Newbie needs help and advice :)

[Chris56]

Originally Posted by Diwrnach

How does this look btw? http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=34160

They're fine for 2wd buggy, but hese are better:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Intellect-7-4v...item2eb0c1c153

You wil easily get 2 races from a battery and they will handle a current of 133A, as opposed to 60A in the HPI

[Diwrnach]

Well pretty much all sorted I think, have £130 left of my budget, still need to sort a charger out from that, and some tools and paint, and any unforseen expenses.

Awesome stuff, I will list everything with links when I have charger sorted, all with prices etc so its all in one place and hopefully may come in handy for others.

[Col]

Originally Posted by Chris56

They're fine for 2wd buggy, but hese are better:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Intellect-7-4v...item2eb0c1c153

You wil easily get 2 races from a battery and they will handle a current of 133A, as opposed to 60A in the HPI

+1.

Great cells at a good price.

[Diwrnach]

Hmmm after taking another look the X Pro doesnt come with tyres, which is an extra £20 give or take a few £ so it only works out £40 cheaper than the B4 Stealth kit.

Is the kit worth the extra £40?

[Si Coe]

The kit tyres with the RC10 are next to useless here in the UK though. They are really only effective on hard clay tracks that we just don't have here. The result is that you'll need different tyres to run it here - racing or bashing you are going to be on grass or astroturf and need tyres with more spike.
Thats why the X-Pro doesn't come with tyres - when much of the time they get thrown away anyway why bother?

[Diwrnach]

Ah OK I'm with you, anyways I took the plunge and ordered the Mad Rat and the X pro, will order the other bits from Modelsport once I have chosen a charger, still looking into those, want something I can use at home on 240v and also in the car 12v, I assume you can get ciggarette adapter?

Was looking at this one http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=36011 seems to be decent.

Did look into the ones on ebay that were wntioned earlier in the thread, but when I looked at reviews found one on a RC plane forum saying the digital readout was very inacurate or something which kind of put me off, are they right?

[Diwrnach]

This is the one I have been told is decent and a good price http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IMAX-B6-Lipo-N...item255e6844e2 .

Seeing as its got croc clips how do people go about using these? cig adapter with bare wires with croc clips on? or open the bonnet and direct to the battery?

Have a few 12v adapters at home from various game consoles and different things, can you do the same with that? bare wires to the croc clips?

[mattybucks]

Originally Posted by Diwrnach

This is the one I have been told is decent and a good price http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IMAX-B6-Lipo-N...item255e6844e2 .

Seeing as its got croc clips how do people go about using these? cig adapter with bare wires with croc clips on? or open the bonnet and direct to the battery?

Have a few 12v adapters at home from various game consoles and different things, can you do the same with that? bare wires to the croc clips?

I use one of the B6 chargers there great for £20.

You need a 12v Leisure battery, or a power supply and a generator. I would go with the Leisure battery to start with.

[JCJC]

We carry something like this charger as backup to our mains/12v B6, also have an adapter that provides 5A @ 12V that it runs off. belt & braces eh.

Most racers would use a leisure type battery, something from a caravan/camping store, also outside see more & more generators. Pucker days racing may see at lipo pack charged - what, some practice, 4 heats, some odd testing, finals - 3 if you are lucky, 6 charges and you may be running 2 cars & doing it twice.

Do you know what they run at longmarston yet ?

[Diwrnach]

Have absolutely no idea what they do as when I went down on Sunday (there meet day) and no one was there, can only assume it was due to the weather, and also it being a new club I get the impression it doesnt really kick off untill January in earnest, but may be wrong.

Out of interest why not use your cars battery? and mains at home?

[JCJC]

We did a junior weekend a few years ago, Saturday saw a flat 85Amp/hr leisure battery, Sunday saw a flat car battery ! and we were being careful, I dont think either batteries were much cop & old cells being discharged, balanced & charged took much more out than todays lipo's will (just top up what you use really).

We have been lucky enough to see some inside winter racing the last couple of years, having 240volts to plug into is great, charger, lamp, kettle, computer. I have seen TV's

But car batteries are thought to be not suited to the all day slow discharge they get, leisure batteries are. Generator is wonderful - all day 240v or 12v.

We also have an old PC psu which gives 12v from the mains and cost pennies.

[Diwrnach]

OK cool, just looking now, do have a battery charger for a car/laisure battery in he shed, and as I say before plenty of 12v transformers about the place.

How long would a fully charged leisure battery last? I ask because they have solar panel chargers for them at a very reasonable prive.

[AlisdairO]

I've found a cheap car battery will do fine *as long as you don't run it down too far*. Car batteries are designed for rapid discharge, but being kept well topped up, while leisure batteries are designed for slow discharge but being fully drained. In practice, that means a car battery is fine for one racer, but you're probably pushing it for two. Still, if you're short on cash you an always get a car battery, run it until it's busted, and get a leisure battery later.

[Diwrnach]

Found this which is well priced and includes delivery, car battery wouldnt be much cheaper, unless I grab one from a breakers of coarse http://www.alpha-batteries.co.uk/buy.../prod_103.html

[captainlip]

I thought you were going to order a b4 :-s ???

[Chris56]

Originally Posted by Diwrnach

Was looking at this one http://www.modelsport.co.uk/?CallFun...n&ItemID=36011 seems to be decent.

I use one of these now following recommendation from other members on the forum. Can't fault it and saves buying a leisure battery or 12v psu. At £55 it is excellent value.

[RogerM]

Diwranch ... may I suggest that you order everything from one place as you 'might' be able to get them to put a deal together for you.

I'd bet that you couldn't beat the prices JE Spares would get you going for with the X Pro etc. plus they have the advantage of one of them being Ansmann's #1 UK driver so you'd get loads of help and info too free of charge!!

[Diwrnach]

Went with the X pro in the end purely to make things easier with the daughter having the Mad Rat, and also the deal JE Spares have is really good.

Think I will go with that battery then, thanks for the information on it, just found it via google and seemed a decent battery for the money.

Yeah I am trying to order as much as I can from one place, but at the same time trying to balance out cost.

Once again though thanks everyone for all the help, its been invaluable, and most definately the most helpfull bunch of people I have met on a forum.

Last thing I need to work out is what tyres to get for the X Pro, will be using it on tarmac/grass with my daughter, for racing its on fairly hard packed mud/dirt, and also what if any oils/glues/greese etc I will need and tools.

Once allis sorted I will compile it all in one list and likely add it to first post to help others in a similar situation.

[Diwrnach]

Looks like to race you also need a Harry transponder, thats another £70!

Blimey...

[jamiekerr14]

My advice is pick up a used older AMB one.. from on here or Flebay..

but yeah-no one said this hobby was cheap!...