Electric 1/8th Buggies
 

What do we all think of these then?

And what do we know? anyone with much experience of them...what are the current limitations?

I like the idea a lot - convenience of electric; no need for pit men, very strong and can handle large jumps..

James

I have no experience so far but I've been reading and participating in rctech forum about this.

My view:

Pros:
- very strong cars
- quite large autonomy (around 20 minutes with 6000mAh packs)
- smoke the nitros :cool:

Cons:
- no esc designed for this purpose; most guys are using a MambaMax above it's specs (4s while it's aimed to handle 2s, meaning 14.8v instead of 7.4) with holes and fans; Tekin and Castle should have a specific in coming months
- cost (conversion kit + 1 battery + esc + motor + ubec > $800 USD); then you add the car, servo, battery charger,...
- not much available in Europe so import taxes :(

Tekin are working on a unit right now.

Converting a chassis normaly is just the centre mount and removing breaks. Big cost is the motor and cells.

Yes, but I quote a Tekin employee (posted yesterday):
Don't get too far ahead of yourself, these are still in the first stages of development. We're working like crazy to get all the FX and R1 series out as it is.
This ESC is announced for months now...

Anyway, to put numbers on my previous post, conversion is about $135, battery $250, motor $250, ESC tbd

:)I've haven't had anything to do with them although I have read several posts on different forums about them. I started racing 1/10 electric TC, bought myself a 1/8 nitro buggy just to bash with. When our club built a track for 1/10 electric off road I sold the nitro and bought an electric 1/10.
I just found it too sterile and sold it and went and bought a 1/8 nitro truggy which I now race.
I just love the sound and the smell, even though my brushless 1/10 could keep with the nitro it just wasn't the same to me.
There are pro's & con's for both but being a big kid I'd rather sacrifice the speed and cleanliness of an electric for the good old sound and smell of a nitro in off road.:)

You can't beat that ;)

I think that when the esc's will be there, the electric version will save all the engine setup trouble. I don't run nitro but this seems to be the biggest frustration of the guys that do. I come and run pack after pack in 1/10 while they have sometimes trouble to run 5 minutes in a row (or even at all). Anyway, currently 1/8 brushless is as much trouble as the hardware is not ready yet...

After 10years of going home smelling of nitro with a head ache, sore eyes the 1/8th bug wore off:rolleyes:.

Why spend time and money trying to put a motor were the engine should be?:eh?: I'm now off to the shed to strap my RB C6 into my B4:D:D

Take a picture before it blows ;);)

some of your figures are a bit out, the mamba max esc can handle 12cells/3s lipo, but people have run it on 4/5s with ubec's

esc- the BK Electronics 12020 Warrior Car Controller handles 20cells and it $195,
the prefered choice is Quark Monster Pro 125B Brushless Sensorless Speed Controller which is $275, that is a good esc. which can take 6cell lipo.

motor- the Feigao/Nemesis/Wanderer "XL" brushless motors in usually 7xl form are fine for it, thats $92 from rcmonster

battery is dependant on what you go for, maxamps and flightpower are the best
quick prices
Lipo 6300HV 4S3P 14.8V Pack $280
Lipo 6300HV 18.5V Pack $320
Lipo 10000mah 4S 14.8V Pack $250
Lipo 10000mah 5S 18.5V Pack $300
Lipo 10000mah 6S 22.2V Pack $350

for conversion take out any nitro bits so all that should be left is the steering servo and a receiver. mock up where everything will go, then get hold of some aluminum and make a motor mount. secure everything else, jobs a good 'un

You're correct about MambaMax, it's 3s. Thanks for mentionning the others.

The prices I gave were relative to what I understood to be the standard racing package from rctech.
1. 4s batteries (and ok the Mamba can take it with mods but you can also read that quite a few fried nevertheless...)
2. NeuMotor type 1512 http://www.neumotors.com/20061222/15...es%20data.html
3. A manufactured conversion kit like this http://www.rcproductdesigns.com/OneEigthScalekits.htm

Now you can always to cheaper... and maybe not worse after all!

Why do you need such big motors and so much voltage? :confused:

G

Once again, I only read rctech, so...

It seems that it is the necessary power to compete with nitro's as they share same races in US (in clubs at least).

the weight of the cars ad the energy needed to spool up the tyres/wheels/drivetrain

I have seen the Tekin one running and it is a beast.

That was my next point rallyx car weigh a bit more!!!

Comment on Quark ESC mentionned above:
http://www.rctech.net/forum/showpost...&postcount=460

thing is with nitro its a level playing field, engines and fuel are the same, yea a few people can tweak engines but most are just down to driving and tuning.

But it would be less hassel 1/8th electric, and imagine being able to hear your friends ooooooh :)

If it went electric it would be down to equipment, don't get me wrong electric is my first love and will always be that way, no matter what, even if I dont have good cells and motors :)

Do you really think so? You also have a wide range of engine and prices just like in electro. The only advantage of electro is that if you buy the best, it will work right without tweaking, no hassle. It has less charm I admit ;)

Well I know there is a difference between a £137 go engine and a £300 RB at top level :)

I still think that nitro is a level playing field, you only have to look at some of the electric drivers doing it, in 10th there up or were there, but not quite in the A yet at 1/8th there pushing the top drivers, maybe the driving style suits some better anyway!

