Want to shed 6 kg off your Radical?

[BioBa]

I'm about to order one of those new high tech ultra light LFX Lithium Battery 18Ah, 270 CCA 12V eq, 2.19 lbs http://www.cyclebuy.com/shopping/shorai/large_case...
I'm also buying an additional 6V LFX and wire it as a starter booter battery at 18V.
Amazing how battery technology has progressed and how prices have come down. Has anybody experience with the new LiFePO4 technology?

[Martin B]

I'm just going to try to eat less pies!

[BioBa]

I wish I could!

[lanan]

You may be interested in possibly better options.
http://www.super-b.com/products/super-B-2600.html
http://www.super-b.com/products/super-B-5200.html

I can do a better price than advertised for Raddy owners.
We are a UK agent for these and supply many levels from Formula Ford to Formula 1

[MarkWebb]

good idea but 6kg? one battery is only 3lb 10 oz lighter 2 would be 7lb 4oz can't make that into 6 kg??

[cptsideways]

Do radicals run a bike battery? I assume so. My friend who races 1.6 Mk1 MX5's has been using tiny bike batteries on the race cars for a couple of years now. I'm sure you could use a tiny one on a bike engine?

[BioBa]

MarkWebb said:

good idea but 6kg? one battery is only 3lb 10 oz lighter 2 would be 7lb 4oz can't make that into 6 kg??

Currently I'm running the rcomended Deka ETX18L at 8.2 kg. By removing the Deka and repalcing it with the new 12V LFX18L1-BS12 is 993g and the 6V LFX18A2-BS06 576g (starter motor booster) = 1569g , 8200g - 1569g = 6631g, allow for some weight of the cabeling this gives a minimum weight reduction of 6000g

[BioBa]

lanan said:

You may be interested in possibly better options.
http://www.super-b.com/products/super-B-2600.html
http://www.super-b.com/products/super-B-5200.html

The B-5200 looks really nice and high quality but at 277 GBP vs. 114 GBP (US178) for the Shorai is a massive difference in price for a very simmilar battery.
What I also really like in the Shorai batteries is the possibility to charge via the 5-pin BMS port in order to monitor, diagnose, and balance the individual cells during charge. With many years experience in electric RC, balancing correct cell voltage can not be underestimated and will provide much longer battery life. Do the Super Bs have an internal balancer?

[lanan]

Yes they do. It's called a VMS (voltage management system) that maintains the balance between the cells.

[BertBert]

Are these like, er Lipos?

The special SR8 battery...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLS7WLvGOKQ&feature=related

[BioBa]

I would never consider a LiPo battery in a car (in spite of the low weight)!!!
No these new batteries are totally safe with no explosive gasses, no lead and no acid. If they are only half a good as they pretend to be it could be described as a battery revolution. I am sure bigger car battery versions will be available very soon.

[splitpin]

As we're talking batteries, apologies but may I go sideways momentarily?

I keep promising to treat myself to a (non-mains/non-air) rattle gun, but they seem to come in umpteen voltages and battery types >

eg 10.8V, 12V, 14.4V, 18V, 19.2V and 24V, NiMH, NiCD & Li-Ion.

What's the best to go for as a general principle? - if it's relevant, don't forget it's only for occassional non-pro use only.

Cheers

[splitpin]

BertBert said:

Are these like, er Lipos?

Thought you'd have known the difference between a Li-Po & a Li-Ion BertBert, because even I do (after just looking it up on Wiki) >

"This type has technologically evolved from lithium-ion batteries. The primary difference is that the lithium-salt electrolyte is not held in an organic solvent but in a solid polymer composite such as polyethylene oxide or polyacrylonitrile. The advantages of Li-ion polymer over the lithium-ion design include potentially lower cost of manufacture, adaptability to a wide variety of packaging shapes, reliability, and ruggedness. Lithium-ion polymer batteries started appearing in consumer electronics around 1995."

Flaming Useful That

[S26VE P]

I managed to get a snap-on impact gun, unsure of full details but will have a look later. It will pretty much undo anything i have thrown at it without issue (as long as charged)

[double d racing]

There's only Trev who could create a connection between battery weights/types and Impact guns........
We have used Sealey Cordless Impact wrench Model CP 3002, 19.2v since we started with Radical ( 5 years ? ) Its only let us down a couple of times when the centre lock nuts have "welded" themselves to the axle. ( we now loosen the nuts straight away and add a tiny tiny drop of duck oil to the threads )
the 1st website I looked at shows a CP3003 which I assume replaces our model.

http://www.pvrdirect.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?kw=imp... wrench&tier1=Sealey+Tools&tier2=Electric+Power+Tools&tier3=Impact+Wrenches&tier4=1%2f2%22Sq+Drive+Cordless&catref=CP3003

Whether its for pro use or occasional use if it doesn't work when you WANT it to then you'll regret not buying a "quality " product.

We have a spare 24v one that for back up and is still untouched....

Hope that helps
D D

[double d racing]

and before anybody asks ..." what did you do when the Impact Wrench let you down ? "......

we put a knuckle bar on the socket, and then extended that with the quick jack handle ( fits perfectly ) and applied a bit of grunt and muscle....

D D ( smartarse ! )

[splitpin]

double d racing said:

and before anybody asks ..." what did you do when the Impact Wrench let you down ? "......

we put a knuckle bar on the socket, and then extended that with the quick jack handle ( fits perfectly ) and applied a bit of grunt and muscle....

D D ( smartarse ! )

That's the way I have undone to date - still works a treat as per your tip (so cheers) DD, but usually requires someone on the actual brakes.

That's sort of why I was asking ........... there's the Sealey CP2400 on that site, 24V rather than 19.2V, capable of generating a little bit more force and it's a fair bit cheaper than the CP3003.

I'm wondering whether rattle guns are going the same way as FSTs ......... £2000 five years ago, now selling @ £200 at the local discount electrical retailer Seems to be the case with 'no-maintenance' car batteries ........ they seems to be about half the price they were five years back, even quality stuff like Bosch 5 year warranty jobs.

[MarkWebb]

HMM how do these work when changing the gear ratios?
I did mine for the first time last weekend and managed to snap the ends off 2 snapon 1/2 inch extension bars before applying a lot of heat and just getting them undone.
Does a rattle gun make it easier or were my nuts done up way too tight or something?

[BertBert]

splitpin said:

Thought you'd have known the difference between a Li-Po & a Li-Ion BertBert

As if there was a chance I didn't Trev!

[splitpin]

MarkWebb said:

HMM how do these work when changing the gear ratios?

Don't know TBH. but it 'sounds' a bit too 'HD/Brutal' to me, in principle at least.

Think I'd try a high strength breaker bar plus an extra leverage tube (like the good old QL handle) in combo with long shank impact sockets etc before resorting to that.