$$ wrapped up in cells that may be obsolete soon.

Re: ROAR batt rules and such ... I think the best deal is for the track owners to listen to what their racers really want and set the rules accordingly.

Steve.

go back and read my post before you try to make me look stupid. I said still approve batteries once a year but change the date to sept 1. why sept 1 because mid way through carpet season 1 jan you have to by new packs . so you actually end up spending more money because you quit racing in late march come september you by new packs then on 1 ja you buy more new packs. sept 1st makes more sense.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to make anyone look stupid. My main point was, "you will never make everyone happy". If you change the date to Sept 1 then the outside guys are unhappy because of the Roar Paved oval Nats in Oct, Jan 1 carpet racers are unhappy. Battery companies don't care because they sell 10 times what racers buy to back yard bashers.

Re: ROAR batt rules and such ... I think the best deal is for the track owners to listen to what their racers really want and set the rules accordingly.

Steve.

AMEN Mr. Salvas!!

EA

Yep so if you buy new sticks sept 1st run them all carpet season then by cap season you're running junk,same goes true if you buy new the beginning of cap season then you're running junk by carpet season.I like Danny's idea of buying 2-3 packs at a time and having fresh cells year round, that way it really wouldn't matter when you buy cells or when new cells are approved,you don't have a ton of $$$ wrapped up in cells that may be obsolete soon.


I have been saying to buy 2-3 packs a time for the last 4years or so. This way you will not be angry if new cells come out our improved batches come along. GP changed the 3300 around 4 times in a 3 year period. In the end newer cells and competition amongst cell manufacturers will keep cell prices down with higher quality cells being produced.

Will 3300's still be good to practice with or will there be to much of a difference when you get to your heat race and strap in a 3800. Let me know what you think?

Thanks
Wheeler

I have some battery packs that have not been "Dead-Shorted". Would it help to start shorting them now?

nah you will be ok
If you are running say 3300's that are old and less than 4.60 (@35 amps) on voltage then yes, you might pick up a lap to lap and a half. But if your 3300's are decent say 4.68+ then you should pick up some but it won't be huge to where your car will need a chassis adjustment.

I have some battery packs that have not been "Dead-Shorted". Would it help to start shorting them now?

Larry,
I don't think it will hurt them.

Mario, one of our Mod drivers at Classic, had used 3300's during the year (unshorted) and decided to short them recently for summer stock racing and it's resulted in some killer numbers on his older packs.

Thanks Erock I will give it a whirl

Wheeler