NiMh or Lipo????

[RogerM]

Ok, we all know what we can and can not run for 2008 and that is how it will be.

What I am interested in is what people think about Lipo and if they would run them if they could ......

So what is your current preference .... Lipo or NiMh???? Forget 'the list', forget what series your planning on racing in 2008 ...... just answer with your preference as if there were no lists or series restrictions (and why if you like).

I am just interested in peoples thoughts on the matter as with any potential technology change it will give rise to other changes along the way.

[DCM]

from what I understand, if you intend to race regionals, you will not be able to score points in off-road.

[Northy]

NiMh - I fear change

G

[burgie]

Lipo.....because i am a lazy racer

the only maintenance i do on my car between races now is to either mend it or re-adjust the camber, or i might change the tyres if the ones i have on stop gripping.

I run brushless so i dont have to skim, and i run lipos because i dont have to be particularly careful charging them (obviously i follow manufacturers recommendations) or nursing them to keep them in tip top condition....just balance charge 'em and race 'em. no difference in performance from race to race.

super.

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by DCM

from what I understand, if you intend to race regionals, you will not be able to score points in off-road.

all ways one...........................................

you did read his post?

[RogerM]

Originally Posted by mark christopher

all ways one...........................................

you did read his post?

In fairness to DCM it was his response which prompted my edit as I'd obviously not made myself clear enough!!!

[Cockerill]

Lipo all the way, there's no reason not to prefer it. As far as I can see there is no disadvantage to running it. You can use one pack all day and gives a more relaxed days racing.

I think they could be run along side NiMH in off-road, as they offer no performance advantage in this class. The cells are light weight, but both would be run to the same weight limits. The performance advantage makes no difference as off-road cars can easily be over-powered. Unless you are running the quickest motors you can buy and still want more power, there is no reason to complain about any performance advantage.

It would be interesting to know why people have voted NiMH as their preference? Or if anyone knows of a disadvantage of running Lipo, or Lipo/NiMH alongside each other?

[Slimboyfat]

I can see Lipo as the future, but i voted undecided as I have yet to try them. Nimh have been great for the sport but im in the boat where something has to be tried and tested for perhaps a season by those with the means to not to be bothered if something goes wrong.....Unlike me.

[Danny McGee]

As said before LIPO allll the way. I agree with Tom C. We've both tried them and neither of us can really tell any difference. Its just much less hassle.

Bring them on

[DCM]

Originally Posted by mark christopher

all ways one...........................................

you did read his post?

Whats your problem Mark, was purely pointing out a plain fact, as plain as the nose on your face. I voted undecided, as my club indoors don't allow them as yet, and regionals are out with Lipo, so until I find a venue to race them, I am undecided.

So wind your freaking lipo neck in lol :-)

[bigred5765]

lipo

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by RogerM

In fairness to DCM it was his response which prompted my edit as I'd obviously not made myself clear enough!!!

ah ok i only read your edited post!

[mark christopher]

Originally Posted by DCM

Whats your problem Mark, was purely pointing out a plain fact, as plain as the nose on your face. I voted undecided, as my club indoors don't allow them as yet, and regionals are out with Lipo, so until I find a venue to race them, I am undecided.

So wind your freaking lipo neck in lol :-)

not a lipo neck it was the fact he had put forget any serries or rules etc, if you could would you, grranted the post was different before you replied to when i did

Mark

[Chrislong]

Lipo!!!
As stated by Tom, plus it makes the hobby far more enjoyable in that there is less 'wisdom' required in NIMH voodoo rubbish keeping them feeling good for more than half a dozen charges, so any newby, oldby or donkey can suss them out.

As for the rules. I emailed Charlie Fraser about proposing them and got a great answer (thanks Charlie), which i will copy and paste below:

Hi Chris.

Thanks for your mail re Lipo adoption - no proposals in this regard have been received for the 2008 AGM. PW has just writen out a clarification to Regional Reps as to why they can NOT be used in regional events in 2008 - Stu Evans will have this. From this it is clear that "Electric Board" Rules 3.1 will need alteration to enable use of Lipo cells in 2009 as currently only NICD and NIMH cells are mentioned as being allowed.



