battery wiring question

[Nitrodriver]

I am going to be making my own battery packs in the future. My friend said that there is a way to wire batteries that instead of the number of volts adding up the MAH adds up. This means id be able to use more cells than my esc can handle. If anyone understands what i just said, could you please tell me how to do this? Thanx alot

[SteveP]

When you wire cells or packs in series, you add voltage. When you wire in parallel, you add capacity.
For example, wiring two 7.2v 3000 mAh packs in series, you would have a 14.4v "pack" with 3000 mAh capacity. If you were to wire the same two packs in parallel, you would have a 7.2v 6000 mAh "pack."
Wiring in series requires the negative of pack #1 be connected to the negative lead of the speed control. The positive lead of pack #1 is connected to the negative lead of pack #2. The Positive lead of pack #2 is connected to the positive lead of the speed control.

Wiring the two packs in parallel simply reqquires both negative leads of the packs be connected to the negative lead of the ESC, and likewise, both positive leads from the batteries are connected to the positive lead of the speed control.

Just be careful that your speed control can handle the new battery configuration.

[ 07-14-2001: Message edited by: SteveP ]

[nitrodriver]

Thanks alot for your help steve. Let me see if i under stand what your saying.. I have saddle packs right now. The tamiya connector goes to a + and a - side of the cell right now. Would i just have to re solder one of the wires so they both go to a positive side? Also there is a wire in the back of the cells, they sort of just connect the two packs. That also connect to a + and a - side. Would i have to re solder that so they both connect to 2 a - side?
Is that right?

[ 07-14-2001: Message edited by: nitrodriver ]

[jeepinator]

nitrodriver, I was in Shreveport last year.
Kinda cool considering my last name is SHREVE, eh ?
Heh, I went down to the gambling place on the river there and lost some hard earned money ! :p What is it called ? Lucky Horse ? Dang, I forget ...
Did they teach you about Capt. Henry Shreve in school ? The guy who used dynamite to blast a chanel through the log jam on the Red River ... Unfortunately, he was a monopolist and a bit greedy ;) My grandmother tells me I am a descendant. Thta's kinda cool I think.

Anyway, Steve pretty much answered your question. My question is why would you not be using the standard setup ? (six cells in series). I suggest you just solder 6 cells together in a side-by-side configuration, using something like Deans battery bars. Here is a pic I used recently on another thread to show you what I mean:
http://www.theshreves.com/pics/2400batts.jpg

You'll be needing a really hot and burly soldering iron, BTW !

[nitrodriver]

Jeepinator, i think that casino is called the horse shoe... I'm not 100% sure because i just moved here about 3 weeks ago.
The reason i asked this question is becuase my ESC can only handle 7 cells, and i wanted to run more than that. My friend said i can wire them a certain way to use as many cells as i want, and he told me to ask here

BTW.. would a 60 watt soldering iron be hot enough?

[ 07-14-2001: Message edited by: nitrodriver ]