Will MaxAmps make good on their warranty? - RC-Monster Forums

E-Revonut · **Will MaxAmps make good on their warranty? -** 10.14.2008, 12:02 AM

I'm posting this for 2 reasons:
1. Find out other's experience in getting MA to make good on their warranty
2. let others know how my experience goes

I have (4) 6000mah 2s2p MaxAmps Lipos, I bought 2 in March and was happy with them and 2 more in April I beleive. The second set I have the 3year warranty on, it was a 1 day special for their members to get a free warranty on all packs. This set is also the set in question. These packs are labeled as #3 and #4. Pack #3 has a slight inbalance that my eos0606i normally takes care of in a regular charge cycle, about .08v out of balance. Pack #4 on the other hand will not go through a cycle because I'm at a 0.37v difference, one cell at 4.22 and one at 3.85. IMO this should be replaced under the warranty, as it is apparent that there is a bad cell. I'm also asking them to replace both packs as they have been run together and if I get one new pack and run it with the other one I feel that I will wind up in the same situation very soon. On top of that I'm asking for an upgrade at the same time with me paying the difference between the 2s2p 6000mah packs and a set of 5000mah 3s packs, the difference for the 2 packs comes to about $75. If they will work with me its +1 for MA if not is so long. If they won't take care of me I will be purchasing a set of neu 4900mah 3s packs, if they do take care of me it will also benefit them as I will purchase another charger at the same time.

I hope there are enough people left on here using the MA packs to let me know how their dealings with MA have been.

What's_nitro? · 01:15 AM

Have you tried charging that low cell by itself through the balance taps? If you can bring it back up to 4.2 then see how it retains voltage after a run. The pack may not be a total loss, it may just have been assembled with a non-fully charged cell initially. Yes, that's MA's fault but it can be fixed. Do the same with the other, better balanced pack. I'd keep it to a 1A charge through the taps, and don't forget to set the charger to 1 cell. If it doesn't work out then I'll let MA handle it from here.

10.14.2008, 05:40 AM

I found this on Youtube & it describes how to charge individual cell.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=62XPQjgAZBw

Arct1k · 10.14.2008, 07:38 AM

maxamps will make good on the warranty but will only replace like for like and I'm sure will only replace the one pack. Which I guess is not what you were hoping to hear.

I'm presume you are looking at 6s 5000 - I'm not sure if they are the same cells but I've not had much luck with the 5000's. They seem to get hot and stressed running 3s on a pede. I'm not sure how they will take the revo in a 6s config.

lincpimp · 10.14.2008, 09:45 AM

We all know how much "success" I have had with maxamps... I will say one thing in their favour, after having about 20 maxamps packs I became very proficient at lipo soldering and assembly...

Their customer service is ok, and I am sure they will replace the questionable pack. Good luck with them replacing the ok pack. If it has the 300 cycle warranty, you may want to "ensure" that you send them back 2 bad packs...

As Arct1k said, the 5000 cells do not perform well, maybe 15c at best. Not sure if they are any better than the 6000 packs, as I only used those as lower drain 10th scale packs. I did use the 3000 cells (6000 packs are 2p made out of 3000 cells) and they were very poor. Not even 15c cells IMO...

Good Luck! Go with the neu packs, you will definately see the power difference.

MetalMan · 10.14.2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arct1k

maxamps will make good on the warranty but will only replace like for like and I'm sure will only replace the one pack. Which I guess is not what you were hoping to hear.

That is most likely right. A while ago I had a 4s2p pack of 2100mah cells from Maxamps (saddle pack), and one of the parallel groups puffed up. Maxamps did warranty it, but despite me asking to get a complete replacement, they only replaced the two bad cells... It is very stupid to mix new cells with older/used cells. They say not to mix old/new alkaline batteries, and these are Lipos we're dealing with!

E-Revonut · 10.14.2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by What's_nitro?

Have you tried charging that low cell by itself through the balance taps? If you can bring it back up to 4.2 then see how it retains voltage after a run. The pack may not be a total loss, it may just have been assembled with a non-fully charged cell initially. Yes, that's MA's fault but it can be fixed. Do the same with the other, better balanced pack. I'd keep it to a 1A charge through the taps, and don't forget to set the charger to 1 cell. If it doesn't work out then I'll let MA handle it from here.

I have charged and discharged through the tap to get them even a few times, but everytime I run them they are way off again. MA has suggested using contact cleaner to amke sure they are 100% clean and use a volt meter instead of relying on the charger. I had already verified with a volt meter, the charger's readings are a bit off from my volt meter but are consistent, cells are off by equal amounts between volt meter and charger.

I heard back from Jason, he's the one that told me to take the previously mentioned steps. He said if that doesn't work to contact Alex at MA and he will tell me what to do.

What's_nitro? · 10.14.2008, 06:53 PM

Sounds like bad packs then. I hope they can help you out!

hemiblas · 10.18.2008, 04:08 PM

I think what you are asking is a bit unreasonable but good luck with it. I think at a min they should replace the bad cell. There is no problem mixing them. Your new one might not last as long as the old one for all we know.
If you dont want them put them on the bay and sell them off. Heck I wish I could trade in all my 2S packs now that the 3S packs will get me closer to the speeds I want, but I'm stuck with them. But like I said doesnt hurt to ask and I hope it works out.

E-Revonut · 10.19.2008, 02:48 AM

Well I'm not going to try getting 3s packs, I still need a couple for my crt.5 and I'm selling my 2 good packs because I bought 2 4900mah 3s NeuEnergy packs. I also picked up a 0610iDuo charger

E-Revonut · 11.20.2008, 05:05 PM

Figured I better update this! Not only did they come through on their warranty, they gave me what I wanted! I got passed through the chain of people (Jason, alex, then Josh) and in the end Josh took care of me. Although I don't agree that a 1515 2.5d geared for 36-37MPH was overdrawing 4s 6000mah packs, at least not as they where rated, in the end I'm happy. They wound up sending me 2 brand new packs, a 2s 5000mah and a 3s 5000mah so I can run 5s in my setup now!

Arct1k · 11.20.2008, 05:39 PM

Personally I would sell them as brand new - 3s5000 can barely cope in my pede or crt.5

E-Revonut · 11.20.2008, 10:29 PM

Where yours 2s2p, 4 seperate 2500mah cells or 2s1p 5000mah?

bdebde · 11.20.2008, 10:53 PM

They were MA, nuf said

E-Revonut · 11.20.2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdebde

They were MA, nuf said

I hear you there. However I do feel a little guilty to sell these packs off since they replaced my 2x 2s6000mah packs with a totally different pack to give me what I WANTED! I want to try them at least once to see how my setup does on 5s before I order 2 more neuenergy packs. I have to say that at the very least MA has my business for pretty much anything they sell except Lipos, at least larger scale ones. My 1/18th 2s pack performs great and the price less than $10 more than a decent NiMh pack. I will say that Jason has done squat for me or the CS side of MA. He has turned away many people, if I had to continue dealing with him I may have told him to just send me back my packs so I can have a fireworks show!