The Electric Board deals for all Electric Sections so the board will be watching closely the "support" TC national class running Lipo in 2008 to learn as much as possible, therby enabling appropriate EB rule changes when and if required. In this regard the "safety" implications of adopting this product will be thoroughly investigated.



Turning to 1/10th Off-Road, like any other electric section, we can adopt or otherwise any power source (allowed by the EB) by voting it in at our AGM. So a long answer to your question is that a simple rule change proposal for our section AGM as you outline would be a good place to start ( I believe the EB works for the Electric sections so the EB rule change can be put in place retrospectively, driven by those electric sections who have voted at their AGM to adopt Lipo power in 2009).



I believe the above discribes the way change happens, and look forward to receiving a rule change proposal from you at the appropriate time. Lets hope by that time we have enjoyed a really good season.

Regards

Charlie Fraser

Sec. BRCA 1/10th Off-Road Section.

[mobile chicane]

lipo, easy to use not as stroppy as cells and last longer if looked after properley.

the prices are coming down and with 2 packs (£50 ea) you can run a days racing no problems.

I'm undecided on lipo sacks as they dont allow you observe the pack when its being charged.




20 yrs time we'll be having this thread about micro cold fusion packs

[paulc]

voted nimh only because lipo won't fit in an s4

[AmiSMB]

I have been using Li-Poly cells and was one of the early adopters of these cells when I was running my Ikarus Piccollo helicopter. We started with Taradan cells and ripping cells from mobile phones.

Then came the early Kokham cells which could not really deliver much current and you had to try and solder directly to the tags which required special solder and was really hard to do, thankfully they then started to make them with a PCB. I have never had any problems with these types of cells in approx 7 years of use. The only time I ruined packs was when I took them too low in voltage whilst flying but apart from some expansion there was no massive explosion or anything else.

The new li poly cells that I now own for the cars and helicopters all are very stable and I really hate the horror stories that you hear regarding these type of cells as I feel that if you take care of your cells and make sure you adhere to the precautions then you should never have a problem. I think this really shows as for years we have been abusing NiCad and NiMH cells by using very high fast charging and repeaking currents way over 1C so much so that we are now seeing exploding cells.

I am looking forward to the BRCA EB looking into Lipo for 2009 as it really does make the hobby easier as I can see that all this matching, equalising can be off putting the beginners and it can also put them off when they cannot afford decent batteries to be as competetive as others.

[chris_dono]

The Electric Board deals for all Electric Sections so the board will be watching closely the "support" TC national class running Lipo in 2008 to learn as much as possible, therby enabling appropriate EB rule changes when and if required. In this regard the "safety" implications of adopting this product will be thoroughly investigated.

Not sure I understand this ? is he saying the "support" class is the pro-stock class ?

Anyway, that aside, Lipo all the way for me !

Chris

[sparrow.2]

Lipo all the way!

A friend lent me his two 5000mAh lipos for an indoor race and i really liked the power delivery, the weight advantage which let me put weight where I wanted it and the fact they were cold after the run.

Charging them was a piece of cake as well with a balancer. No hassle getting them full as I could just top them up and in 7 minute heats I only consumed about 2200mAh. No discharging, no 0V cells to worry about and no worries of them going bang in a big way.

A bit miffed we can't run them at nationals here in Germany... Belgium and Holland are a bit more open to the subject unless I misunderstood something.

[Chrislong]

Originally Posted by chris_dono

Not sure I understand this ? is he saying the "support" class is the pro-stock class ?

Anyway, that aside, Lipo all the way for me !

Chris

I think what he means is that the Electric Board (aka.The Electric Section of BRCA), will be watching what support Lipo receives from the drivers and how it performs. As TC nationals in 2008 allow Lipo & Cells to run side by side - and so we can observe. So if all goes pear shaped, Lipo-no no for 2009.