This subject has probably already been done , but I couldn't find it.

Whats the deal with everyone thinking they need that extra cell ?

We've run our 3pk's of 8 nimh cells and have seen no problems.

Futaba must think that 9.6 v is adequate or they wouldn't have supplied
the rechargable pack.

I put the 8 cell tray in ours , that way you can swap out batteries if
you need to.

I understand completely the big difference between 12 volts and less than 10
but do I need it.

NO , unless you plan on racing on the Moon from Earth~~~~~~~~!

When at the track My radio is on charge except when in use.......It stays around 10.5 to 11.0 volts........If you add a cell you need to becareful not to exceed the Max voltage for the radio, about 13.0v........

I went to a 1300 lipo and can use the radio all weekend without having to recharge

i've been running a 2500 mah lipo and have not had to charge for 2 months. thats with running every weekend and some practice on wed. it's great can't wait for 1/4 scale to start i won't ever have to worry about my radio going dead.

Years ago Futaba said if you used alkaline cells you had to use one dummy cell because 8 cells at a " new " voltage level is 1.60 ???

Lots of companies out there selling the 9 cell packs.

I went to a 1320 Mah lipo battery for my 3PK and love it. I can get about 3 months out of a charge. At full charge it shows 12.7v on the display.

What lipo packs fit the 3PK?

There s a voltage regulator in the radio so the extra voltage is not an issue>>Id have to dig up the thread on rc tech that explained how it worked..but you have to throw quite a bit of voltage to it to kill the regulator..waayyy more than a 9 cell pack provides..

I went to 9 cell 2700's..I can run all day on a charge..Plus the voltage stays at the max longer..Do I NEED it..NO..am I ever worried about my radio dumping...NO..

the stock 3pk 800mah pack sucked...Its kind of like driving a car that gets 10MPG... as the race goes on you can actually see the voltage drop..With the stock pack mine LIVED on the charger..I remember having some OH $h!t moments when I would forget to put it on the charger between rounds...the dreaded BEEp Beep Beep with 2 minutes to go...

I thought about the alkaline option...but why...for $20 I have a 9 cell pack that never goes low and can be recharged...Im sure the lipo is nice as well...BUT Im an old schooler...So Im used to/require a radio with a little weight to it...When I borrowed a friends lipo 3 pk it felt wierd in my hand because it was so light...LOL

the stock 3pk 800mah pack sucked...Its kind of like driving a car that gets 10MPG... as the race goes on you can actually see the voltage drop..With the stock pack mine LIVED on the charger..I remember having some OH $h!t moments when I would forget to put it on the charger between rounds...the dreaded BEEp Beep Beep with 2 minutes to go...


ive had that moment more than once. and still am i using the pack that came with the radio

The mah is low on the packs that come with the radios. the 9 cell packs are a plus as mentioned above from the standpoint you have higher MAH and the extra voltage does not hurt. Plus the 9 cell will last the whole day in most cases

I soldered up my own 9 cell pack last night with nimh 2700's and even though
I don't think it is going to make any difference on the track , it makes you feel better when you look at the readout and it say's 11.8 vs 10 or below.

Even if you ran 8 -2700 cells , you should be able to race a day or weekend with no problem , whats that , maybe 2-3 hours max track time @ 350 mah draw, not a problem.

Yes , our stock futaba packs have never been used , a waiste of time to
even try them.

A little off the subject , how many have switched over to the 2.4 fast system for their 3pk ?

Is that necessary for the average racer ?

99.% of the time we have no problem with the PCM mode , except when some bozo does turn on his radio with the same FM channel , as These are not imune to rejecting that interferance.

I know its a bad thing to say but I would have bet one guy at our track had a radio with my channel that he was on purpose turning on and off :confused:

Should I have to spend $200.00 to become immune to this nonsense ?

GWS makes a nice 2200 MaH pack (GWBAP001A) that fits right into the case of a 3PK. I've use it for about 3 months now and only had to charge it once plus it does not self discharge like NiMH do. Chargers for the little lipos run around 25 -30 bucks.

Why keep fighting a battery problem when there is a solution available?

Rob, your 9 cell pack doesn't fit in my 3pks. If I tried to force it in it would crack the plastic on the sides. Had to disassemble it and reassembly as an 8 cell side by side pack to make it fit.

WT 9 cell fits just fine. I have them in all my radios. did you remove the rubber spacer that holds the factory pack. Im going to assume that it was not removed if yours did not fit.


WT also has Lipo's for 3pk's (out of stock right now) and you dont need an extra charger. The one that comes with the radio works just fine.

Yes remove the rubber piece and 9cell fits perfect... ;)

I Swithed to the FASST system and will never go back.. I never had an issue with PCM..Other than wasting a car or 2 because some retard clicked their radio on during a race.. Originally I had spektrum and had nothing but problems.. I switched to the fasst and all has been great..

The benefit I see out of it is at BIG races... I mean the first year I went to birds I was constantly changing channels and waiting for clips etc.. with the fasst you just throw the car down and go... For club races there was/is no real benefit other than the occasional person turning your channel on..