TrackPower LIPO Fit
 

OK,

Rather than post in about 4 different makes threads, I thought I'd just do it in electric section:

Looking at getting saddle pack LIPO's in the next month or so, and wondered which cars they fit, and what mod's each car requires. Either 3200 or 4800, my slight preference would be to run the 4900.

Specific cars I'm interested in hearing about are:

TRF501x/WE

Yok MRBX4 Worlds

X5 (I've seen this with 3200's, cheers Chris Long!)

Aero....hmm fat chance with the webbing in I guess, but there is height available if they can go either side of the driveshaft?

Also, who sells Trakpower LIPO's?

Finally, does the Orion Advantage charger work with these cells, or do I need the trakpower charger/balancer (if its worth having a blancer)?

Cheers,

Dave

not tried them in those cars, but im told they fit the areo (3200)

most good model shops, mbmodels in leeds have them or if out of stock can be got

yes it does if its lipo version, balancer is allways worth having as it has added saftey features when using a multi mode charger

I reckon if you changed the battery posts in the 501x to something like the B44/BJ4 ones you would get them in fine. The ones in the 501x are quite fat at the bottom so the packs wont go in.

With the 3200's you could use the AE thumbscrews to hold them down and make it a bit quicker to remove. The 4800's could be put in with simply using longer screws.

Thats what i did with my BJ4 and a 4800 pack, just removed the plastic battery trays and use the lipo locators that schumacher do (£3 carbon strips!) to stop them from sliding out sideways, and used longer bolts with the straps. Works a treat so far.

I'll try and get some pics tonight of my BJ4 install

IMO the 3200 will fit in any car as it is smaller than normal cells. dave sme see m on sunday if you are coming to oz i have my 3200 pack you are more than welcome to try and fit it to your cars see if it fits.

A

Hi Dave,
Should have said, I have the 4900 saddle packs too - would have shown you.

The 3200 pack works very well (as you saw on Sunday ;)) & I was using less than 50% of the capacity per run, and fits the X-5 well, these will fit any car that has a 3+3 cell layout such as the Tamiya, BJ4, B44, Yokosmoko. The 4900 pack is taller, will require the battery posts to be spaced higher, there are other ways ofcause. The 4900 pack doesn't fit the X-5, as it will hit the layshaft.

The ideal for me, would be to heatshrinking the cells to the carbon battery brace, then mount the cells by the brace low - so that lays flat on the chassis. This becomes semi-permanent, and very secure.

As for the Aero and S2, it may be a struggle to make the 3200's saddles fit. I haven't looked though.

I was charging by the Trakpower charger with V-balancer, and I highly recommend it. Id choose this over a combined Nimh/Lipo charger, as there is no chance of screwing up. If you put Lipo pack on Nimh charge mode, they will be dead in the blink of an eye.

I will be at Southport again this weekend, anything you want to see just give me a shout. Can take my 3200's out of my X-5 to see how they fit your cars etc, and will have the 4900 saddle pack with me too.

Chris

Sounds good with the 3200's anyway, not sure I have the spare height under bodies for the 4800's! The 3200's looked good on sun anyway Chris! I'm at Oz Sunday so will have a look if that's ok Ash?

Think I'll do as suggested for the Tam and swap the battery posts, like you say they're fat at the bottom!

Chris's car went well on Sunday, and the gold bling is worth it just for that, cant wait to give lipo a go

best thing is one pack is £45 and will do the day iff you have time to top up, and using the same pack all day does not harm it or alter its performance during the day

Better still Chris,
On Sunday I raced 2 classes, both with Lipo. 3200 Saddle in 4wd, 4900 Stick in Truck. Used 1 charger - put cells straight on charge after run (before marshalling), and didn't struggle all day (and won both classes :thumbsup::):):) )

The high capacity saddle won't fit in the 501X, I know someone who bought it and returned it as it was way too high for the top deck, and lifting the top deck would have caused all sorts of other problems.

opinion isn't much good is it.
:thumbdown:
Lets try keep it about facts!

Are you bringing your truck to Southport this weekend Chris? We need our showdown!

Height of the packs isn't really a problem, they are a bit longer than Ni-MH, which is why they don't fit in the 501X without modifications. I attached them with velcro, works perfect, I removed the front battery holder/pole.
Concerning the Aero: according to Kim (1 of the Aero bosses) the battery slots only need a few mm's of dremeling, Aero has been testing the packs in the car themselves.

See if Eric will let us have a Truck heat if you guys fancy it.. Send me a PM if you want to.

What balancing tap is on the 3200?

Ashley doesn't learn does he, unfortunately for him we're all learning to not pay much attention (sorry Ash - but you do pipe up too often without facts, don't take offense at this).

The balancing plug on the Trakpower is by a small bullet connector. I have no means of measuring it, but if you want to see http://www.trakpower.com/ and click on "TP4900 2cell", this brings up a picture including the balancing socket.

ofcause the + & - is by conventional sized corallys - im using LRP plugs and they're snug, so that is good.

Chris

I think the balancing connector is a 2mm corally type connector.

Used both the 3200 & 4800 trakpower saddles in the atomic cars, and all i can say is roll on next year when hopefully they will be legal.

I hope it will bring down the cost of racing for people, as you can get away with one pack and top it up after each run. So £45 instead of say three packs of nimh at £50 each.

Hey Jonathan, hope you'll be at the AGM on 26th October? The more support - the better :)

they are 2mm as old timer says

3200 saddles dont fit the pred :(