Remote control R/C cars

[flatwins]

Anyone here "up" on R/C cars? We used to do a ton of it back in the day (bought an RC-10 in 1988) but I've been out of it for a long time until recently and am way behind on the technology of today.

What's up with these LiPo batteries? My kids and I each have a Traxxas Stampede since I wanted RTR vehicles that I wouldn't have to spend hours building\tuning. Those Stampedes are great; pull them out of the box, charge the battery and go have fun. But I hear the LiPo batteries will give a really long runtime unlike the NiMh batteries. Anything I need to do to ready the Traxxas for a LiPo battery? Will it work with the speed control and motor? I do know my charger will work with them.

I could Google\Youtube these questions but I like to hear real world experiences. Thanks!

 

[COLT 45]

Great place to start:

http://www.rctech.net/forum/electric-off-road-4/

 

[MyMonkey]

YES! An RC Thread on OSA! I too was very into RC. Raced all the time etc. Started MyMonkey Racing with my cousin. Hence the name. The Stampedes you got were they the brushless series from Traxxas? Or the normal one? My boy has one of each. The brushless Stampede VXL is a great bashing truck. 4 wheel drive, water proof etc. Very fast too. It can run LiPo batts. Lipo does have some great MAH rates like 5000 etc. However, there are special concerns with LiPo batts. So long as you are careful they are safe. I can say though that if you store them without enough juice they will discharge over time and once they to such a low voltage they are toast. Learned that one the hard way.

I may just order a Savage Flux for the fun of it!

 

[flatwins]

These Stampedes are the brushed motors. Do LiPo batteries require brushless? I suspect they would require new speed controls as well.

 

[MrShooter]

lipo's need to be run on brushless motors.

Ive had a few nitros and electric. cars and aircraft.

Check out the Parrot AR Drone 2.0! its a drone ran off your iphone or droid. i will upload a short video from my drone. they're pretty cool. (and its only $299)

 

[dlbleak]

i would like to get back into the hobby. back in the day, i had 6-8 running cars and trucks at a time. the best one i had was an 1/8th scale buggy with a paris/picco motor. the motor came with a hand written lett from ron paris as being built and modded by him personally. after spendin countless thousands to be competative, i gave it up. coulda bought a lot of guns with that money!

 

[flatwins]

After posting this and then having a morning bashing session with the kids and their Stampedes, I don't think I need to do a thing to them. These things are a blast right out of the box. The NiMH batteries tend to do better after they are charged a couple times on a good charger. The RTR Traxxas cars/trucks are what R/C is all about! Fun without too much fiddling.

 

[DeerAssassin]

I had a Duratrax Evader S/T a few years ago...Sold it because I was always breaking parts. Had it hopped up a bit, better motor/esc, gears and such. Quite a bit faster than stock, I know that.

I'd like a Traxxas Revo 3.3 but I just don't have the dough. I see they're close to $700 now...Last time I looked they were around $500.

 

[gunluvingirl]

We also have a stampede and I thought about the same but if ya use the the LiPo batts, you have to change the settings on the speed control. There is a section in the instructions concerning the settings change.

 

[flatwins]

Good times!