Current limiting in LiFes

[JamesDavies]

Does anyone know if the HobbyKing Zippy LiFes are current limited?

http://www.hobbyking.co.uk/hobbyking...ePo4_Pack.html

Cheers!

[Shakey]

I'm not sure what you mean. Current limiting is a thing done by ESC not batteries in fighting robots normally.

For the current the battery can safely provide it's the capacity x discharge rating (8.4Ah x 30 = 250A). Batteries being drawn over that will be damaged.

Also lastly... dear god Zippy LiFe packs are absolute rubbish. They die at the slightest hint of use. They were in Nuts for robotwars and of the 8 we took only 2 are still alive.

[JamesDavies]

Yeah that was my question, Can I draw too much current from the batteries or will they limit it themselves.

Oh really? Any have you found any superior alternatives?

[Shakey]

They'll limit themselves by dying.

The C rating on batteries is the safe limit they can discharge at. They can however discharge at higher rates but this damages them.

A123's are a good LiFe alternative, also good quality LiPo's like Optipower and even Turnigy Nano/A Spec these days work well.

[JamesDavies]

Cool- "They can however discharge at higher rates" answers my question.

Cheers

[typhoon_driver]

Don't bother cheaping out on batteries. You'll spend twice as much as end up with nothing at the end. Bite the bullet, oversize your battery pack and get good quality cells. With the discount from optipower for being an FRA member there really is no excuse.

[maddox10]

The Zippy LifePo4's did a good job in Bullfrog for a few years.

But for less weight, the Zippy 8000mAh LiPo's do the same task even with more ease.

[typhoon_driver]

zippy may be alright for something that doesn't need the juice but have any kind of power hungry drive train or motors on your weapon and you need to go bigger.

[maddox10]

As with everything, there are limits. Choose wisely.