recommend me a LiPo brand

[badger1]

since all my Turnigy LiPo's seem to have lost most of their performance in the space of less than an (interrupted) year, I'm after a recommendation for a decent brand to replace them with.

I need some 4S's of around 1.5-1.8Ah.  I'm not that fussed about super-high C-ratings as I don't tend to scream around, but I do want something that is going to last for a few years.

many thanks   

[Bad Raven]

I have all these in use:-

https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/gnb-1500mah-4s-130c-lipo-battery

https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/gnb-1500mah-4s-110c-lipo-battery

https://www.hobbyrc.co.uk/gnb-1500mah-4s-100c-lipo-battery

The first two have been around longer, 18 months or so on sale, the cheaper third one 1550 less so, maybe three months. I have four of the latter, my flying buddy two.

Between the first two I have 10 x 1500 and 6 x 1800.

We think they are excellent.

[Bad Raven]

And, to reverse the request, while I have had generally just about OK life and performance out of HK Nano-Tech (all sizes) I have had pretty poor performance and life out of HK Turnigy and especially poor performance and life out of Zippy. With them I think there's a reason they use yellow wrap, as they swell and have as short a life as a Banana................ 

[badger1]

thanks BR 

I never had much luck with NanoTechs in planes - they're the only brand that I've ever had 'pop' on me during charging 

I've done okay with Zippys.  I use a lot of them in FW & they last very well, in spite of the less than optimum care I take of them.  I have a couple of 4S 2.2Ah 40C Zippys that work very nicely in my 7" quads too.

Zippy do swell a bit while in use (which all LiPos do) but the heatshrink stays in the swelled shape while the cells go back to their original size after use, so IMO they look worse than they are.  it's the cells that stay swollen that you have to watch out for. 

Turnigys do seem fairly dreadful though. 

[ched]

Turnigy standard LiPos are really bad. Zippy's not good on quads either maybe they get less 'stressed' on aircrafts?
GNB are good, I have also had good results from Infinity Graphene but they don't seem to be around anymore.
Turnigy Graphene Panther I have found to be quite good.

[badger1]

thanks ched

[Bad Raven]

My last two Zippy 2200mAh 3S which joined three others were bought as three. One arrived with a cell shorted (Ov on cell but 2S on output). All are rounded but cells not permanently swollen

I quickly realised that even on FW where I knew the current taken was always well inside their rating, they didn't like doing it. IMO they are seriously overrated on C Discharge. These were "Compact 60C Series".

As you know, I always run cell voltage alarms, either FrSky sensors or plug onto balance port screamers on all my fixed wing. Alarms are set to 3.6v to give plenty of warning. In every case with Zippy, one cell would dive under 3.6v well before the others.

Having said that, I now only use them to power my engine starter, a near 50 year old Sullivan. They only get brief surges of very high current and they DO deliver that, though what the voltage is dropping to I don't care! They have no issues starting a 91 normally or even a 26cc petrol if spinnered already turning.

The issue with them is therefore not swelling, but erratic cell voltage sag and loss of balance.

I have two 1500mAh 4S Infinity, bought before one of Banggoods frequent "we cannot send your country" periods. Bought 2016, they are just beginning to show signs of lower voltage. Would have bought more, but they disappeared before a route to me re-established.

I like GNB, but even there, some are not so good. For example,  the 1S 520mAh tend to swell, but the larger capacity but physically smaller (go figure) 650mAh 1S do not.

[Hozza]

My favourite brand is CNHL (Chinahobbyline)

[Bad Raven]

My favourite brand is CNHL (Chinahobbyline)

Never heard of them, but I see Quadcopters and UnmannedTechShop both sell.

[Dickw]

I have been using a few CNHL 100C packs for a while now and they have a very low IR and seem to be lasting well.
In one (admittedly unusual) application I have been hitting brief peaks of over 200A from the 1500 mAh packs while still maintaining 3.4V per cell and they have not complained yet.

