Author Topic: Zippy 4s compact batteries? (Read 6952 times)

Brent Williams · « **on:** March 11, 2016, 05:12:22 AM »

Looking at the 2700 4s 25c Zippy Compact batteries.
What reasonable life expectancy could one expect from these batteries?
The price is oh so tempting.

As I embark on the Journey to Electric StuntLand, is the temptation worth it?

Or am I listening to the seductive sounds of the low price battery Sirens only to be dashed apart by the craggy rocks on the shores of Isle de Electric?

Oh wretched decisions...

Alan Resinger · « **Reply #1 on:** March 11, 2016, 05:36:09 AM »

Brent,
Here is the best answer I can give you. First off "you get what you pay for". If you are planning on competing at a high level, get something else. For sport flying or low level competition, they will work fine. I tried some a few years ago and some worked decently while a couple gave up after 20 cycles. At last years Golden State Championships in California, the top ten expert fliers had 6 electrics, (Walker, Rush, Hernandez, Aron, Cox and myself) all used Thunder Power batteries. There is a reason we do so.
Alan
PS If they give up after just a few cycles, do not expect a replacement or refund from Hobby King.

Jeff Traxler · « **Reply #2 on:** March 11, 2016, 06:29:24 AM »

What set-up are you using?I had decent luck with that battery flying a Nobler size ship.2150-2000 mah used consistantly.I was getting 60-70 flights with careful use.I agree with Alan,If you are in the top 20(Or winning!!!) at the NATS every year a more expensive battery should be in your box.It you are just getting into electric the zippy battery will let you see if you like it(and you will) without breaking the bank.Turnigy Nanotech batteries are a bit more,still good for the price.

Target · « **Reply #3 on:** March 11, 2016, 10:12:47 AM »

Lower priced batteries seem to be quite a bit heavier than the same capacity thunder power units.
The Hyperion HV are nearly the same weight as TP batteries, and a little cheaper.
R,
Chris

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2016, 10:17:33 AM »

What Alan said. If you're not sure you want to go electric you may want to start by going (judiciously) cheap. I'd hesitate to use the cheapest motor, but batteries are easy enough to swap out.

Fred Cronenwett · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2016, 10:21:32 AM »

I have been flying with the Zippy batteries for 3 or 4 years now, while I have not tried the Compact versions I have had good luck with them.

To get two flights on the B-29 at the Nats I have to have 8 batteries charged up and ready to go, so I tried the Zippy batteries. To date two (2) have gone bad on me but I am still coming out ahead considering the quantity of batteries I need for the CL scale model.

Motors - I buy the good stuff (E-flite)
Batteries - use the Hobby King Zippy batteries
Speed Controls - use the eRC from Hobby Express, not the absolute best but a great mid range speed control (again need 4 of them)

I use the 3000 Mah, 4S version at 25c

Fred

jfv · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2016, 11:10:12 AM »

I have about 12 of them from 4S - 2450 mAh to 4S - 3300 mAh, all 35C Some are over 3 years old and all still work fine. I'm sure some have over 100 flights on them. They are heaver than the Thunder Powers which I also have a few. I always put them back into storage after flying and don't draw them down below 80%. I use them for both control line and RC. I could just be lucky.

Fred Underwood · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2016, 03:44:06 PM »

You might find this thread at least partially addressing the question.

http://stunthanger.com/smf/gettin-all-amp'ed-up!/calculated-or-stated-battery-capacity/

If you can stay within battery parameters, then the Zippy's seem fine. The problem is to have enough battery so that you don't over discharge. I used the Zippy's for about 100 - 120 cycles/pack. Usual charge rate was 1C and occasionally in a hurry, 2C. That requires a little more planning than a quick charge. So far on the TP's, they seem to have a lower internal resistance and have closer to the stated capacity. My understanding is that they also tolerate a much faster charge, probably at least partially because of the lower internal resistance.

If you are not pushing the limit of actual capacity and if rapid charge is not critical, then the Zippy's seem ok.

