John the Battery guy???????

[luck1st]

Anybody use his Batteries? Are they really worth the money?

[DragsterDragons]

i seen his batteries and honsetly i wouldnt think so , for that price you could get some 2s ******* lipos with an lvc..

[ykndoit]

Anybody use his Batteries? Are they really worth the money?

I just ordered some 9.6v 8c venoms. Hope they are worth the money. They use the same battery types John the battery guy.

[Hughes500Bob]

For those prices I would be purchasing Hyperion G3 VX series lipos!

IMO using NiMH packs in a brushless MMM system is going to lead to cap failure in the ESC from ripple effect.
The ERBE forum is full of threads about it.
The wiring in the NiMH will surely melt the wrapping when it starts getting braking volts pushed back into it.
IMO 2S 5000 mAh 30C as a minimum (2 in series of course) .... just like Joe Ford from Castle Creations personally reccomends as his minimum.

Bob

[ykndoit]

For those prices I would be purchasing Hyperion G3 VX series lipos!

IMO using NiMH packs in a brushless MMM system is going to lead to cap failure in the ESC from ripple effect.
The ERBE forum is full of threads about it.
The wiring in the NiMH will surely melt the wrapping when it starts getting braking volts pushed back into it.
IMO 2S 5000 mAh 30C as a minimum (2 in series of course) .... just like Joe Ford from Castle Creations personally reccomends as his minimum.

Bob

What about the the fire hazards of lipo? I'd rather not use them around my kids. As long as you keep your temps in line and don't abuse the batteries, shouldn't nimh last a long time? Or am I missing something else?

I(and my brother) are trying to get the best battery without going lipo.

[Grand National]

What about the the fire hazards of lipo? I'd rather not use them around my kids. As long as you keep your temps in line and don't abuse the batteries, shouldn't nimh last a long time? Or am I missing something else?

I(and my brother) are trying to get the best battery without going lipo.

LiPo's are pretty complicated for a beginner to learn, and there are several precautions you need to take when using them. If you were to go lipo, you would definitely want to charge them in a LiPo sack or another fire retardent bag or box. If I were in your position, I would definitely charge them being the adult. Tell your kids you cannot use them until you get home would be a good idea as well. But I would have a set of NiMh's and LiPo's. NiMh's for your kids to use and charge, LiPo's for you and if they want, they can drive it. Just make sure you read all precautions and you should be just fine. This is one area I find that you should not cheap out and buy bad batteries. I've bought all SMC + SPC packs and they are excellent. High quality cells, nice discharge rate, and good service.

But if you want to run NiMh's, it's really not THAT much less powerful than a LiPo battery. There are some high end NiMh's that may even outrun a LiPo. I've seen this seller create great NiMh's for a great price and I haven't heard any bad feedback from him. Seems like a great deal too, and plus it's a lot safer than LiPo.

I agree with Hughes on this one though, your Maxx may be just a little too power hungry for NiMh's.

[Novarider]

You can always run life or a113 or lifepo whatever you want to call them. They are nearly as powerfull as lipo but just as safe as nimh.

[Hughes500Bob]

The E-Maxx brushed would have been perfectly fine with NiMH batteries.

If you MUST use NiMH I would suggest Promatch racing 4600 or 5000 mAh packs. I would also suggest you get the Castle Link and use the settings to de-tune as much power out of the system as possible.

LiPos are not dangerous! Anybody at a local AMA flying field would be glad to show you the ropes on useing and charging lipos.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx

Hopefully this link will work ^^^


The suggestion to use LiFe / LiFePo packs is a very good compromise.

Bob

[DONMAXX]

I bought two of his batteries for my brushed maxx, and it was awesome. They performed very well. I bought 4 more pairs and two extra chargers and I could run pretty much constantly! It was awesome, you can break a lot of parts in a 5 hour bashing session! But anyways, I loved the batteries, and the service. he is a good guy, just trying to make a living like the rest of us.

[luck1st]

I will say the man is full of imformation, and verry helpfull. He kept me on the phone for about 45 min just trying to teach me about batteries.

The Thunder AC6 charger he offers seems like it would make charging Lipo
batteries pretty easy, even for a newbie. <----- Any thoughts?

[Hughes500Bob]

http://www.xheli.com/thac6bachwac.html

Useage video ^^^ Thunder AC6 charger.

Many people on the forum use and like this charger. 5 amps and 50 watts max.

I totally agree that John is a really nice guy to talk to and makes great NiMH packs up in his home shop. I have no experience with his lipos but do know people who use his NiMH batteries and like them.

