ORIGINAL: MuggyDude

This should be the one and only battery thread for these new mini Traxxas trucks. Any questions or discussions about their batteries post it HERE.
I'm going to start out with a few things:

Battery box dimensions
Specs of stock battery
Possible battery configurations
Batteries that will work for these kits
Chargers

Please feel free to add anything you want to this list.

The battery box dimensions are:

Height: 20.3mm
Width/Depth: 35.5mm
Length: 102mm


The stock battery is 1200 mah. Traxxas says you should get about 7-10 minute of run time. From what I've read new owners aree getting 10-20 minutes of run time.

There are a number of different battery configurations you can run. (As in, one 6 cell nihm pack or two). You can just one run 6 cell nihm 2/3A battery pack box stock (traxxas one) for top speed of about 30 mph(on the brushless versions) and run times of about 15 minutes. You can add another 6 cell nihm pack and a series connector for top speeds of 50 mph and run time of about 15-20 minutes. You could run the same two packs with a parallel connector for top speeds of 30 mph and run times of 30+ minutes. The best 6 cell 2/3A packs are 1600 mah. Top speed for one pack will probably be a little over 30 mph and closer to 20 minutes run time. So thus a series connector with the better packs will be 50mph+ with about 20 minute run times and with a parallel connector 30-35mph top speeds and 40 minute run times.
Now for lipos. You will be able to run many different options. Maxamps is already making some packs (both 3S, 2s
lipo and 6 cell nihm) specifically for these trucks, and I'm sure they'll have some packages soon. You can run just one 2S lipo pack (1500mah+) for about 20-25 minute run times and 35mph+ top speeds. You could also run two 2s lipos in parallel for about 35mph top speeds and closer to 45 minute run times. Now for all you insane speed freaks out there, you may also run two 2s packs in series, but you must purchase a separate LVC(low voltage cutoff). The stock VXL ESC only has LVC for up to 3s, not 4 cells. Novak makes a good one, will post some links below*. With two 2s packs in series you'll be getting in excess of 50 mph and about 25 minute run times (please watch your temps though, as it will still be hard on the ESC. I'm not liable of you damage your car in any way while running this, though Traxxas themselves has said you can run it as long as you run your own external lvc) The best setup seems to be running two 3s lipos (1600 mah) in parallel. 40 mph+ top speeds and close to 1 HOUR long run times. You can also run 1 3s lipo for 40 mph top speed and 30 minute run times.
Please keep in mind that these run times are not exact, as these cars aren't fully available yet, the only ones available are the brushed version of the Slash located at Amsoil dealers. The top speed should be very close, give or take a couple of mph. So keep in mind that if we find out that on 1 stock traxxas pack it will run for 25 minutes, then all the other run times should rise about 10 minutes appropriately.

You hear me talking about series and paralell connectors. What are they? A series connector is a connector that consists of 3 different connectors wired together. 2 male connectors and 1 female connector.(the males into the batteries and the female into the ESC like just one battery. This type of battery makes your two battery packs like one big one. So it would make two stock Traxxas 1200 mah 6 cell nihm 7.2V packs like one big giant 1200 mah 12 cell 14.4 volt nihm pack for DOUBLE THE VOLTS AND SPEED(or close to it). A paralell connector is the same 2 males, 1 female connector (Looks like a two headed snake, as the series looks like a big triangle, LOL) The paralell connector makes two Traxxas 1200 mah 6 cell nihm 7.2V packs like one 6 cell nihm 7.2 2400 mah pack for DOUBLE THE MAH FOR DOUBLE THE RUN TIME. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.) This same rule applies for lipos and other batteries.



Here are some batteries that will work for the kits:

What seem to be the best Nihm batteries available on the market today*: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXMEY5&P=7

Stock Traxxas Nihm Pack: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXXKV5&P=7

2 of the best 3s lipos for the buck*: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...00mAh_3S1P_20C
and: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...0mAh_3S1P_20C_

2 of the best 2s lipos for the buck*: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...00mAh_2S1P_20C
and: http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...0mAh_2S1P_20C_
(Plus many more, tons that work on Hobby City. Shop around there! Great Lipos for great prices.)

Expensive, but most likely good Maxamps packs(come waterproof, which is a big plus for these trucks.(Nihm packs are naturally water resistant, so this is just the plus for lipos)):http://www.maxamps.com/products.php?cat=221 (check out the whole page!)(Little weird, they are saying double speed and run time with the parallel connector, which is not true. And 60 mph guaranteed? I might take them up on that. Why would 11.1 Volts be faster than 14.4 volts? Weird.)

Great Nihm IB cells for a great price: http://www.all-battery.com/intellect23a1600mah.aspx
Same cells, but assembled: http://www.rcmart.com/catalog/rc-m18...l?cPath=52_953

Pro-Match Racing 1600 mah 6 cell nimh packs, great packs some of the best: http://www.promatchracing.com/proddetail.php?prod=1601

Some more IB packs with TRX connector: http://aedownloads.com/press/in_051909_reedy.pdf

And there are many other batteries to choose from. Let me know of any others you can think of. Just about all packs for the RC18 series trucks should work for these guys.




Lipo+Nihm Chargers with built in balancers(yes, you need to balance your lipos, and it shouldn't slow charging very bit at all):

Hyperion EOS 0606i AC/DC Charger, this is what I got, great charger and can do just about everything you need, up to 6S lipo*: http://www.allerc.com/product_info.p...oducts_id=3367

HYPERION EOS0610I DUO II-DUAL PORT ALL IN ONE CHARGER, can charge two batteries at once, big plus for these trucks, but a little pricey*: http://www.allerc.com/product_info.p...oducts_id=3976

Great Planes ElectriFly Triton EQ AC/DC Charger, pretty much exactly the same as the Hyperion 0606i, but with better instructions*: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXVRS6&P=ML

Great Planes ElectriFly Triton2 EQ AC/DC Chgr w/Bal LCD, same as above but with much higher voltage output, can charge at up to 8.0A(Probably one of the best, only thing lacking is can't charge two batteries*: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXVZA8&P=ML

Venom AC/DC Pro Charger U/L Approved, similar features to the 0606I: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXUAB8&P=ML



*As I mention earlier, if you want to run 2 2s lipos in paralell, you'll need an external low voltage cutoff. Here's a great one from Novak:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPGN1&P=7

If there is anything I missed, was incorrect on, or there's something I should add, please tell me.

Hope this helps! Took me a while to write! LOL


(*means needs a traxxas battery connector, with the exception of the LVC)

ORIGINAL: hghflyrjd1



hobbyking is sold out of all the lipos that fit what else can we do