Batteries...

[Pearcy]

Just about to buy my first Tamiya (likely just standard silver can or maybe 19t brushed)  and am new to the whole thing. Have done a lot of research on the cars, transmitters etc. but am struggling on the batteries... Basically I understand that these days it's all about Lipo but must admit to being concerned by the potential safety hazard. 

Currently living in a house that we're doing up and until it's rewired I'm not sure I trust the house electrics too much until we get it fully rewired.

With a family in the house etc. I want to know what's 'best' / safest to just leave for an hour or two charging? - Currently just have an FTX Tracer for one of my sons which obviously just runs a small 800mah li-ion with a usb charger, which seems to be fine.

From looking at chargers, something like a SKYRC T100 AC 100W Dual Balance Charger seems to look like a decent option but I am just confused about which batteries to go for... Any advice please?

[Alangt4]

You can always start with the nimh batteries and then when you are comfortable move on to the LiPo.that’s what I did and saw that Lipo are Ok after a while and use them now, but an extra thing to think about when you are restarting for sure.

The Nimh batteries are better than the old nicads and you will get a load of run time from 3300-4000 mah packs.

the good chargers can handle the different kinds of batteries.

[Aerobert]

Just what @Alangt4 said. Start with NiMH if you are unsure about LiPo. I run both, LiPo but also still NiMH. You can load a NiMH pack and leave it like that until you need it whereas LiPo shall be stored in storage mode.

[Willy iine]

NiMH is all I run these days for the same fire concerns you have, @Pearcy.  I own quite a bit of LiPo batteries, but they have been in my fire safe steel bin since 2016-2017 getting checked for storage voltage every 3 months.  Not sure when they will ever be used again, but I kept them since they are very stable in the storage condition.

[alvinlwh]

.

[InsaneJim69]

In all fairness to Lipo, NiMH batteries are easily just as bad at going up and causing a fire. The thing with NiMH is they don't give you a warning like lipos usually do, they usually just go bang as many a racer will tell you, albeit most are due to forcing 2c or 4c charge rates, but even under normal 1c charge they do go wrong as well.

Each battery type has its flaws and pros. Imo as above, been using Lipos for a good few years and never once had an issue. Always charge in a lipo bunker and always attended. When putting away for a while, put them into storage mode. 99.99999% of lipo incidents happen when under load, i.e. charging or discharging. And even then, compared to how many lipo packs there are out there the incidents are far less than say a house fire caused by a faulty phone charger etc. 

James.

[M 800STD]

So as it's a basic car, silver can, you'll be looking at 2s.

If you trust your house electrics with other appliances, you'll be fine.

The charger you suggested is a good charger for now and the future, if you get into this hobby.  Cheap chargers is not the way to go for keeping your lipos healthy and could end up costing you more.

The main point is this.  As a rule of thumb, you NEVER leave charging lipos unattended.

Also use a lipo bag whilst charging for added protection or charge outside.

 

[hIghQ]

15 hours ago, InsaneJim69 said:

In all fairness to Lipo, NiMH batteries are easily just as bad at going up and causing a fire. The thing with NiMH is they don't give you a warning like lipos usually do, they usually just go bang as many a racer will tell you, albeit most are due to forcing 2c or 4c charge rates, but even under normal 1c charge they do go wrong as well.

Each battery type has its flaws and pros. Imo as above, been using Lipos for a good few years and never once had an issue. Always charge in a lipo bunker and always attended. When putting away for a while, put them into storage mode. 99.99999% of lipo incidents happen when under load, i.e. charging or discharging. And even then, compared to how many lipo packs there are out there the incidents are far less than say a house fire caused by a faulty phone charger etc. 

James.

I'm not sure if it was a NiCd or a NiMH cell I was close to, when it went bang 20 years ago, but it was nothing like the LiPo fires I've seen videos of, or heard stories of. Not even close. Still I'm not afraid, just respectful when it comes to LiPos and use them pretty much exclusively.

[BuggyDad]

I'm fairly new to this, started my son off on NiMh as part of a standard package and was going to go for NiMh myself. But it made no sense to buy a charger that wouldn't keep my options open, as you've already identified, and then I found that:

- Lipos are no more money, which surprised me. In many cases they're cheaper. 

- I decided I might as well move all connectors to Deans before I had any more (only changed over one esc and son's NiMh batteries because I didn't own any more at that point). 

- there's good info out there on LiPos, enough to get me comfortable with procedures and risks. 

So I decided to bypass NiMh and just get Lipos. The main thing i like about them is they maintain their good early power through the run, essentially. Makes a difference to the fun you have, I think.

I find that a charge from storage state is very quick, so you can choose to use the car pretty much on a whim. Returning them to storage state after a run is then a thing you do later, in the evening say - easy to fit in to life. My charger is where I work and do rc stuff. 

Get a dual charger, especially useful because of the need not to leave unattended. You don't want to double the time anything you can't leave alone takes. And any other inconvenience there is to the various charging procedures is also effectively halved. Mine was a little over £50, so still at the budget end of chargers give or take.

This is the Lipo guide I was sent to:

https://rogershobbycenter.com/lipoguide/

It is quite long but you'll get a lot from it.