1/8th Electric

[Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson]

I have come across a mixed bag of feeling about 1/8th electric off road, and I just wanted to do a little research into what people opinions are on this class.
IF there was a series available, how many of you would actually attend? What are your feelings on the idea of this class in general?

Please try and keep it constructive though guys

[MHeadling]

I know this class is big in the US, shame it hasnt really got going in the UK.

Maybe its the costs put people off but with some carefull shopping you can get converted for the cost of a good nitro engine.

Ezrun from e bay as a ESC combo £125, Turnigy Battery from Hobby King $40-60 and a conversion kit (teckno, RC Monster, Ansmann £39.99 for most 8ths) and your about there.

Marvin at Kent Rally X club was running electric 808, was great and went very well against the nitro's, in the end they made him come into pit lane as he could run a 20 min final on one charge and the nitro lads moaned.

I am building up a Losi 8 E with Ansmann conversion at the moment, Im looking forward to the battle with the nitro's

[Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson]

I agree, and let's face it, even getting into this class from scratch isn't that expensive, and from someone that races electric 1/10th it would cost:

£370 - Roughly for a new kit.

And you already have batteries from racing 1/10th, so its probably a lot cheaper than going into nitro as on top of kit price you would have the engine to buy.
I do understand it would be a little more expensive for a nitro racer to go into the electric side but not much more than you would pay for an engine for the new season.

[c0sie]

Interesting comment about using your 1/10th batteries Shaun.

Is there a kind of "agreed" voltage that 8th E-buggies are using now? We have a few guys at my local club who are into the E8th thing, but they are running around with 14V+ through their cars.

I think part of the problem is that no one really seems to want to step up and direct the potential new class through one direction or another.

I think E8th will be the bolloxs eventually. Rather than a big series though why not concentrate on one big event over a day or two?

Isnt Slough the best rallycross track in the UK apparently? Imagine a 2 day meeting at Slough, or somewhere like that.

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson

I agree, and let's face it, even getting into this class from scratch isn't that expensive, and from someone that races electric 1/10th it would cost:

£370 - Roughly for a new kit.

And you already have batteries from racing 1/10th, so its probably a lot cheaper than going into nitro as on top of kit price you would have the engine to buy.
I do understand it would be a little more expensive for a nitro racer to go into the electric side but not much more than you would pay for an engine for the new season.

not sure your 10th motor and speedo would be up to competing with the power of an 8th system?

Originally Posted by c0sie

Interesting comment about using your 1/10th batteries Shaun.

Is there a kind of "agreed" voltage that 8th E-buggies are using now? We have a few guys at my local club who are into the E8th thing, but they are running around with 14V+ through their cars.

I think part of the problem is that no one really seems to want to step up and direct the potential new class through one direction or another.

I think E8th will be the bolloxs eventually. Rather than a big series though why not concentrate on one big event over a day or two?

Isnt Slough the best rallycross track in the UK apparently? Imagine a 2 day meeting at Slough, or somewhere like that.

2 x stick pack is a 4s 14.8 volt

[mark christopher]

id like to see the same question asked on an prominant IC off road forum.... pretty sure the nitro boys would vote differently to the elec lads on here.

some say electric is for those who carnt tune and engine

8th on road is the same, cars are there for electric and conversions BUT you dont see them

[DCM]

As it stands, there are no BRCA regs currently (new section possibly??), but the consensus seems to be 4s or 5s.

[telboy]

Well having run the 808 recently for RRCi, I can vouch for the fact that with the Tekin RX8 and T8 19000kv system in we ran standard 10th twin lipo's LRP 5300 and got well over 20 mins out of the cells and the system.

I would deffo do it. As I have a car here sat doing NOWT!

Obviously those wishing to run them would need new speedo and motor, but the price is coming down and they can be picked up for roughly the same as a normal 10th brushless system, so I can't see why people use price as a problem any more. And considering that if you want to do Rallycross competetively, you will spend more than that on engines over a season.

Anything more than 14.8v and you're looking at silly speeds that can't be handled, so I think 4s 14.8v will be a cut off for power.

[Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson]

I knew Mr Christopher would find something i had forgotten
But still when you compare to a new engine every season and a seasons worth of fuel, glow plugs etc, i still can't imagine it being more expensive than switching to Nitro, not to mention you don't have to find a pit man for every meeting or restrictions due to noise.

As Mark said they run on 2 LiPo packs or alternativley you can pick up a 14.8V LiPo which is designed for 1/8th...

Venom 50C 4S 5000mah 14.8v LiPo Battery

[telboy]

Originally Posted by Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson

I knew Mr Christopher would find something i had forgotten
But still when you compare to a new engine every season and a seasons worth of fuel, glow plugs etc, i still can't imagine it being cheaper than switching to Nitro, not to mention you don't have to find a pit man for every meeting or restrictions due to noise.

As Mark said they run on 2 LiPo packs or alternativley you can pick up a 14.8V LiPo which is designed for 1/8th...

Venom 50C 4S 5000mah 14.8v LiPo Battery

Don't you mean more expensive?

[Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson]

Originally Posted by telboy

Don't you mean more expensive?

Edited!

[Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson]

Originally Posted by mark christopher

id like to see the same question asked on an prominant IC off road forum.... pretty sure the nitro boys would vote differently to the elec lads on here.

some say electric is for those who carnt tune and engine

8th on road is the same, cars are there for electric and conversions BUT you dont see them

I have no problems at all tuning an engine Mark

But yes, there are some people out there that maybe don't know how to tune an engine proplerly or have the patience to run in and tune, people may want to run 1/8th electric as it has the ease and convenience of 1/10th electric and the size and speed of a Nitro 1/8th. Your prob right, some Nitro guys will vote No, but then again, some 10th guys will say No. The idea was just to get a general idea of the number of people waiting for this class to take off.

Come 'on Mark if there was a one off event or series set up, would you say no? Honestly.... You do 10th and nitro 1/8th, wouldn't it be cool to have them both rolled into one?

[DCM]

Well, I put my hand up, over the years, I have tried tuning many engines, and to me, it is black magic

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by Shaun 'TheSheep' Atkinson

Come 'on Mark if there was a one off event or series set up, would you say no? Honestly.... You do 10th and nitro 1/8th, wouldn't it be cool to have them both rolled into one?

no you see i have 10th elec set up and nitro set up!! i would need an 8th elec car and speedos motor! do have several suitable 4s cells tho

[c0sie]

Whether the nitro lads want electric involved or not is irelevant really although I know what you mean Mark.

If 8th electric has a following then all you need is for someone to stand tall and lead the revolution.

Nitro rallycross is awesome, the guys that I have raced with over the years are some of the best people ive ever met, but if they are not interested in electric it doesnt mean that someone else couldnt take it forwards....

It aint hard to start a new section for a new scale/class

[mark christopher]

im not saying its a bad idea.......... noise issues will see it move over eventually, and the power coming from motors and batteries will see it happen.

[ianjoyner]

Originally Posted by telboy

Anything more than 14.8v and you're looking at silly speeds that can't be handled, so I think 4s 14.8v will be a cut off for power.

6s doesn't necessarily mean more power though, if you run it with a lower motor I believe you end up more efficient over all, with less strain on the motor and speedo for the same speed. If 4s can easily last 20 minutes then maybe there's not so much call for it, but I wouldn't want to rule out 6s if it's a more efficient overall option.

[dodgydiy]

i have a losi 8 converted to electric, running a £50 heli outrunner, mamba mosnster on 6 cell lipo. it is not stupid quick, about the same as a nitro 1/8 on the strait, slightly better pickup out of the corners and much easier to drive than my IC losi 8. i think it could be a really good class, alright mine wouldnt be the best setup, but it is quick, fun, easy to drive and not expensive, cost of batteries is probably biggest thing, but my two 3 cell 4.5 Ah packs cost £35 each and seem to be fine, has run for over 30 mins on local track too, you wouldnt do that with 4 cell