[bagby20]

i just made the leap to lipos and wont look back. i good charger makes things easier and safer. just do a little reading on them and use common sense(lipo bag) you will enjoy them. i wont go back to nimh unless the price is too good to pass up

[SirJaymz]

I have used John's batteries. I love them!! just. make sure you get the ones with the intellect cells I have the 9.6v 8 cell 4600 MaH pack It will smoke my buddies 2s 5000MaH 20c lipos any day and all day, They constantly charge to around 5300MaH! and put out great power till they die, Great run time! I have over 100 charges on mine and still very strong, if your not going to go LiPO I would highly recommend these pack!!! but by all means, you can pick up a Thunder AC6 charger ($50) and a couple 3s LiPo(2x$20) for about the price of 2 of John's batteries

[pbmaxx64]

Did you say your kids would be using them? How old are they? Im 15 and the only problem with lipos ive had was outside when I ran through some water and it shorted out, but most batteries will do that. Im pretty sure the mmm shorted out and popped the battery wire out.

[dinobot]

I held off on lipos out of fear until I realized they just catch on fire. The new high capacity nimhs don't they explode.

[timie1]

I've seen nimh of high capacity, and supposedly high performance, and they are more catastrophic when the fail, which is quite commonplace.
A good nimh can give good performance, there is no denying that, but for the price, lipo are way better and if treated with respect, and safer than high performing nimh.
A cheap lipo will be as good as super exepnsive nimh. Just teach the kids to use them properly and make them watch how you charge them.

However, as someone pointed out, Life cells (A123) are a great compromise. They are safer than lipo and nimh and with the right charger you can charge them 15 minutes, which for kids who probably have little patience, 15 minutes is a good thing.
They perform better than nimh and their voltage isn't as high as lipo, so you won't have a rocket on the hands of the kids driving it.

[Jakey]

I've seen nimh of high capacity, and supposedly high performance, and they are more catastrophic when the fail, which is quite commonplace.
A good nimh can give good performance, there is no denying that, but for the price, lipo are way better and if treated with respect, and safer than high performing nimh.
A cheap lipo will be as good as super exepnsive nimh. Just teach the kids to use them properly and make them watch how you charge them.

However, as someone pointed out, Life cells (A123) are a great compromise. They are safer than lipo and nimh and with the right charger you can charge them 15 minutes, which for kids who probably have little patience, 15 minutes is a good thing.
They perform better than nimh and their voltage isn't as high as lipo, so you won't have a rocket on the hands of the kids driving it.

Obviously you have never run a "good" Nimh pack. I have tested well known LiPo packs (of similar capacity) that were put to shame by quality, matched EnerG 4600 packs. Some cheap LiPo packs aren't even on the same page as a good matched EnerG 4600 pack. Yes, LiPo packs are lighter than is Nimh, LiPo is easier to maintain and LiPo has potentially higher capacities. When considering all of the operating parameters, there is no question LiPo is a superior technology for RC use, however don't count out a good Nimh pack just yet.
And don't even bring up LiFe cells. While they may be chemically stable, they really don't bring much more to the table. Due to low voltage per cell output their overall performance is average at best

[pbmaxx64]

jakey was that with a mmm? and what were the specs on the lipos?

[timie1]

Jakey, I've used GP3300 packs, matched by Promatch, and also EP4600 packs, among many others including IB3800's. The EP4600 packs performed very well, I never said a good nimh won't perform well. I said FOR THE PRICE lipo are better performing. Would you say a $20 nimh performs as well as a $20 ***** lipo? I don't think so!
EnerG 4600 price
***** Lipo price
Don't twist what I say.

I can't even find a ***** lipo that costs $110. But I would say that this at nearly half the price probably performs significantly better than a $110 "good" enerG nimh.

I pointed out that LiFe cells are lower voltage, and I also said that if kids are using a brushless vehicle, then it might be a good thing. Safer and slower. What kid should be driving a vehicle at 50mph?
LiFe cells are not for everyone, but they have their place.

[mjosparky]

OK timie1 lets be fair about this.

A great NiMH for a good price.
EnerG 4600 Price

A lipo with a decent C rating.
******* Lipo price

Still no comparison but more realistic.

Sparky

[87 GN]

Greetings: First post. I have been reading the post, for a couple months now. I found these the other day. Ordered them for my E Revo. Tryed them in my Maxx & they fit. It is a very tight fit on the Maxx. I am waiting on the charger. So I don't know how the run yet. I got them from SPC. see below. Any one else run these yet?

