Hard case lipo vs Softcase Lipo

[pro4nut]

Ok, here i am wondering if there will be a regional or national series for 1/8th electric.
A couple of little points interest me one being that this needs to be supported as a class in its own right and maybe a race series is too early. A one off meeting might be more apropriate. Also i am concerned as to who might create rules, 1/8th nitro guys lack understanding in the same way 10th electric guys do. The weight and speed of the cars precludes there safe use on a 10th track yet asking someone who doesn't run electrics to rule over them is bad news as well.
So debate one for me, soft case vs hard case.
Now i have started a stand alone thread as i do not want to detract from anyone organising there own meeting or series. I believe there is some margin of debate as already i have read that the BRCA require a hard case lipo i add this as unless things have changed the 1/5th scale bikers have run softcase lipo since they began.
I personally don't believe that hard cases are required. The risk of piercing for me isn't present, the bodyshell if looked after will protect the pack? I only say this as in my mind i am trying to imagine a circumstance that will lead this to happen.
Please respond and contribute i believe for this fledgling class there is a need to review this.

[Battle_axe]

Originally Posted by pro4nut

Ok, here i am wondering if there will be a regional or national series for 1/8th electric.
A couple of little points interest me one being that this needs to be supported as a class in its own right and maybe a race series is too early. A one off meeting might be more apropriate. Also i am concerned as to who might create rules, 1/8th nitro guys lack understanding in the same way 10th electric guys do. The weight and speed of the cars precludes there safe use on a 10th track yet asking someone who doesn't run electrics to rule over them is bad news as well.
So debate one for me, soft case vs hard case.
Now i have started a stand alone thread as i do not want to detract from anyone organising there own meeting or series. I believe there is some margin of debate as already i have read that the BRCA require a hard case lipo i add this as unless things have changed the 1/5th scale bikers have run softcase lipo since they began.
I personally don't believe that hard cases are required. The risk of piercing for me isn't present, the bodyshell if looked after will protect the pack? I only say this as in my mind i am trying to imagine a circumstance that will lead this to happen.
Please respond and contribute i believe for this fledgling class there is a need to review this.

i must say if the lipo is in a tray attached to the car and it is properly held down into that tray then its just as safe as hard case

[jim76]

micro also run softcase for years with no issues at all.

[pro4nut]

When is a tray a tray? Just a question but a car like the Ve8 where its chassis is the tray, or a conversion with tray bolted on?
How deep/tall does it need to be?

[pro4nut]

Originally Posted by jim76

micro also run softcase for years with no issues at all.

Fair point and those things are looney fast

[hide]

1/8 holds lipos in similarly to 1/18. Use of a tray and then some form of strap over the top. There is no way the lipo can fall out really. I've always used soft case in my Shark and have never had an issue.

[pro4nut]

The shark sides come up quite high, to the height of the pack in most cases. Just checked on my own one, (when i found it)

[DCM]

I think you have to take as much care to protect the battery as you can, the chassis will protect the bottom, but you need to protect it from side impact, and also from sliding into the spur gear to.

[Battle_axe]

Originally Posted by pro4nut

When is a tray a tray? Just a question but a car like the Ve8 where its chassis is the tray, or a conversion with tray bolted on?
How deep/tall does it need to be?

something like the RC monster trays about 25mm deep ish

[pro4nut]

But what is it protecting against?
And before someone says piercing, from what?
Also why is 25mm high enough? most packs are higher than that.

I am not trying to agitate, i just want to know the justification.

[DCM]

Pierced from track markings, other cars, stones in the ground. Your also protecting the cell from sliding about, being hit by moving spur gear, if you are running mech brakes, the operating rods to.

[HarlowS]

This would be all well and good if you were using velcro on a flat chassis, but as far as im aware, most 8th conversions use tough open topped trays. So a stone would have to fly under the body shell, hit the top of the bodyshell and then fall back down that inch of height with such impact it pierces a lipo ??

hummmm. I think you have as much chnce as a tank of nitro fuel leaking and exploding.

Originally Posted by DCM

Pierced from track markings, other cars, stones in the ground. Your also protecting the cell from sliding about, being hit by moving spur gear, if you are running mech brakes, the operating rods to.

[pro4nut]

Stones i feel are unlikely.
Track markings sharp enough to cause the problem would be a hazard to people and any club with this situation should consider its liabilities regarding personal injury, (just consulted an insurance risk assesor associate)
Other cars arent they a touch blunt?
The cell sliding about would be better covered by a rule stating fixed firmly in place would it not?
Again interested in opinion

[HarlowS]

Again, i dont know how a track marking would damage a cell from above ?

Yes, firmly fixed would be a better description.

Does anybody secure there cells in there car in a way other than a hard plastic 'tray' style fixing ??

Originally Posted by pro4nut

Stones i feel are unlikely.
Track markings sharp enough to cause the problem would be a hazard to people and any club with this situation should consider its liabilities regarding personal injury, (just consulted an insurance risk assesor associate)
Other cars arent they a touch blunt?
The cell sliding about would be better covered by a rule stating fixed firmly in place would it not?
Again interested in opinion

[lgbzone]

I personally don't think that hard case should be necessary, and I don't think sliding about would be an issue; my vorza has adjustable battery box so the fit is perfect regardless of the battery, if it wasn't adjustable then common sense states that something firm should be placed in front/behind the battery so it can't slide back and forth, essentially something to make the box smaller (although mine wouldn't move any way as I fasten the velcro very tight).

One thing nobody talks about regarding this debate is heat, my understanding is that the batteries temp should be monitored etc as there is a maximum safe operating temp, i'm convinced that the airflow through the body keeps the cells cooler, surely hard case lipos would build up heat inside the case.

Lee