That big of a difference?!?!?!?!

[Drayken D]

I just finished my first ever race at a local track! I finished 2nd in the B-Main, stock!! Woohoo, lol. Not bad for a first timer. I race a RC10T3. I am more than average when it comes to driving skills, but something seems off. The track is short, one strait, and the rest is turns and bumps.


There seems to be two groups of people at the track. Those of us that have about the same speed and then a group that seem to be WAY faster on the straits, AND on the corners. Remember this is stock class. How is it possible for these people to be so much faster AND more torque? I am running a good P2Kpro, with 20/87 gearing. A guy told me that batteries play a huge role, but do they play THAT much?? I was getting toasted by some of these guys. I know they were better drivers, but even my friends who were watching said they were way faster trucks.

I run matched 1900's, and Millennium charger, they charge at 2300-2400mah!!! Those who use matched 2400's would be alot faster??

[ 06-04-2001: Message edited by: Drayken D ]

[SteveP]

The quality and voltage of the battery pack can make a considerable difference. The new Stock Metal Hydride Panasonic batteries and some of the 2400 Sanyos have very good voltage (1.23 to 1.24 volts per cell). Thew latest crop of 2400 and the early 3000 cells were only about 1.08 to 1.09 volts per cell. That can make the difference of a full volt in a 6-cell pack. That's a 15-percent difference in voltage, and voltage is what makes the difference in motor RPM.

[SteveP]

BTW - mAh doesn't much matter in stock racing. You need enough capacity to make it through a 5 minute race, but it's rare to dump a 2400 or 3000 pack in a 5-minute race. Some forms of racing can dump the packs more quickly than others, but in off-road racing you can generally expect to make the duration without too much concern. Voltage is the more important figure with respect to battery packs.

[ 06-03-2001: Message edited by: SteveP ]

[Drayken D]

what's the easiest way to find the voltage? Do I need to find out when I buy them, or is there a way to test and find out?

[SteveP]

Matched packs have the voltage printed on each cell. Just be sure if you're comparing packs from different manufactures, that you're comparing cells that are matched at the same discharge rate. The typical discharge rate is 20 or 30 amps. Some matchers use odd discharge rates like 18 or 25 amps, which makes the voltage and run time a little higher than those matched at 20 or 30 amps.

[gubbs3]

The matched packs most serious racers run are bought in as a group but that are not assembled. These batteries have a sticker on eahc cell and on the outside of the box the come in that tells you the voltage, internal resistence, and mah. The racers you were talking about who are a lot faster everywhere on track usually look for packs that have the best voltage and lowest internal resistence. Another bg part is your speed control. If you have a budget speedo and those "fast" racers have top of the line speedo's the resistence in them is a lot less which equals more speed and power. The difference between high quallity and budget speed controls can be as much or more than running tamiya connectors compared to hard wiring.

[Drayken D]

well, I got a Rooster in it, and Deans connectors, so I doubt thier ESC could be THAT much better, must be the batteries then, I will look into getting a good set, and see. Thx all.

[Aussie_Man]

The biggest thing to determine the speed to a straight, is the speed you enter the straight. eg going faster through the corner would help. So practice would be your best bet (seems asthough your aready good so you might want try a better pack. 2400's would be good for your truck and stock motor. play around with your gearing too.
How did your 1900mah pack charge to 3400? My 2400's have only gone to 2994mah (on a Millenium too), but I've seen some 3000's brake the 4000mah barrier, lol.

[Distro]

What charger are you using? IT could be why also.

[Drayken D]

Using a brand new Millenium, 12 threshold, and 5amp charge, Linear.

It must be the batteries, I am using MaxxPaxx, and they are great for runtime, but seem to lack the punch for racing, I just didn't want to have to spend $40 or so on a battery pack =(.

[Grizzbob]

Well, if the guys you're talking about are really that much faster, then they're probably already spending twice that per pack on batteries( in other words, around $80 per pack). It varies with the different shops & matchers, but I've seen prices for the best matched packs for as much as $95, & for those who have a deal directly with some matchers, they can get cells that are better than most of us could ever find on the shelf. I know it's an extreme amount of money, but if you really want to have batteries at that level, then that's what it'll cost. However, you can still get better packs than what you said you have & close the gap for a fair price(compared to what I mentioned). Just keep a price window in mind(how much you believe you can afford for a few packs), & try to get the best numbers you can find for that price. I t might be easiest if you just buy them one at a time, so you could save some money, get a good one, & save for another good one later(just replace your current packs one at a time, so you don't have to break the bank each time you buy).... :)

[Mark98SS]

Drayken D, the bottom line is if you want to be real, super competetive in electric racing you have to get comfortable with spending alot of money on batteries. The real fast guys have enough packs to only run each one every week or two and have a special few packs that only get used in the biggest races. Somewhere between one battery & unlimited supplies is where most of our budgets reside & you have to decide what your comfort level is. Don't buy one real expensive pack here & there and use it over & over because the performance will go away, you'll get a much better bang for the buck having more new fresh mid range packs for the same total dollars.
Just my opinion.............

[SmokeyNDBandit]

Aside from batteries, there are other things you can do for a little more speed (i.e. comm cut, new brushes, oiled bushings, lighter or tighter springs, more aggresive gearing, car setup, clean driving).

[Drayken D]

thx all, I think I will go ahead and get one set of good batteries and see. At the very least, I will have a good set for the main =)

As for the other things, yes, I know, getting the Comm is a pain, I have been good about the brushes, I have tested 3 sets of springs with wts oils, and in all positions. And luckily I am a decent driver(always room for improvement tho). You guys have helped, and I think my money will be better spent now. I doubt I will go overboard to be competetive, but I would like to close the gap, and then let my driving skills improve and keep me in it. thx.