Is this a good price? It was the cheapist I found. One place was $ 119.00 each. Tell him Clayton from Kansas sent you. If you order some.


Spec Point Concepts
8888 Route 59
Lewis Run, PA 16738
814-465-3552
batts@spcracing.com


US $81.95
SMC 8000mAh/28C/2S/7.4V, Soft Case Lipo pack. 28C continuous discharge with 2S configuration, large 12 gauge leads with Traxxas connector & JST-XH (Align-type) balancing connector. End exiting wires. Perfect for Traxxas E-Revo or any other application with large amp loads and/or extended runtimes. Length: 158mm; Width: 44mm; Height: 24mm

[Jakey]

OK timie1 lets be fair about this.

A great NiMH for a good price.
EnerG 4600 Price

A lipo with a decent C rating.
******* Lipo price

Sparky

Yeah, and that ProMatch price is for a matched 7-cell pack, which will put a serious hurtng on those wimpy little Zappy things.

Oops, did I just write that? My bad!

Still no comparison but more realistic.

Sparky

Sure there is after shipping is figured in.

[timie1]

Yeah shipping needs to be factored in. You're right, but ********* is not the only place that charges shipping. I doubt ProMatch would send them free somehow.

Sparky, yeah I know my examples weren't a fair comparison. I was just, rather cheekily, trying to show that (shipping excluded) $20 will get a very nice lipo, which will make a brushless setup come alive, and that if you wanted a nimh that would be as good in the same brushless setup, it's going to cost a whole lot more. We know that good nimh exists, but they are double the price, or more.

[SirJaymz]

I will say the man is full of imformation, and verry helpfull. He kept me on the phone for about 45 min just trying to teach me about batteries.

The Thunder AC6 charger he offers seems like it would make charging Lipo
batteries pretty easy, even for a newbie. <----- Any thoughts?

wow this post has gotten WAY off topics, Luck1st asked if any one has used the fastrcbatteries.com (john the battery guy) batteries, and people are talking about LiPo and every thing else,
John really does know what he in talking about, I have talked to him also very smart guy but will keep you on the phone forever

The Thunder ac6 charger is the best charger I have every had, I have had 3 other charger

T he batteries he sells that use the "INTELLECT" cells are Very good and he builds great battery pack, yes LiPos are cheaper but the 8 cell 4600 maH pack he sells will discharge 80 amps so they are no joke, in my previous post I said to do the research, the winning teams in R/C racing use the Intellect cells here is a link proving that http://www.intellect-battery.com/02-...ndex.htm#hot01 I have looked all over Pro-matches site and don't see them winning any championships, sorry Por-match fans. I personally have never ran a pro-match but if team traxxas is winning with Intellect I think they are a pretty good batteries

[mjosparky]

Yeah, and that ProMatch price is for a matched 7-cell pack, which will put a serious hurtng on those wimpy little Zappy things.

Oops, did I just write that? My bad!

Sure there is after shipping is figured in.

ProMatch matched 7 cell pack, assembled.
$54.50 x 2 = $109.00. Shipping is free over $100.

Wimpy little Zappy thing, 2s 5000 mAh 40C
$21.12 x 2 = $42.23 + shipping $14.99 = $57.23

With shipping figured in that comes out to just over half the cost.
I have both types of packs and the Wimpy Zappy will out run the ProMatch. You need to do a little research before make off the wall claims.

Sparky

[Jakey]

.... I have both types of packs and the Wimpy Zappy will out run the ProMatch. You need to do a little research before make off the wall claims.

Sparky

Depends upon how you quantify "perform", but I seriously doubt it.

Ironic you should bring up off-the-wall-claims!

I have done more research and testing than some people can comprehend. My pack testing now numbers in the thousands over the past 6 years and includes Nimh from the durable yet but poor performing GP3300's to the very good EnerG4600s; and many thousands of dollars worth of LiPo's from numerous sources, including big names and even some wimpy Zappy things. So let me know when you've caught up, or are even close. Then we'll talk battery pack performance in detail. Until then you are just blowing smoke.

[mjosparky]

Will you may be the big testing guru; I can only speak to the ones I have personally dealt with. That would be ENER-G 4600 matched 7 cells by Pro-Match and Trunigy (*****) 5000 2S 40C. Using the same set up the Trunigy was faster, per GPS, and the runtime was greater. I guess that is my definition of “performance.”

Sparky

And I am not in the business of selling either one.

[Jakey]

... And I am not in the business of selling either one.

Nor am I.

[ksb51rl]

Closed due to straying way off topic.