28 replies to this topic

[falconfour4]

Just been over to www.component-shop.co.uk to order me a new battery and noticed they are now selling Lithium Polymer batteries.
7.4v 11.1v and 14.8v upto 3200mah. the prices look very good.
very tempted to try one, a pity they dont do a charger to suite.
does anyone know where you can get a charger for them.

[Hedganian]

Is it just me, or are those voltages completely useless?

Most AEGs use 8.4V stock or 9.6V for upgrades, so why make 11.1V and 14.8V?

[falconfour4]

i think you can use lower voltages with li poly becuase the discharge amps are a lot hire, but dont quote me on that.
i'm sure i saw someone using a 7v li poly on a pimped up AEG.

[Angry]

They're probably not designed with airsoft use in mind.

[Tommygunn]

So called Airsoft cells were not designed with airsoft in mind.

From what I remember you'll be fine with a 7.4V Lipo as an equivalent to an 8.4V Nicad or Nimh, if not 9.6V.

Edited by Tommygunn, 08 June 2007 - 09:07 AM.

[-walle-]

As opposed to NiMH which were designed solely for airsoft purposes.

11.1V is pretty usefull, a lot of danish airsofter run either 10.8v or 12v. 11.1 fits right in between .... almost

[Tommygunn]

As opposed to NiMH which were designed solely for airsoft purposes. wink.gif

Don't get it.

[my_plague_666]

NiMH batteries were used in RC cars long before airsoft im sure

[Shinden]

At PowerEdge, we sell and make custom guns with Li-Poly batteries. You will notice that it delivers high ROF fires in guns and a high-discharge rate. Make sure your guns are reinforced before using the battery as it will damage a stock gun very fast.

[tome]

The prices are quite good, pretty much the same as these guys

http://www.brchobbies.co.uk/?page=shop&category=2&start=8

I always take the discharge ratings of over 15 with a pinch of salt if the cells don't come from one of the better manufacturers

[Pinkfloyd]

I've got a lot of experience with LiPoly's; enough to know that I wouldn't put on in an airsoft gun without serious protection. They have a tendancey to explode when you run them hard, and you have to be careful when charging them, as they can explode easily there as well. I run LiPolys in one of my smaller BattleBots because of the weight issue, but if you can spare the weight and room, go NiMh. LiPoly's are too unstable for airsofting.

[-walle-]

My lipo's doing just fine in my airsoft gun. Be careful though. 11.1V 4000mah will rip standard internals to shreds. I know from experience

[Epyon]

So called Airsoft cells were not designed with airsoft in mind.  

From what I remember you'll be fine with a 7.4V Lipo as an equivalent to an 8.4V Nicad or Nimh, if not 9.6V.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, a 7.4v LiPo will usually outperform a nimh or ni-cd 8.4v, closer to on par with a 9.6v. It's not that the voltage is up there, it just doesn't drop off under load.

I've got a lot of experience with LiPoly's; enough to know that I wouldn't put on in an airsoft gun without serious protection.  They have a tendancey to explode when you run them hard, and you have to be careful when charging them, as they can explode easily there as well.  I run LiPolys in one of my smaller BattleBots because of the weight issue, but if you can spare the weight and room, go NiMh.  LiPoly's are too unstable for airsofting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've been using LiPos for nearly 2 years now (started in RC). I've abused the hell out of them and never had one "explode". Those Youtube videos, that everyone loves to mention, are staged.
Unless you're ignorant and can't care for them properly, the worst that will happen is the cells will swell...............................like so



This only happened because I went too long without balancing the cells. One cell dropped too low, and voila, fried LiPo!
I salvaged the other 2 cells, for a 7.4v pack.

Edited by Epyon, 08 June 2007 - 01:14 PM.

[-walle-]

How often should you balance them?

[Epyon]

How often should you balance them?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It depends on the cells I guess. My cell that went bad, was always the lowest one, so the balancer would bring the others down to it.
I used a 'Blinky" balancing unit separate from my charger. I'd say it should be done on every charge, as it doesn't really lengthen the charge time any. <--At least mine didn't - the chargers with integrated balancers may.
I have one 11.1v pack that hasn't required balancing in the year that I've had it.

[Pinkfloyd]

Unless you're ignorant and can't care for them properly, the worst that will happen is the cells will swell...............................like so

This only happened because I went too long without balancing the cells. One cell dropped too low, and voila, fried LiPo!
I salvaged the other 2 cells, for a 7.4v pack.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't wanna take any chances. Honestly, I've been working around them long enough to know, they make a hell of a burn in you garage floor. We had a number of packs go up in flames when we were charging them, and they ignited a few cardboard boxes and a cork board on my garage wall. Not good. No way I'd put one in an airsoft gun. They may out preform, but its your burnt weapon, not mine if it goes. They are too unstable.

Just for kicks tho, I did take a 14.8v Lipoly out of my 12 lb feather weight and threw it on my G3 SAS. ROF was higher than Bob Marley and the Beetles combined. Still, i would imagine that continued use of that would kill your gearbox in a matter of minutes. If ,heaven forbid, you do put a Lipoly in ur airsoft gun, PLEASE DONT DO >9.6v as you will destroy your internals if your not careful or of you dont have a PTW or some crazy spring.

[check6]

Balancing is important, but it is critical not to run you lipo down too low. That will cause unfixable damage.

Basically when your rate of fire starts to slow, stop shooting immediately and recharge the battery.

Even if you don't drain the battery after skirmishing, you should recharge it fully again. Lipo don't have a memory, so it better safe than sorry.

There are audio alerts that can be hooked up to notify you when the battery is too low, but I have never used them in a airsoft application.

[happy.al]

I've used Lipo's in RC planes, and I've seen quite a few of them blow up. They do not take well to being knocked about at all.

I would think hard before I used them in a airsoft gun, but in the end I think that they are fine. You can get a voltage regulator to reduce the voltage to what ever you want.

With my lipo's I balance them every charge, but that's just how my charger works.

[-walle-]

I don't wanna take any chances.  Honestly, I've been working around them long enough to know, they make a hell of a burn in you garage floor.  We had a number of packs go up in flames when we were charging them, and they ignited a few cardboard boxes and a cork board on my garage wall.  Not good.  No way I'd put one in an airsoft gun.  They may out preform, but its your burnt weapon, not mine if it goes.  They are too unstable.

Just for kicks tho, I did take a 14.8v Lipoly out of my 12 lb feather weight and threw it on my G3 SAS.  ROF was higher than Bob Marley and the Beetles combined.  Still, i would imagine that continued use of that would kill your gearbox in a matter of minutes.  If ,heaven forbid, you do put a Lipoly in ur airsoft gun, PLEASE DONT DO >9.6v as you will destroy your internals if your not careful or of you dont have a PTW or some crazy spring.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How would a ptw or a crazy spring make things better? Are you sure you know what you're talking about?
Properly built gearbox with an m100 and you'll be fine on 11.1V

Edited by -walle-, 09 June 2007 - 12:22 AM.

[scooberoo]

I don't know about the posts above, but my 11.1v lipoly is about equivalent to my 9.6v nicd.

For people shredding internals with 9.6v lipoly (11.1v lipoly) you have wrong setup. Match your spring, motor, cylinder, and gear ratio.