This is my first post so I hope its in the right forum. I'm trying to get back into the hobby after a 10 or so year time off. At first I was set to get back into the electric side of the hobby but then the more I read up on it the more I started to be more unsure. I'm looking to get back into the hobby just to bash around for now but would like to eventually race again but it will be 6 months or so before I'm able to do that. So right now i'm just looking for something to have fun with. As I started looking into electric I learned more about battery's and chargers, 10 years ago I could charge a battery pack for 15 minutes and run it for 10-15 minutes, now i'm learning that packs take up to 45 minutes to charge and don't even last a 10 minute run. I also read up on LiPo battery but they're out of my price range right now and I think would be over kill just for bashing around the house. After reading about the low runtimes on a battery pack I started looking into Nito power. I've never ran a Nito car and I haven't read up too much on it other than Nitro takes alot of tweaking which I do like to do. But i'm just wondering what the upkeep on one is like, how long the run time is, stuff like that. I'm just trying to gather information right now to help me make the right choice. Incase it matters, the electric kit I was looking to get was the Losi XXX-T Sport RTR II and the gas I was looking into was the Losi XXX-NT RTR II, although if I went the Nitro route I might go for something a little less expensive.

A drawback to nitro is that almost none of them have reverse.

I do not think one is any cheaper than the other.
They both have their pros and cons.
Are you a backyard basher, or track racer, both?

I went back to electric, mainly due to the noise and my lack of time. I just put a battery in the car and run around the back yard for a littel while. Lipos are the way to go, for me anyway, but I am in the same boat, due to money I am running some old nimhs from my nitro starter box


If you can tune and have time to maintain/clean, and want to drive your car ALL day, then Nitro is a good option. One main drawback I found with Nitro, I was still charging batteries i.e. reciever packs, controller, glow plug, starter box/roto start. Also nitro is now about 30bucks a gallon and plugs are 5-10 a piece.

Right now i'm a basher but would like to get back into racing during the summer. The only problem is I have two local tracks that only run electric. I called and asked about nitro and they told me they "might" add a class over the summer if there is enough interest. So thats also swaying me twards ekectic. Right now LiPo is out of the question due to price and the fact that you need to use your car battery to use the charger.

Maxamps sells a lipo charger that is ac/dc, incase you are looking later.
If you want to race, and your tracks are running electric, then that is what you are running. I am not sure where they are, but noise is a big factor, especially with 20 buggies revving.
Since you might race, visit your local tracks, and talk to Different people, and find out what they are running. You dont need to choose the most popular car, but it might be the one that is locally supported by your hobby shops, and it is also nice to know you can bring cash to a race and buy parts. I hate waiting days/weeks for parts, I want them now, since my time is limited.
A racing buggy is not always the best backyard basher, they don't have the ground clearance and big tires of a monster truck. Things like that, you will have to consider.

something like this? http://www.amainhobbies.com/product_...oducts_id/4023

I don't see anywhere, that it has a balancer for lipos, but I skimmed through the lengthy description. But, if you don't plan on running lipo, then there is no worries. Your local track might not allow lipos yet anyway, many still do not. Some tracks do not allow them at all, and others, just during their races. Again, talk to your locals and get an idea of what the rules and classes are. I am not a racer, I liked running the track, but my local racing scene just isn't for me, and many others it seems[:'(]

The [link=http://www.maxamps.com/Eos6i-AC-DC.htm]Maxamps[/link] charger, has a built in balancer for lipos.

When considering runtime and charge-time, LiPo is not more expensive. One battery will perform like 2 or 3 NiMh packs. This is especially true in racing. With NiMh, you need a pack in the vehicle, one on the charger and one cooling off after use. I race an RC10T4, sometimes in two classes. I use one 6000mah pack and one charger. That's all I need.

So in order to charge a lipo batter you need a balancer as well? I posted that one because it said it charges all 3. Man i'm confused lol. Thanks for the help so far.

