I posted this in the B/L - LIPO racing thread over in the general discussion..but I intended to post it here...

If you are racing with the 3200 LIPO batteries...how much are you taking out of your pack during a race?

Are you racing 4 minutes, 5 minutes or other?

At the last VELODROME Race, one of the guys using one of my batteries in the 10.5/LIPO class ran it to 2962 mah. It took 43.47 to recharge at 6.4 amps...and it was fast.

Joe,
@ RCSM (200' driveline) in lipo/10.5 we used 2500 MAH-2700 MAH in 4 min. (track record in 4-cell mod 64 4:01, lipo/10.5 63 4:00)
Lipo/17.5 we use 1600 MAH- 1750 MAH in 4 min. ( track record 4-cell/19t 57 4:02, 4-cell/10.5 58 4:01, lipo/17.5 57 4:00)

Hope this helps! 3200 pack seems to be good for all tracks. On a 300' flat track in lipo/10.5 we used around 2900 MAH.

Raymond McCoy

Thanks Raymond,

I think our short track 17.5/LIPO is close to yours with the added mah for the extra minute of run time. (Seems to me we've been using 1900 - 2100 at Haven)

I'm figuring when we get the 21.5 on the track we'll only see around 1450 - 1600 in 5 minutes.

Joe
Yesterday we where using 1875-1920 mah in our 17.5 cars,5 minutes,carpet,175ft. driveline.
I didn't run my 10.5 car,but i think mark mentioned 2400 mah,4 minutes.

21.5, 135' flat carpet, 6 minute heats used about 1300 mah. Might still be geared a little low. We were comming off at 130° - 140°.

I don't know the first thing about lipo batteries....I have a pan car I would like to switch to lipo. What do I need to change over to lipo? (ESC? I have a lrp sphere? which battery? new charger? etc.)

thanks.

I don't know the first thing about lipo batteries....I have a pan car I would like to switch to lipo. What do I need to change over to lipo? (ESC? I have a lrp sphere? which battery? new charger? etc.)

thanks.

I have been running 21.5 LiPo for a couple weeks now and I also use an LRP Sphere Competition. It's been running great, but you do need to put a 2-cell LiPo cut-off switch on (Novak makes one).

Check with your local track as far as what LiPo battery they allow -- many are using the Orion Carbon 3200 with 21.5.

Several of the current chargers already do LiPo -- the DuraTrax ICE, Checkpoint 1030, LRP Pulsar 3, the latest version of the Competition Electronics GFX (older ones can be sent it for upgrade). The charger needs to have a CC/CV charge mode. NEVER EVER attempt to charge a LiPo pack with a NiMH charge setting !!!!! EVER !

Tommygun, you need a charger that is designed for LIPO, CE has an upgrade for some their Turbo. I think it is something like $50, or you can buy a LRP 3, and ICE or and Orion Advantage.

Lipo are charged by the charger differently than sub C's.

I would recommend a 3200 hard case, Orion has one called a Carbon.

Your Sphere should have a lipo setting, the main issue with Lipo is that you do not want them to get below 6VDC, the speed control should a have a cutoff at >6vdc that will shut off power to your motor but allow the receiver to still allow sterring control.

One thing to remember after running for the day, unplug the lipo battery, do not let your car sit during the week with the battery pluugged in, if your speed control was inadvertly left on or bumped on the speed control, receiver,servo and transponder loads could pull your battery below 6vdc.

Good luck, Lipo racing is a ton of fun.

I'm going to repete what RON mentioned...in BOLD letters - this is IMPORTANT!

One thing to remember after running for the day, unplug the lipo battery, do not let your car sit during the week with the battery pluugged in, if your speed control was inadvertly left on or bumped on the speed control, receiver,servo and transponder loads could pull your battery below 6vdc.

Joe, you made my day.