Mad Monkey Brushless RTR, NiMh or Lipo only ?

[Dandare]

A mate has just bought one of these, i assumed it could be run on either NiMh or Lipo's, most sellers state either but Modelsport state "Requires lipo battery & charger to operate (cannot be used with NiMh batteries)"

The esc also has a Tamiya connector fitted.

Could someone confirm for me what the situation is with this kit & the batteries which can be used in it ? I said he could use my spare NiMh batteries until he gets some Lipo's...

Thanks, dan.

[kaylon]

Well..according to the 2012 catalog the Mad Monkey Brushless RTR is fitted with the Sirius max 2 ESC (141000270) which again according to Ansmann can use 4-10 cell NiMh or 2-3 Series Lipo. The ESC is listed as Brushed...but it's the one in the Brushless RTR, I've checked several times.

ESC link

Expand the 'more info' on the Sirius Max 2

It's basically a modified Modelsports (Mtronics) Sniper RV-12 assault, which I have and yes it can use both and has a fail safe cut of at 3.1v for Lipo's I think.

Edit: Umm..I'm not convinced that the Sirius Max 2 is the one in the RTR, but they don't list by part number any other ESC so it's hard to find out However ALL of the actual Ansmann Brushless specific ESC can still take both types of batteries... 'shrugs' ....

J

[racingdwarf]

Best errr on the side of caution if using a lipo unless you can find out 100% it has cutoff,as soon as you see even the slightest drop in performance stop!, back when quite a few of us we using lipo with brushed ESC's it was quite easy to go for to long. Thomas discharged a couple of lipos to low and a lipo charger will not charge them again.there is a trick to get them back....but it's a bit spicey

[Dandare]

Point taken regarding using lipo's, voltage drop etc (although the guy who reviewed this in Radio Race Car thought it was ok & was using his lipo's)

I'm more concerned whether there can possibly be a problem using MiMh batteries with this esc as thats what we were gonna use to get going ??

[VintageRacer]

I can't imagine there being a fatal problem. The voltage of nimh is lower. The only problem I can see is if the ESC has lipo cutoff that can't be disabled, it might then cut off prematurely for nimh.

[Dandare]

Originally Posted by VintageRacer

I can't imagine there being a fatal problem. The voltage of nimh is lower. The only problem I can see is if the ESC has lipo cutoff that can't be disabled, it might then cut off prematurely for nimh.

That's what I wondered, so if the cut off was set for say 3.1v per lipo cell then it'll just detect when a NiMh battery drops to 6.2v ??

Would a 4000 NiMh battery last a 5min race before dropping to 6.2v though ??