That Hyperion charger that MT posted the link to already has everything you need. Yes, it is not cheap. But you will go a long long way before you get better. Yes, you will need the balancer that is already built into the charger. You do not have to buy from MaxAmps. B-P-P has them for about $10 less and they offer free shipping for orders over $20. I am a bit hesitant to recommend them though. I am not the only one to have had problems with orders from B-P-P recently. So just keep that in mind.

As far as the LiPo/NiMh debate.... You will not recognize the power delivery of the same car running on a good LiPo after having run it on NiMh. The difference really is huge. Very expensive, but worth every cent. Like the man said a post or two previously. You can run one LiPo the whole day long!

Very good point that I forgot.
There also isn't all the charging-discharging-slow charge-peak charge-bla bla bla. Just don't over or under charge lipos.

Can you buy a LiPo charger without the balancer built in and then buy a balancer? I've see balancers sold separate.

You can balance off line. The setup below is $140.00 total:

This charger
[link]http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLWF0&P=7[/link]Integy INDI 16X-Lithium AC/DC Charger
And this balancer
[link]http://www.maxamps.com/LBA10.htm[/link]Hyperion LBA10 Balancer

Electric is nice because they tend to be less expensive. You get get some pretty quick ones for around 70 dollars. And for a good gas vehicle the price tends to rise.
But you have to think, what will be more fun in the long run? I'd suggest you purchase a gas truck for starting up in the hobby again. It is a nice off-road vehicle which can do alot more then say, and electric car. An electric car cannot climb up rocky hills or zip around you're back yard, there more intended for racing.

My self, I have a Revo 3.3. It is my first RC vehicle as I am new to the sport. It cost around 600 dollars once the actual truck and supplies are bought, and it will last a lifetime. Sure, it may need a few new parts after a long time from wear and tear, but every vehicle is like that. The Revo 3.3 is what I recommend for you. It is fun, exciting, and has a top speed of 45mph+! It's built by Traxxas, which also released the Tmax as well, a nother popular off road truck.
It is generally up to you though. You have to find a vehicle that suits you, one that you think you will have fun with.

Overall, you should get a Buggy or Truck that runs on fuel, eletric can be a little cheep at times.

Thanks!

Thanks for that info. Could I pick up this charge and that balancer? http://www.danscraftsandthings.com/i...?a=6&id=853071 I can get that from my local hobby shop.

Because you can use the Hyperion balancer off line, you can use any charger.

Thanks for all the help HappyWing, you've got a PM.

You're welcome. You've got a reply.

Just a question. How long would you have to balance it for?

It seems that you are going to be getting an electric, but a little info on Nitro-

In a 1/10 car, a tank usually lasts around 10-15 min.- And you don't have to recharge a batt; just refill and continue (for how every long you wish).
You can get into Nitro with only $200-250 dollars. With $300 you could have a nice little set up.. Whats your budget?

I find that with my Nitro trucks I don't have to worry about a battery dieing, even though there is some electric equipment involved.. Every other bash session recharge the RX pack (charge it when your cleaning the truck), charge the Igniter all night.. You really don't have to wait around for batts.

I did the electric thing for three years (still use the ones I have though) and than last year I got my first Nitro (now have three).. I have no plans on getting another electric vehicle as I find Nitro is a funner power source Have fun with whatever you decide to get and don't forget to break in that Engine! (if you go that rout).

Thanks alot for your info on Nitro. Maybe once my budget allows it I will get one but after talking to one of my friends who has nitro and he ran down his cost list for fuel, glowplugs, a few random other parts, plus new tires and what it would cost him to upgrade his motor or buy a new one if his current one got damaged made me decide to stick with electric for now. Also the big selling point for me was the fact that none of my local track run nitro and racing is something I want to do when my time allows it. So for now i'll be sticking with electric but thank for the information. I'm trying to learn all I can for both sides.