Li-Fe Batteries

[Danny McGee]

Afternoon Folks.

So then, been having a read about the interweb and been looking at the Li-Fe batteries. What do people know about them. Advantages, disadvantages etc.

I cant imagine that it will be long before we move in this direction once the nano bods find the perfect combination of cathode/annode etc materials to get the most out of them for us

Any thoughts?

Dan

[Chris Doughty]

Ive got some LiPoFe RX batteries, 6.6 volts, I havent tried them yet though...

[SHY]

As I understand they are safer and can be charged much quicker.

There will be new & better technology coming all the time for batteries in the years to come, but it'll take a while for them to settle.

Maybe it'll also be a bit like CD vs. MiniDisc etc... the first standard will keep it's ground. And for most RC classes LiPo does indeed "fulfill all needs"...

Heard a rumour a while ago that IBM had developed batteries with 20x the capacity of LiPo... (given the same size)

1:1 cars OTOH really can do good use of even better batteries...

[Marvin]

LiFe cells are less energy dense than LiPo cells (slightly larger for the same energy as a LiPo), run at a lower voltage, and are a great deal heavier. Current RC applications are rock crawlers (as LiFe packs are easier to insulate from water), heavy bashers (monster trucks and the like), and in drag racing.

The cells are capable of far higher discharge rates than LiPo *safely*, but the voltage drop under the same load as LiPo is far higher. Therefore - these suit the drag racing application, as they can't provide so much power on take off - therefore you're less likely to spin the wheels etc.

LiFe cells are deemed as safer because of the practically unlimited discharge rates, and they are less picky about being discharged to flat.

In short, they are good for bashers, rock crawlers and for Rx packs, but will have little use in racing - the voltage is too low for the weight. LiPo has higher performance.