18650 batts in model boats

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18650 batts in model boats

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10 July 2021 at 19:54 #96815
Former Member
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@formermember67585
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10 July 2021 at 19:54 #5628
Former Member
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@formermember67585
18650 li ion battery usage in model boats
11 July 2021 at 07:32 #96823
ashley needham
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@ashleyneedham69188
Phil.i think you will find that most boats run on Nimh batteries. Just because you see the use of Lipo cells in fast boats doesn’t mean that everyone uses them.

A fair few people still use sealed lead acid types for tugs etc as they need the weight.

Nimhs last physically much longer thanLipo, and if you don’t need the weight reduction are not necessarily the first choice.

Is an MFA barracuda motor ok with 24v?.

Sorry know nothing on the other type of battery. Not heard of it being used for models.

Ashley
11 July 2021 at 09:01 #96826
Richard Simpson
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@richardsimpson88330
From my own experience at my club I would very roughly estimate that Li-Po batteries are around 10-20% of the usage.

Of the remaining, most small boats use either NiCads or NiMHs and large boats tend to use gel type lead acid batteries. I think a lot of modellers occasionally fall into the trap of thinking that brushless motors and Li-Po packs are the be-all-and-end-all of performance when they have overlooked the fact that they do not need the performance. In most cases, unless you are into very high speed models, reliability should be a more important consideration.

Let's face it we still race Club 500s with a brushed motor and NiMH batteries so there is enough performance in that set up to provide entertaining racing.

Finally you mention cost, in this case there is no contest as a NiMH will give you plenty of performance and duration for a fraction of the cost of comparable Li-Pos or Li-Ion.

I am actually very wary of any Lithium based battery as there can still be a tendency for them to be unstable both in use and during charging, what other battery uses a "blast bag" for charging? I would be very reluctant to start playing around with some that are used and were not designed for the purpose for which you are considering.

Edited By Richard Simpson on 11/07/2021 09:01:33
11 July 2021 at 09:15 #96829
Ray Wood 3
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@raywood3
Hi Phil,

My only observation is that Li-Ion are used to power laptops and I don't believe they are as volatile to the charging methods as compared to Lipos which main advantage is they are light in weight compared with NiMH and great for aeroplanes.

I'm sure you will get a much more technical reply from somebody who knows more about electrics.

Fast discharge Lipo's is required for fast models so the "C" rating has to be around 30 in my experience not based on any theory just practice.

Regards Ray
11 July 2021 at 09:53 #96833
Malcolm Frary
Participant
@malcolmfrary95515
One of my members, as part of his business, winds up with lots of laptop battery packs that have ceased to be workers. He strips them down, checks the cells (which are invariably 18650s) and uses the good ones to build packs to power his boats. Cruisers rather than screamers, but having roughly the same power demands placed on them as they had in their native laptops, they work very well. And, of course, to him they are free.

To drive his hooligan boats he does pay real money for proper batteries.
11 July 2021 at 10:00 #96834
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Richard, I would be surprised if NiCad batteries are much used these days as the EU banned sales years ago except for certain specialist and replacement purposes. The original packs must be on their last legs by now due to memory effect.

Colin
11 July 2021 at 12:09 #96836
Richard Simpson
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@richardsimpson88330
Posted by Colin Bishop on 11/07/2021 10:00:20:

Richard, I would be surprised if NiCad batteries are much used these days as the EU banned sales years ago except for certain specialist and replacement purposes. The original packs must be on their last legs by now due to memory effect.

Colin

Thanks Colin, I didn't even know they were banned!
11 July 2021 at 14:37 #96841
Former Member
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@formermember67585
[This posting has been removed]
11 July 2021 at 15:04 #96843
Former Member
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@formermember67585
[This posting has been removed]
11 July 2021 at 17:15 #96845
Malcolm Frary
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@malcolmfrary95515
In the model boat world, even if NiCad are available, since NiMH with better numbers at lower prices are so readily available, why go that way? For most of us, NiMH is a direct drop in replacement for NiCad, and, in packs, without the "memory" of myth and legend.
11 July 2021 at 17:21 #96847
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Well it certainly looks like a car windscreen washer or heater motor!

Absolutely no point in buying Nicad`s nowadays, as per prev post.

Ashley
11 July 2021 at 20:04 #96848
Chris E
Participant
@chrise
18650's are one of a series of batteries with different capacities but similar construction. I believe that they are used in very large numbers in most scooters and even full size car battery packs as well as many laptops etc.

They are great where weight matters and are much more robust than LiPo packs.

Be aware that the best manufacturers – Sanyo, Panasonic etc only make them up to around 3000mah. The 9000+ chinese cells that you see are works of fiction.

Edited By Chris E on 11/07/2021 20:19:06
12 July 2021 at 02:30 #96849
Former Member
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@formermember67585
[This posting has been removed]
12 July 2021 at 09:48 #96850
Malcolm Frary
Participant
@malcolmfrary95515
It helps to know what is inside any particular cell. If it has no label, its probably a recycle item unless it came from a known pack with a label or you can do some cautious testing.. 18650's are not limited to lithium, some are NiMH chemistry, with voltage to match. Being about twice the volume of an AA, they have about twice the capability. Potentially, anyway.
12 July 2021 at 21:01 #96865
Former Member
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@formermember67585
[This posting has been removed]
13 July 2021 at 09:06 #96874
Malcolm Frary
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@malcolmfrary95515
Posted by phill downes on 12/07/2021 21:01:34:

thats the first ive heard that 18650 can be Nimh.

I know the batteries will be coming from a top of the line scooter and thats all I know so far.

I do know the scooter had a range of about 30 miles or more..

once I grab them I will take some pics to see what they are….

It came as a surprise to me when I read the label properly, but there it was.

A goggle this morning for "18635 NiMH" did its best to show everything but that, but near the bottom of the first page was –

https://www.batteriesplus.co.uk/acatalog/18650_Size_NiMH_Battery.html

Not common, but they are out there. Twice the AH figure of a typical Lithium cell, but only 1/3 the voltage, so I suppose that in the same space Lithium stores about 50% more power, but with a different delivery profile.
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