So I finally figured out what's wrong with my Stampede...

by "19JRC99" (19jrc99)
Published 10/10/2017 at 12:46

Tags: Traxxas ; R/C ; RC ; Traxxas Stampede
STARS: 2

Batteries are worn out. I mean, they ARE seven years old, and I, in my foolishness, ran them until the truck barely moved before charging them.

Still, I was hoping it was the ESC or something so I had an excuse to water-proof the truck. Also, you see those Super-Swampers? Yeah, I haven’t even gotten to run them since the batteries crapped out last Easter, when I got the tires. I was so disgusted I abandoned the truck and hadn’t touched it until last night, when I tested the batteries.

EDIT: Forgot to mention. No, I don’t run Lipo in it. Standard NiMH batteries for me.

Replies (19)

"Echo51" (echo2047)
10/10/2017 at 13:32, STARS: 2

NiMH are hilariously bad when compared to LiPo that i’d never even consider going back honestly.

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
10/10/2017 at 13:37, STARS: 1

I think what’s wrong with it is that you haven’t named it “Vash”.

"19JRC99" (19jrc99)
10/10/2017 at 13:39, STARS: 0

I might have to go LiPo. Looking into it, if I get the Velineon Motor/ESC/etc. kit, that has the low voltage Detection built in, and my charger has a LiPo setting, and the NiMH does suck for battery life.....

Damn, I forgot how much RCs cost lol.

"19JRC99" (19jrc99)
10/10/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 0

....I don’t get it.

"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
10/10/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 0

NiMH batteries aren’t so prone to lithium fires though.

"19JRC99" (19jrc99)
10/10/2017 at 13:42, STARS: 0

That’s the real reason I haven’t converted it.

"Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap" (ddadragon)
10/10/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 1

I ran a 2s in my Slash and that was plenty fast. I need to get new tires and a new body for mine but I’ve been lazy

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
10/10/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 0

That’s ok I won’t think any less of you

"jimz" (jimz)
10/10/2017 at 13:55, STARS: 0

LiFe (lithium iron phosphate) are much, much less temperamental than LiPo. you trade off a bit of voltage (LiPo is 3.7 v nominal, LiFe is 3.3) but the safety factor is much nicer.

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
10/10/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 1

Lithium batteries catch fire. NiMHs blow up like grenades. Pick your mode of death.

"Echo51" (echo2047)
10/10/2017 at 14:06, STARS: 0

Anything will blow up in your face if you misuse it. A low voltage cutoff and a proper charger and you won’t see any issues

"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
10/10/2017 at 14:08, STARS: 0

Lithium fires aren’t happy fires. Don’t get me wrong, I use LiPo batteries exclusively, but NiMH batteries aren’t totally worthless in comparison.

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel)
10/10/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 0

I didn’t say NiMHs were useless, just that they have their own different failure state.

"3point8isgreat" (3point8isgreatest)
10/10/2017 at 15:46, STARS: 1

I put a 2S Lipo and Velineon system in my Arrma granite, and have since broken something almost every time I drive it. Usually an axle popping out, but twice now I’ve shattered the spider gears inside the differential. Brushless power is nuts.

"barnie" (tlanarch)
10/10/2017 at 16:12, STARS: 0

Amen. I have dozens of 18650 batteries from old laptops. Bought a couple $10 2-cell chargers and a bunch of 2-cell (7.4 but 8v nominal) battery holders. Now I parallel these battery holders for capacity (usually 2 in the 2WD and 4 in the Rock Crawler) and velcro then where I want the weight to be. Works a charm.

Also have single (4v nominal) and 3-cell (12v nominal) battery holders for other stuff. My little SW radio uses 1 cell and I mimic 12v projects with a 3-cell holder. Easy to do and cheep with a popular standard battery.

"barnie" (tlanarch)
10/10/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 0

Also proper charging. Use a charger for lithium batteries with a tp4056 chip instead of transistors. These are way smarter. Proper charging eliminates the dendrite problem that causes the short that fries them. The charger has to be able to determine when the battery has enough charge to reduce current and be able to test the temp of the battery.

A tesla pack uses 444 18650 (maybe 20710s by now). A model 3 has what, 12 or 17 of these packs. Each battery is monitored and tested while it charges. Ya hear of these catching fire with any regularity?

"barnie" (tlanarch)
10/10/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 0

Also proper charging. Use a charger for lithium batteries with a tp4056 chip instead of transistors. These are way smarter. Proper charging eliminates the dendrite problem that causes the short that fries them. The charger has to be able to determine when the battery has enough charge to reduce current and be able to test the temp of the battery.

A tesla pack uses 444 18650 (maybe 20710s by now). A model 3 has what, 12 or 17 of these packs. Each battery is monitored and tested while it charges. Ya hear of these catching fire with any regularity?

"19JRC99" (19jrc99)
10/10/2017 at 17:01, STARS: 0

Makes no difference to me. I manage to break something on mine constantly, and that with the stock Titan.

"CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)" (ccpbb)
10/11/2017 at 15:20, STARS: 0

You know what you need? A Castle Mamba ESC/Motor combo on this.

I dearly remember my Rustler with the dependable brushed Titan.