I'd say for 10th off road it's pretty negligible, if you need more power drop turns, there isn't a great need to spend all that much, in touring cars, yes, money wins races, but where the speed of the car is traction limited not power limited it's pretty much all skill imo. Neil Cragg for example generally seems to use much less powerful motors than most others (from what i've seen anyway, feel free to correct me here :p) ofc they're all top end brushless systems etc, but that's reliability, not making him go faster. Only thing that would maybe make a difference is top end batteries making the voltage more consistent over a race, or where it's allowed, lipo dropping weight and adding power (Doughtys car at CML 2 weeks ago sunday was a rocket, and it was damp :o)

I agree. You even see people like Mike Truhe running with 5 cells instead of 6.

I got all bit and pieces but the motor...
If anybody knows a place with Neu 1512 or Lehner 1940 in stock, please let me know.

http://sylvestre.net/rc/_MG_3123.JPG
http://sylvestre.net/rc/_MG_3363.JPG
http://sylvestre.net/rc/_MG_3360.JPG

Can wait to finish it and RUN it :-))

I was looking at the RC Product Designs 1/8 conversions earlier today. The fit and finish looks good in your pictures, what's it like in the flesh?

A video or two of it in action would be cool once you get hold of a motor, plus some feedback on what it's like to drive.

Your pics have certainly whetted my appetite further :)

Nice bodyshell btw :cool:

It looks nice and strong! Installation is trouble free, everything fits perfectly. Nice product.

Concerns I have:
- shaft length as central diff is higher, that can be fixed by Mugen shafts
- MaxAmps 4S6000mAh touches the body so I bought a longer and lower Thunder Power 4S5000mAh

Good :D
Believe me I can't wait to be able to give some feedback! My Neu motor is ordered for more than 2 months :mad:

Thanks :)

Nicolas,

Have you managed to source a motor yet?

If so, more pics please :)

Waiting for the Neu was too much of a torture so I ordered a Lehner 1940/5 HiAmps. Got it last Wednesday, ran it yesterday for the first time. As weather is not that good I've run it on tarmac. Man, it's flying! Will do a video when a friend comes to see it.

Updated picture with motor and temp sensor (plus a few hop-ups and some dirt).

http://sylvestre.net/rc/_MG_3475.jpg

That looks really good, i want one:D

Even if it's Losi rubbish ? ;)
RC Product designs also provides a kit for RC8 if you want to convert.

I have to say I am pleased with it :woot:

Nice! what runtime are you getting?

So far I've run only once with each pack I own (a 4s5000 ThunderPower and a 6s6000 MaxAmps) so nothing's really representative. I also only did straigths back and forth. This being said, I was over 20 minutes with the MaxAmps when I stopped (too cold, couldn't feel my fingers!).

If weather is ok I'll bring it to the track (http://brtc.eu.com/) on Wednesday :D. Maybe I can put my camcorder somewhere on the side to tape it.

Is that special order only, as it doesn't appear to be listed on their website?

Looking forward to seeing a video, don't keep us waiting too long! :)

Ok, I've been too optimistic on this one, RC8 kit is not yet there. Never hurt sending a mail to Dan to push it a bit though ;-)

I've taped a short movie this morning, still on concrete. Not very good movie as I had nobody to hold the camera. It lies on the ground as you'll see... Gives an idea though.

http://sylvestre.net/rc/8ight test.wmv

Certainly looks pretty rapid.

I like the wipe out of your camera early on :lol:;)

Did you cut the video short of doing the same again at the end?!

I'm afraid so :D
First time I drove a 1/8, doesn't stop as a 1/10 ;)

Just made my first race with Nitros. Was my first since +10 years...

Qualification heats were 5 minutes, finals 15. I got no issue to run that long with the 5000 mAh packs. No overheating, no issue at all, went pretty smooth!

If you're interested to convert a car, be aware that Castle is about to release a specific ESC. It'll be main street pretty soon :woot:.

I know were there are Neu 1512 2.5D in stock are you in the UK or USA ?

Should have my 8ight soon, and already working on some parts.

I plan on waiting for the CC Monster Max and there own version of the Neu they are bringing out :D

I'm in Belgium but I have my Neu already (a 2D).
The Monster Max is on pre-order on their website :D.

The monster max is $145 at rcmonster is you use the coupon code mamba monster :thumbsup:

That happened to me the second time i drove my E-8ight, it turned my camera into a flying one :lol:

Your Losi looks great! I used the RCM motor mount and battery tray, but i'd like to use the RCPD's tray(like yours), it's awesome!

I saw that... too late :eh?:

Yes, it's really nice and reliable. I just looks like a factory kit :thumbsup:.

I forgot to mention that my first race results were TQ and victory :D. It was first appearance of a brushless car and I got a lot of interest around my car... Was a nice day!