Anyone into R/C?

thinkin of going with a Slash 4x4..

seeing them consistently for $489. (vxl brushless, Traxxas Stability Management, and On Board audio, controller, battery, etc)

 

Im about to pull the trigger on this...

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFGRWWW&P=ML

what are your guys' recommendations on batteries and how many provide a good amount of run time. Is it pretty standard to have at least 2 or 3 batteries? which leads into my next question.. what chargers? the 2 port chargers if I have multiple batteries?

 

I got two 5000mA's. I have a Common Sense NiMH charger (I stuck with all NiMH-others might disagree but the weight seems more useful). The truck came with a 4300mA battery.

I'm sure there are other recommendations-I'd like a spare parts kit--I feel like I might need it sooner rather than later.

 

best charger for the price and application that you want to use it for. very easy to use, touch screen, and backed by a great company. can charge two lipos at once.

http://www.horizonhobby.com/ORI3023...rsq4lFydf2KJzz9sI_W4aAoQG8P8HAQ&kpid=ORI30237

Charges up to 10amps

Key Features

• 2x 100W AC/DC high end charger
• Larger 4 inch color touch screen
• State of the art touch screen software
• Charger stands for best view on screen
• Split view shows all battery data
• Integrated 200W power supply
• Charges Li-Po, Li-Fe, Li-Ion, Ni-MH, Ni-Cd, and Pb batteries
• Charges 2x 1-6S batteries with up to 10A each
• Multi-language software preinstalled
• Unique charge assistant
• Updatable firmware via micro-USB connection
• Two universal balancing boards included

Battery Type: 1–6S LiFe, LiIon, LiPo; 1–16 NiCd, NiMH; 2–20V Pb
Input: 110–220V AC or 11–18V DC
Battery Balance Connector: JST_XH
Battery Temperature Monitoring: Yes – Temperature sensor not included
Normal/Standard Charge Rate: 0.1–10A
Cooling Method: Cooling Fan
Discharge: 2 x 20W
Maximum Continuous Discharge Rate: 0.1A–5.0A x2
Display: TFT Color Touch Screen, 400 x 240 Pixel
Input Connector: AC cord, detachable, North American plug
Integrated Balancing: Yes - Internal Balancer & External Adapter
Output Connector: Banana Plug
Over Current Protection: Yes
Peak Detection: Yes
Reverse Polarity Protection: Yes
Selectable Charge Rate: Yes - Incremental (0.1A Increments)
Short Circuit Protection: Yes
Software Updates: Yes – via USB port
Thermal Protection: Yes

 

Damn! 250? Lol

Might be a little too high tech for me right now..

Maybe I should just stick to the charger and battery that comes with the slash for now? This being my first RC since I was kid.. Not sure how deep I want to jump into it right off the bat.

Was looking at the chargers and batteries that use the iD feature.. I believe it's just traxxas stuff.

 

http://www.amain.com/rc-cars/protek...dc-battery-charger-6s-8a-80w-ptk-8513/p260579

Great charger. Charges fast, is quiet and comes with a couple of the more popular leads.

X2 on the SCX10. Upgrading the motor is easy. Make sure to do the transmission/motor mirror. Fixes about 75% of torque twist and moves the COG further forwards.

NiMH is also super cheap by comparison and unlike Helicopters where are looking to scrap every ounce of weight possible, with trucks you want to ADD weight.

 

Yeah, that charger doesn't have very good reviews either.

 

Thinkin I might just start off with the basic battery and charger that comes with the Slash first, get some time with it, before i start dumping money into it.

 

Here's one of mine

 

I have a used one. A little beat up. If u want it I'll sell it cheap.

 

Get an AC one. The one that comes with sucks-it's 12VDC only...so no charging once you get home.

 

I was wondering about that charger.. thought maybe an AC charger was so standard that there was no need to mention it..

thanks! so then.. might as well get another battery at the same time..

 

My lipo charger is DC only. I just use whatever was most recently driven in the garage.

 

Two batteries give you plenty of time to run the car. I ended up with two 5000mAH batteries and that's more than enough time.

Also, if you get a LiPo battery, you will need to remember to reset the speed controller each time you switch between LiPo and NiMH. And a good AC charger will let you charge the battery at the correct amperage-well worth the money.

 

Also a good charger will let you cycle your NiMH batteries and balance charge your LiPos in addition to be able to charge them for storage (You shouldn't store LiPos at full charge). The charger I posted also detects voltage bump and shuts off so as not to toast your NiMH batteries too. It's a steal at that price honestly.

 

So I'm looking at these batteries..

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=002997883&I=LXZDV9&P=K

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXEWTN&P=7

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBEAH&P=7

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFRBF&P=7

and for the Traxxas batteries (using the iD feature)...

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFGRS&P=SM

or should I do a similar charger?

Is it dumb to just stick to Traxxas brand stuff? (batteries and charger) For arguements sake.. say I get a sxc10 or a Yeti down the road.. will the Traxxas charger work for other batteries? and following that logic.. should I get 3rd party batteries over Traxxas then so I can use them with other RC's?

 

You'll have to buy an adapter possibly. Honestly, check that link for the charger I posted. It gets great reviews, can charge traxxis batteries in addition to all the others, and it's $30 cheaper. Also Amain's batteries are cheaper too.

 

the only thing is that its a single charger.. I was looking at dual chargers since I will have at least 2 batteries. I do like everything else and that its cheaper.

I was looking at chargers that had adapters for all the battery types. and was also looking at batteries with all the connection types.

Would you suggest that Protek charger and Amain batteries then?

 

Heck yes. Besides, it's really not a big deal to charge one battery then another. Unless you're planning on doing races where you'll be charging 4-10 batteries in the span of a few hours; it's a nice to have but not a necessary. You're going to pay more. I'd rather have the extra $30 and put it towards bead locks and tires. I just got Axial Beadlocks for my SCX10 off Amazon along with BFG Rock Climbers (Look just like the MT). Did my own metal 3 & 4 link linkages to beef it up a bit, and replaced the drive shafts as they were getting slopping with new Traxxis ones. Unless you're running that thing at full power all the time, one battery will last you 45-60 minutes. My 3300 one lasts 45 with ripping around my backyard. And I have a Traxxis 545 motor in mine. (Way bigger than stock.)

 

good info here. thanks!

was always curious about the typical run time on batteries but know there are so many variables.

Lookin at around a 5000mAh with a 35 or 40 C rating 3S.. 1 of those plus the Traxxas battery should be good for starters.. right? give me a solid hour of run time between the 2.