Motorman · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2016, 05:45:02 PM »

Thunder power Batt on sale right now, use code MONEY.

MM

James Mills · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2016, 07:34:41 PM »

Quote from: Motorman on March 11, 2016, 05:45:02 PM

Thunder power Batt on sale right now, use code MONEY.

MM

Which site are the Thunder Power sold?

James

Fred Underwood · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2016, 07:50:02 PM »

The above sale is here

http://www.thunderpowerrc.com/

James Mills · « **Reply #11 on:** March 11, 2016, 09:06:21 PM »

Quote from: Fred Underwood on March 11, 2016, 07:50:02 PM

The above sale is here

http://www.thunderpowerrc.com/

Thanks

Curare · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2016, 12:50:21 AM »

I've used Zippy compacts and found that when you're on the pointy end of capacity you'll soon run into trouble.

These packs continually lose capacity each cycle. Not much but a bit. After a number of flights you'll notice that you're landing with less and less residual voltage in the packs, until you're landing not when the timer says so but when the voltage cutout kicks in.

I saw 2700mah packs drop the point where i could only put 2150mah back in and the cells were around 3.6v. Not good!

Russell Bond · « **Reply #13 on:** March 18, 2016, 06:50:16 AM »

I think the latest ones are rubbish!
They are lighter, (Not a good sign) and I've had them fail on one cell after about 30 flights. (These were bought mid last year.)
The earlier ones lasted longer. (Bought 2 years ago.)
Now that Hyperion is making HV batteries for a reasonable price, they are the ones that I'll be buying next.

Like all things; You get what you pay for...................

Target · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2016, 09:43:56 AM »

Quote from: Russell Bond on March 18, 2016, 06:50:16 AM

I think the latest ones are rubbish!
The are lighter, (Not a good sign) and I've had them fail on one cell after about 30 flights. (These were bought mid last year.)
The earlier ones lasted longer. (Bought 2 years ago.)
Now that Hyperion is making HV batteries for a reasonable price, they are the ones that I'll be buying next.

Like all things; You get what you pay for...................

I was considering Hyperion to be my go to brand as well. But last weekend's sale found the tp 4s 2100's in the mail to me for less than the Hyperion, and without sales tax as well. And I think they are possibly slightly better batteries. I have two Hyperion 2800 and two tp 2700 that I have been using side by side. The tp' seem like they have more capacity after each flight.

Russell Bond · « **Reply #15 on:** March 18, 2016, 09:39:25 PM »

I know two Sydney fliers that had their ThunderPower batteries fail early.

One pilot's (four) ThunderPower 2700s failed after just under 50 flights on each battery and the other guy's failed after about 35 flights each.
They didn't do anything to make them fail early, they charged them normally, their planes are light and the batteries were not getting discharged below 25%.
They were put into storage as soon as possible after use so they should not have failed.
I wonder if ThunderPower is now taking shortcuts in manufacturing. These batteries were bought early this year.

Joe Yau · « **Reply #16 on:** March 19, 2016, 09:30:37 AM »

Quote from: Russell Bond on March 18, 2016, 09:39:25 PM

they charged them normally,

Just curious how are they charging the batteries? (at ? amps etc.)

Target · « **Reply #17 on:** March 19, 2016, 01:14:09 PM »

No problems yet with my Thunder Power packs. And I hope not, I just bought 4 smaller ones (4S2100's).

Russell Bond · « **Reply #18 on:** March 19, 2016, 03:42:48 PM »

They were charging at 1 to 1.5c.
That wasn't the reason they failed.
One of the pilots is an experienced RC electric chopper pilot so he certainly knew what he was doing.

They bought them at the same time from a company in the US so maybe there was a bad batch. (2700 5s)

Dwayne · « **Reply #19 on:** March 27, 2016, 03:51:26 PM »

Quote from: jfv on March 11, 2016, 11:10:12 AM

I have about 12 of them from 4S - 2450 mAh to 4S - 3300 mAh, all 35C Some are over 3 years old and all still work fine. I'm sure some have over 100 flights on them. They are heaver than the Thunder Powers which I also have a few. I always put them back into storage after flying and don't draw them down below 80%. I use them for both control line and RC. I could just be lucky.

