First off...I'm a fair hand at working on different types of AEGs, GBBs and general mechanical bits. I'm pretty handy and can figure out most hands-on, mechanical type things. Good understanding of chemistry. My level of basic electronics is just above remedial...
. I tend to learn from my mistakes...and I've done a whole lot of learning over the years
.
I've built plenty of rifles...some were plain old field guns...others were tricked out high speed rigs just for kicks. High power to low power...etc... Mosfets or not.
But...batteries and chargers have always been a black hole to me...charge rates, discharge rates, C ratings, balancing, etc....
I have more of a "layman's" understanding of what works and what doesn't. Sums up to the following:
NiCad = good, less affected by cold
NiMh = good, no memory worries
Big Cells (i.e. Sub-C) = all day goodness, less affected by cold vs. small cells (i.e. 2/3A)
8.4v = normal, plenty good for stock -> M100 applications, small packs at this voltage really suffer at M120+
9.6v = good, plenty good for anything up to M120...which is typically more than what's needed for around here.
That brings me to LiPo's...mysterious and potentially dangerous. Bursting into flames, eating up gearsets, etc...mechbox destroyers. I've read just about everything I could find on this forum and a couple of others...but as I said above, I learn by doing and mistakes will happen.
So, without embarassing myself with technical errors, I'll describe in laymans terms what I've done with LiPo's in the last 24 hours....
I've been talking with Jugglez (
Airsoftparts.ca) for the past couple of months and bugging him about bringing in a bunch of LiPo stuff. I did this for a couple of reasons:
1. I like fiddling with stuff
2. Jugglez is a top notch guy
3. Madbull and King Arms were/did come out with their LiPo products
4. Jugglez is always interested in seeing new stuff...which I then buy, which makes him smile
5. I hate ordering stuff from overseas/international...and it's pain free going through him.
So finally Jugglez brought in a bunch of King Arms and Intellec LiPos. Chargers were delayed. The King Arms batteries came in all types and sizes...from tiny ANPEQ packs, to sticks, to stock tube packs. The Intellect stick is pretty beefy...larger capacity with a longer length and slightly bigger "diameter" (i.e. the 3 slabs laid on top of each other and packaged).
He was bringing in "simple" chargers...with a low price point to reflect that...and a "do-everything" charger.
The day before the TAC09 convention, he got the "do-everything" charger...and I picked it up that night. It's named the "X-charger" and charges NiCad, NiMh, LiPo, LiFe and some other type I can't remember. It'll charge up to 5A and 6s LiPos. There's a whole wack of balancing ports (the balancer is built in) on the side. Some kind of USB thermal monitor as well (but I don't think you get the probe with it...haven't played around with that yet). It'll remember up to 5 or 6 specific batteries....I don't know, I just want to charge my stuff up and go shoot.
While at the TAC09 convention...I was talking about LiPos with Scooby and he was commenting on how the LiPos that Jugglez had were 20C, which was overkill (so Jugglez...you can punch Scooby for your lost sale that day...
). Huang had some 11.1v 1100mAh 15C little stock tube batteries (about the same size as the King Arms one)....so I picked up 2 of these for my CQB M4.
That night I figured out how to charge the LiPo with the new charger...basically plug in the "normal" battery connector to the charging plugs of the charger and connect the little white balancer plug into the side of the charger...set a couple of numbers for the LiPo setting of the charger...confirm that it detects the right number of cells...and then wait while it charges. I did do it on the concrete floor of my workshop and checked it every couple of minutes...I envisioned this expanding pack bursting into flames and incinerating my workshop. Didn't happen...pack barely got warm to the touch. I could switch screens and see the voltage of the individual cells...neat.
So...what do LiPo batteries do for the layman?
1. Fit in pockets, pouches, etc...taking up very little space...adding very little weight.
2. Fit my stock tube so I can run my CQB M4 with a Magpul CRT stock...sweet. The battery actually fits exactly...but the plug and the wiring sticks out past the end of the stock tube about an inch...no big deal for me since a fully collapsed stock is too short for me anyways.
NOTE: King Arms is coming out with a stock tube that has the bearing ring inside the stock tube set "shorter"...so their LiPo and wiring will fit completely, thus allowing a fully collapsed stock.
3. Fits my AKS74U (that can take up to a 12v NiMh mini stick)...with hoards of room to spare...I wasn't worried about the length...I was worried about the "diameter" of the pack. No problems. Previously I was using a 9.6v 1400mAh Intellect stick battery. This little beast currently shoots 396-398fps w/ 0.20g bbs (that's stock out of the box). It's awaiting the next AEG workshop where the participants are going to mess with the mechbox.
4. The 11.1v 1100mAh 15C "Hot Power" stock tube pack that I have...acts almost identical to a 9.6v 1400mAh 2/3A cell brand new Intellect stick pack. ROF is about 10rpm faster (mid 900's). If your setup can take the speeds of a "normal" 9.6v mini pack...you shouldn't have any issues.
5. That LiPo is a little quicker than a 9.6v 2300mAh large (subC) relatively new Intellect pack (it was a rectangle pack that I modded for a Crane stock for the CQB M4). Trigger response with the LiPo is pretty much instantaneous. Lightly modified KWQ M4 mechbox....stock KWA motor. It's a noticeable hair quicker ROF than with the large 9.6v pack. This rifle shoots 344fps with 0.20g bbs. I haven't bothered to test ROF...it's too fast to be field usable, you're mid cap will be empty before you know it...semi-auto only with this one. Again...if your mechbox can take it a big 9.6v battery...it should be ok with this LiPo.
So...no ruined mechboxes...no incinerated workshop. I've only put 400-500 shots (semi and full auto) through each rifle so far (come on...it was only last night that I did this...
). Nothing insane like Alfred's 16v rigs...but plenty fast enough for me.
I'll try a 20C lipo next...one with a larger mAh rating. I haven't gamed them yet...so I have no idea how long these batteries will last in skirmishes/mil-sims etc... I'm a bit nervous about over-discharging them with use...but I'll just be a bit careful for now. But...if they prove out at Soldier Gear, Op Broadsword, etc...they'll be keepers.
BTW...If you see my rifle burst into flames and you get caught in the backdraft...stop, drop and roll.
Tys