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[Nige52]

Right, I have a drawer full of 7.2v sub C packs for use in Club 500 racing and suchlike. I bought some sets from the well known sellers that folk recommend on here, and I have no complaint at all about them, they seem to work well and do the job they're supposed to, most of mine are 3700mah....But....

I have been told (By people who beat me in the Club 500 races) that I need better batteries if I am to stand a chance of winning.....matched batteries are one of the suggestions, batteries over 5000mah are another, well known branded batteries are another....but of course.....which ones are a closely guarded secret.

We are allowed ANY 7.2v, 6 cell Sub C racing pack in our club rules, so could someone suggest a top quality pack that has the oomph and the staying power to hold out against the leaders?

Thanks
Nige

[grasshopper]

Is it really just the batteries that are in question? are we to assume that all other things are equal and you are as good a driver as everyone else?

I'm not having a pop at you but if the Club 500 race boat is an 'everything in the box' kit, including all the hardware, inclusive of motor coupling, shaft and prop, etc, then maybe it is the batteries. But is your hull built exactly the same as all the others, propshaft angle,prop balanced etc..etc. Have you run your standard 540 motor in or is it still a little too new?

Running higher rated cells (which are often that teeny bit heavier ) might not be your only answer, set up can make a difference, sharp corners on your moulded hull reduce drag giving you more speed. too much grease in prop shafts is a common problem it all saps energy too - Driving a better line might also give you better times round a course too, every time you use the rudder you're reducing speed.

Check those things first, then find your best performing pack out of the load that you have and see if they make a difference before you throw more money at it.

[Nige52]

I know all of the above, having raced for 2 seasons, thanks. In fact the new manufacturer of the boat is a fellow club member and racer. My problem is that the boat is visibly slowing down toward the end of each race, regardless of wide corners, sharp corners, grease in shaft, no grease in shaft, ability of driver etc etc. The advice given by the long term racers is to get better batteries....so back to my original question, which are the best batteries to get to give me the oomph AND the staying power for 4 minute heats?
Cheers
Nige

[MikeA]

i use a traxxas 3000mah albeit 8.4v it will give me 18 mins run time with a graupner speed 600 motor and 34mm submerged prop.

could use team orion, hpi, reedy, ansman

[Nige52]

Do you race a 500 Mike?

[grasshopper]

all things being equal then might I suggest you go to http://www.oople.com/forums/ and ask the question there - there's an awful lot of electric car racers that could give you a more definitive answer....apart from going Lipo -  because you can't.

[MikeA]

no but my set up for boat is similar to a 500

[Nige52]

Thanks for the link Grasshopper,
Delving into their reviews produced a contender, Team Orion Rocket packs, £40 each, but well worth investigating further,
Nige 

[MikeA]

hey grass hopper where bouts in lincolnshire are you?

[knoby]

I used Orion cells in my 12th scale cars for many years & swear by them. Don't race cars anymore. but use the cells in my 400GT boat with a brushless motor & 35mm 3 blade prop, which gives me around 35 Min's run time. The cells are 4500 mah matched packs & although the boat does have a speed controller, the throttle is only ever wide open. These cells are so good they banned them at my club 

[grasshopper]

Mike,  I'm based in Grantham.......

[MikeA]

that still lincolnshire crikey thought that be nottinghamshire

[Nige52]

Thanks for the info Knoby, very interesting and helpful, looks like I might be seeing how far my pockets will stretch. 

[justboatonic]

Matched cell packs are very expensive. Buying individual matched cells is even more expensive. TBH, in club 500 racing, I wouldnt have thought you need the expense of matched cells. I thought the idea of C500 was to keep it as a non expensive form of racing?

3700's wont give the duration of 5000's. During races does your speed noticably drop off while the 5000's stay strong? If so, then you probably do need bigger capacity cells. If not, then going to larger cells wont make much of a difference.

What configuration of cell packs do you use, 'stick' pack or side by side? If you use stick packs, you cant really discharge all the cells equally. Side by side cells are better because you can put the pack on a discharge tray and discharge each cell to the right voltage. Then, when you re charge the pack, each cell will be charged to its capacity.

I used to get 7.2v racing packs (side by side) from Demon Power Products but I think Dave is now selling mainly lipo packs. Have a look on some RC car sites for side by side packs or individual cells and make up packs yourself. I wouldnt advise buying 60 quid packs as I dont believe for club racing, you'll see much benefit of using them. driving ability wins races more often than not so long as your batteries have enough capacity to last the course.

[HS93 (RIP)]

Matched cell packs are very expensive. Buying individual matched cells is even more expensive. TBH, in club 500 racing, I wouldnt have thought you need the expense of matched cells. I thought the idea of C500 was to keep it as a non expensive form of racing?

3700's wont give the duration of 5000's. During races does your speed noticably drop off while the 5000's stay strong? If so, then you probably do need bigger capacity cells. If not, then going to larger cells wont make much of a difference.

What configuration of cell packs do you use, 'stick' pack or side by side? If you use stick packs, you cant really discharge all the cells equally. Side by side cells are better because you can put the pack on a discharge tray and discharge each cell to the right voltage. Then, when you re charge the pack, each cell will be charged to its capacity.

I used to get 7.2v racing packs (side by side) from Demon Power Products but I think Dave is now selling mainly lipo packs. Have a look on some RC car sites for side by side packs or individual cells and make up packs yourself. I wouldnt advise buying 60 quid packs as I dont believe for club racing, you'll see much benefit of using them. driving ability wins races more often than not so long as your batteries have enough capacity to last the course.

 Demon Power Products  It's Nick Addams well it was in the 70's when I first started buying cells of him as he was then the main importer of Sanyo cells, he will normally make any shape of pack, don't take no notice of the web site, just email or better still ring
Peter

[justboatonic]

 Demon Power Products  It's Nick Addams well it was in the 70's when I first started buying cells of him as he was then the main importer of Sanyo cells, he will normally make any shape of pack, don't take no notice of the web site, just email or better still ring
Peter

Yep, it is. What was I thinking? Where did 'Dave' come from!? He used to be on Robot Wars too.

[HS93 (RIP)]

Yep as the Addams family but that was 20 + years after I started getting batteries he also was the main speed controller manufacturer for 15 years for model cars and also manufactured a car himself all under the demon name.

Peter