MaxAmps Race Edition Lipos

I've got to say, numbers and charts are meaningless. For me, the only things that matter are performance, price and safety. I have used new MaxAmps batteries recently and been very pleased with the performance. I'm not crazy about the numbers they use to describe their packs performance...clearly sustained 150C is not even possible given the wires and connectors in use. I am however pleased with the performance I'm getting out of my new MA 5250 packs. They feel great from the first lap to the last and I know that if something does go wrong, I can always make use of the 3 year warranty.

I've run many different brands of battery in my buggy and truggy, honestly I don't feel much difference at all across all the brands when the packs were fully functional. I think the current state of LiPo technology is such that they almost all deliver enough performance for all our hobby needs. MaxAmps offers a broad spectrum of products, they make it easy for consumers to get the right fit for their vehicle and they backup their claims with a great warranty. Why all the negativity?

[suicideneil]

Originally Posted by Electric Dave

Why all the negativity?

Cost vs performance ratio
Attitude of Jason and Austin to queries or legitamate concerns

The CastleCreations reps are a shining beacon of how you should deal with your customer's concerns, complaints & queries; calling people haters and bullies and deleting their posts/ threads to hush them up never exactly gives a good impression of a business, albeit one run from a guy's garage.

Funny thing- I referenced a discharge graph ( re: 35c performing as ~20-27c ); that graph has been removed when I took a look-see over at the nitrokillers forum, funny that...

Quick check... yup, no flaming there, just facts and geniune points

[reno911]

I don't understand how more people don't question this.

If say a car manufacturer came out with a car that had 1000 horsepower on a 4 cylinder naturally aspirated motor. There would be a shit storm. People would be demanding a dyno graph.

How is this any different?

Heres something for Maxamps. Give me proof and I promise to buy a 2s pack!

[_paralyzed_]

Instead of ripping on MA (which is quite easy to do) We as consumers need to DEMAND an INDUSTRY STANDARD for lipo testing, similar to wattage ratings on home stereos. (x watts at x ohms at x thd)

So much time and energy is wasted on bickering and mud throwing, why not use that time and energy to solve the problem?

[E-Revonut]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Instead of ripping on MA (which is quite easy to do) We as consumers need to DEMAND an INDUSTRY STANDARD for lipo testing, similar to wattage ratings on home stereos. (x watts at x ohms at x thd)

So much time and energy is wasted on bickering and mud throwing, why not use that time and energy to solve the problem?

Never thought I'd hear something that made so much sense from you Harold

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by E-Revonut

Never thought I'd hear something that made so much sense from you Harold

every now and then there is a glimmer of brightness that pokes out from my otherwise dull existence

[JERRY2KONE]

Originally Posted by _paralyzed_

Instead of ripping on MA (which is quite easy to do) We as consumers need to DEMAND an INDUSTRY STANDARD for lipo testing, similar to wattage ratings on home stereos. (x watts at x ohms at x thd)

So much time and energy is wasted on bickering and mud throwing, why not use that time and energy to solve the problem?

Harold you just hit the nail on the head my friend. Why not have someone in here write to CONSUMER REPORTS questioning the battle going on between all of these LiPo complany products and ask them to sort things out for the rest of us. I have always loved the way they do their comparisons and report the facts to the consumers. That would be interesting enough for me. Having an impartial judge to sort them out would work best, right?

[_paralyzed_]

Originally Posted by JERRY2KONE

Harold you just hit the nail on the head my friend. Why not have someone in here write to CONSUMER REPORTS questioning the battle going on between all of these LiPo complany products and ask them to sort things out for the rest of us. I have always loved the way they do their comparisons and report the facts to the consumers. That would be interesting enough for me. Having an impartial judge to sort them out would work best, right?

I like it. I hadn't considered Consumer Reports. I will write something up, and as long as I'm sending it off I will send it to Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

What should the criteria be? I feel burst ratings aren't as important, and will be harder to measure exactly. So I think the formula should be to measure constant "c" ratings. Something like:

x amp discharge for x seconds without cells dropping below x volts

and of course graphs to back it up.

I'm pretty serious about this. I think we (RCM) should collaborate and decide what the formula should be and start putting it out there. Call it the "RCM standard" Any manufacturer worth their grits would be happy to participate in a standardized test.

So guys: What should the formula be? Lets help mature our beloved hobby.

[What's_nitro?]

Brandon has said he would get some graphs up when they were available. I would hope that would be sooner, rather than later, otherwise they may lose quite a few sales. If these batteries really do hold their voltage that well I'll be buying some, too.

[slimthelineman]

But that would make too much sense.

[What's_nitro?]

Originally Posted by slimthelineman

But that would make too much sense.

...and this is America. Making sense is a felony.

[_paralyzed_]

also, to remove all variables batteries should be at ambient temp and the testing room temp should be noted. As well as pack temp after. Up to x mph cooling airflow allowed.

Are there any variables I am missing?

Let us make the criteria and shove it down the industries throat! It's our money lining their pockets, lets us be informed!

[JERRY2KONE]

From my perspective the best person to set this up if he wants to accept is Brian G. He can place whatever we come up with into one of his spec charts for all of us to have access to.

I believe all we have to do is input what we feel is most important for these comparisons and once its all put together you can copy it as a file and attach it to your letter to Consumer Reports as a request from the entire R/C community and list The RCM Forum as a place of contact for further info if required. This really shouldn't be all that hard to pull together with the level of intelligance, skills, and experience gathered in here.

[JERRY2KONE]

Really guys lets do this. Let us all pull together here on RCM and put this to rest once and for all. Just think of what this can do for the entire R/C community world wide? This can put an end to all of the confusion, and all of the Bull$hit blowing smoke up peoples skirt trying to fluff up their particular batteries regardless of advertising or anything else for that matter. Just pure facts, and stright up comparisons. Then they can talk all the crap they want about how their product is the best in the world or in the market, but none of that will matter because we will have the facts to shut them up. What do you guys think??

If we are all onboard with this, then BrianG can you set up a specific thread where all of us can put in our two cents for entries into whatever format you can come up with as a standard for Consumer Reports or whoever gets involved with this can follow. I know I'm pumped about the possible outcome that this will be able to reveal for all of us. Put the mystery out of the equasion and let us make the standard which all of the manufacturers will have to meet in order to be competitive for our business.

I like the idea of using some kind of standardized test but I have a feeling no such test fairly exists. Think about AA batteries. Duracell, Energizer and the like all have great ads proclaiming they make the best, strongest, longest lasting batteries yet even in these consumer products, there is no real testing or way to compare. No way to truly know if the expensive battery is better than the CVS generic battery. I doubt Consumer Reports wants to get involved in RC Hobby batteries. If, using an EagleTree system or some such device, someone impartial can separate fact from fiction, that would be a step in the right direction but I'm quite sure no unified system of reporting accurate numbers is coming anytime soon.

With all that said. I've got a MA 5250 4s Pack that I got 2-3 weeks ago, it's brand new. I didn't race this weekend but I did race with it last weekend. If BrianG or someone wants to conduct this test, I'd be happy to send it to him. It's not one of these new "Race Edition" packs but it is a brand new current model MA pack.