Do I really have to discharge?

[TC3 Benjammin]

Can't I just run my batteries until the truck won't go anymore? Why discharge? Is it that important?

[MJ]

I had the same question so I bought a Deans Black Box and built a 20 amp light bar. What I found is that the car drains the batteries lower than 5.4 volts. In other words, after a good backyard bash, there is nothing left to discharge. The Black Box never lets the light bar kick on. That is just my experience with cheep stick packs. Some racers with expensive packs might have other insights.

[TRAXXAS]

It would be really good if you do discharge your battery http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/smile.gif...I have a Rustler right now that when the truck won't go anymore http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/frown.gif...I would go to discharge it and it would have a lot of juice left in it http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/confused.gif...I hope this helped you?
<Splat>

[LatexMantus]

You discharge to prevent the NiCad batteries from getting a memory. What will happen is that when you start to run and you stop, there may be 7% left in your battery. Then you recharge, and that 7% mark will become the new 0% mark, therefore robbing your battery of some extra power. That is basically how it works.
If you use NiMH batteries, keep them about half way charged, never discharge them.
And you should always discharge even if you think you have run the battery dry.

[BadRacer]

If you wanna buy batt's everytime the batt wont charge due to memory build up then go ahead and don't discharge.

[This message has been edited by BadRacer (edited 02-25-2001).]

[FilthyPierre]

Whatever you do, it's very important that you don't discharge NiCd's too much. Running the car until the motor won't turn any more is ok if you don't have a discharger. Any discharger you buy should have an automatic cut-off so that it doesn't flatten the battery totally (Deans black box has a cut off). A 7.2 volt pack should be discharged to between .8 and .9 volts per cell, or 4.8 to 5.4 volts for a 6-cell pack.
Go here -> R/C Battery Clinic (http://gnv.fdt.net/~redscho/) for more info (about why it's important to discharge, but not fully).

[FactoryTeam Guy wannabe]

I also use the Deans Black Box with a set of light bulbs but I don't think that deans is making the "Black Box" anymore... http://www.rccaraction.com/ubb/frown.gif
-But hey there are other companies who make discharge cut off devices for Light Bulb Dischargers....... so just surf around the net and find one.