Is anyone using 7.4 volt lipo batteries in their radio box. Can the servos handle the extra volts? The batteries are almost half the weight!

Piratefish

If you have a receiver that is marked as a B.E.C. type, they have a voltage regulator circuit that will step down the voltage and not fry receiver or servos.

But most of the current systems without B.E.C. receivers are rated at 6 VOLTS maximum, using a 7.2 lipo will damage them !!

** It is a false idea that more voltage is better. Higher voltage does create faster speeds from servos and a tad more power .... but at a MUCH higher current draw and internal heat within components.

If you are wanting to UP the voltage because you have servos that don't really have the rated torque application requires, your asking for trouble and would suggest spending the money on stronger servos.

If as you stated looking at weight savings ? .... Forget about it, the weight savings is SQUAT and you would NEVER notice it in a boat. Aircraft are another story !

im using 7.4v lipo's with a Align voltage reducer. Works fine for me.

Will and Scott

thanks for the info!

Regarding weight... Ive got a stryker hydro with a JnG and steel pipe. It weighs 15lb 3oz with 1/2 bag of gas. I am always tring to shave the extra weight that is why i was looking a the LiPo batteries. I have even gone to a micro receiver and micro throttle servo (not installed yet) again saving half the weight of standard size stuff. Im i out of control:woohoo:

after all if i save half the weight on batteries, carbon fiber radio box lid, servo, and receiver! Dont i increase the horsepower per pound ?????

Piratfish

not by much, yer only losing maybe a few grams... nothing thats really gonna make much of a difference. I didnt go to LiPo's for weight saving, i switched for the ability to run longer on a single charge. With the power we are being given today, weight really isnt THAT big of an issue if ya ask me. I had a mono that was 1 pound lighter then my previous mono (same hulls) and i didnt even notice any significant difference in speeds.

So Will are you using the 1100mAh???

No one is 1350mah, the other is 1650mah

I just got a couple of the 1650s with the Align bec that Juice sells. Also the charger and you have to do some construction to put them together.
All I know is everyone is saying these are the shit so we will see. Honestly, I was happy with AA's and everything else I've tried, cept nicads... kinda heavy and dumb and high maintenance. I had some nimh hold good voltage for 3 years.

My nicad's 6V 1100mAh have lasted years with no problems...but the weight 156g's or 5.5oz I just went to the Nimh6V1500mah 109g's or 3.8oz. LiPo 7.4V 1200mAh 62g or 2.1oz
My standard Futaba servo with bracket weighs 2.6oz micro servo with bracket 1oz.

So okay all that for saving 6.1oz (including carbon fiber radio box lid which i made) it may not gain much if anything in speed but why carry it around if you dont have to??

At 5-6hp motor saving more than a 1/3 of a pound whats the math???

Piratefish wrote:
Not a math figure one could even figure

If weight is within a hull like a Cat of Sport hydro that is basically FLYING as it runs the weight effects handling by adding a tad more lateral g-force while cornering.

It has been my personal experience that FAST model boats can be built too light !!
Within reason a pound up or down has little to no effect unless it effects the C/G placement ?