Dick

[Hozza]

Never heard of them, but I see Quadcopters and UnmannedTechShop both sell.

Buy direct from EU warehouse, takes about 8 days for order to arrive and it you spend over $80 shipping is free. Normally looking at around £14 for a 4S 1500

[Bad Raven]

Thanks. Currently I'm stocked with 1500-1550's, but will ook when replacements due.

I have several orders on way from China for the specific tiny batteries for E010/JJRC H36.  I followed the tracking on the first one and inside China it led to an airline carrier with their own aircraft that specialises in air transport of lithium batteries.  I suppose they had to exist!

[badger1]

anyone have any experience of Tattu?

[Bad Raven]

Tattu are/were Gens-Ace AFAIK.

With Gens-Ace every and I do mean EVERY pack I have had (seven plus from 2200mAh 3S to 4000mAh 6S) or have seen others have (not that many, as most came and went near instantly) have failed desperately early, all the same way, charge looks OK, voltage is OK, but internal resistance so high they gave 20-30 seconds power and Phhhhhhht.

Gens-Ace were one of the worst pack maker/sellers I have ever come across, though the original J.Perkins "En-Er-G" were nearly as bad, but that was several years earlier in the development curve and Gens-Ace should have been past that hurdle.

I'll not go near that seller family ever again by choice. They might be good now, but its FAR too late for me.

In the same way that Vauxhall may now make the best car in the world (doubtful, but Hey!) , but I will never ever experience it after suffering numerous of their pathetically dire Cavalier models as Group "C" hire cars forced upon us. Enough was and still is ENOUGH!

[badger1]

thanks BR - interesting, I thought Tattu were quite well regarded.

I do wonder how much brand names really mean any more when a lot of it is just a sticker stuck on product coming out of some Chinese factory somewhere, & probably different sizes/C-ratings/etc. come of out different factories with different standards, QC & whatever else. 

[Bad Raven]

Tattu might be, as I said, I was bitten by their predecessor, and have no experience of Tattu as  will not risk a repeat.

YMMV

[apollo7]

And, to reverse the request, while I have had generally just about OK life and performance out of HK Nano-Tech (all sizes) I have had pretty poor performance and life out of HK Turnigy and especially poor performance and life out of Zippy. With them I think there's a reason they use yellow wrap, as they swell and have as short a life as a Banana................ 

You must of been unlucky with the zippy lipo`s, most of mine are about 2-4 years old and still in great shape, still give good performance but i do really look after my lipo`s

[Bad Raven]

I have had Zippy from 800mAh 2S (and 3S) through to 2200 3S.

As one example, 1800mAh 25C 2S used for a screen headset, hardly a big current drain, used along with Nano-Tech and blue Turnigy. Only ever chgarged 1C.

Even the grot Turnigy (bought as a hobsons choice no other stock) haslasted, but both Zippy, swollen and lower duration.

As another example the 800mAh 2 and 3S were used on indoor foamy planes only, none lasted any time at all before going HR and current limited.  With small motors and 5A ESC, and never run under 3.6v per cell FFS!!!! (Other make packs still quite happy years on).
r
And then there's the 2200 delivered with a shorted cell as previous mention.

Glad you find them OK, but I'd not want any as a gift.

[apollo7]

I can only go with my own experience with Zippy, i have 4 x 1300mah 3s 4x 2200mah 4s 5x 2200mah 3s all of these are around 3-4 years old and still in perfect condition despite being very well used recently got a few 3000mah 4s and they are fine

[hoverfly]

I can only go with my own experience with Zippy, i have 4 x 1300mah 3s 4x 2200mah 4s 5x 2200mah 3s all of these are around 3-4 years old and still in perfect condition despite being very well used recently got a few 3000mah 4s and they are fine

As above I've found Zippy very consistent, and minimal swelling on the ones I've abused.

[badger1]

to please everyone/no-one, the postman has beeneth:



I thought I'd get in while places have some in stock now that we're a plague island!