My experience as well, I have several Zippy packs including the Compacts, maybe I've been lucky as well but my 3000 4s are 5 years old and still going, I have two 5000 4s I use in r/c that are 4 years old and still work perfect. As you said, never take them down below 80% and always put them in storage when done for the day.

Joe Yau · « **Reply #20 on:** March 27, 2016, 05:00:54 PM »

Quote from: Russell Bond on March 19, 2016, 03:42:48 PM

They were charging at 1 to 1.5c.
That wasn't the reason they failed.
One of the pilots is an experienced RC electric chopper pilot so he certainly knew what he was doing.
They bought them at the same time from a company in the US so maybe there was a bad batch. (2700 5s)

I guess the only thing left is the temperature.. I'll see how mine holds up.. as I bought 3 of the new ones for back up in case my older ones starts to fail half way through the year.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #21 on:** March 27, 2016, 07:09:21 PM »

I have been using the Compact 2700 6 S packs, I have had decent luck but as of late I am loosing packs . I would guess that I have between 30 and 50 cycles on these packs. Like Fred said, as long as I was pulling less than 2000 out of them I was ok but I had to ramp up my speed to get my airframe happy and now have been putting 2050 to 2100 back into the packs. now I am loosing packs to quickly. They re fading in the clover typcially.

that said, keep the draw down and you will probably get more than I have out of them. My airframe is a full sized IMpact and it weighs 72.5 ounces so they are getting a workout.

Curare · « **Reply #22 on:** March 28, 2016, 10:52:52 PM »

It's pretty much across the board, I had some 6s 3300's and some 4s 5800's for my RC stuff, and they're all doing it.

Igor Burger · « **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2016, 10:08:32 AM »

Zippy compact use another cells since last year, so it could be that conversation goes about 2 different things :- ))) .. for example older 6s2700 was 380g and newer version has 400g, so it is not compact anymore and it has lower internal resistance and can last more :- ))

Daniel_Munro · « **Reply #24 on:** June 09, 2016, 03:40:43 AM »

Quote from: Brent Williams on March 11, 2016, 05:12:22 AM

Looking at the 2700 4s 25c Zippy Compact batteries.
What reasonable life expectancy could one expect from these batteries?
The price is oh so tempting.

As I embark on the Journey to Electric StuntLand, is the temptation worth it?

Or am I listening to the seductive sounds of the low price battery Sirens only to be dashed apart by the craggy rocks on the shores of Isle de Electric?

Oh wretched decisions...

I just had two of these arrive last week. One is good, I don't know about the resistance or any of that stuff but it balanced on the charger just as it should have.

The other thou appears to have a bad cell. Cell #1 is ungood, was way down on voltage compared to the other three. Falls off first under a light discharge. I've cycled it gently a few times on the charger but so far no change. I'll keep working on it but I'm not hopeful.

I've had great luck with very cheap batteries from AliExpress. My Rhino Power 4s 3000mah are lasting really well.

William DeMauro · « **Reply #25 on:** June 09, 2016, 05:22:49 AM »

Just contact them about the bad battery as soon as possible. They will give you instructions on what to do to get a replacement. (It usually involves sending pictures with your volt meter attached) They do not ask for the bad battery back. DO NOT WAIT LONG!!

Daniel_Munro · « **Reply #26 on:** June 10, 2016, 04:07:39 AM »

Quote from: William DeMauro on June 09, 2016, 05:22:49 AM

Just contact them about the bad battery as soon as possible. They will give you instructions on what to do to get a replacement. (It usually involves sending pictures with your volt meter attached) They do not ask for the bad battery back. DO NOT WAIT LONG!!

Thanks mate, done it this morning. Fingers crossed I get a good one as a replacement.

Author Topic: Zippy 4s compact batteries? (Read 6952 times)

Dwayne