June 12, 2025Jun 12 What is the consensus here? LiPo or LiFe ? I have a 2S Lipo but would I get the same performance, weight for weight with a LiFe battery ? I’m getting increasingly leery about LIPo batteries- don’t ask me why !! Thanks Simon
June 13, 2025Jun 13 LiPo has higher voltage, therefore winch and servo have a higher output. LiPo is lighter for the same capacity. LiFe are not as sensetive to low temperatures I have been running LiPos in all classes of boats for as well as my radios more than 10 years without any issues.
June 13, 2025Jun 13 Author Thank you Nigel. Having had a 3S go nuclear on Monday morning I am now somewhat sensitive! I know that a 'swollen' LiPo is sign of potential trouble but how 'swollen' is too much? It just occurs to me that if a 2S goes off in a yacht then the yacht is lost if its afloat, no question in my book so maybe its better to have a slightly lower voltage LiFe pack without the 'nuclear' risk??
June 13, 2025Jun 13 Hi Simon Never used LiPo batteries are did not like the risk while charging plus the checking of discharge level! Went straight from NiMh to LiFePO4. I have found that 1000mah battery gives me between 2 to 3 hours sailing in anything except top end of rig sailing conditions. For the sake of peace of mind when racing I usually swap the battery out at 2 hours. Did contemplate obtaining a 1600mah Life to ensure a mornings sailing without concerns. I am either using a RMG or Hitech monster power arm winch and it does not appear to make any difference to duty cycle. Not had any issues with winch performance (speed or power). Happy with my choice. Regards Eric
June 13, 2025Jun 13 If you switch to LiFe, remember to reset the low battery warning setting on your RMG. John
June 13, 2025Jun 13 Author 3 minutes ago, John Ball said: If you switch to LiFe, remember to reset the low battery warning setting on your RMG. John RMG - Whats that? I use a different make of winch, not a Red Ant either but my winch doesn't have a low battery warning on it. Thanks for the suggestion though.
June 13, 2025Jun 13 Many IOM, M, 10R and A class boats use an RMG smart winch. It has a number of adjustable settings - one is a low battery alarm. If it is set for LiPo, and you put in a LiFe, it will quickly trigger the alarm and go to fail safe, as LiFe are about 1 v lower that LiPo. John
June 13, 2025Jun 13 Author 1 minute ago, John Ball said: Many IOM, M, 10R and A class boats use an RMG smart winch. It has a number of adjustable settings - one is a low battery alarm. If it is set for LiPo, and you put in a LiFe, it will quickly trigger the alarm and go to fail safe, as LiFe are about 1 v lower that LiPo. John Ah, thank you for clarifying Simon
June 14, 2025Jun 14 On 13/06/2025 at 12:10, SimonCornes said: Thank you Nigel. Having had a 3S go nuclear on Monday morning I am now somewhat sensitive! I know that a 'swollen' LiPo is sign of potential trouble but how 'swollen' is too much? It just occurs to me that if a 2S goes off in a yacht then the yacht is lost if its afloat, no question in my book so maybe its better to have a slightly lower voltage LiFe pack without the 'nuclear' risk?? Anything swollen is too much!! lipo or life Not worth the risk of keeping it, even with a competent charger. Dispose of it responsibly, and replace. Ideally, find out why it swelled too, so as to avoid in future. Never mind it going off in the boat - what if it goes off in your house....?! I don't think LiPo is necessarily more dangerous than LiFe - both have lithium and pack a punch if mistreated. From the point of view of designing efficient charger circuitry they're actually much easier than NiCd or NiMh. Far easier algoritm to charge them right.... its just more disastrous if you don't....
June 14, 2025Jun 14 Author 49 minutes ago, Colin Helliwell said: Anything swollen is too much!! lipo or life Not worth the risk of keeping it, even with a competent charger. Dispose of it responsibly, and replace. Ideally, find out why it swelled too, so as to avoid in future. Never mind it going off in the boat - what if it goes off in your house....?! I don't think LiPo is necessarily more dangerous than LiFe - both have lithium and pack a punch if mistreated. From the point of view of designing efficient charger circuitry they're actually much easier than NiCd or NiMh. Far easier algoritm to charge them right.... it’s just more disastrous if you don't.... Yep Colin, done the house fire bit earlier this week so I know. The pack that burnt was not in a yacht, it was a 3S but I was given 3 2S packs, one of which was ‘a bit swollen’ and in fact it’s obvious compared to the other 2 but a normal pack is not exactly flat, slab sided hence my curiosity. As it stands, that pack is now outside but won’t get wet if it rains. I intend to discharge it using my spare Radient multicharger, which I assume has a discharge option. But if it bursts into flames now it won’t do any harm.
June 14, 2025Jun 14 1 minute ago, SimonCornes said: Yep Colin, done the house fire bit earlier this week so I know. The pack that burnt was not in a yacht, it was a 3S but I was given 3 2S packs, one of which was ‘a bit swollen’ and in fact it’s obvious compared to the other 2 but a normal pack is not exactly flat, slab sided hence my curiosity. As it stands, that pack is now outside but won’t get wet if it rains. I intend to discharge it using my spare Radient multicharger, which I assume has a discharge option. But if it bursts into flames now it won’t do any harm. Sorry to hear that. Yep, discharge outside is obviously wise - at just a low gentle current, no need to rush it.
June 14, 2025Jun 14 Author I’ve heard of people using car headlamp bulbs but I’ll use the discharge option with my remaining charger. I’ve now bought a LiPo safe charging box but the annoying thing, whether you’re using a charging box or a pouch, is that the LiPo balance lead is pathetically short. I’ve got 30cm 2S and 3S extension leads in transit but the charger manufacturers should include a range of balance lead extensions as well as charging leads. Don’t suppose they ever will though.
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